When will Thailand open to Tourists- question/speculation?

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, z909 said:

If that gets approved, I suppose all the at risk Thai people will be vaccinated in 2021.   Then the doors will be wide open for tourists.

 

We hope you are one of those great prophets and that vaccine will prove effective for at least some substantial time span, from at least 1/2 year to lifetime ( I'm not trying to be sarcastic, rather I have my doubts Thai government will be brave enough to to it fast )

[Guest]

9 hours ago, vinapu said:

We hope you are one of those great prophets and that vaccine will prove effective for at least some substantial time span, from at least 1/2 year to lifetime ( I'm not trying to be sarcastic, rather I have my doubts Thai government will be brave enough to to it fast )

Some of the experts are becoming quite optimistic about vaccine lifespans.

Protestors will continue to pressure the Thai government to keep moving.   So unless the government moves to full repression mode, the outlook is good.

So visiting in December 2020 looks possible if you're prepared to deal with the paperwork and do time after arriving. 

Unrestricted travel looks good for sometime in the second half of 2021.

[reader]

From Bloomberg News / Bangkok Post

Covid passports seen as key to resuming international travel

Global airline lobby IATA is working on a mobile app that will help travellers demonstrate their coronavirus-free status, joining a push to introduce so-called Covid passports to speed up the revival of international travel.

The Travel Pass will display test results together with proof of inoculation, as well as listing national entry rules and details on the nearest labs, according to the International Air Transport Association. The app will also link to an electronic copy of the holder’s passport to prove their identity.

A test programme will begin with British Airways parent IAG SA this year before arriving on Apple Inc devices in the first quarter of 2021 and Android from April, IATA said. Travellers will be able to share their status with border authorities or present a QR code for scanning.

“We need to have global rules and standards” on measures like rapid testing and vaccination so there can be a “step forward” for the industry, Pieter Elbers, the head of the Dutch arm of Air France-KLM, said in a Bloomberg TV interview Tuesday. The health advances “will definitely help to restore confidence in travel.”

Qantas Airways Ltd said a Covid-19 vaccination will be a necessity for its international passengers when approved and distributed. Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce told Channel 9 in Australia he has discussed the idea with other airlines, and it’s likely to become a pre-boarding requirement around the world.

“It’s going to be a common theme across the board,” Joyce said.

Travel Pass will be free to travellers and governments, with airlines paying a small fee per passenger to use the service. It will be based on the existing IATA Timatic system long used to verify documents. The app will use block-chain technology and won’t store data, Murray Hayden said.

The industry group has had positive discussions with one government around using the software and expects other nations to get on board, he said.

Though IATA’s plan remains in development, the CommonPass app developed by the World Economic Forum and non-profit Commons Project Foundation has been tested on flights between London and New York, while the AOKpass from travel security firm International SOS is in use between Abu Dhabi and Pakistan.

Both are in the running for the pending travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore, according to the companies.

United Airlines, which is conducting the US-UK. trials, said Monday it would extend Covid-19 testing to flights from Houston to destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Passengers can take a self-collected, mail-in test, allowing them to start their vacation or meetings immediately on arrival.

[vinapu]

Big Brother is working overtime

[reader]

From The Nation

Quarantine stays can now be booked on Agoda

The Public Health Ministry is joining forces with online hotel booking platform Agoda to help Thais and foreigners book their stay at an alternative state quarantine facility.

 

The Public Health Ministry is joining forces with online hotel booking platform Agoda to help Thais and foreigners book their stay at an alternative state quarantine facility.

 

Under the new link up, people wanting to return to Thailand can conveniently look for and book quarantine packages that are suitable to their needs.

This cuts down on time required for booking a hotel room under the Public Health Ministry’s regulations.

The platform works in 39 languages, with 24/7 support and customer care provided in 21 tongues, including English and Chinese, as well as a quick and easy payment process.

Dr Tares said 113 ASQ-certified hotels are now able to generate more than Bt1.2 billion in revenue for the country. The number of hotels providing alternative quarantine stays has expanded from 37 to 100, and are expected to attract at least 30,000 tourists and generate more than Bt1 billion in revenue.

 

[vinapu]

prison booked on Agoda is still prison but yes , I agree that's sort of improvement. We are moving at the right direction , in glacial pace but still...

