LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Hotel Promos
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • World of Hyatt
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
  •  
LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Hotel Promos
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • World of Hyatt
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
  •  
LoyaltyLobby
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT

Thailand Looks At Abandoning The Test&Go Scheme From June 1, 2022 As Neighboring Countries Reopen

by Sebastian Powell
March 26, 2022
Reading Time: 5 mins read
6

Thailand has employed several mechanisms to reopen the country starting in early 2021 with a quarantine scheme, then Sandboxes followed by different versions of Test&Go and now this could disappear entirely from June 1st.

The responsible government entity, the Ministry of Tourism & Sports, has said that they are looking at scrapping the scheme provided the caseload in the country decreases until then.

It’s somewhat difficult to understand what the number of cases inside Thailand has to do with regulating arrivals from abroad in an effort to drive up tourism arrivals.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thailand was indeed the only country that allowed foreign arrivals relatively early on (albeit highly regulated) but they have now been outpaced by other countries in the region that have all but abandoned restrictive and punitive measures for visitors as long as they are vaccinated and in some cases tested before departure.

While other countries are now progressive in their approach, Thailand still maintains the Thailand Pass information system, a complicated booking system for the first night plus a PCR Test upon arrival that could see a visitor being locked up for a week or longer if tested positive.

The Bangkok Post is now reporting that the Tourism Ministry is looking at these measures with concern and intends to amend or abandon them in due time.

The Test and Go scheme and Thailand Pass registration are expected to be scrapped by June 1 if there is no surge in infections or fatalities during the Songkran festival in April, says the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said Thai tourism has to move forward after opening the Phuket sandbox in July 2021.

“Thailand started like a rabbit, running quickly last year as we reopened to visitors. We cannot let the country fall behind as many nations are opening borders and have fewer restrictions than us,” Mr Phiphat said.

The government and tourism agencies have to work together to propose further loosening of travel restrictions, allowing more tourists into the country, with a target of 7 million arrivals this year, he said.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) recently dropped the 72-hour pre-travel RT-PCR test for international arrivals starting from April 1.

The next phase of reopening is expected to take place on May 1, with the RT-PCR test on arrival to be replaced with an antigen test kit (ATK) check conducted by a medical professional.

Mr Phiphat said the upcoming Songkran holidays will be a critical test for further easing of rules. The number of daily cases, including results from ATK tests in April, has to remain stable. An acceptable rate might be 50,000-60,000 cases, while the fatality rate should stay below 100, he said.

The ministry plans to submit an additional proposal in May to the CCSA after monitoring the situation in April, said Mr Phiphat.

Mr Phiphat said if the country fully reopens and returns to pre-pandemic norms, there would be no need to require RT-PCR test results from tourists. However, an ATK test should be administered the arrival day to maintain confidence locally and prevent uncertainty, he said.

Speaking at the annual general meeting of the Association of Thai Travel Agents on Thursday, Mr Phiphat said the ministry’s proposal regarding an end to Covid testing from June 1 still requires approval from the Public Health Ministry based on the caseload. …

Tourism revenue could reach 30% of levels recorded in 2019 this year, before improving to 50% next year and fully recovering by 2024, said Mr Phiphat.

He said the country needs to improve its ranking in the safety index. Thailand ranked poorly at 111 out of 140 countries in the 2019 Tourism Competitiveness Index, said Mr Phiphat.

There are several contradictions in this article as far as Mr. Phiphat’s reasonable plans and the reality in Thailand are concerned.

For one, they are talking about dropping caseloads while at the same time currently caving in to pressure from local business groups to allow an easement of restrictions during Songkran such as allowing water splashing, alcohol sales, etc. Let’s remember that the same situation exactly one year ago caused the Covid situation in Thailand to go totally out of control.

I can’t believe they’re seriously considering once again letting things slide that way, making concessions to operators in Khao San road and other party destinations. Thailand has been battered economically ever since Covid began but especially since the country experienced its own mass infection waves, beginning last year after Songkran. All outbreaks (waves) in Thailand have so far been connected to entertainment, be it a music festival in Phuket, fancy nightclubs in Bangkok’s Thonglor district, or last year’s Songkran Festival where people disregarded all calls for caution.

At the same time, the Tourism Ministry is pinning hopes on reducing or stabilizing cases. The current number hovers around 25,000 new cases per day. Yet Mr. Phiphat mentions 50-60,000 cases per day as being acceptable and “stabilized”!? Sounds more like he’s (realistically) expecting an explosion after Songkran and better sets expectations right from the start.

Then there is the outlook of abandoning Test & Go… but, but, but there HAS TO BE an ATK test upon arrival to “maintain local confidence”. Local confidence in a country that he says could carry up to 60,000 infections daily? That mindset of trying to please locals (who exactly?) needs to change as it’s nonsense.

When will these people start to consider it’s not about them but the confidence of the visitors!? This on arrival testing regime – no matter what kind of test – is keeping people from flying to Thailand.

Last time I wrote about Thailand removing the pre-flight PCR tests:

Confirmed: Thailand Scraps Pre-Flight PCR Testing From April 1, 2022 While On Arrival Test Remains In Place

Effective April 1, 2022 there will be no more government mandated PCR Tests required for flights to or via Thailand. Travelers who enter the kingdom under the Sandbox or Test&Go scheme will still be subject to the mandatory, costly on arrival test that could go either way with this new situation.

It would have made a lot more sense to keep the PCR pre-flight test in place and instead scrap the test on arrival like Vietnam did it. This new system also increases the risk exponentially that you sit next to someone on the plane who is positive and later on you’ll be dragged down with that person as a “close contact”. I’m really not a fan of this solution.

