Thailand announced on Friday that it would be putting an end to the “Thailand Pass” system for foreign visitors. The country had required visitors to seek prior approval from Thai authorities before coming into the country.
The Tourism Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan had told reporters that the new system would start from the 1st of July, 2022. This decision was taken as a result of the reduced cases of coronavirus in the country.
Thailand had been visited by about forty million people in 2019, but the country saw less than 1% of that number in 2021 even though they had relaxed their quarantine requirements.
The country had required of foreign visitors the submission of multiple documents including vaccines, swab test certificates, medical insurance, and hotel bookings. The country had recorded huge jobs and business losses amounting to 12% of Thai gross domestic product in the tourism sector.
The coronavirus task force has said that using face masks would be voluntary but also advised people to wear them in crowded places or if they have a health condition.
