Songkhla is a popular tourist destination within southern Thailand plus a gateway to Malaysia and Singapore.
The Sadao border crossing has seen an increase within travellers from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore since Jul one, after the Thai federal government scrapped the pre-arrival registration system Thailand Pass and the requirement of travel insurance coverage worth US$10, 000.
Data from the Sadao Immigration Office demonstrated 3, 862 landings on Jul one alone, compared to 1, 338 arrivals on a single day last month.
The particular checkpoint was shut for more than two years due to the pandemic before reopening in Apr. However , it was not until Thailand eased traveling requirements this month that more foreign visitors started to return to Songkhla.
“For illustration, in June, there was still many procedures to follow before they could travel here plus tourists wouldn’t wish to waste their period. Moreover, there were various other expenses such as the insurance policy and COVID-19 medical tests, ” an immigration official at the boundary crossing, who failed to want to be named, told CNA.
“The insurance with US$10, 000 coverage costs between 600 baht (US$17) and 700 baht which may not really seem like a lot of money. However for a family of six to seven individuals, for instance, that’d cost them several thousand baht, ” he mentioned.
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