[spoon]

Cabinet approved STV for all

No more country specific restriction. So apart from quarantine requirements, thailand is basically open for all.

[vinapu]

Move in the right direction but fitting only for few who can afford and willing to quarantine for 2 weeks  and than possibly do the same in their country upon return. 

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Travel subsidy promotion paused, widespread false claims exposed

The second phase of the government's Rao Tiew Duay Kan (We Travel Together) tourism promotion campaign has been postponed after widespread corruption was found in the first stage.

More than 500 participating hotels and shops were found to have profited from abusing the scheme.

Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the TAT had acted after receiving complaints.

The investigation found that 312 hotels and 202 shops participating in the state-backed promotion were involved in alleged irregularities.

The TAT decided to postpone traveller-registration for the second phase of the We Travel Together campaign, which was due to start on Wednesday, he said. It was planned that up to one million travellers would benefit.

Travellers who registered for the first phase can still claim unused benefits.

According to media reports, the alleged abuse included

- Hotel rooms were booked at cheaper prices via phone apps. There were check-ins without people staying there, but benefits claimed from cash coupons.

- Hotels increased room rates and colluded with restaurants in claiming benefits. No travel occurred. Those who sold their benefits would send the last four numbers on their ID cards and their mobile phone numbers for use in hotel check-ins. They did not not stay.

- Hotels existed and registered to participate in the tourism campaign, but did not open for business. The operators had sought state subsidies for fake room bookings.

- Groups of registrants checked in and stayed at hotels, but the hotels set the room rates higher than normal rates.

- Participating hotels gave false information about the number of rooms they had. For example, a hotel had 100 rooms but claimed it had 300 rooms.

[vinapu]

program was devised to help travel industry not to promote more tourism so one can say it was at least half successful 

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

More frequent Covid-19 testing in preparation for shorter quarantine

The government has changed its Covid-19 testing procedure for arrivals, and is studying whether mandatory quarantine can be shortened from 14 to 10 days.

Dr Thaweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said on Thursday that health officials this month changed Covid-19 testing for arrivals from twice to three times.

Earlier, each arrival was tested twice during 14-day quarantine, first 3-5 days after arrival, and then again on days 11-13.

Each arrival is now tested three times, on day 0-1, day 9-10 and day 13-14.

The changed testing process would continue until Jan 15. Health officials would then study the results and assess whether quarantine could be reduced to 10 days, Dr Thaweesilp said.

[Guest]

Changing the test regime to gather data makes total sense, since as some currently fail on the day 12 test, it follows that they cannot shorten quarantine to 10 days without risk.   

Measuring at 0, 9 and 13 days allows data to be gathered to make an evidence based decision.  

Arrivals last week are on the 2 test regime, so this must be a very new policy.

I wonder if there is a disadvantage for people on the new policy, as presumably the ASQ price goes up slightly to cover the cost of the test & the odds of getting a false positive increase with the extra test?

What I don't understand is why they currently do the last test on day 12, then let people out on day 15.   If the test is done on day 12, they should release people on day 13 after the test result is supplied.  

After all, the only way they will detect covid in anyone on days 13-15 is if the inmate develops symptoms.  I would have thought that's unlikely if they passed a test on day 12.   Any tourist in their right mind is only going to declare symptoms on days 13-15 if they are almost certain it's covid.

[reader]

From South China Morning Post

Travel industry will die if Covid-19 vaccination is mandatory for trips overseas, world tourism chief says

The roll out of vaccines against Covid-19 has intensified debate about whether they should be made mandatory, with the head of a major tourism lobby saying that doing so would cause irreparable harm to the struggling sector.

“I don’t think governments will require vaccination next year” for travel, Gloria Guevara, head of the World Travel and Tourism Council, said. “If they do that they will kill their sector.”

Those first in line to get the jabs include the elderly and vulnerable, who “are the last people who will travel”, she said. Instead, rules for virus testing before departure are likely to be bolstered.

Alan Joyce, the chief executive of Qantas Airways, ignited an industry-wide debate last month when he said proof of vaccination would be a condition for travellers entering or leaving Australia

on the carrier’s planes. So far, no country has made inoculation compulsory or said it would be required for people crossing borders.

Airlines are among the hardest hit by the health crisis, with global airline lobby IATA forecasting combined losses of US$157 billion this year and next. When the broader tourism sector is added to the tally, the impact rises to US$3.8 trillion, Guevara said.

