Thailand Finally Opens to Vaccinated Australians from November

After announcing the country’s re-opening to a list of countries that did not include Australia one week ago, Thailand’s government has just altered that list to include Australians.

The government of Thailand recently altered its list of countries that will be allowed back into the country one week after stating it would not include Australians, and now includes them.

As Thailand’s borders open on November 1, fully vaccinated Australians will be able to visit Thailand without being quarantined.

The government is pushing ahead with a “living with Covid-19” policy, like many tourism- and trade-dependent nations around the world after the pandemic destroyed their economies, as a dramatic enlargement of a much smaller shortlist.

From nearly 40 million tourists in 2019 who contributed over $60 billion in income, Thailand has seen international tourist visits drop to 73,932 in the first eight months of this year.

In addition to showing proof of vaccination, travellers must: submit a negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken within 72 hours of their flight; undergo a second PCR test on the day of arrival; book at least one night in a government-certified ‘SHA+’ or ‘AQ’ hotel where they can stay while waiting for the results of that on-arrival test; have “medical insurance with a minimum coverage of US$50,000.”

Thai Airways already intended to resume Sydney-Bangkok flights from November 1, involving a stopover in Phuket, travellers would have the option to purchase just the Sydney-Phuket leg. 

Melbourne-Bangkok flights were scheduled to begin in April 2022, but given today’s news, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are brought forward.

By Joe Cusmano