Thailand Relaxes Its COVID-19 Policy

Starting from 16 December, Thailand launches its new ‘smart control and living with COVID-19’ policy that makes it even easier for foreign travelers to enter the country. The rules also relax nationwide requirements and allow celebrations such as the New Year countdown. Mass gatherings are allowed if they comply with the COVID-free setting guidelines, which require attendants to be vaccinated and set up health and hygiene rules. Additionally, if mass gatherings are expected to bring together more than 1,000 people, the new rules oblige everyone to have a negative antigen test made within 72 hours before the event.

New Year events in Thailand are likely to bring more people this year because everyone is tired of lockdowns and craving normal life. Many tourists, who book hotels in Pattaya, Krabi, or Phuket for the holiday season, also want to participate. As champagne has become an essential drink for New Year celebrations, the question regarding alcohol consumption comes to mind. The government allowed serving alcoholic drinks during the New Year countdown but only open-air cafes and restaurants with good ventilation will be permitted to do this until 1 am on 1 January 2022. This rule is nationwide.

Starting from 16 December 2021, Thailand has launched a new color zoning system. The country is now divided into three zones, namely, the Blue Zone (Pilot Tourist Areas), Yellow Zone (Areas Under Stringent Surveillance), and Orange Zone (Controlled Areas).

A total of 8 provinces are added to the blue zone list and additional 18 provinces have blue zone districts, meaning they have pilot tourist destinations that are easy to access for international guests and certain districts that are still closed for tourists. The complete list of districts is regularly updated. In Central Region, these are Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Nonthaburi, Phetchaburi, and Samut Prakan (Suvarnabhumi Airport only).

The Eastern Region blue zone provinces are Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat, and in the Northern Region, these are Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. In the Southern Region, these are Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, Phang-Nga, and Ranong. Finally, the blue zone provinces in the Northeastern Region are Khon Kaen, Nong Khai, Buri Ram, Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Loei, and Surin.