Thailand’s tourism authority (TAT) has confirmed that a travel to Thailand covid 19 trial corridor will be opened for the destination of Phuket from the start of October 2020 for long-stay tourists staying at least 30 days.
Part of the recently discussed “Safe and Sealed” program, all arriving travelers will be subjected to a 14 day quarantine period in a hotel and will only be able to move onto other accommodation after this 14 day period and after passing 2 Covid 19 tests. Tourists will then be able to travel within 1km of the hotel and after another further 7 days, travelers will be able to move onto other provinces and destinations within the country.
This effectively makes Phuket the travel to Thailand trial province for the corridor which will allow long term stays for tourists escaping the winter months. If the trial is successful, it will be extended to other provinces to include the destination island of Koh Samui.
Travelers from Australia (currently excepting Victoria) and Vietnam will require a test at the airport and only 7 days quarantine. Visitors from New Zealand and Brunei would require a Covid 19 test at the airport with no quarantine period. These exceptions will be under constant review.
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 5th 2020 : Due to 1 single positive Covid 19 test result in Bangkok, the Thai government has decided to postpone the Phuket travel corridor
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 16th 2020 : The plan for trial travel to Thailand corridor has opened again with Thai government provisionally agreeing to 1,200 tourists per month. There is also agreement that a special 90 day tourist visa costing 2,000 THB will be allowed and this visa will be extendable 2 times at cost of 2,000 THB per extension allowing a stay up to 9 months. All arrivals will be required to stay in a state approved quarantine hotel for 14 days on arrival and 100,000 USD of medical insurance cover is required.
UPDATE OCTOBER 21st 2020 : The first group of 37 tourists with Special Tourist Visa (STV) arrived to Bangkok from China this week with the 14 day Covid 19 quarantine restriction still in effect. A list of quarantine hotels can be found by following this link
https://www.thai.lt/blog/1167-quarantine-hotels-in-thailand-where-to-quarantine
The Thailand Authority of Thailand (TAT) is currently petitioning the government to reduce the quarantine from 14 to 10 days.
UPDATE APRIL 2021 : From April 1st 2021, the quarantine time has been reduced from 14 days to 7 days for arrivals with proof of vaccination
From 1 July, in Phuket, (on provision they vaccinate 70% of population) vaccinated arrivals will not need to quarantine as part of the Phuket Sandbox program. Vaccinations are now being administered to the population of Phuket.
Vaccinations have also already started in Koh Samui and they will have same “sandbox” model as Phuket from 1 October along with several other tourist destinations in the country.
The government has announced full opening of the country from 1 January 2022.
UPDATE JUNE 2021 : The Phuket Sandbox program where double vaccinated tourists can arrive to Phuket without quarantine (though there are other restrictions) is set to start on 1 July 2021 with 100,000 arrivals expected. If successful, the program will be extended to other tourist destinations including Koh Samui on 1 October 2021.
UPDATE OCTOBER 2021 : Thailand is now open without need for quarantine to double-vaccinated international arrivals from 46 low-risk countries from 1 November 2021.
