Travellers in a fix over govt announcement of mandatory RT-PCR testing

The rule applies to passengers arriving from five nations and calls for quarantine of infected/symptomatic flyers; travellers fear list may soon include more countries

With over 900,000 visitors between January and December, India has been the second-largest source market for Thailand. More trips are planned for New Year and for business events and weddings in January.

But Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya’s announcement to introduce the mandatory reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for airline passengers from five countries, including Thailand, may force holidaymakers to reconsider their plans.

On Saturday, Mandaviya said his ministry would implement the RT-PCR tests for incoming passengers from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand after discussing it with the civil aviation ministry.

A formal order was not