Thailand re-opening for vaccinated tourists from 63 countries

Thailand is welcoming people travelling by air from a total of 63 countries with low coronavirus numbers from Monday.

Besides Germany, Austria and other EU countries as well as Switzerland, the list of countries approved by the Thai Foreign Ministry also includes the United States, Chile, the United Arab Emirates and Bhutan.

The country had initially chosen 46 countries but added another 17 to the list over the weekend.

Travelers must be fully vaccinated and have tested negative for Covid-19 in the 72 hours before departure.

Upon arrival, another test is mandatory, after which travellers will not need to quarantine to go to a total of 17 places in Thailand that have been opened to tourism so far, including the island of Phuket, the capital Bangkok and the cultural centre of Chiang Mai in the north.

Unvaccinated travelers are required to spend ten days in hotel quarantine after arriving in the country.

People worried

While businesses welcomed the return of international visitors, the public remains anxious, the Bangkok Post reported Monday.

Up to 92.4% of people polled by Thailand's Department of Health said they were worried about the reopening, with the fear of a new outbreak their leading concern, according to the department's latest survey cited by the Post.

The poll was conducted in 17 provinces including Bangkok.

Thailand is urgently hoping for a new start in tourism. The sector has been almost completely shut down for more than a year and a half.