Thailand ready to reopen borders: sandbox expands Feb. 1
A month after the crackdown caused by the Omicron variant, Thailand is preparing to reopen its borders [...]
Thailand
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One month after the squeeze caused by the omicron variant, Thailand's is preparing to reopen its borders almost completely.
Current situation
The history of the past few months can be summarized as follows.
On July 1, 2021, Thailand reopened its borders., after 18 months, devising the Phuket Sandbox, a protocol that was gradually modified and opened to other locations such as Ko Samui.
On the first of November, the borders opened to all of Thailand, including Bangkok, using the Test&Go protocol. Later modified in early December.
The outbreak of the omicron variant prompted the Asian nation to suspend all arrivals, bringing the sandbox back into vogue. Then last week an initial reopening and today the (as yet unofficial) news of a possible return from February 1 to Test&Go, slightly modified.
The pandemic in Thailand
The Asian nation is one of the most vaccinated in the world, in some parts of Thailand, such as Phuket, the phase of the fourth administration has already begun.
How the sandbox protocol changes
The system will not change much from today. Tourists will still be obliged to book the first night in a SHA+ hotel, a reservation that includes in the cost of the room the PCR swab to be taken as soon as you get off the plane (you must be confined to the room until the outcome arrives, 5 to 12 hours).
The change, if confirmed, will result in the return to the PCR test and no longer an antigenic quick And the introduction of a second mandatory test To be made between the 5th and 6th day after arrival. With mandatory stay always in a SHA+.
The "absurdity" is that you will in fact be able to stay the first night in a SHA+, then from the second to the fourth night go wherever you want, and then return to a SHA+ on the fifth night awaiting the outcome of the second swab. Let's say it really makes little sense, but it is a result of the times we live in.
It is good to remember that not all passengers fall under the Test&Go protocol, and in this case Sandbox also remains operational.
For Italians, and all those who decide to fly from Italy, the simplest protocol applies, which includes:
- Vaccination cycle completed
- Thailand Pass
- Negative PCR test performed within 72 of flight departure
- First night reservation at a SHA+ hotel and associated PCR swab to be taken upon arrival in Thailand
- Second buffer, with reservation of one night in SHA hotel between 5th and 6th night post-arrival
In conclusion
La Thailand was the first Southeast Asian nation to reopen doors to tourists, today it is slowly seeing passenger numbers growing day by day.
Unfortunately, Italy still bans nonessential travel to Bangkok and other popular destinations because of the spike in infections in the summer that is now only a distant memory. The decision to ease procedures, and thus costs for travelers, is certainly an interesting one. Hopefully, Italy will soon update the list of countries or tourist corridors including Thailand among the attainable destinations.
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