reader

From The Nation Thailand will go ahead with the controversial 300-baht “tourism tax” for international tourists, but implementation will be delayed until June, Tourism and Sports Minister Phipat Ratchakitprakarn said on Monday. The National Tourism Policy Committee resolved last week to go ahead with the plan despite calls from the tourism and hospitality industry to drop the plan. Phipat said his ministry was working out details of the plan with relevant government agencies after which the matter will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval. Once given the go-ahead, the regulation will be published in the Royal Gazette and go into effect 90 days later. He said the entry fee is in line with the 2019 national tourism policy and will initially only be applied to people arriving by air. The minister explained that of the 300 baht collected, 20 per cent will be spent on insurance, which will provide a 500,000-baht coverage in case of an accident and 1-million baht in case of death. The compensation will be provided within 45 days. The remainder of the fee will be split between airlines and the national tourism policy fund, which will spend the funds on infrastructure for top tourist destinations and basic facilities like public toilets. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012326

From The Nation As part of moves to develop the capital’s canals and improve the lives of residents, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is getting ready to launch an electric boat service in the Saen Saep canal. The new boat service will run from Wat Si Bun Rueang to the Minburi district office is expected to be launched this month. BMA has procured 12 electric boats for the project and has rebuilt eight damaged piers. The service will run from 5.30am to 8.30pm daily from Monday to Friday, with boats departing every 15 minutes during rush hour and every 30 minutes otherwise. The last boat will leave the pier at about 7.30pm. On Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, the service will be provided from 6am to 7pm, with boats departing every 30 minutes and the last boat leaving at about 6.30pm. The piers served by these electric boats are: • Wat Si Bun Rueang • Phrommitpittaya School • Seri Thai Pier 26 • Khlong Ras • Rom Sai Village • Red Mosque • Lo Lae Yai Community • Minburi Market • Minburi District Office https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012274

From Channel News Asia PHNOM PENH: Cambodia is powering up its new National Internet Gateway, a move activists say will allow the government to further silence the country's embattled opposition voices. UN rights experts warn the gateway, which will funnel all web traffic through a state-controlled entry point from Feb 16, will have a "devastating" effect on privacy and free speech. It is the latest move by authoritarian ruler Hun Sen to clamp down on dissent in a country that has arrested dozens for online posts in recent years, critics say. Internet gateways are the points on a network where a country connects to the worldwide web. Once fully operational, Cambodia's new National Internet Gateway will channel all traffic through a single entry point controlled by the government. Internet service providers will be ordered to block websites and connections that adversely affect "national revenue, safety, social order, morality, culture, traditions and customs". UN rights experts warned earlier this month that the sweeping new powers will further shrink what is left of the space for dissent in Cambodia, where Hun Sen has buttressed his 37-year rule by steadily rolling back democratic freedoms. The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) says the new gateway will give the former Khmer Rouge cadre yet more ways to silence opposing voices. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/cambodia-new-internet-gateway-surveillance-2496616

Hope they have the shooters' address abroad. They don't want to run into the same dilemma they had with Red Bull heir who remains at large. From Pattaya News A ‘Red Notice’ arrest warrant is being issued for two wanted alleged foreign shooters who are accused of killing a Canadian-Indian national at a Phuket villa in late January, the Royal Thai Police reported yesterday, February 12th. National police deputy spokesperson Kissana Pattanacharoen told the Associated Press that the identities of the prime suspects had been identified as Canadians Gene Karl Lahrkamp, 36, and Matthew Leandre Ovide Dupre, 26. An arrest warrant, issued by the Phuket Provincial Court, stated that they were facing charges of premeditated murder. The two were reportedly identified through confessions of some gang members who were previously arrested as well as GPS tracking from the suspects’ rented car and forensic evidence from the guns that were dropped in the sea. The Thai National Police now had coordinated with Interpol to consider issuing a red notice to inform all 195 member countries to help with more information regarding the wanted men. Their current exact whereabouts are unclear but Thai authorities felt confident they would be able to capture the men. https://thepattayanews.com/2022/02/13/interpol-red-notice-being-issued-for-two-alleged-foreign-shooters-who-killed-another-foreigner-at-phuket-villa-royal-thai-police-report/

