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This post is about the latest Thailand Travel Guidelines that include rules for entry for international tourists, especially Indian travelers.

Thailand is officially open for tourism. Yes, you heard it right.

After a hiatus of two long years, Thailand has opened its borders globally. You can travel to Thailand under the “Test & Go” scheme. The best part of traveling to Thailand now is that you are no longer required to do a Pre-Departure RT-PCR Test 72 hours prior to entering the country. It is effective from 1^st April 2022. However, you will have to undergo an RT-PCR test on arrival. A self-administered antigen test on day five is mandatory during your travel.

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TRIP TO THAILAND DURING PANDEMIC

The very first trip to an international destination after the COVID Saga is quite overwhelming. However, the hassles of numerous documents, tests, paperwork, and VISA make you exhausted before the trip. But, when it comes to Thailand, things have been streamlined by Thailand Tourism quite well. You need to follow the travel protocols to get into the “Land of Smiles“.

ALSO READ: AYUTTHAYA : THE RUIN CITY

I am just back from the most amazing trip to Thailand. The country looks ravishing. In other words, the pristine beaches, serenity of nature, less traffic on Bangkok’s roads, the freshness in the air, and ever-smiling faces of Thai people were welcoming.

Whether it was the smooth check-in process in hotels, the quick RT-PCR test, hassle-free quarantine until you get a negative test result, or taking a domestic flight within the country, everything was undisturbed.

What I loved the most about traveling to Thailand during the pandemic was that everyone was following the strict rules. Whether it was wearing masks, sanitizing hands, or wearing gloves in the hotel’s restaurants and cafes, everything was in order. Not just the Thai People, but the tourists were also behaving quite responsively by obeying the rules and regulations while enjoying their vacation.

Even though some of the tourist attractions were closed due to COVID, especially in Bangkok, the tourists were flocking around the captivating beaches in Phuket, Pattaya, and other places. What makes it even better is that you will hardly see any crowd in popular tourist places like Wat Pho which is otherwise swamped with thousands of tourists from across the globe.

ALSO READ: HOW TO SPEND 48 HOURS IN PATTAYA, THAILAND : CITY GUIDE FOR YOU

WHO ALL CAN TRAVEL TO THAILAND? FIND OUT THAILAND TRAVEL GUIDELINES

READ MORE: HOW TO SPEND 24 HOURS IN BANGKOK

Only fully vaccinated international travelers from all countries/territories can enter Thailand. Also, vaccines registered by the Food and Drug Administration of Thailand or approved by the Ministry of Public Health, or The WHO (World Health Organization) are qualified. International tourists must be vaccinated at least 14 days before departure.

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SafetyWing: Perfect Medical Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads

Before you pack your bags to live a life of a digital nomad, you need to take into consideration buying the right travel medical insurance to secure unforeseen medical emergencies in a foreign land. SafetyWing is Very low-cost insurance, specially designed for budget travelers who are looking for affordable coverage. The best part of SafetyWing travel insurance is that they started automatically covering Covid-19 since August 1st 2020. The pricing starts from $36.96 for 4 weeks.

Know more about SafetyWing Travel Medical Insurance HERE.

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WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO TRAVEL TO THAILAND?

ALSO READ: ART IN PARADISE IN BANGKOK: RELIVE YOUR CHILDHOOD FANTASIES

Here is the list of must-have documents to travel to Thailand. These are complete Thailand Travel document Guidelines for your future visit. Find the details mentioned below:

1. Passport
2. International Vaccine certificate (Kindly link your passport with the vaccine certificate before traveling to Thailand)
   • Age 18 & above: Must be fully vaccinated.
   • Age Below 18
     • If traveling to Thailand along with parents or legal guardians, then he/she need not be fully vaccinated.
     • But a person below 18 years, traveling without parents, and age below 12 years, must be fully vaccinated.
     • If the traveler’s age is between 12 and 17, then he/she must have at least one dose of vaccine before entering Thailand.
3. Paid SHA Extra+/ AQ hotel booking confirmation for day 1. It includes the fee for 1 RT-PCR test, 1ATK self-test kit & airport transfer.
4. Travelers must have travel insurance with minimum coverage of USD 20,000 for medical expenses.
5. THAILAND PASS is mandatory to enter the country. You can apply for the pass online where you must produce your air tickets, hotel bookings, passport, and travel insurance. You can apply for Thailand Pass here. It takes 3-7 days to process. So, it is advised that you apply for the Thailand Pass well in advance.

