Thailand will allow travelers from a total of 46 countries including Japan to visit the country without a quarantine if they are fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, with the policy set to take effect Nov. 1, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha revealed Thursday on Facebook.
Visitors must show proof of having tested negative for COVID-19 prior to departing for Thailand, and they will also be tested upon arrival.
The premier said last week that the Thai government would initially drop the quarantine requirement for visitors from 10 countries considered to be low-risk for virus spread.
The new rules are expected to help restore the country's economy by boosting its tourism industry.
"If we wait for everything to be perfectly in place, we will be too late," Prayut said, warning that "tourists will decide to go to another country" rather than endure mandatory quarantines.
On Thursday, Thailand registered 9,727 new coronavirus cases and 73 deaths, bringing its totals up to 1,821,579 infections with 18,559 fatalities.
