After over 150 countries dropped all Covid-related travel restrictions in 2022, Thailand started 2023 by taking a worrying precedent in reinstating Covid related restrictions for tourists.
Some countries may require visitors to be vaccinated for COVID-19 before entering.
The news comes after Thai Public Health Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul announced that all visitors entering Thailand must be fully vaccinated in order to enter the country.
Tourists will now be required to prove that they have had two doses of most vaccines or one shot of Johnson & Johnson. Booster shots are not required.
Additionally, tourists must have proof of health insurance covering Covid if they travel to a country requiring a negative Covid test result for entry.
According to the Thai Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, the move to bring back restrictions for travellers is because many countries are now imposing travel restrictions on Chinese travellers.
After China downgraded its Covid related policies in early January allowing the Chinese people to travel again, countries including England, Australia, France, Italy, Japan, and many more re-imposed travel restrictions for tourists coming from China. In his attempt to promote equality, Charnvirakul stated: ‘The principle is there will not be any discrimination against a particular country because Covid-19 is spreading in all countries and the strains are similar.’
If you were planning on visiting South East Asia and haven’t had a Covid vaccine, countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos still don’t have Covid related travel restrictions in place.
Picture: Getaway Gallery
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