Thailand fully opens as South Korea drops restrictions

The Thai Government announced that travellers no longer need to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to enter Thailand.

Authorities in Thailand say that local transmission of COVID still continues and that it encourages travellers and locals to wear a mask, practise social distancing, and follow government restrictions.

Alongside this, the South Korean government also announced that it no longer requires travellers to take a PCR test on arrival.

Previously, a negative PCR test within 24 hours of arrival was required to enter South Korea. The change sees the end of all COVID testing requirements for tourists after the pre-departure PCR test/RAT was scrapped in September this year.

If travellers wish to be tested, with or without symptoms, they now have the option of taking a free PCR test within three days of arrival to South Korea.

The changes have been implemented due to the decline in foreign introduced COVID cases, and the less fatal BA.5 becoming the dominant strain of the virus in the country.

The South Korean ministry of health will continue to monitor the spread of COVID and the severity of emerging strains and may re-introduce measures in future if circumstances require.

Japan announced it will drop all of its travel restrictions from 11 October, while Samoa, Bhutan and Hong Kong have also followed suit.