Thailand seeks to slash quarantine period for visitors

Bangkok - Under the new proposal, those without vaccination proof would be isolated for 10 days if arriving by air, and 14 days if by land

Thailand’s disease control committee has proposed a halving of a two-week hotel isolation requirement for vaccinated arrivals, amid delays in plans to waive quarantine and reopen Bangkok and tourist destinations from next month.

Thailand is keen to welcome back foreign visitors, after nearly 18 months of strict entry policies caused a collapse in tourism, a key sector that drew 40 million visitors in 2019.

“Reducing the quarantine is not only about tourism, but will help business travel and foreign students,” senior health official Opas Karnkawinpong told a news conference, adding tests would also be required.

The country is still fighting its most severe wave of infections, which has accounted for about 99 per cent of its 1.5 million cases and 15,884 deaths.