In this file photo taken on 1 November 2021, tourists walk on a beach on the Thai island of Phuket. Image: Mladen Antonov/AFP.
Thailand lifts restrictions on travellers coming from South Africa
Thailand recently approved a new round of relaxed entry measures for arrivals from South Africa and other African countries.
In this file photo taken on 1 November 2021, tourists walk on a beach on the Thai island of Phuket. Image: Mladen Antonov/AFP.
As of 11 January 2022, Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has approved the lifting of travel restrictions on arrivals from African countries.
Thailand travel update to and from South Africa
This means travellers from South Africa and other African countries will be allowed to apply for the Thailand Pass under either the Sandbox programme or the Alternative Quarantine system from 11 January 2022.
With this, the CCSA has also approved a new round of relaxed entry measures for international arrivals to Thailand, reopening three more Sandbox destinations – Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Surat Thani (only Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao) from 11 January 2022 – in addition to Phuket.
Travellers can therefore choose to undergo their mandatory seven-day stay in either Krabi, Phang-Na, Phuket, or Surat Thani (only Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao) under the Sandbox programme.
However, all travellers must make sure that they arrange everything in order before applying for the Sandbox Thailand Pass.
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Sandbox entry programme
This can include but is not limited to, a vaccination certificate, a pre-arrival negative RT-PCR test result, prepaid seven nights’ accommodation in an approved hotel, prepaid RT-PCR tests for when in Thailand, and an insurance policy.
“We are excited to start the year on this positive note and really look forward to welcoming South Africans now, over what are the best summer months in the country”, says Chiravadee Khunsub, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
For more information on this and the entry requirements, please click here.
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South Africa and travel bans
Thailand’s relaxation of travel restrictions comes as the country – and others – imposed various travel bans on South Africa and other African countries after it was confirmed that the omicron variant of the coronavirus was found in South Africa last year.
Also Read: Australia lifts travel ban on arrivals from eight southern African countries
