Warning as popular holiday destination brings back Covid measures – here’s what you need to know
HOLIDAYMAKERS heading to Thailand have been warned as some Covid measures have been reintroduced.
Pandemic-related travel restrictions were mostly scrapped globally last year, but some have been brought back amid fears of further surges in cases in 2023.
Now anyone visiting the South East Asian country will need to show proof of at least two Covid vaccines before they are permitted to enter.
The new rules have been brought in to coincide with China’s relaxing of Covid-related measures.
China has recently changed its zero Covid approach and from January 8, inbound travellers will no longer be required to quarantine.
With cases rising following China’s change of attitude, countries are being careful with visitors from the East Asian nation.
However, Thailand has said it doesn’t want to discriminate between travellers from different countries, so all tourists will have to show proof of a vaccination.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnviraku told the Bangkok Post: “New measures are necessary because Thailand is a major destination for travellers from many countries including China but the measures must be non-discriminatory.
“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.”
As of yet, there is no indication when these rules will be officially introduced, but they are expected to be brought in before the first visitors arrive from China.
Flights between China and Thailand are expected to resume from January 12, according to the Bangkok Post.
According to China Briefing China is set to: “resume the issuance of passports for Chinese mainland residents, ordinary visas and residence permits for foreigners, as well as tourist visa exemption for short-term travellers.”
It will be the first time the country opens its borders to the wider world since 2020.
Thailand is not the only country to have brought back measures as a result of China’s change in approach.
Passengers arriving at Spanish airports from China will now also be screened for Covid.
All arrivals will also need to have a negative Covid test or proof of vaccination.
The measure will remain in place until at least February 15, Spain’s health ministry said in a statement, with travellers arriving from China required to undergo a temperature check and a Covid-19 test.
“A major concern lies in the possibility of new variants appearing in China that have not been controlled,” Spanish health minister Carolina Darias told a press conference last week.
“Given the health situation in that country, we know the importance of acting with coordination, but also the importance of acting quickly.”
France requires travellers to provide a negative COVID test result less than 48 hours before departure, along with the US, Canada and Australia.
Italy is also screening passengers, after one flight from China to Italy was found to have more than half of the passengers having Covid.
The new rules will not affect Brits travelling from the UK, although it will if travelling from mainland China.
Passengers arriving in the UK from China must also have a negative Covid test before travelling.
The Government said that airlines will be required to check that passengers from China have a negative test before departure and travellers must show their proof.
Meanwhile, travellers from China won’t have to isolate when they arrive in the UK, even if they test positive.
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