Expensive Covid tests and a complex entry process are discouraging travellers from the region.

Thailand’s attempt to attract more visitors from the Middle East is being undermined by a complicated certificate of entry (COE) application process and relatively costly Covid-19 tests, says the Dubai office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

"Feedback from tourists about the Phuket sandbox is positive, but applying for the COE and expensive RT-PCR tests remain obstacles," said Chaiwat Tamthai, director of the TAT's Dubai office.

He said a RT-PCR test in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) costs around 200-300 baht, compared with 8,000 baht for three tests for a 14-day stay in Thailand.

The number of COE applications during June 1 to Sept 7 from the UAE, comprising a mix of locals and expatriates hailing mostly from Europe, stood at 6,600.

Mr Chaiwat said Phuket welcomed 5,000 tourists from the Middle East in the first month of the sandbox programme, before dropping to 2,000 in August due to stricter regulations and the start of a new school semester in the Middle East.

Travel demand remains in Oman, Jordan and Iran, but these countries are designated as high risk by Thailand because of ongoing Covid-19 outbreaks there as well as low vaccination rates, he said.

Mr Chaiwat said if Thailand maintains the same travel conditions, the number of tourists from the Middle East should reach 20,000 in the final quarter.

He added that if requirements could be relaxed, 100,000 travellers from the region including expatriates may visit Thailand between this year's fourth quarter and the first quarter of 2022.