"Rayong-Songkhla provinces" to welcome travellers as CCSA approves the provinces as the "Blue Zone" in line with the proposal from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports

On 22 April 2022, at the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), General Prayut Chan-ocha, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense presided over the meeting as the Director of the CCSA and approved the proposal from Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, to change the measures for visitors entering the Kingdom, including those fully vaccinated, those unvaccinated, and those not fully vaccinated, which will come into effect on 1 May 2022. Those who are fully vaccinated should do a self-antigen testing once they have entered the Kingdom through the Thailand Pass system while demonstrating evidence of vaccination and insurance coverage of US$10,000. If they are found to be infected with COVID-19, they should use the insurance coverage or pay for the treatment out-of-pocket. For those at risk, they must quarantine for 5 days and be cautious of their symptoms for 5 days, while they should also do self-antigen testing on the 5^th and 10^th day after coming into contact with the COVID-19 patient. Meanwhile, those who have not been fully vaccinated should present proof of a negative RT-PCT test no earlier than 72 hours before arriving in the Kingdom and register the test results in the Thailand Pass system, while also undergoing quarantine under the AQ system, taking an RT-PCR test on Day 4-5 and doing self-antigen testing during their stay. If they are found to be infected with COVID-19, they should use their insurance coverage which should be at least U$10,000 or pay for the treatment out-of-pocket. According to the latest data, from 1 January to 19 April 2022, 646,812 foreign travellers have entered the country, demonstrating the increased demand for tourism from foreigners as all agencies in the Kingdom have issued measures to ensure safety for those entering Thailand.   

Moreover, the meeting approved the proposal from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to extend alcohol sales to midnight and to increase the number of pilot provinces from 10 to 12, with the addition of Rayong and Songkhla provinces. The measure will be announced in the government gazette and will come into effect from 1 May 2022 onwards.