Brits banned from travelling internationally - including to Thailand
FILE PHOTO for reference only//Credit: Wanderlust
Last week, the Thai government unveiled its so-called 'area quarantine' plan which it hopes will attract more foreign tourists to Thailand.
Set to officially launch in April in five destinations popular with foreign tourists - Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Koh Samui - greater freedom during quarantine.
The plans would require tourists to stay in their hotel rooms for the first three days. However, if they test negative for COVID-19 they will then be allowed to access the whole of the resort for the remainder of the 14 day quarantine period.
After 14 days they will then be tested again and if found to be negative they will be allowed to leave the resort.
But regardless of the plans the Thai government has for area quarantine, it is unlikely to include British tourists any time soon.
This is because British government has banned its citizens from travelling overseas on holiday.
Effective from today (8 March), anyone travelling internationally from England will need to present a form stating their trip is permitted under the UK's current national lockdown rules.
Those travelling internationally from England now need to complete and carry a Declaration to Travel document which can be downloaded from the Government's website.
Anyone who does not have the required documentation is likely to be prevented from boarding.
Those identified by police, who will be carrying out spot checks at airports, attempting to travel internationally without valid reason, such as for education or work, face being fined anywhere between £200 and £6,400.
Different rules apply for international travel from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The Declaration to Travel document also doesn't need to be completed for travel within the UK, to Ireland, and the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Travellers are advised to print a copy of the completed form or save it to a mobile or other device.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) regularly updates its travel advice for Britons.
The FCO travel advice at the time of posting is that Britons must stay home unless they have a legally permitted reason to do so.
"It is illegal to travel abroad for holidays and other leisure purposes," the FCO website reads.
Legally permitted reasons to be outside of the home for international travel include essential travel for business or official work purposes as well as for academic studies where it is required you are overseas.
This includes international students returning home.
Other permitted reasons include on medical grounds as well as for weddings and funerals.
British expats stuck in the UK are also likely to be permitted to return to Thailand for work purposes or to reunite with their families in Thailand.
But Britons simply wanting to visit Thailand on holiday are not currently permitted to do so.
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