Thailand Travel Update – In a bid to welcome more tourists by May, the RT-PCR test requirement for foreigners on arrival will be replaced by an ATK-Test. Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha talked about the proposal.
Mr. Sathit said that foreigners arriving in Thailand will take an ATK test at the airport. He added that additional airport staff will be deployed to ensure that procedures will be followed. Tourists will be able to wait for the results as the test will only take 15-30 minutes to complete. There will be no need to book SHA plus hotels to take an RT-PCR test and wait 24 hours in.
This decision was made to attract more tourists and revive the tourism economy of the country.
“The CCSA meeting discussed a number of measures as well as the easing of entry rules which will take effect next month,” he said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that they will consider easing travel restrictions to allow more tourists in the country.
“We will try our best to balance public health and the economy,” the prime minister said.
The easing of travel restrictions will depend heavily on the situation after the Songkran festival.
CCSA spokesman, Taweesilp Wisanuyothin said that they have agreed in principle but are yet to finalize.
“The prime minister wants to evaluate infection rates after the long break,” he said.
The rate of new infections from tourists entering Thailand from the beginning of this month would also be taken into consideration.
Thailand Ministry of Health reports 25,298 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 98 deaths since yesterday. The ministry also announced an additional 22,033 patients recovered from the COVID-19 virus.