WHAT ARE THE MANDATES FOR INDIAN TOURISTS TRAVELING TO THAILAND?

The tourists from India are required to have the above-mentioned documents to travel to Thailand. They are not required to sign up for the “Sandbox Program”. It means that they need not stay for a minimum of seven days in one of several approved destinations.

The Indian tourists are required to opt for the “TEST & GO” program ONLY. The rest of the travel protocols are mandatory for international tourists irrespective of the country they belong to.

A self-administered antigen test on day Five is mandatory during your travel for travelers opting for the TEST & GO program.

WHAT IS SANDBOX PROGRAM?

Under the “Sandbox Program,” fully vaccinated international travelers need to stay for a minimum of five days in one of the approved destinations including Krabi, Phang-Na, Phuket, Ko Samui, and Ko Pha-ngan or Ko Tao, etc. The RT_PCR test will be conducted on day Five and upon receiving the negative result, you are officially allowed to explore anywhere in the country.

And, if you are unvaccinated, you are required to quarantine for 5 days at the government-approved accommodation facility in the country.

WHAT IS SHA EXTRA+/ AQ HOTEL?

If you are not familiar with the word SHA, this is normal. The SHA stands for Amazing Thailand Safety & Health Administration (SHA). This is a safety standard program by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Ministry of Public Health, as well as government and private sectors to prepare the country to open for tourism.

The hotels under SHA, SHA+, and SHA++ are certified during pandemics under necessary safety and health protocols mandated by the Ministry of Public Health. But only SHA++ Hotels in Bangkok are on the list of hotels that have received the SHA Extra+ certificate. These hotels are registered and are available for Bangkok Test & Go and Bangkok Sandbox programs.

The hotels under SHA Extra+/ AQ meet the Amazing Thailand SHA Plus standard and provide accommodation for international arrivals. These hotels are authorized to conduct RT_PCR tests in partnership with certified hospitals. There are more than 550 SHA Plus hotels in Bangkok that meet the health and safety guidelines to provide accommodation for international travelers.

YOU CAN FIND A FULL LIST OF HOTELS AND RESORTS, ALONG WITH TEST & GO | AQ & SHA EXTRA + HOTELS PACKAGE HERE

HOW LONG DOES ONE STAY AT SHA EXTRA PLUS HOTELS?

Under the TEST & GO scheme, fully vaccinated international tourists are required to undergo RT_PCR test at the hotel and stay 1 night in Bangkok. After getting a negative COVID-19 Test result, you are allowed to explore the country freely. The RT-PCR test at the hotel is quite stress-free and it allows you to take a rest for some time before you step out with a negative result.

During your quarantine, the hotel will provide you with a packed breakfast and lunch in your room. This allows you to spend enough time dealing with jet lag and lets you relax.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Apart from the countries allowed to have VISA ON ARRIVAL in Thailand, passport holders from countries like the US, Canada, UK, and Australia are among those not required to obtain a visa to enter Thailand for tourism. International travelers from these countries can stay in Thailand for a period not exceeding 45 days on each visit.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THAILAND NOW?

You can expect picturesque beaches, picture-perfect islands, enchanting views of hills, and magnificent Thai temples. Your eyes will be treated to tropical forests, almost empty popular beaches, and islands.

The best part of traveling to Thailand now is that you can explore the destinations at ease. Less crowd at sought-after destinations let you breathe in peace and allow you to soak in the beauty at your own pace. You don’t need to be in the queue for anything.

Most of the major destinations are classified as “blue zones”, which means that restrictions are relaxed in these destinations to make your travel experience smooth. Even though art galleries, cinema halls, spas, restaurants, tattoo studios, etc. are open and must operate under strict public health measures. A good number of tourist attractions are still closed.

Everyone is expected to wear a mask in public, both indoors and outdoors. Temperature checks and hand sanitization are in place everywhere.

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Disclaimer :

The reproduction of any of the content, including the photographs without prior consent/permission of the writer, is strictly prohibited and a violation of the same will attract legal action.

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