It's not Barry Kenyon's knowledge of the trends in the Pattaya expat population, it's the manner in which he roundly characterized fellow expats. It's a condescending attitude that some well-to-do expats exhibit from time to time when they refer to their less wealthy contemporaries. In his case it was the use of bald heads and expanding waistlines that served to belittle those long-time retirees. I think if he had to do it over again, he'd reconsider that description.

From VN Express Vietnam will remove limits on the number of international flights coming and going from all markets starting February 15, restoring frequency to pre-pandemic levels. Dinh Viet Son, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, said Vietnam will end restrictions on international flights starting February 15, allowing flight frequency restoration to pre-pandemic levels. Son said other countries have acknowledged the new policy and only China has not agreed to resume commercial flights with Vietnam. On February 11, the Ministry of Transport assigned the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam to hold discussions with aviation authorities of other countries and territories on resuming regular international passenger flights with markets that had direct flights to Vietnam before the pandemic. Vietnam had already begun a gradual resumption of international flights from the start of this year while easing quarantine requirements. In particular, vaccinated passengers now only need three days of self-quarantine. https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/vietnam-to-lift-covid-19-curbs-on-international-flights-4427004.html

There's much at stake going forward. If tourists lose confidence in the testing infrastructure, it will be a challenge to win it back. Under the original format, I don't recall any controversy. When it went into effect on Nov. 1, Omicron was not yet so dominant a factor. And although Thai authorities are not saying what percentage of new infections are the result of the Omicron variant, we know from trends in Europe and North America that it quickly became the dominant factor there. Testing positive for Delta was a legitimate cause for concern commensurate with the signs and symptoms exhibited by the individual. What's different with Omicron is that all international tourists who enter under Test and Go and the Sandbox are fully vaccinated. And although break through cases can and do occur, the symptoms--if any--are generally mild and consistent with a common cold. Yet health authorities continue treating Omicron infections among international tourists in the same manner that they did with Delta. This goes against a government doctor's advice this week that Thailand has to learn to live with virus. Public must be ready to 'live with Covid' The Public Health Ministry is preparing to propose a relaxation of measures to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) this week, to encourage people to live with the coronavirus as opposed to imposing lockdowns during outbreaks. Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the ministry's Department of Disease Control (DDC), would not go into detail about the measures to be eased. However, he said Thailand was moving in line with trends elsewhere. "The global situation of Covid-19 seems to be moving in the same direction. Many countries have started to ease measures despite spikes in daily infections," he said. The ministry believes Thailand should no longer impose lockdowns as people need to learn to cope with Covid-19, which will reach an endemic stage soon, Dr Opas said. Despite the high transmission rate of the Omicron variant, its effects are less severe than those of Delta, he said. "We need to get people to understand that the number of daily new cases is nothing to worry about," he said. "We've lived with the disease for two years already, so it's about time to move on together." https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2259687/ministry-to-propose-relaxation-of-virus-curbs

Do these percentages appear way out of proportion? Is it the reporting system, the testing system or something else all together? From Richardbarrow.com THAI NEWS REPORTS: On 11th February, 182 international arrivals tested positive. This is the percentage according to which test. Test & Go: Day 0 (64.10%) Day 1-3 (2.57%) Day 4-7 (33.33%) Sandbox: Day 0 (32.79%) Day 4-7 (64.75%) Day 7+ (2.46%) ============================ THAI NEWS REPORTS: Infection rate of people entering Thailand by air by country of origin: 1. Russia 18.72% 2. Kazakhstan 7.03% 3. Sweden 2.5% 4. Germany 2.38% 5. France 1.85% 6. UK 1.51% 7. UAE 1.49% 8. USA 1.14% 9. Australia 1.09% 10. Singapore 1.03%

It was a cheap shot. The author could have made his point without making the retirees the butt of a poor attempt at humor.

