Thailand open again for international tourists: Kickoff on 1 October

Before the coronavirus reached the Southeast Asian vacation paradise, Bangkok was the most visited city in the world. Thailand was considered one of the most popular travel destinations. When the government finally made the decision to close the entire country to foreign visitors in March 2020, little did they know that the crisis would drag on for 18 months. The measures included a very strict lockdown with night-time curfews and the suspension of air, bus and rail travel. Although the first tourists returned in October 2020, they had to endure a two-week quarantine in their hotel room. A circumstance that only long-term travelers accepted. The further opening followed gradually. Phuket was considered a pilot project with the "Phuket Sandbox" from July 1, 2021. It allowed fully vaccinated travelers to enter the country under certain conditions and without quarantine. Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao followed suit in mid-July with a similar concept. The first seven nights must be spent in a quarantine hotel. After three days, however, you were allowed to leave the hotel complex.