Thailand tightens entry requirements after Chinese opening

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand will require international travelers to prove they are fully vaccinated against COVID before flying into the country, Thailand’s aviation regulatory authority said, as it prepares for the arrival of tourists from China after the reopening of its border on Sunday.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said in a statement on Saturday that starting Monday, all foreign travelers will be required to prove they are vaccinated, or have contracted COVID, and recovered. , in the last six months.

Unvaccinated arrivals must produce a medical certificate explaining why they were not given the vaccine.

CAAT added that checking documents before boarding would be the responsibility of the airlines and that the new measure will remain in effect at least until the end of January.

The requirement for proof of vaccination was lifted by Thailand in October. The reinstated measure will not apply to Thai passport holders or passengers only transiting through the country.

(Panu Wongcha-um, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng, Gilles Guillaume for the French version)