Chaotic scenes at Thailand's main airport today (March 21st) as thousands of tourists scrambled to leave amid a worsening coronavirus pandemic that has seen the country introduce a de facto travel ban.
Footage from the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok shows long queues of holidaymakers leaving the country.
It comes just hours before the introduction of strict new measures to limit tourist arrivals, which has led to at least one major airline, Air Asia, cancelling all international flights to and from the country.
With the country's declared covid-19 cases soaring and the capital Bangkok announcing a full-scale lockdown, many more international airlines could also cancel flights to the country.
Many countries are also cancelling flights leaving citizens stranded abroad. Holidaymakers in Thailand are keen to fly back to their home countries and avoid getting stuck overseas.
Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced strict new measures coming into force on Sunday (March 22nd) that will limit arrivals and block many Thai nationals stuck overseas from returning home.
Tourists will now need to show a medical certificate issued within 72 hours of boarding which proves they don't have the coronavirus in addition to coronavirus travel insurance - both of which are almost impossible to obtain. While Thai nationals must have a 'fit to fly' certificate issued by a doctor as well as a letter from their Embassy in order to board flights home.
"We are blocking infection from coming into the country. That is why people need medical certificates and health insurance to enter Thailand," Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Thursday.
Thailand has declared 411 Chinese coronavirus covid-19 cases as of March 21, which saw its biggest increase yet with 82 new infections reported by health officials.
Footage from the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok shows long queues of holidaymakers leaving the country.
It comes just hours before the introduction of strict new measures to limit tourist arrivals, which has led to at least one major airline, Air Asia, cancelling all international flights to and from the country.
With the country's declared covid-19 cases soaring and the capital Bangkok announcing a full-scale lockdown, many more international airlines could also cancel flights to the country.
Many countries are also cancelling flights leaving citizens stranded abroad. Holidaymakers in Thailand are keen to fly back to their home countries and avoid getting stuck overseas.
Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced strict new measures coming into force on Sunday (March 22nd) that will limit arrivals and block many Thai nationals stuck overseas from returning home.
Tourists will now need to show a medical certificate issued within 72 hours of boarding which proves they don't have the coronavirus in addition to coronavirus travel insurance - both of which are almost impossible to obtain. While Thai nationals must have a 'fit to fly' certificate issued by a doctor as well as a letter from their Embassy in order to board flights home.
"We are blocking infection from coming into the country. That is why people need medical certificates and health insurance to enter Thailand," Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Thursday.
Thailand has declared 411 Chinese coronavirus covid-19 cases as of March 21, which saw its biggest increase yet with 82 new infections reported by health officials.
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