Thailandreported their first Omicron case on December 6 and decided to change their travel policy shortly thereafter.
As of midnight on December 22, no new applications for quarantine exemptions under the Thailand Pass program will be considered. The government said this is a temporary suspension, not a permanent ban, but there is no date yet for when the ban might be lifted.
The Thailand Pass is one of the Southeast Asian country's key moves to reopen tourism. Tourism is one of Thailand's biggest industries, with nearly 40 million visitors in 2019. Under the terms of the Thailand Pass, fully vaccinated people from a low-risk country can apply to skip quarantine.
The Thailand Pass is part of the "Test & Start Program" that began on November 1. So far, 200,000 people have applied for the pass, which comes with a QR code on their phones that allows them to travel freely around the country and enter restaurants, attractions, shops and other public places, according to a Thai government news release.
Travelers who have already registered and been approved will not be affected by the new regulations. However, if they have not yet entered Thailand, they will be required to take two PCR tests upon arrival, one of which will be conducted at a government facility. Now, tourists arriving in Thailand – with the exception of those participating in the Phuket Sandbox programme – will be quarantined for seven to 10 days, depending on their country of origin.
Thailand has also announced that it will expand its Contact Tracing program nationwide, but has yet to share specific details on how it will be implemented. Those who have applied for a Thailand Pass but have not yet been approved can also continue as normal, once they receive a response to their application.