Thanks for sharing the story of your trip, and the great photos. Deciding to keep N with you as you enter quarantine speaks volumes about your relationship. So long as Thailand insists on a second PCR test, outcomes like this will deter would-be tourists (myself included) from visiting. Omicron is with us until it runs its course and no country can test its way out of it. Looking at today's headlines in the Bangkok Post, the mixed messaging the government is sending couldn't be more evident, something I'd been doing (pre-covid) 2-3 times a year since 2002. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has approved a travel bubble with India in hopes of attracting high-spending young people (earlier this week it was announced that travel tours were being negotiated with China and Malaysia). Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority is wheeling out yet another version of "Amazing Thailand" to attract international tourists in an attempt to rebuild the economy. If the government would simply revert to the original version of test-and go it would realize a far greater yield than all the promotions combined.

From Thai Enquirer By Natcha Patanasophon Sex is a rarely discussed topic in Thailand, and it’s been like this for centuries. But conversations around sex education with a focus on gender identity and sexuality are finally starting to change. Chaitong Yingpeant, an adult content creator who prefers to use an anonymous name, told Thai Enquirer that the country suffers from a long history of distorted information about sex. It’s a problem rooted in conservative beliefs, he said, one where traditional opinion is that young Thais should avoid sensitive conversations about sex in their entirety. “Thai society now misunderstands sexuality,” Chaitong said. “Adults and the government need to focus on providing proper sex education. If people receive correct information, then there will be less misunderstandings about sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases.” He believes that people’s perceptions towards sex is changing quickly. Today, there’s more access to knowledge than ever, so there’s no reason why this should not be reflected in Thai schools as well. Continues at https://www.thaienquirer.com/37450/sex-talk-why-thailand-needs-to-have-healthy-conversations-about-sex/

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon While substantial Thai tourism will certainly resume once the pandemic subsides, the traditional expat market is already in steep decline. These are the guys who retired here on fixed pensions to enjoy the golden years before the prospect of the crematorium became a near-term possibility. Journalist Sarah Scuzzarello describes this group as “Elderly retirees enacting privilege over local people because of their superior wealth.” The immigration bureau does not publish meaningful statistics and retirees can hide under several visa categories, not necessarily those labeled as such. But their numbers have shrunk from perhaps 400,000 ten years ago to a small fraction in 2022. Mostly Europeans, Brits and Scandinavians in particular, the retirees that remain are now mostly in their 70s or older. Thai lawyers these days deal with more enquiries about post-mortem probate than about how to get married here. The reasons for the slump are many. An American media-sponsored survey in 2019 found that the main issues were the rising cost of living, fears that hospital treatment would bankrupt them and the fact that “Thailand isn’t what it used to be” for various reasons. These were mostly about traffic congestion, Chinese tour buses in Pattaya or overweight gogo dancers. Of course, the pandemic has encouraged the downward trend as few people consider resettlement abroad during an international health crisis. Desperate publicity about Brits stuck in Thai hospitals, dependent on crowd-funding to save their lives, has finally killed off the nonsense that the embassy will ride to the rescue. Pattaya illustrates these themes very well. It is beyond debate that the retiree market has slumped and that bald heads and expanding waistlines dominate in the residual expat population. Of course some wealthy retirees are still around, but the nightlife centers such as Soi Buakhao are teeming with short-term tourists, “Covid” visa-extension perpetual survivors and budget-conscious retirees looking for food and drink bargains. Many of those remaining in Thailand claim to have nowhere else to go. Meanwhile, the Thai tourist minister Phiphat Rathchakitprakarn has made it very clear that the welcome expats of the future will be high-net-worth individuals such as multi-millionaire pensioners, well-heeled investors and foreign professionals and executives who can transfer their work skills to boost the Thai economy. In return they will have a 10-year visa and the perk of avoiding three-monthly trips to immigration to report their whereabouts. Other bonuses are still under wraps. Many doubt the scheme will work. But that’s not the point here. The squeeze is already on against retirees who think that 800,000 baht in the bank is a tremendous sum. That would disappear after a few days in the intensive care unit. The compulsory insurance net is slowly closing – howbeit with multiple loopholes for now – whilst the assumption that third parties and visa agents will be able for all time to arrange extensions of stay for those unable to fund themselves is speculative at best. Whatever Thailand’s future in international immigration, the traditional retiree is past his prime. Pattaya is no exception. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/pattaya-can-longer-rely-on-elderly-retiree-expats-388987

