Foreign tourists will no longer have to book a second RT-PCR test and hotel room on the fifth day of their stay in Thailand, according to a government announcement on Monday. Meanwhile, mandatory health coverage for foreign visitors has been reduced from US$50,000 to $20,000 (Bt648,000).

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s relaxation of restrictions under the Test & Go tourism scheme was published on the Royal Gazette website, making the move official.

The announcement, which was signed by CCSA chairman Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, stipulated that the new rules will come into effect on March 1 (Tuesday).

Under the new tourism rules, the second RT-PCR test and hotel booking will be replaced by a self-administered rapid antigen test (ATK). Foreign tourists will have to report the result via a government app.

The Nation