Thailand fully reopens from 1 October 2022

[webfact]

 

Vaccination proof/ATK test result no longer needed, while period of stay in the kingdom is extended to 45 days for tourists entitled to visa exemption and to 30 days for Visa on Arrival.

 

TAT Newsroom

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased to advise that as of today international travellers to Thailand will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination or ATK test results, and a longer length of stay will be on offer, signalling the completion of the kingdom’s full reopening to international tourism.

Effective from today through until 31 March, 2023, the period of stay in Thailand will be extended to 45 days (from 30 days) for tourists from countries/territories entitled for visa exemption, and to 30 days (from 15 days) for those eligible for a Visa on Arrival (VOA).

 

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said “Thailand has fully reopened to the world’s tourists with the message, through the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2022-2023: Amazing New Chapters’ campaign, that our fascinating destination offers something for everyone under the ‘From A-Z: Amazing Thailand Has It All’ concept. We invite tourists to come and experience the existing and new tourism offerings in Thailand which, together with the kingdom’s increasing move towards sustainable and responsible tourism, will make for a truly memorable holiday.”

 

Thailand began a carefully planned gradual reopening to international tourism from 1 July, 2021, with the Phuket Sandbox, Samui Plus, and 7+7 Extension programmes. This was followed by a four-phase reopening timeline from October 2021 to January 2022 in which destinations throughout the country reopened to tourists. On 1 July, 2022, came the removal of the Thailand Pass registration scheme, and foreign nationals as of then only had to show proof of vaccination or a negative ATK test result within 72 hours of travel.

 

Now, with the kingdom fully reopened, international visitor arrivals are on the rise, international events and local festivals are being held, and major international and regional airlines are resuming flights from countries around the world.

 

Thai Airways International (THAI) in its recently announced 2022-2023 winter schedule (30 October, 2022 – 25 March, 2023) is operating flights on 34 European, Australian, and Asian routes with increased frequencies on selected routes. This includes daily flights between Bangkok and London, Paris, Zurich, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Manila, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, Mumbai, Dhaka, and Karachi.

 

On the event scene, as the host of APEC 2022, a number of APEC meetings are taking place in Thailand, most recently the SME Ministerial Meeting (SMM), from 5-10 September, 2022, in Phuket. The 11th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting and the 60th APEC Tourism Working Group Meeting took place from 14-20 August, 2022, in Bangkok. Next, the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) is scheduled from 19-21 October, 2022, and the high-profile APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW) is from 14-19 November, 2022.

 

The OR Thailand Grand Prix 2022 – the third edition in Thailand of this MotoGP world championship motorcycle racing event – is on this weekend from 30 September-2 October, 2022, at the Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram province; the immensely popular Vegetarian Festival is taking place from 24 September to 5 October, 2022, in different locations throughout the country; and the Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB 2022) will be held from 22 October, 2022, to 23 February, 2023, at various locations across Bangkok featuring works by 73 local and international artists.

 

The world’s first fully-branded Columbia Pictures movie theme park featuring rides and attractions from Ghostbusters, Jumanji, Hotel Transylvania and other blockbusters – Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse – is set to open in Bang Saray, short drive from Pattaya, on 12 October, this year.

 

Furthering Thailand’s standing as a world-class gastronomy destination, the sixth edition of the MICHELIN Guide Thailand is due for release at the end of 2022. It will feature for the first time Northeast Thailand or Isan in addition to Bangkok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Phang-Nga.

 

The resumption of flights to Thailand from all over the world, together with the return to pre-pandemic entry requirements, and the extension of stay periods for tourists, have all come in time for the kingdom’s high season which runs from October to March.

 

As one of the world’s favourite holiday destinations, Thailand is pleased to be welcoming tourists back. While they can once again enjoy a fun, fascinating and rewarding holiday, they are asked to please remain vigilant and to continue to abide by health and safety standards.

 

Source: https://www.tatnews.org/2022/10/thailand-fully-reopens-from-1-october-2022/

 

-- © Copyright TAT NEWS 2022-10-01

 

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[Thailand]

Not before time. Bit late to save this year but looking up for 2023.

[Celsius]

It seems like every country is fully opening on October 1st. The virus suddenly stopped being a virus

[KhunBENQ]

5 minutes ago, Celsius said:

It seems like every country is fully opening on October 1st. The virus suddenly stopped being a virus

You haven't heard German health minister.

Mr. Panic himself.

Edited October 1, 2022 by KhunBENQ

[Iamfalang]

Lots of rain, but less tourists to fight when in Pattaya and you see your next wife!!!

 

Mr. falang, wear your gold when talking to the ladyboys.......

 

The party has started and everyone I see now still wears their mask proud.     oh.....