From Richardbarrow.com The Covid-19 task force approved lower fees for COVID-19 tests that would take effect on March 1. An antigen test kit that people will buy will be priced at 55 baht, down from 80 baht. The fee for an RT-PCR test by service units will be cut to 900 baht from 1,200 baht.

From Bangkok Post Police have thrown a wide net in the search for a man who assaulted and robbed a German TV presenter, the wife of a prominent German footballer, on a beach in Phangnga province. Pol Lt Gen Amphon Buarabporn, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8, said on Thursday that the robbery occurred in Khokkloi area of Phangnga province, not in neighbouring Phuket province as incorrectly reported in foreign media. According to media reports in Germany, Cathy Hummels, a German TV presenter and the wife of German International and Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels, was assaulted and robbed while walking on a beach at night in Phuket. Ms Hummels was in Thailand to film her TV show Battle of the Reality Stars. The attack occurred while she was relaxing after completing production last week. According to German newspaper Bild, the attacker hit her on the head several times before stealing her mobile phone. She ran back to the hotel, with her injuries. She told her team members and filed a complaint with local police before leaving the country the next day. Pol Lt Gen Amphon stood firm in saying the investigation would be swift and thorough and the thief would be brought to justice. The incident had tarnished Thailand's tourism image. He also said the victim had left without giving a statement to police. The assault happened at Na Tai beach, about 800 metres from Aleenta Hotel in tambon Khokkloi of Takua Thung district in neighbouring Phangnga province, about 9pm on Feb 5. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2262071/police-net-cast-for-thief-who-attacked-visiting-german-tv-presenter

It's becoming more apparent by the day that some of the more reliable information on this topic is being provided board members who actually worked their way through the process, or are in the process of doing so. This article about authorities attempting to get insurers interested in offering 10 days of coverage for those who test positive illustrates the confusion that exits between ministries, hotels and hospitals. From Bangkok Post Insurers avoid travellers after heavy Covid losses Insurance companies have become reluctant to offer Covid-19 coverage to foreign tourists as the industry was beset by a liquidity crunch after issuing many policies and experiencing a high number of cases the past year. Tourists remain interested in the country, as new registrations for the Test & Go programme reached 119,807 as of Feb 8. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, deputy governor for marketing communications at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said following discussions with the Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) over optional Covid-19 insurance for international tourists, only a few companies expressed an interest in joining the programme. Only 4% of inbound tourists have tested positive for Covid-19, most of which have been mild cases. Many insurance companies are facing losses from Covid-19 claims from local cases and are unsure about offering policies to foreign tourists, particularly in terms of reimbursement based on possible scenarios, he said. The Public Health Ministry is dealing with insufficient or expensive hospital beds in major provinces by allowing each provincial communicable disease committee to grant permission to hotel operators to establish isolation rooms on their properties to host asymptomatic guests. Mr Siripakorn said the 10-day hotel isolation price starts from 20,000 baht, including three meals a day and telemedicine from a partner hospital. "While waiting for the OIC to conclude an insurance package, we have to increase affordable hotel isolation as an option for infected tourists so they don't have to pay more than 100,000 baht for treatment, as happened before," he said. Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said hotels in many provinces have not yet applied for isolation rooms as they are unsure about the procedures. Hotels in Bangkok are still waiting to hear from the Department of Health Service Support regarding rules, she said. "We were told there is an act that grants permission to hotels to serve as isolation centres, but according to provincial authorities, the partner hospital has to take charge of this process, not hotels. At present, few hospitals are aware of this rule," said Mrs Marisa. She said the obstacles of Covid-19 insurance and hotel isolation are weighing on the domestic situation, with local cases rising sharply to 13,182 on Wednesday. After Test & Go resumed on Feb 1, the flow of tourists has not been as strong as in November, when the scheme was first introduced. "The fifth-day compulsory Covid test is hampering tourism," Mrs Marisa said. "Locals may hesitate to book trips if infections spike." https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2261703/insurers-avoid-travellers-after-heavy-covid-losses

