COVID-19 on Koh Tao

Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Koh Tao is safe and open to international visitors. Find all the information you need here.

Like every other tourist destination, Koh Tao has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we have been proactive in developing strategies that have allowed us to open safely to domestic and international visitors in the shortest possible timeframes and with minimal risk.

COVID-19 MANAGEMENT ON KOH TAO • KOH TAO IS SAFE AND OPEN • SAMUI PLUS ( SAMUI + ) • SHA PLUS ( SHA +) • KOH TAO TRAVEL AND TOURISM UPDATES

COVID-19 Management on Koh Tao

Central and regional government bodies, the Koh Tao hospital, and local business owners have all played an active role in managing COVID-19 on Koh Tao. In order to open safely to travelers following lockdown procedures, strict controls were put in place to ensure the wellbeing of our visitors. Measures included:

- - Reaching a vaccination rate of over 70% across all island residents. Current stats suggest we have already vaccinated over 80% of the island.
  - Awarding businesses following the necessary public health measures for COVID-19 were with an official Safety and Health Administration (SHA) certificate.
  - Enacting Hygiene and sanitation procedures in all tourism establishments including hotels, restaurants, and dive centers. This involves having temperature screening, alcohol gels, and face masks available, ensuring thorough cleaning procedures, and ensuring all employees have full COVID-19 insurance.

Koh Tao is Safe and Open

Koh Tao is safe and open to tourists. However, both residents and visitors are asked to abide by the following best practices and recommendations while they are here to minimize risk.

- - Wear a face mask
  - Use temperature check stations and fill in track-and-trace forms when entering businesses.
  - Practice social distancing
  - Adhere to local government requests and recommendations for group gatherings

Samui Plus (Samui+)

Samui Plus is one of Thailand’s approved ‘sandbox schemes’ designed to help fully vaccinated tourists visit the Gulf islands on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. Unvaccinated tourists can still enter the country if they stay for 14 days in an alternative state quarantine (ASQ) approved hotel on arrival. However, under the Samui Plus program, which began on July 15th, 2021, fully vaccinated tourists may now enter under a fast-tracked and more flexible tourism model.

Samui Plus visitors need only stay on Koh Samui for the first 7 days of their holiday. After this, they are free to travel to Koh Tao. Certain conditions apply, in that guests must stay in a SHA Plus hotel during their 7 day stay on Koh Samui, and for the first 7 days after they arrive on Koh Tao.

SHA Plus (SHA+)

Samui Plus visitors are only permitted to stay in registered SHA Plus hotels on Samui, and for the first 7 days of their stay on Koh Tao. To achieve the SHA Plus certificate, accommodations must abide by all safety principles to accomplish the regular SHA certification and meet additional requirements to guarantee pandemic-level health and safety standards. To gain the SHA Plus rating, hotels must:

Follow approved cleaning and hygiene procedures
Prove a staff vaccination rate of 70% or higher
Ensure no unvaccinated staff have close contact with guests
Have adequate signage for COVID-19 procedures
Place hand sanitizers and face masks at property entrances
Ensure table arrangements are in line with social distancing guidelines
Prepare each staff member with COVID-19 emergency solutions

Koh Tao Travel and Tourism Updates

Because travel requirements and regulations change frequently, we recommend you keep up with all of the developments as they happen. You are welcome to email us, but you can also stay up to date with countrywide travel and tourism updates on the official Tourism Association of Thailand webpage.