 

I wonder if masks in 711 is still mandatory.   Will you be the falang who refuses to wear a mask and get arrested and then cry and cry!!!

 

Over two years of complete economic destruction......I expect 2025 to be the "new normal"

[internationalism]

I think they announced it just recently. Rather to early to see influx in October.

Some countries, like germany, opened for summer holidays, despite omicron. As to boost tourism and travel.

Yes, they had inevitable wave, but rather small one. 

For them winter time waves are more dangerous, as they are enhanced by flu

[ezzra]

Even though it is not mandatory, still, 99% of Thais and visitors wear masks everywhere, it's like you get the berating looks if you don't wear one, when is this going to stop i wonder?

[huangnon]

54 minutes ago, Celsius said:

It seems like every country is fully opening on October 1st. The virus suddenly stopped being a virus

I think we should start expecting the Next Big Thing, after Covid-19,

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, Celsius said:

It seems like every country is fully opening on October 1st. The virus suddenly stopped being a virus

It did not stop being a virus, it just stopped being a virus of concern.  Big difference, but then you have always believed it was a bogus virus.

[ThailandRyan]

26 minutes ago, huangnon said:

I think we should start expecting the Next Big Thing, after Covid-19,

Yes we should, nuclear fallout from Putin and his war when he tries to keep his newly annexed countries as well as a nuclear power-plant.

[ThailandRyan]

32 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Even though it is not mandatory, still, 99% of Thais and visitors wear masks everywhere, it's like you get the berating looks if you don't wear one, when is this going to stop i wonder?

Still a mask mandate in place on public transport and in theatres, and where else they wish you to wear one like Government offices.  Your just ignoring it if you believe there is still no mandate in place.  

 

Friday’s News-Sept 30 | Hua Hin Expat News

 

Masks rule to stay for public transport, cinemas

Wearing face masks on public transport and in cinemas is still mandatory, the Department of Health said.  Covid-19 will be eased from a dangerous communicable disease to a communicable disease under surveillance on Saturday, as re-stated on Thursday by Dr. Aekkachai Piansriwatchara, a deputy director of the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health.  The department held a press conference on sanitation and environmental health standards after the reclassification of the virus.

[Celsius]

12 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

but then you have always believed it was a bogus virus.

I think when you accuse someone of this, you need to provide some facts.

 

Got any?

 

Thought so.

[PJ71]

56 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Even though it is not mandatory, still, 99% of Thais and visitors wear masks everywhere,

Not from what i've seen.

[Kevin Taylor]

Good

[anrcaccount]

19 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Still a mask mandate in place on public transport and in theatres, and where else they wish you to wear one like Government offices.  Your just ignoring it if you believe there is still no mandate in place.  

 

Friday’s News-Sept 30 | Hua Hin Expat News

 

Masks rule to stay for public transport, cinemas

Wearing face masks on public transport and in cinemas is still mandatory, the Department of Health said.  Covid-19 will be eased from a dangerous communicable disease to a communicable disease under surveillance on Saturday, as re-stated on Thursday by Dr. Aekkachai Piansriwatchara, a deputy director of the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health.  The department held a press conference on sanitation and environmental health standards after the reclassification of the virus.

This single news report and statement from one health official is the only evidence of what you term a mandate.

 

I'm not confident this mandate actually exists and there's plenty of government messaging clearly stating masks are not mandated, by the government, anywhere in Thailand.

 

Regardless,  from now on you'll see a steady decrease in mask wearing in Thailand. 

[ThailandRyan]

4 minutes ago, anrcaccount said:

This single news report and statement from one health official is the only evidence of what you term a mandate.

 

I'm not confident this mandate actually exists and there's plenty of government messaging clearly stating masks are not mandated, by the government, anywhere in Thailand.

 

Regardless,  from now on you'll see a steady decrease in mask wearing in Thailand. 

It is in many publications including the BP which we can not link to.  Yes I hope to see a steady decrease in mask wearing, but as I have said before unless a person who is very high up in this country holds a major media news even, and no not the PM, people will still be confused and concerned. 

 

It is a statement from the MOPH and not from one health minister.  You might want to check the facts first. It has been published pretty much everywhere.

 

https://www.thephuketnews.com/masks-rule-to-stay-for-public-transport-85721.php

 

https://www.pressreader.com/thailand/bangkok-post/20220930/281582359508777

 

https://www.intellasia.net/masks-rule-to-stay-for-public-transport-1098326

Edited October 1, 2022 by ThailandRyan

[BangkokReady]

2 hours ago, Celsius said:

It seems like every country is fully opening on October 1st. The virus suddenly stopped being a virus

It's more that the virus is weaker and the resistance to it is higher.  When things closed it was a very strong virus and there was low resistance to it.  As the pendulum has swung, so the measures have reduced.