+1

You're not going to find country-specific detail in policies that cover many different countries. You can ask agent by phone for clarification, but the protocols followed in Thailand can be interpreted differently from hospital to hospital and hotel to hotel. I would anticipate that if I tested positive and was asymptomatic that I may well end up eating the extra expense myself. You can try to minimize the uncertainties but you can't protect against all of them. It's an inherently cumbersome process. At some point you have to leave the outcome to fate.

From Coconuts Bangkok Located on the 74th floor of the King Power Mahanakhon at 314 meters up, the Mahanakhon Skywalk will be closed tomorrow until April 11. It will open again at 10am on April 12. The nature of the renovations were not specified. The skywalk has been popular among tourists and locals for its magnificent, panoramic 360-degree view of the capital. Coconuts was there when it opened, you can read our experience here. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/mahanakhon-skywalk-closed-for-renovation/

From Thaiger / Guardia In a Singaporean news broadcast on the Winter Olympics, it wasn’t the coverage that got the attention of viewers, it was what was happening in the background at the Beijing bar. Behind the Channel News Asia correspondent were two men passionately kissing, a taboo for Singaporeans where broadcasting laws prohibit LGBT content and homosexual relationships between men are illegal. Although the kiss was removed from a version on CNA’s website, a video of the kiss has been seen over 825,000 times on TikTok and a popular Chinese social media network Weibo. One TikTok user wrote “This is actually an act of revolution”. https://thethaiger.com/news/regional/singapore/singapores-lgbt-content-ban-slammed-after-gay-kiss-caught-in-news-broadcast

From The Thaiger Thailand Pass hotlines, emails for assistance with registration process Thailand Pass hotlines were launched to assist travellers with registering for the various programs to enter the country at the moment. We know aspects of it are a pain in the arse, but for people wanting, or needing, to get back into Thailand at the moment, the Thailand Pass is not that difficult to navigate. And The Thaiger has some useful contacts if you need help or have questions. The Thailand Pass has three programs – Test & Go, for fully vaccinated travellers who only have to spend 2 nights (Day 1 and 5) in a pre-paid SHA+ hotel. Sandbox, which is a ‘regional’ quarantine for 7 days. But you can wander and explore around that region for the 7 days before then being allowed to travel anywhere else in Thailand. There’s also the Alternative Quarantine which allows unvaccinated travellers to enter Thailand, but with a 7 – 10 day hotel quarantine, at your expense. Registration for the Thailand Pass is free, but the government spokespersons have been warning travellers about third party websites asking for a fee for Thailand Pass registration. (Here’s the official website by the Department of Consular Affairs… https://tp.consular.go.th/) To be clear, registration is FREE. For entry into Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga, travellers can email thailandpass.hkt@gmail.com for assistance. Those registering for the Phuket Sandbox can call +66 (0) 7653 220 or email phuket.thailandpass@gmail.com. Travellers are also asked to fill in a Thailand Pass Follow Up Form on Google Docs. For other destinations, travellers can contact the Department of Consular Affairs at +66 (0) 2572 8442 or email testgo@consular.go.th. Travellers entering under the Test & Go or Sandbox program must book accommodation at a hotel or resort with a SHA+ certification from Thailand’s Safety and Health Administration. For Test & Go travellers, a SHA+ hotel booking is needed on Day 1 and Day 5 of their stay. A hotel needs to confirm the booking before the Thailand Pass can be verified by the Department of Disease Control. For enquiries about hotel booking authentication, call the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s hotline at 1672. https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism/thailand-pass-hotlines-emails-for-assistance-with-registration-process

