Thailand added three popular beach destinations to a visa programme that allows foreign visitors to bypass a mandatory isolation, throwing a lifeline to its Covid-19-hit tourism industry seen as key to a nascent economic recovery, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand website. 

Starting today (January 11), vaccinated foreign tourists can enter Krabi, Phang Nga and Surat Thani (only Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao) -- in addition to Phuket under the so-called sandbox programme that will not require them to go through quarantine, provided they spend at least a week in these destinations, according to the Royal Thai Government Gazette published on January 8.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) provided an update on the latest announcement by the Royal Thai Government that redesignated 69 provinces as Controlled Areas or 'Orange Zone', while maintaining eight remaining provinces plus districts in 18 provinces as 'Blue Zone' pilot tourist destinations, effective from January 9.

The announcement also confirmed that travellers who have applied/obtained their Thailand Pass QR code before December 22, 2021, with scheduled arrival dates in Thailand from December 24, 2021 onwards, can still enter Thailand until there are any changes.

Currently, there is no cut-off date, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand website.