Bangkok –
Minister of Tourism and Sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, is planning to propose the cancellation of the ‘Thailand Pass’ registration system by June 1st and the collection of the 300-baht ‘land entry’ fee at the next meeting of the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
Phiphat revealed yesterday, April 27th, that he would ask the CCSA committee to consider canceling the ‘Thailand Pass’ system and implement the passport vaccine registration along with filling out other the vaccination information in the TM.6 immigration form instead to facilitate all travelers.
He reasoned that the cancellation should be done in June as the infections of the Omicron variant in the country was likely to be decreased and it was close to the Public Health Ministry’s timeline of making Covid-19 as an endemic disease which was on July 1st.
While Public Health Ministry Anutin Charnvirakul suggested that the revocation of the ‘Thailand Pass’ should replace with additional adjustments, such as tourists must receive a booster dose or have at least 3 shots of Covid-19 vaccine here, the Tourism Minister advised that it should be considered on a market-by-market basis.
“It should depend on tourists’ country of departure whether its government had already provided a booster vaccination or not. If the tourists were not due to lack of vaccination in their country, then they may be granted to allow traveling to Thailand first,” Phiphat added.
Regarding the ‘land entry’ fee, the Minister said that the proposal was initially scheduled to be presented to the Cabinet Committee next week. If approved, it would be implemented in the next three months. According to his statement, 300-baht fee was divided into 50 and 200 baht. The first 50 baht would be for tourists’ individual insurance, including Covid-19 insurance for mild infections, and another 250 baht would be distributed to the National Tourism Promotion Fund.