She was speaking at an event organised by the Common Trust Network, a Swiss non-profit backed by the World Economic Forum that is rolling out a digital health system called CommonPass, designed to certify test results, to minimise the risk of fraud.

The use of digital systems as a way to revive travel has had mixed results so far. Rome’s airport started a corridor with some US destinations this month, but one planned between Singapore and Hong Kong was postponed until next year amid a resurgence in Covid-19 cases.

In addition to CommonPass, IATA is working on its own mobile app, the Travel Pass, and is planning a test programme with British Airways parent IAG this year. The AOKpass, from travel security firm International SOS, is being used on flights between Abu Dhabi and Karachi and Islamabad in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, British cyber technology company VST Enterprises (VSTE) this week launched what it describes as “the world’s first public, secure health passport designed for air travel”. The V-Health Passport app – which, unlike other systems, eschews “unsecure” QR code technology – validates a passenger’s identity, authenticates their Covid-19 test result and vaccination/immunisation details, and offers contact tracing capabilities.

“Both bar codes and QR codes … can be cloned and hacked,” says VSTE chief executive Louis-James Davis. “Therefore any suggestion of using this type of technology in a health passport for air travel has very real security risks.” Instead, the V-Health Passport employs a call-and-response system.

[reader]

From The Nation

Long-stay visas proposed for foreigners who buy Bt3m condos

hai residency visas for foreigners who invest as little as Bt3 million in property is among five proposals being considered by the Finance Ministry.

The proposals were put forward by Thai real estate associations in a bid to lift a property sector slumping under the impact of Covid-19.

The Housing Business Association, Thai Real Estate Association and Thai Condominium Association (TCA) sent the proposals to Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith on December 9, TCA deputy chairman Chairat Thampeera revealed on Thursday.

Under current rules, foreigners must spend at least Bt10 million on property to be eligible for a residency visa.

However, under the proposed three-tier visa system, foreign purchasers of condos worth Bt3 million-Bt5 million would get a five-year visa.

Meanwhile buyers of Bt5 million-Bt10 million condos would get 10-year visas, and those who bought condos for more than Bt10 million would be granted permanent residency.

[Guest]

10 million baht for a condo with permanent residency is a good deal, or at least it would be if the Thai government could be trusted to honour the PERMANENT residency.    Honouring it should include allowing all permanent residents back into Thailand on the same terms. 

For example, so when there's a global pandemic, if they let Thai citizens in with safety measures, such as quarantine, they should allow anyone else with residency rights on the same terms.   That's the kind of reassurance anyone planning to become a permanent resident in Thailand needs, but was absent for a period in 2020.  So trust is lost.    

Rather than buying a condo as the sole home, the farang now needs a backup plan.

 

Also note the action to support large property developers.   What about small businesses like hotels, restaurants and bars?

[reader]

From The Nation

Up to 10 million condo units to come with long-term visas

Thirty real estate developers will offer foreign buyers five-year visas for an estimated 10 million properties, under the “Elite Flexible One” card scheme launched on January 1 next year.

Thailand Privilege Card (TPC), which operates the scheme, said Raimon Land has already signed up three luxury condo projects, expecting sales of about 200 Elite cards.

At least 30 more real estate developers have expressed interest in joining, said TPC president Somchai Sungsawang after launching the scheme on Monday.

The move is aimed at lifting a property sector slumping under the impact of Covid-19.

“Most are large listed companies, with a lot of suggestions offered to increase customers and encourage more sales. The suggestions will be put to a [TPC] board meeting for further consideration," said Somchai.

To be eligible for an Elite Flexible One membership card, applicants must spend at least Bt10 million on condo-style property under the scheme.

Elite Flexible One cards will be issued for a period of two years, from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022.

 

[vinapu]

4 hours ago, reader said:

 

To be eligible for an Elite Flexible One membership card, applicants must spend at least Bt10 million on condo-style property under the scheme.

 

 

sadly I'm short something like 9 587 384 baht to qualify

[reader]

From Coconuts Bangkok

45 day visa approved

With a wave of the administrative wand, Thailand’s 30-day visas are now 45-day visas.

The cabinet yesterday approved the addition of another 15 days to the usual month-long visas – two weeks of quarantine still required – for those coming to travel or do business, government spokesperson Traisulee Traisornranakul announced.

