Temples Can Deny Entry to Foreigners

[reader]

From Khaosod English

Officials Say Temples Can Deny Entry to Foreigners, Because Virus

BANGKOK — A popular temple in Bangkok shut its doors to foreigners, including expats who have been residing in Thailand for years, citing anti-coronavirus precaution.

“ONLY THAI PEOPLE, NOW NOT OPEN FOR FOREIGNERS,” announced a  sign in front of Wat Pho, known internationally as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. The temple reopened on June 5 yet reserved entry to Thai nationals only, a gesture criticized as racial discrimination.

“We aren’t ready for foreign visitors yet,” said a temple caretaker answering the phone Thursday. “We don’t know how long this will last.”

When asked why Thais were allowed and not foreigners, he said that these were “the temple regulations.”  Officials reached for comment said they considered the policy as legal.

“COVID-19 is not stable yet. The temple can do it if they’re scared,”  Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s deputy clerk Sompong Wiengkaew said. “It’s up to each temple what measures they want to implement.”

Tourism ministry spokesman Narit Kanjanopas said that tourist destinations should wait for further clarification on allowing foreigners in. 

“Some temples smay allow but some may not; each temple can manage their own rules,” Narit said.

But the rule left the expat community in Thailand seething with outrage since not every foreigner in Thailand is a tourist. Many also protested the measure treating non-Thais as potential virus carriers, since a significant number of foreigners have been inside the country and never left since the outbreak began. 

“Are you serious? Banning foreigners is extremely discriminatory and everyone is saying you are racist,” Facebook user Jason R. Hofer wrote in a comment to the temple’s announcement. “You cannot just assume someone has a disease because of their nationality.”

British blogger and longtime expat Richard Barrow posted on Thursday that he had gone to Wat Pho to pay his respects, but was not allowed in despite having residence in Thailand.

The temple also said that Thai visitors must wear masks before entering and have a temperature lower than 37.5. Only 30 visitors are allowed in at a time.

But photos posted by the temple show dozens of monks seated together inside Wat Pho on June 3, when they held a ceremony celebrating Queen Suthida’s birthday. 

The historic temple wasn’t alone in maintaining a no-foreigner policy amid the coronavirus pandemic. Buses operated by The Transport Co., which resumed their inter-provincial services, also announced that they would not allow foreigners to board.

The company said passengers must show their Thai ID cards for tracking virus purposes, and passports are not acceptable.

Many other businesses and landmarks that reopened under “Phase 3” of coronavirus lockdown easing do not have problems with admitting foreigners, however. 

The Grand Palace, for instance, has been open to both Thais and foreigners since June 7, though the site still practices the “double pricing,” which charges non-Thai 500 baht for entry.

Wat Arun or Temple of the Dawn, another landmark temple across the river, is also open to everyone regardless of their nationality. 

A temple caretaker who picked up the phone today said the temple has hygiene and social distancing measures in place, but group tours are not permitted at the moment due to overcrowding concerns.

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From The Thaiger

Transport Company resumes service, bans foreigners

The wheels on the bus go round and round. But not for foreigners living in Thailand. It’s now official. If you’re a foreigner you won’t be allowed on intercity buses operated by the state owned Transport Company, under the auspices of the Thai Ministry of Transport.

They announced today that foreigners are banned from its services due to the Emergency Decree. Although services have resumed on most of their routes across the country, foreign travellers are not allowed to board because they do not have Thai national ID cards. Well that’s the official excuse according to a service agent. Asked whether passports can be used instead, the agent said “no”.

“It’s the company policy, sorry for any inconvenience.”

The company also announced on its website that it reserves the right to book tickets for Thai nationals only, citing an unspecified clause of the Emergency Decree. Private operators Nakhonchai Air and Sombat Tour say foreigners are welcome on board.

But Thaiger has had four messages in the past week saying they were unable to buy tickets or board Sombat Tour buses. This message from a New Zealand expat who tried to board a Sombat Tour bus last week.

“I wanted to go and visit my friend in Bangkok and she went ahead and booked a ticket from Chiangmai to Bangkok.

The next morning I got a call from the company saying foreigners are not allowed on the bus. I am deeply offended by this discrimination. I have been in Thailand well before Covid arrived. Does this mean I can’t travel on planes also?”

The State Railway of Thailand says foreigners are also welcome to board long distance trains.

 

[vinapu]

it looks that virus is not only attacking lungs but brains as well. 

But all that nonsense banning foreigners should go away in a month or so

[GWMinUS]

I would be very offended if I was legally in Thailand and denied transport by a Govt owned Bus Line.

Sounds like our President Trump is running the Show!!!

We wake up every morning to read another stupid Twit he made in the middle of the night.

 

[spoon]

Foreigners doesnt just mean tourist/expat, it also includes the many migrant workers. Given that malaysia, singapore both experiencing surges in cases when mass testing were done for migrant workers, its not unfounded for thai to fear the foreigners, at lrast for the time being. Thai gov didnt adopt to mass testing so the uncertainty is high. Instead of mass testing the migrant workers, this is the easy way to isolate them. Of course this is in no way justify isolating every foreigners but its just easier lol. TIT.

[vinapu]

6 hours ago, GWMinUS said:

We wake up every morning to read another stupid Twit he made in the middle of the night.

 

so why you bother to spoil your morning by reading it ? Better to start with visiting this forum