I wouldn’t hold my breath that this is going anywhere but we all might get surprised. Countries around Thailand are currently siphoning off tourists from the Kingdom as there is a lot less risk attached when flying to the other popular tourist destinations. They might reach a breaking point where tourism arrival numbers are actually contracting again and therefore Thailand is being forced to remove the overly zealous regulations.

Let’s not kid ourselves: These approaches to relax regulations aren’t voluntary because times have forced the politician’s hands, not just in Thailand but worldwide. I said a long time ago that it needs just one major domino to fall for the chain reaction to start. As soon as the Philippines and Vietnam announced their opening it was game over. Thailand has no chance of keeping its rigid, xenophobic Covid entry system up and running. Tourists will take note that there are now much better, especially less risky alternatives and book accordingly.

Conclusion

Thailand’s Minister of Tourism has announced that his agency would propose the removal of the Test&Go system but still keep an ATK test in place that is to be conducted upon arrival.

The Bangkok Post article mentions a range of conditions including a stabilized number of new Covid infections in Thailand itself which for some reason should serve as a precursor for reduced entry measures. In the mind of Thai policymakers, a country that’s rife with Covid can still pick and choose about their Covid entry policy while trying to grow tourism all while countries around Thailand are opening without any strings attached. Amazing!

Previous Post

LAST CALL: Marriott Bonvoy Flexible Point Redemptions Rolled Out March 29 – 30, 2022

Next Post

Suite Saturdays: Ocean View Junior Suite @ Hyatt Zilara Cancun

Related Articles

Thailand Flip Flops On Proof Of Vaccination Rule Effective Immediately

Thailand Flip Flops On Proof Of Vaccination Rule Effective Immediately

John Ollila
January 9, 2023
12

Thailand's Public Health Minister, Mr. Anutin, has flipped-flopped on the covid-19 vaccination requirement that he announced late last week (read...

Bangkok’s Reopening For Vaccinated Visitors Further Delayed

Thailand Amends Entry Requirements Again – Effective January 9, 2023

John Ollila
January 8, 2023
8

Thailand put itself in turmoil last week after the Public Health Minister suddenly announced (read more here) that the country...

Thai Airways & Other Thailand-bound Carriers Issue Passenger Notice Of Entry Regulations Effective January 9, 2023

Thai Airways & Other Thailand-bound Carriers Issue Passenger Notice Of Entry Regulations Effective January 9, 2023

Sebastian Powell
January 8, 2023
25

As we covered yesterday, Thailand will have new entry regulations in place that are valid from a now-confirmed date of...

Upgrade Your Travel IQ

Make the most of your travel with our free and daily newsletter with the latest hotel and airline news and promotions.

We do not sell or share email addresses.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trending

Hong Kong To Distribute 700,000 Free Airline Tickets March – August 2023
Travel News

Hong Kong To Distribute 700,000 Free Airline Tickets March – August 2023

February 2, 2023
Hilton Go Employee And Friends & Family Rate Plans
Hilton Honors

Hilton Go Employee And Friends & Family Rate Plans

July 25, 2021
The New MGM Rewards Program Is Now Live, Displaying New Benefit Table
MGM MLife

MGM Rewards Just Completed Its Annual Member Tier Downgrades, Hyatt Rematch Possible

February 2, 2023
Go Hilton Employee And Friends & Family Rate Plan Changes For 2022
Hilton Honors

Go Hilton Employee And Friends & Family Rate Plan Changes For 2022

January 17, 2022
Reader Question: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Redemption Problem, Connecting Segments Not Bookable Online
Alaska Airlines - Mileage Plan

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan oneWorld Award Redemptions Are Still A Complete Mess

February 4, 2023

Top Categories

  • IHG Rewards Club
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • Hilton Honors
  • Accor ALL
  • Airfare Of The Day
  • Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG)
  • Hyatt – World of Hyatt
  • Travel News
  • American Airlines – AAdvantage
  • British Airways
ADVERTISEMENT

All Categories

In Case You Missed It

Flight Review: Iberia Business Class A350-900 (IB6585 BOG-MAD)

Flight Review: Iberia Business Class A350-900 (IB6585 BOG-MAD)

January 29, 2023
Accor ALL Turkish Airlines Triple Miles&Smiles February 5 – April 30, 2023 (Book February 5 – March 5)

Accor ALL Turkish Airlines Triple Miles&Smiles February 5 – April 30, 2023 (Book February 5 – March 5)

February 3, 2023
Qatar Now Requires Mandatory Local Health Insurance For Entry (Effective February 1, 2023)

Qatar Now Requires Mandatory Local Health Insurance For Entry (Effective February 1, 2023)

February 1, 2023
Reader Question: Why Marriott Allows Hotels To Misquote Prices & Inflate Them By 15%?

Reader Question: Why Marriott Allows Hotels To Misquote Prices & Inflate Them By 15%?

January 30, 2023
Airfare of the Day -Business Class- IBERIA Berlin to Mexico City from 1,729€

Airfare of the Day -Business Class- IBERIA Berlin to Mexico City from 1,729€

January 31, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Since 2011, we have been helping millions of visitors like you untangle travel loyalty programs for free upgrades, flights and hotel nights.

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram

Site Navigation

  • About LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Airfares
  • Contact Us

Hotel Promotions

  • Accor
  • Hilton
  • IHG Rewards
  • Marriott
  • World of Hyatt

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Our free daily newsletter sends you the latest information on hotel and airline programs.

We do not share or sell email addresses.

Site & Contents ©2011-2023 LoyaltyLobby.com
Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

  • News
  • Hotel Promotions
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • World of Hyatt
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
No Result
View All Result

© 2011–2023 LoyaltyLobby.com - Site & Contents