The change applies to passport-holders from countries or territories with bilateral visa-exempt agreements such as Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United States and Hong Kong. The change will be in effect until November 2021.

Still, a lot of boxes need to be checked before flying in. Travelers need to obtain certificates of entry in advance from their Thai embassy or consulate, book quarantine hotel stays and acquire at least US$100,000 in health insurance. They must also test negative for COVID-19 and get a fit-to-fly certificate 72 hours before departure.

[Guest]

The 45 day proposal is a no brainer.     The only people who would take a 30 day (29 night) visa exemption and spend 14 days (15 nights !) in quarantine are those who absolutely have to return to Thailand for short term business, such as emptying an apartment.

I don't quite know why they don't go a lot further and extend the length of all visas. 

The next obvious simplification is to eliminate the "fit to fly" certificate.   The only health difference to normal times is covid and that's covered by a separate covid test certificate.     So if the "fit to fly" is not needed in normal times, it should not be needed now.

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Tourism gloom 'won't improve'

There is little hope of attracting international arrivals during the first quarter of next year as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread in Thailand, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn says.

Mr Phiphat said on Wednesday there is no need for the country to tighten travel restrictions on foreign passengers from the UK or other countries because there's no demand from tourists to visit Thailand at this time.

The bid to lure international travellers by launching Special Tourist Visas (STVs) to attract long-stay tourists received a lukewarm feedback.

He said tourism may restart after international flights return to normal which could occur in April, driven by the Songkran festival.

Even though many countries have received vaccines and started to inoculate their residents, he said Thailand, which is scheduled to have its first jabs by the middle of next year, won't rush down the same path.

"The Public Health Ministry is quite serious about the decision to wait and see the side effects thoroughly. We don't have to be a Covid vaccine guinea pig," Mr Phiphat said. He also said Thailand will get sufficient vaccine doses for everyone as the government has funds prepared.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, reader said:

Mr Phiphat said on Wednesday there is no need for the country to tighten travel restrictions on foreign passengers from the UK or other countries because there's no demand from tourists to visit Thailand at this time.

He's right about no need to tighten travel restrictions, but has the wrong reason for it.  There are a small number of tourists arriving in Thailand and some fail the covid tests every day.   The reason why that's OK is they are all caught in the quarantine system, not because of the small numbers.

If Thailand had similar measures in place for migrant workers, all would be well.

 

I also doubt Songkran will have any affect at all on international arrivals.  

Quarantine and the pile of paperwork is what limits the number of international arrivals.   Are any board members are thinking Songkran is a good reason to visit Thailand ?

[firecat69]

5 hours ago, z909 said:

 

Quarantine and the pile of paperwork is what limits the number of international arrivals.   Are any board members are thinking Songkran is a good reason to visit Thailand ?

It would be far far down on my list of reasons to visit!

[williewillie]

I’d wager Songkran will be cancelled.

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Long holidays will be every month in 2021

The government is poised to allocate long holidays every month next year to stimulate local tourism demand, while pledging to commence travel bubbles after April.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said domestic travellers will continue to be a major market for at least the first four months of 2021, with frequent holidays helping to increase the number of domestic trips while the international market remains unpredictable.

He said on Dec 28 the Tourism Authority of Thailand plans to announce the extension of 1 million room nights as part of the subsidy scheme for local travellers, despite the ongoing probe into fraud.

In the cabinet meeting scheduled for Dec 29, the ministry is to propose a 5-billion-baht stimulus campaign for senior travellers aged 55 and above that could help increase liquidity for tour operators because the scheme will require eligible tourists to buy tour packages only from operators, said Mr Phiphat.

Speaking at the Tourism Council of Thailand meeting on Friday, Mr Phiphat insisted tourism operators should not stop thinking about plans to attract the foreign market as it remains a vital source for tourism.

But to mention those plans out loud now may not be appropriate as Thailand is still struggling with a new wave of infections.

"The ministry wants the private sector to think about possible plans for foreign tourists that could be implemented next year after Thailand controls the recent outbreak," he said. "I believe we still have a chance to see a beautiful year ahead."

[Guest]

There's a limit to how much local tourism can fill the gaps, particularly when there's a recession in Thailand.

Cranking up local production of the AZD1222 vaccine, rolling it out and opening the borders is the way out of this in 2021.