[anrcaccount]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

It is in many publications including the BP which we can not link to.  Yes I hope to see a steady decrease in mask wearing, but as I have said before unless a person who is very high up in this country holds a major media news even, and no not the PM, people will still be confused and concerned. 

 

It is a statement from the MOPH and not from one health minister.  You might want to check the facts first. It has been published pretty much everywhere.

 

https://www.thephuketnews.com/masks-rule-to-stay-for-public-transport-85721.php

 

https://www.pressreader.com/thailand/bangkok-post/20220930/281582359508777

 

https://www.intellasia.net/masks-rule-to-stay-for-public-transport-1098326

Its the same report of the same statement, picked up in multiple places. It contradicts previous advice by multiple government sources. It also contradicts what the PT operators themselves are saying. 

 

Singling out a single indoor venue like cinemas also makes no sense, especially since you eat/drink in them.  

 

If they were mandatory on public transport, airlines would be enforcing them, which they are not. I do not believe this is an actual mandate law. 

[ThailandRyan]

43 minutes ago, anrcaccount said:

Its the same report of the same statement, picked up in multiple places. It contradicts previous advice by multiple government sources. It also contradicts what the PT operators themselves are saying. 

 

Singling out a single indoor venue like cinemas also makes no sense, especially since you eat/drink in them.  

 

If they were mandatory on public transport, airlines would be enforcing them, which they are not. I do not believe this is an actual mandate law. 

Your view, and not mine. So agree to disagree.

[anrcaccount]

6 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Your view, and not mine. So agree to disagree.

Fair. 

[zzaa09]

2 hours ago, PJ71 said:

Not from what i've seen.

Appears to be a 50-50 thing, as you might surprisingly find throughout a good portion of the world. 

[PJ71]

22 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Appears to be a 50-50 thing, as you might surprisingly find throughout a good portion of the world. 

I travel through 3 different continents each month, thailand is by far the most 'masked up' country.

 

Most airports and even certain airline stopped the requirement for masks quite some time ago.

[billd766]

4 hours ago, Iamfalang said:

Lots of rain, but less tourists to fight when in Pattaya and you see your next wife!!!

 

Mr. falang, wear your gold when talking to the ladyboys.......

 

The party has started and everyone I see now still wears their mask proud.     oh.....

 

I wonder if masks in 711 is still mandatory.   Will you be the falang who refuses to wear a mask and get arrested and then cry and cry!!!

 

Over two years of complete economic destruction......I expect 2025 to be the "new normal"

Whilst I carry a mask when I am out, I only wear it in the banks and shopping malls. I haven't worn one in 7/11 for ages and nobody has objected or edged away from me.

[billd766]

4 hours ago, ezzra said:

Even though it is not mandatory, still, 99% of Thais and visitors wear masks everywhere, it's like you get the berating looks if you don't wear one, when is this going to stop i wonder?

That is certainly not strictly correct, in rural Kamphaeng Phet where more and more Thais stop wearing them on a daily/weekly basis.

[stoner]

15 minutes ago, billd766 said:

Whilst I carry a mask when I am out, I only wear it in the banks and shopping malls. I haven't worn one in 7/11 for ages and nobody has objected or edged away from me.

the magical ping pong chime when you go in 7 is the new covid super killer. 

[Andrew Dwyer]

Masks seems to be location based, here in Ayutthaya 100% still wearing masks except for the odd foreign tourist.

Not too many foreigners around due to the rain but the odd group I see all seem to be “ mask exempt “, Thais and occasional foreign husband/boyfriend all seem to be “ mask compliant “.

Maybe if the foreign tourists return in plentiful numbers then the tide will turn but at present it is like Ayutthaya didn’t get the mask mandate memo .

[ourmanflint]

It will be back under lock and key by christmas, enjoy this couple of months while you can

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Just now, Andrew Dwyer said:

Maybe if the foreign tourists return in plentiful numbers then the tide will turn but at present it is like Ayutthaya didn’t get the mask mandate memo .

 

Maybe the locals aren't keeping up with the latest news from the government...

 

And/or, perhaps some of them have decided to continue wearing masks regardless of the government largely ending the policy mandate for them.

 

In my book, exercising common sense doesn't require a government mandate.

 

[PJ71]

8 minutes ago, ourmanflint said:

It will be back under lock and key by christmas, enjoy this couple of months while you can

why?

[sandrew33]

5 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Maybe the locals aren't keeping up with the latest news from the government...

 

And/or, perhaps some of them have decided to continue wearing masks regardless of the government largely ending the policy mandate for them.

 

In my book, exercising common sense doesn't require a government mandate.

 

If common sense had anything to do with masks you wouldn’t see people wearing them outdoors and you certainly wouldn’t see quite so many Thais riding motorbikes with their mask on but no helmet.