Thailand to resume quarantine-free tourism from Feb 1

Tourism hot-spot Thailand is contemplating to open quarantine-free visa programme for the vaccinated visitors from February 1.

The decision followed as Thai government took measures last month and successfully curbed the new Omicron variant’s infections across the country, The Straits Times of Singapore reported on Thursday.

Foreign tourists would be able to apply for visas under Thailand’s Test & Go entry programme from Feb 1, Ms Rachada Dhnadirek, a government spokesman, said on Twitter after a meeting of the nation's main Covid-19 task force on Thursday.

Such a quarantine-free entry will be offered to applicants of all countries and that the aspirants need to go two Covid-19 tests, one upon arrival and the other on the fifth day, she said.

Tourism-welcoming Thailand has toyed with several plans over the past two years to try to restart the travel sector. The hospitality sector of the country used to contribute to about one-fifth of its economy as some 40 million foreign tourists contributing more than US$60 billion (S$81 billion) in 2019.