Last time I checked, SquareMouth Insurance offers policies from a variety of insurers with an age limit of 99. The policies and prices are easy to compare. I recall they had one for 30 days for $100,000 "primary" coverage . The premium was $83. As z909 reminds us, you need to carefully read the description and limitations of policy limitations. https://www.squaremouth.com/covid-19

From Pattaya News Health Minister reportedly not keen on easing of Covid restrictions, especially legally reopening nightlife and bar industry Bangkok, Thailand- Recent statements from the Public Health Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul seem to contradict statements made by the head of the Department of Disease Control earlier this week about easing Covid-19 restrictions even as cases rise but hospitalizations and serious cases remain very low. According to statements made by Mr. Anutin yesterday, February 7th, 2022, he has stated for people to “not rush to conclusions” about easing restrictions and seemed to pour cold water especially on the legal reopening of the nightlife and entertainment industry, which has been technically closed since April of 2021. The industry has been allowed to convert to “restaurants” in the interim but this has still had many rules, certifications, and restrictions that business owners claim cripple their income and industry, including a ban on dancing and an unpopular 11:00 P.M. national closing time even in popular tourist zones like Pattaya and Phuket. Mr. Anutin reportedly stated, according to Thai media, that there were “no plans” for reopening this industry anytime soon, despite ongoing outcry from business owners in this sector. Critics of the closures claim the ongoing restrictions around nightlife and entertainment are mostly political and have little to nothing to do with Covid-19. The CCSA, however, denies this and says they only care about people’s health and believe these venues run as “normal” are still a major threat to the spread of Covid-19. Anutin has also repeatedly expressed annoyance around lack of mask-wearing compliance in public, especially among foreign tourists, which also appears to shed doubt on the possibility of easing outdoor mask “mandates” set by provincial governors. This also comes as the Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan O’Cha, stated in a speech yesterday that Thailand needs to learn to “live with Covid-19 normally.” Regardless of what appear to be contradictions or different statements from different agencies, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, confirmed that they will be meeting to hear proposals from different agencies and organizations around Covid-19 restrictions later this week. TPN notes that Mr. Anutin’s opinion, although it carries heavy weight, is only one of many, and the Prime Minister chairs the CCSA and any final decisions on easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Mr. Anutin has, however, stated that the Ministry of Public Health DOES plan on changing the way the ministry presents Covid-19 information, changing focus to serious hospitalizations and deaths vs. cases. It is unclear exactly when this change would take place, however. There is, however, no promise that any restriction would be lifted or announced, including the much-despised “Day 5” required test for tourists entering Thailand on the Test and go program. We will keep a close eye on any and all final announcements this week or possibly early next week. https://thepattayanews.com/2022/02/08/thai-public-health-minister-reportedly-not-keen-on-easing-of-covid-restrictions-especially-legally-reopening-nightlife-and-bar-industry/

