Wego along with ‘Tourism Authority of Thailand’ Aim to Attract GCC Holidaymakers to Thailand in the New Normal

Dubai, 18 October 2021:Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), is boosting tourism by attracting all Middle East travelers to visit this picturesque beach destination.

Thailand has now opened up its borders for international tourists by easing some travel restrictions. On July 1st, 2021 the island of Phuket was reopened to all vaccinated foreign visitors without quarantine requirements. The unvaccinated travelers and those entering Thailand via Bangkok are still required to undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine at designated ASQ (Alternative State Quarantine).

Through this partnership, Wego and Tourism Authority of Thailand will entice travelers to visit this country once again after the pandemic through targeted marketing campaigns and content featuring the finest things to do and the escapes that travelers have been longing for.

"The Land of Smiles"has officially launched a nationwide vaccine program. Almost 46 million doses have been administered, and its aim is to vaccinate 70% of the population by the end of the year.

Chaiwat Tamthai, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand's Middle East office, said: "We more than welcome vaccinated travelers especially from the Middle East Region. All travelers are requested to take adequate precautions while traveling to Thailand. This includes a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure."

"Those who wish to visit Thailand need to register and handover the Certificate of Entry (COE) at least 5 to 15 days before their scheduled departure as advised by the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General application. Additionally, the hotels which to be booked should be certified by SHA+ (Amazing Thailand Safety Health Administration) which is a certificate that represents tourism industry entrepreneurs' readiness in improving their products,servicesand sanitation measures which is the crucial factor in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by complying with the sanitation measures, which in turn can build trust and confidence in customers and service recipients of such products and services."

Mamoun Hmedan, Managing Director, MENA and India, Wego, said:"This partnership marks another step in reviving the tourism industry. Our searches show that Thailand is a key destination for MENA travelers. Through this collaboration, we aim to drive the conversation around the land of smiles and attract more travelers in the new normal."

Starting from 1 October 2021, 7-day quarantine for travellers who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by Thailands Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) or the World Health Organisation (WHO) no less than 14 days before their travel date, they are required to present the vaccine certificate (either the original or a printed copy) at the point of entry into Thailand.

During the quarantine, they are required to undergo two RT-PCR tests first upon arrival on Day 0-1, and the second before finishing the quarantine period on Day 6-7.

10-day Quarantine for Travellers who have not been vaccinated, without a vaccine certificate, or partially vaccinated, and who arrive in Thailand by air will be required to enter a 10-day quarantine and undergo two RT-PCR tests first upon arrival on Day 0-1, and the second on Day 8-9.

In order to be eligible to enter Thailand, vaccinated international travellers still need to have all of their advance arrangements in good order for arrival and entry.

These include a valid visa or re-entry permit, a Certificate of Entry (COE) issued by the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate, a COVID-19 health insurance policy, confirmation of Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) hotel booking, and a medical certificate with a RT-PCR laboratory result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before departure.

Interested vaccinated foreign tourists are recommended to enquire at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in their home country for more details.

Amidst the pandemic the sightseeing activities are permitted while maintaining social distancing and all the safety norms. All restaurants and markets are now open.

There is a pledge towards green tourism, encouraging travelers to explore the natural landscapes. No place on this planet offers the mesmerizing combination of scuba diving, religious culture, and white-sand beaches as Thailand. While local transport facilities are available for residents only the Tuk-tuks and taxis are operating in full-capacity.

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About Wego

Wego provides award-winning travel search websites and top-ranked mobile apps for travelers living in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions. Wego harnesses powerful yet simple to use technology that automates the process of searching and comparing results from hundreds of airline, hotel and online travel agency websites.

Wego presents an unbiased comparison of all travel products and prices offered in the marketplace by merchants, both local and global, and enables shoppers to quickly find the best deal and place to book whether it is from an airline or hotel directly or with a third-party aggregator website.

Wego was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Dubai and Singapore with regional operations in Bangalore، Jakarta and Cairo.

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About Tourism Authority of Thailand:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was established on 18 March 1960. TAT was the first organization in Thailand to be specifically responsible for the promotion of tourism. TAT supplies information and data on tourist areas to the public and publicises Thailand with the intention of encouraging both Thai and international tourists to travel in and around Thailand. TAT has established many overseas offices, the first being in New York, which opened in 1965. During the past 30 years, TAT has established 29 offices in different parts of the world. The 29^thoffice has already been opened at Fukuoka, Japan.