Finally after a good gap of 2 years, Indians can now look forward to a much awaited and cherished Thailand holiday. This good news comes just as the school holiday season is around the corner and many long weekend in queue. This is possible because finally after all delays the air travel bubble between India and Thailand is signed and the flights are ready to operate.
There has been no dearth of enthusiasm from travellers and holiday makers in India and the where ever the air travel bubbles were in place a good number of arrivals have happened from India, be it Maldives or Dubai. Now it is the turn of Thailand, that has always been the No 1 destination for holiday seekers from India. Indian tourists love Thailand and are now ready to land in big numbers and we will not be surprised if Indians end up being the biggest inbound tourism traffic for Thailand in coming months.
If you are an Indian planning for your Thailand vacation here are some handy things , you may want to know.
What are the Protocols ?
Thailand Tourism has made it super easy, after having tested procedures during the sandbox schemes. The easiest way to enter Thailand is under the test & go scheme. The revised norms have reduced the testing requirements and also reduced the mandatory insurance cover needed.
Travellers arriving in Thailand require a prepaid accommodation for just 1 night and the COVID-19 tests have been revised to 1 RT-PCR and 1 self-ATK. The health insurance coverage has also been reduced to at least a cover of US$20,000.
Who is eligible ?
Fully vaccinated Thai citizens and foreign travellers from all countries/territories are eligible. So no hassle for Indian citizens to enter Thailand. More over Indian citizens are permitted Visa on Arrival so it is super easy to enter.
What are the pre-arrival requirements?
You will need to obtain the following pre-arrival, as travel formalities
- A Thailand Pass, that can be applied at https://tp.consular.go.th/
- RT-PCR Test no later than 72 hours prior to travel
- A travel insurance policy cover of not less than USD 20000 per traveller that should include travel duration + 10 days as the number of days of cover required.
- Proof of prepayment for 1 night of accommodation at government-approved hotel/s; such as, SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) on Day 1, which should also include the expenses for 1 RT-PCR test on Day 1 and 1 Antigen Self-Test Kit (self-ATK) on Day 5
Do children require vaccination ?
Children below the age of 18 and travelling with parents can travel even if not vaccinated. To this is a big challenged solved, compared to the earlier norms.
Is a Covid test required during the course of stay?
Well yes and no. Yes because apart of the mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival in Thailand, no other 'RT-PCR' test is required. However, at the time of arrival , guests would be given a Rapid Anti-gen Self Testing kit. If you are holidaying for more than 4 days, then on 5th day you need to do this self test and report the result over the "Mor Chana" app.
How about Visa ?
Many countries are exempted from Visa and take Visa on arrival. India is in the list of countries permitted Visa on Arrival in Thailand. You can check status for other countries by clicking - Visa exempted countries
Indians can now travel to Thailand on Visa on Arrival
Is there a way to get Visa on Arrival online?
Yes, this is another good new. Countries eligible for Visa on arrival can apply for e-visa through VFS. The link is as below
- e-Visa link to get Visa on Arrival - Click Here
Which airlines from India are flying to Thailand ?
As of date, all major airlines including Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Air India, Indigo, Go Air and Spice Jets have announced their flight schedules to Thailand. Please check on individual airlines websites for more details.
So now you have all the essential information needed to plan your Thailand holiday. To keep your self updated on the go and to take help from fellow travellers and also to get some exciting offers directly from hotels, restaurants and attractions make sure you follow our special travellers Facebook Group.
Join the travellers Facebook Groups for information and offers, click here
We would also recommend you to read the official blogs of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to understand the details and plan your holiday in the best possible manner, below are the official TAT blog links
We wish you happy holidays and just in case you need any more details or wish to plan a holiday with us, drop us an email at hello@travstore.com