Germans vaccinated against the coronavirus will soon be allowed to travel to Thailand again without having to go into quarantine there. The authorities in the country have confirmed the tourist opening plan of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. According to it, quarantine-free entry will apply from November 1 to fully vaccinated people from five countries, a spokesman for the Covid Crisis Center (CCSA) announced. In addition to Germany, these are the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore and China.

Holidaymakers from these states then only need a negative PCR test for entry. Quarantine is no longer necessary. Further details on the exact rules were not initially disclosed. However, more provinces are to be opened to tourists from November, including the capital Bangkok and the popular province of Krabi with its islands and white beaches. The exact list is still being drawn up, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported.

Prayut had announced the planned opening in a televised address Monday night and instructed the CCSA and the Health Ministry to review the plan by the end of the week. On Thursday, he reiterated that Thailand would be ready for the opening in two weeks. "Many countries want their citizens to visit Thailand," he said. "It will be a small start for people to earn a living again."

At the same time, the authorities announced further easing of the measures currently still in force in many parts of the country. As early as Saturday, nighttime curfew restrictions will be shortened: Instead of 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., they will then apply from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.. Restaurants and shopping malls will thus be able to open longer again.

The tourism sector, which is extremely important for the country with its 70 million inhabitants, has been almost completely devastated for a year and a half. Many people have had no income since then. Last year, Thailand was still considered a model country in the fight against the pandemic - but since April, the country has experienced its worst wave to date. Infection figures are now slowly falling. As of Thursday, 11,200 new infections and 112 deaths linked to Covid-19 were reported.