Many travelers were left confused after Thailand announced new vaccine requirements. News sites were quick to jump to conclusions and post clickbaity headlines that left hopeful tourists confused. Let’s try to clear some things up:
What was announced?
Thailand’s Public Health Minister announced that incoming visitors will be required to have at least two Covid-19 shots. What was not announced was the effective date. That still didn’t stop many new sites from running with the headline and, subsequently, freaking travelers out.
Why the change?
Many countries have announced changes to their travel requirements for Chinese tourists specifically. Thailand’s officials made it clear, however, that the change wasn’t targeted at any particular group of tourists, and instead will be required of all travelers due to overall concerns about Covid cases and subvariants around the world.
What do I do now?
Keep an eye on the policies and any new rollouts on official Thai websites so as to avoid any misinformation. Otherwise, once this change is rolled out, be prepared to have to get a negative Covid test before traveling and the required travel insurance in case your test comes back positive and you cannot leave the country.