Thailand had lifted its ban on international flights.

According to the Bangkok Post, the ban was lifted on July 1, with aircraft and individuals allowed to enter the country under certain conditions.

They must also comply with time limits and rules of the authorised persons under the Immigration Act, communicable diseases laws, air aviation law and the emergency decree, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).

A notice issued by the CAAT set out 11 categories of travellers that would be allowed into the country:

1. Thai nationals
2. Individuals who were invited by the prime minister or authorities responsible for the emergency
3. The spouse, parents, or children of a Thai national
4. Foreigners with residency rights in Thailand
5. Foreign spouses and children of work permit holders
6. Individuals carrying necessary goods, who must leave the country immediately after their work is done
7. Drivers and staff of vehicles that have to carry out necessary or important missions in Thailand and have a clear schedule for leaving
8. International students and their guardians
9. Foreigners and their carers seeking non-Covid-19 medical treatment in Thailand
10. Staff of embassies, consulates, international organisations or representatives of foreign governments who have to carry out their mission in Thailand as allowed by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, as well as their spouses, parents, children
11. Foreigners who are allowed to enter Thailand as per special arrangements

Relief for tumbling economy

The lifting of the ban comes after five weeks with no community transmission of Covid-19 cases, reported SCMP.

It comes as a relief to Thailand's airport, airlines, and tourism industry.

Bangkok Post reported that fewer than five million passengers had passed through the country's 28 airports since the beginning of the year, a stark contrast to the same period last year which saw 9.3 million passengers using the same airports.

SCMP quoted the country's Head of Thailand’s national tourism agency Yuthasak Supasorn as saying that revenue from tourism was set to be slashed by 60 per cent this year.

Tourism currently accounts for about 18 per cent of Thailand’s GDP.

The pandemic induced economic downturn has proved devastating for the South-East Asian nation, with its central bank recently revise growth down to negative 8.1 per cent, lower than the 7.6 per cent contraction during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, according to SCMP.

Top image from Geoff Greenwood via Unsplash