From The Thaiger / Reuters Following moves from other Southeast Asian countries, like Thailand, to gradually reopen borders, Malaysia is considering a full reopening of borders starting March 1, allowing vaccinated travellers to enter without mandatory quarantine requirements. The plan is to speed up the country’s economic recovery, according to its coronavirus recovery council today. The Southeast Asian country that shut down its borders in March 2020 has recently allowed Singaporeans to enter without quarantine as part of a bilateral agreement. A government advisory body said travellers would be subjected to Covid-19 screening prior to departure and upon arrival. “This means tourists can visit, investors can enter… It means AirAsia can fly again, as an example.” Coronavirus infections in Malaysia have risen to their highest level in four months in recent weeks, which officials say is due to the spread of the Omicron variant. A total of 13,944 new infections were reported today, bringing the total number of cases to over 2.9 million, with more than 32,000 deaths – one of Asia’s highest fatality and infection rates per capita. However, the majority of the cases were asymptomatic or moderate which the country’s health ministry owes to the country’s high vaccination rate. Around 98% of Malaysia’s adult population has received two vaccine doses and more than half of a booster shot. Approximately 89% of children aged 12 to 17 have been vaccinated, with children aged 5 to 11 receiving their first dose last week. https://thethaiger.com/news/regional/malaysia-en/malaysia-considers-full-reopening-in-march-to-vaccinated-travellers

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon There have been several complaints to Pattaya Mail that some local and foreign-based insurance companies have been guilty of misinformation when advising both tourists and expats. What follows is a summary of the requirements of both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Thai Immigration. The rules are very different for those foreigners entering the country as opposed to those seeking an extension of stay once here. Applicants for entry, mostly Test and Go and Sandbox aspirants, are required to obtain a minimum US$50,000 cover to cover the period of their visa. This can be solely Covid-related or general medical insurance or a combination of both. The obvious exceptions are work permit holders who come under the health ministry’s social insurance scheme without separate cover. But most extensions of stay obtained at Thai immigration offices do not require an insurance certificate. Nor currently are they required to show proof of vaccination, contrary to some internet reports. As examples, holders of 30 days visa exempt stamps or 60 day tourist visas do not need insurance to claim their extra month. Nor do eligible foreigners applying for the two months “Covid” extension, although this well-used facility is on life support already as the March deadline looms. The obvious exception to all of the above is the contentious O/A retirement visa (awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and the subsequent annual renewal (given by Immigration). These both currently require a separate general health insurance of at least 400,000 baht inpatient and 40,000 baht outpatient, to be upgraded to US$100,000 or 3 million baht from October 1, 2022. There will also be a new facility for O/A visa holders to use self-insurance if they are refused by insurance companies, although the fine print of do-it-alone is yet to be announced. But the O/A visa rules do not apply to other expats such as retirees with an initial O visa, holders of marriage or family extensions of stay or Elite card holders. Some commercial advertisements on the internet seem to be deliberately blurring the distinction between retirees holding different kinds of permission in order to maximize insurers’ income. However, it is true that holders of the little-used Special Tourist Visa (which offers a stay of up to 9 months) and the OX ten year visa (introduced in 2016 but complex and bureaucratic) do require health insurance for both entry and extension. The immigration bureau hotline confirmed that there are currently no plans to extend medical insurance beyond the parameters listed. However, the goal posts can certainly change and there is discretion vested in immigration bureau and individual officers when it comes to handling a particular case. Equally, generalizations by commercial income generators such as “all retirees need insurance” or “you need insurance to stay in Thailand” are speculative baloney. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/insurance-companies-exaggerating-cover-requirements-for-thailand-388716

From Bangkok Post The government will open discussions to set up travel bubbles with China and Malaysia this month to attract more foreign visitors, following the resumption of the Test & Go scheme on Feb 1. Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Monday authorities will discuss the details of a possible travel bubble agreement with China's minister for culture and tourism. Talks will also be held with Malaysia later this month, he said. The number of visitors allowed to visit Thailand under the travel bubble arrangement will be capped, and their movements will also be limited to certain areas in an effort to prevent fresh Covid-19 outbreaks, he said. Under the new travel bubble arrangements, tourists won't have to quarantine upon arrival, but their entry will be subject to special protocols which regulate the kind of visa they can use to come in, where they can stay and which flights to take. https://www.gayguides.com/forums/forum/3-gay-thailand/?do=add