Thailand lowers tourist entrance requirements and discards the mask restriction

Despite the abolition of quarantine laws, Thailand received approximately 40 million visitors in 2019, down from 1% the year before. COVID-19 has killed over 30,000 people in Thailand, although the illness has been effectively managed thanks to a vaccination rate of over 80%. Thailand is a popular tourist destination, but the country’s need that international visitors present a variety of documentation, including vaccination and swab test certifications, as well as medical insurance and hotel reservations, has delayed the industry’s recovery.

Thailand announced on Friday that it will end its much-criticized pre-registration process for overseas travelers, and that face masks will no longer be required to be worn in public, in reaction to a slower COVID-19 spread.

Despite recent advances, the industry is in a state of decline, with considerable job and business losses in a sector that accounts for roughly 12% of Thailand’s GDP.