The government of Thailand has decided once again to allow tourists to visit, after recently closing the border due to the Omicron variant. Effective February 1, vaccinated tourists, including superyacht guests and crews, can return under its Test & Go entry policy.
The Test & Go policy actually first went into effect last November. It eliminates the need to quarantine for two weeks in a hotel. Because of the above-mentioned variant, however, the government suspended the program. But, since Covid-related deaths and hospitalizations aren’t severe, ministers have reversed course.
The Test & Go program does, notably, require isolating at a hotel while you await your test results. Two tests are mandatory, too. The first is upon entry. The second is on the fifth day. All visitors must download a tracking app as well, to ensure they comply with the health-related policies. Regardless, government data shows that the entry policy helped to attract about 350,000 international visitors to Thailand in the two months it was effective last year. Additionally, the Tourism and Sports Ministry anticipates the tourism-dependent nation will welcome at least 8 million vaccinated tourists this year.
The restoration of international visas under Thailand’s Test & Go is welcome news to Asia Pacific Superyachts. It specializes in tailoring itineraries and assisting with entry requirements. Furthermore, Phuket has become Southeast Asia’s “Superyacht Hub.” It’s the largest and most developed island in Thailand.
Conveniently, should the government return to its “sandbox” pandemic measures, Phuket should remain open. The sandbox approach designated specific destinations as areas where people could arrive and remain with limited restrictions. Sandbox areas further let tourists skip quarantine if they stayed in the zone for seven days and underwent two Covid tests.
On a related note, Thailand’s public health minister indicates that additional regions could become sandbox areas. They include Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Khon Kaen, and Samut Prakan provinces.
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