Thailand on the red list: latest Covid rules and travel advice

Despite the recent restrictions placed on Thailand, most of south-east Asiais reassuringly absent from the UKs red list of countries(the other exceptions are Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Myanmar)so returning travellersare not subject to hotel quarantine restrictions but does that mean the outlook for holidays is rosy?Unfortunately not, for the most part. All Asian nations currentlyhave their own strict travel restrictions in place. Some impose outright bans on holidaymakers, while others have adoptedmandatory quarantine schemes so draconian (Vietnams lasts21 days) that their borders are closed in all-but name. And logistically, there are complications too: many flights to Asia connect in the UAE and Qatar which have their own rules wherever you travel via complications are rife. Here, wedelve into the details of several popularsouth-east Asia holiday destinations and find out, when might holidays be back on the cards? What does the green list mean? It is no longer illegal to travel abroad for a holiday since May 17each country has beencategorised asred,amberor green depending on the proportion of the population that has been vaccinated, infection rates, the prevalence of variants of concern and the capacity to sequence genomes. Hong Kong and Taiwan are on the UKs green list. However, Hong Kong imposes a prohibitive 21-day quarantine on British arrivals, and Taiwan currently bans all non-residents from entering. People coming from green listcountries, which also include Singapore and Brunei,have to provide a negative Covid test within 72 hours of departure and then pay for a PCR test on or before their second day back in the UK. Travel Traffic Lights What does the amber list mean? Any travellers arriving in the UK from ambercountries including Thailand andVietnam willbe required to self-isolate at home for 10 days (potentially reduced with a paid-for test to release on day five) and to take PCR tests on (or before) day two and on day eight of isolation, as well as taking a PCR test before returning to the UK and completing a passenger locator form. The Government currently requires each of these tests to be a PCR test, which can be costly. Prices are slowly being reduced, with one government-approved provider now charging 45 and Tui offering test packages for green destinations from 20. The Government has launched a comparison site to make pricing more transparent. Fully-vaccinated holidaymakers are able to travel to amber list countries with their children, without having to quarantine on their return this rule change coincided with the lifting of the Governments blanket advice that people should not travel to these destinations. Can I travel to Singapore? Singapore is on the green list, so you are permitted to take a holiday here if you can navigate the tough restrictions. Singapore has taken tentative steps to reopening. It hasformeda travel bubble with Hong Kong that wasset to begin in May, howeverHong Kongs and Singapores governmentshave postponed the startfollowing a Covid-19 outbreak in Singapore. It is possible for residents in other countries to visit, but they must obtain permission from the Singaporean government prior to travelling. Even if permission is forthcoming, the process is hardly hassle-free. All visitors must submit an online health declaration before arrival, and show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure. They must also have health insurance of at leastS$30,000 (16,200). After entering the country, travellers arriving from the UK must enter a government-designated quarantine hotel for 14 days, at a cost ofS$2,000 (1,080) per person. Additional PCR tests must be taken on the day of arrival,on the 14th day of quarantine and on the final (21st) day. Visitors to Singapore must apply for permission before travelling Credit: Getty Can I travel to Brunei? As with Singapore, Brunei is on the green list, however, anyone wishing to visit must obtain permission, in this case from thePrime Ministers Office at least eight days before departure. If permission is granted, travellers need to provide proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, and enter a government quarantine facility for between two and 14 days at their own expense. Brunei also has an exit travel ban in place, meaning anyone wishing to leave the country must apply to thePrime Ministers Office at least three working days before travel. Can I travel to Thailand? Anyone travelling from red-listed Thailand to the UK must quarantine must pay up to 2,285 for a 10-day sojourn in a quarantine hotel (five days if they get a negative result on day five, although this costs extra). Not only that, but getting into Thailand in the first place is less than easy. The Thai borders are currently open, though all visitors must apply for permission to travel via theRoyal Thai Governments online platform. Even with that secured, you will need to complete a mandatory quarantine: a scheme which has deterred the vast majority of travellers, placing pressure on a tourism industry that accounts for around 20 per centof the national economy.All travellers to Thailand, including all British nationals, are required to complete a 14-dayquarantine at a State Quarantine or Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) facility. However, there is cause for hope. Thailand has already begun easing restrictions for vaccinated visitors this summer, requiring just seven days of quarantine for those who have received both doses at least 14 days before departure. Phuket wasbe the first part of Thailandto fully open international travellers. July 1 sawthe island begin welcoming tourists who have been fully inoculated. They are transported from the airport to their hotel and then be tested for Covid-19. If they test negative, they arepermitted to travel around Phuket. After a week,they are allowed to travel elsewhere in the country. Bangkok may be off-limits until towards the end of 2021 Credit: Getty From October, Krabi, Phangnga, Koh Samui, Chonburi (Pattaya) and Chiang Mai will alsoreopen to vaccinated travellers (without a quarantine requirement). Again,visitorswill be required to stay in their port of entry for seven days before travelling elsewhere in the country.Thailand is prioritising vaccinatingPhuket residents before tourism can resume. All visitors to Thailand must secure an entry visa, and should also download the government-approvedtracking app for use throughout their stay. Can I travel to Vietnam? As well as Thailand, Vietnamis on the amber list. Vietnam has suspended entry visas for all foreign nationals, except for certain workers and a small number of diplomats on official business. Land borders are closed, and flight transits areprohibited. All arrivals must quarantine for 21 days, in government-approved facilities, hotels or hospital though the UK Government warns that most [quarantine centres] do not meet Public Health England standards. Holidays remain strictly off-limits but hopefully not for too much longer.Tourism experts in Vietnam have stated that the country could start welcoming vaccinated foreign visitors from July. Coronavirus Vietnam Spotlight Chart cases default In early March, Nguyen Huu Tho, chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association (VTA), said that Vietnam has been one of the most successful countries in containing Covid-19 outbreaks, creating good conditions for the tourism industry to open up to international markets. This still rings true, with a seven-day case rate below 87per 100,00 however its making slow progress on vaccinations, with just 21per cent given their first dose. Balis tourism and hospitality workers are being prioritised for the vaccine Credit: Getty Can I travel to Indonesia? Indonesia is witnessing a significant outbreak of Covid-19 and was placed onto the UKs red list on July 14, alongside Myanmar. The post Thailand on the red list: latest Covid rules and travel advice appeared first on Patabook Travel.

source https://patabook.com/blogs/108007/Thailand-on-the-red-list-latest-Covid-rules-and-travel