Thailand to Transition COVID-19 to 'Endemic' in October... Plans to Extend Tourist Stay Period

On the 31st of last month (local time), tourists were sightseeing at Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand attracted over 2 million tourists in the first half of 2022, and according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the total number of tourists this year is expected to reach 9 million.

Thailand will lift the COVID-19 state of emergency in October and transition to an 'endemic' system, treating the virus as a settled infectious disease.

According to local media such as the Bangkok Post and foreign news outlets on the 19th, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha approved a plan on the same day to lift the COVID-19 state of emergency starting in October and to disband the COVID-19 Situation Administration Center (CCSA).

Instead of the CCSA, which has served as the control tower for COVID-19 response under the Prime Minister's command, the Ministry of Health and provincial epidemic committees will manage COVID-19 going forward.

Currently, about 2,000 to 4,000 people are hospitalized daily due to COVID-19 in Thailand, with deaths ranging from 11 to 39 per day.

The CCSA expects daily hospitalizations and deaths to drop to around 1,000 and 10 respectively by the end of the year.

The Thai government declared a state of emergency on March 24, 2020, in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases, banning foreign entry and closing restaurants and other establishments as part of strict measures.

As the COVID-19 situation has somewhat eased this year, authorities have significantly relaxed regulations.

From July, the mandatory issuance of the Thailand Pass, a pre-registration platform for foreign arrivals, was abolished, and the requirement to purchase insurance covering COVID-19 treatment costs was also removed, lifting most restrictions. The outdoor mask mandate was also eliminated.

Operating hours for entertainment venues were extended to 2 a.m., and plans to further extend hours to 4 a.m. at some tourist spots are under consideration.

To accelerate economic recovery, the government is also pushing to extend the allowable stay period for foreign tourists. Until the end of this year, tourists entering from countries where the tourist visa is valid for 30 days will be allowed to stay for 45 days, temporarily extending the visa period.

From the beginning of this year until the 17th of this month, 3.87 million foreign tourists have entered Thailand, a 3,214% increase compared to the same period last year.