The government on Monday cancelled a policy announced at the weekend requiring visitors to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination, Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said.
The Phuket Tourist Association on Sunday said foreign tourism operators were enraged about having to issue refunds to customers, many of whom already en route to airports when the new rule was announced without warning.
The country's aviation authority had on Saturday announced the restrictions, effective Monday, ahead of an expected influx of visitors from China, where Covid-19 cases have surged.
In an abrupt U-turn on Monday, Mr Anutin said requiring visitors to show evidence of two vaccine doses was "inconvenient" and a panel of experts decided that it was unnecessary as enough vaccinations had been administered globally.
Mr Anutin said visitors not vaccinated at all would also be granted entry without restriction.
The first flight of Chinese visitors since the pandemic started arrived in Thailand on Monday, carrying an initial group of an expected 3,465 passengers on the first day, Mr Anutin said.
Mr Anutin said the kingdom was now expecting 7-10 million Chinese visitors.
Authorities will still require foreigners whose next destination is a country requiring a negative pre-entry Covid-19 test to show they have health insurance covering treatment for the disease, Mr Anutin said.
