The Thai government is considering withdrawing the state funded quarantine option for international arrivals by air from July 1st, citing its cost.

The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) decided on the plan at a meeting in late March, because far fewer people have been arriving from abroad compared to the pre-pandemic period, while some have taken advantage of the facility by flying in and out many times, said CCSA sub-committee chief and National Security Council Secretary-General Gen. Nattaphon Narkphanich.

If state supported quarantine is withdrawn, people arriving in Thailand by air will need to quarantine in paid Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) hotels instead, which means booking prior to arrival, he said, adding that state quarantine may remain in place for those arriving in Thailand by land.

The plan will be proposed to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the CCSA meeting on June 18th.

The country is set to reopen for fully inoculated foreign tourists, without quarantine, on July 1st, initially with Phuket.