Thailand is soon introducing a change that will impact all travellers heading to the country and involves visitors giving personal details online at least three days before entering the country
A major change is about to impact all British travellers heading to Thailand is coming in May.
From May 1, all foreign visitors to Thailand must complete a digital arrival card before entry. The ‘Thailand Digital Entry Card’ (TDAC) is a digital platform which will streamline the entry procedures in the country. The site to apply for a digital card is already live and Thailand will be making it mandatory from May 1. Whether coming by air or sea, treavellers will all need to pre-register online up to three days before arrival.
As part of the digital card application, travellers must provide personal and travel details such as passport information and accommodation addresses.
READ MORE: EasyJet flight attendants in European country to walk out next week
The card replaces the traditional TM6 arrival form that has been used until April 15 last year, and aims to expediate immigration processing, as well as improve data collection. The new initiative is part of the country’s broader ambition to establish itself as a “Smart Tourism Destination”, and provide a more efficient experience for international visitors.
As part of the digital card, the Immigration Bureau has launched multilingual promotional materials, including instructional videos and brochures in different languages. The rollout of the digital card will also delay Thailand’s plans to implement a 300-baht (£6.65) tourism fee, as reported by local media.
Thailand has also delayed the launch of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system to pre-screen visa-free travellers, which was originally planned for December 1, 2024.
Tourism has been experiencing a downturn in the country, according to Skift. In a report released by the Bank of Thailand, foreign arrivals and revenue has seen a decline, with February experiencing a near 14 per cent month-on-month drop in visitor numbers and a nine per cent drop in total tourists.
The Thai tourism ministry has since said that it is revising its tourism strategy for the second half of 2025, particularly in light of the recent eartthquake experience in the region.
READ MORE: ‘Best’ place in UK to visit is beautiful market town that’s ‘never crowded’
On March 28, an earthquake impacted the Bangkok region and resulted in many tourists, particularly Chinese visitors, cancelling their holidays.
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake originating in Myanmar caused significant damage and panic in Bangkok, including the collapse of an unfinished tower block in Chatuchak, which left 81 construction workers missing. Rescue teams, including Thai authorities, Israeli military, US Special Forces, and Turkish earthquake experts, have been working to locate the missing workers.
The greater Bangkok area is home to over 17 million people, many of whom live in high-rise apartments. Alarms were heard going off in buildings as the earthquake hit around 1.30pm local time, and startled residents were evacuated down staircases of high-rise buildings and hotels in densely populated central Bangkok. The quake was forceful enough to send water splashing over the edges of pools, some high up in high-rises, as the tremor shook.