Thailand reopens three more Sandbox destinations

Thailand’s Centre for

COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) recently approved a new round of relaxed entry measures for international arrivals to Thailand, reopening 3 more Sandbox destinations – Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Surat Thani (only Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao) from January 11, 2022, – in addition to Phuket.

The Sandbox entry programme is now available at four destinations. International travellers can travel to Thailand under the Sandbox programme, and choose to undergo their mandatory 7-day stay in either Krabi, Phang-Na, Phuket, or Surat Thani (only Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao).

However, all travellers must make sure that they arrange everything in order before applying for the Sandbox Thailand Pass. This can include but is not limited to, a vaccination certificate, a pre-arrival negative RT-PCR test result, prepaid 7-night’s accommodation in an approved hotel, prepaid RTPCR tests for when in Thailand, and insurance policy with coverage no less than US$50,000.

Travellers must stay at least the first 7 nights within a Sandbox destination if planning to continue the journey to other destinations in Thailand. If staying less than 7 nights, the traveller must leave Thailand to another country immediately.

The CCSA also approved the measure to maintain temporary suspension of the Thailand Pass system for new registrations under the Exemption from Quarantine (Test & Go).

Entry measures for travellers who have obtained their Thailand Pass QR code before December 22, 2021, with scheduled arrival dates in Thailand from December 24, 2021, onwards, are currently under review by the CCSA.

Alternatively, travellers who are currently planning to enter Thailand can apply for the Thailand Pass under either the Sandbox programme or the Alternative Quarantine system.

From April 2022 onwards, Thailand will charge foreign tourists an entry fee of 300 baht ($9). This move is part of the Tourism and Sports Ministry promotion plan for 2022, themed “Amazing Thailand New Chapter”.

The 300 baht entry fee would be used to develop tourist attractions and for accident or death insurance for all tourists. The maximum insurance payout would be 1 million baht in the case of death and 500,000 baht for medical expenses. The charge would be included in air fares. The means of collecting the entry fee from people arriving by land was still being considered.