TAT says country ready to reopen

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Risk plan can handle any new infections

Thailand will have to tolerate the possibility of new coronavirus cases when it reopens its borders to international tourists, but the country can minimise the impact and avoid a bruising level of unemployment with risk management, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

After the country reported its first local transmission in 100 days last week, the TAT downgraded its 2020 estimates to 70 million domestic trips from 80 million, contributing 418 billion baht in revenue, a decrease of 61% from 2019.

International arrivals remain unchanged at 6.7 million, the same forecast before the border closure, with revenue of 332 billion baht, down 65% from 2019.

"We have to bring in tourists by the last quarter as the domestic market alone cannot keep tourism workers employed. If we keep delaying their entry, around 2.5 million jobs out of 4 million will be at risk," said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn.

To reopen the country to tourists, the government should implement a careful plan and improve communications to avoid local opposition, said Mr Yuthasak.

The current plan is to open the country to international tourists with a limited number of arrivals and locations. Arrivals have to comply with strict safety and health measures and the same screening and surveillance procedures as Thai returnees.

If the pilot model succeeds, Thailand will allow more tourists and more destinations to join the scheme.

"We cannot avoid new cases, but the most important thing is to have risk management in place. If there are five cases among 5 million tourists, and we can contain those infections with stringent measures, that would be a good balance between public health and business survival," he said.

Meanwhile, the TAT plans to propose to the cabinet next week a special tourist visa scheme for long-stay visitors that costs around 2,000 baht and can be extended up to 270 days.

The TAT is working with the private sector on the next step, finding safety measures viable for short-haul visitors who cannot stay for a two-week quarantine. This plan require need bilateral agreements with targeted countries, said Mr Yuthasak.

Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said zero infections is an unrealistic target for the tourism industry. The country should find a balance between risk and gain, she said.

The Public Health Ministry must inform the public alternative state quarantine (ASQ) hotels in tourism destinations will have the same standards as those in Bangkok, said Mrs Marisa. If certified hotels operated with no problems the past few months, the plan to welcome tourists to those ASQ properties will not trigger new cases, she said.

 

[gaperking]

Thailand has to open its borders. Everyone understands that. There is an increasing number of state of sexual emergencies abroad,  which can only be healed in Thailand. Thailand must take seriously its responsibility towards international community. 

[vinapu]

9 hours ago, gaperking said:

. Thailand must take seriously its responsibility towards international community. 

and to it's own starving masses

[Boy69]

TAT has almost zero influence on the prime minister and his cabinet decisions. .

[vinapu]

8 hours ago, muscfair said:

They have been talking about this for months now, nothing seem to materialize.

  

one day it will

[reader]

From Thai Examiner

Thais losing Baht 8 billion per day

Thailand is facing a mounting bill for its draconian policy of sealing off the kingdom from foreign tourism and normal passenger flights. A Krung Thai Bank report this week warns that it might take Thailand at least 4 years to recover while its daily losses and impact on GDP may even rise in the first quarter of next year without dramatic action due to last year’s historical base. The economic impact of this situation has already become structural. 

Krung Thai Bank, through its economic analysis unit, is warning that Thailand could be on the verge of a structural economic change due to the loss of its vast foreign tourism industry, formerly one of the most significant in the world, which it predicts may not return to anything like normality until 2025 as the economic impact of Covid 19 virus measures appear to be more severe than anticipated.

As the Thai government ponders on whether it will take a chance and reopen the kingdom to even a limited and controlled form of foreign tourism, the economic analysis arm of Krung Thai Bank has revealed that the kingdom is losing over ฿ 8 billion a day on lost tourism revenue alone since early April.

 

[vinapu]

nothing surprising , it's enough to recall all those long immigration lines 7/24 at Swampy and think not only people from those lines are removed a but also their wallets.

[reader]

Long stay tourist visa approved

From the Thaiger and Thai Enquirer

A long stay tourist visa has been approved by the Cabinet for those entering Thailand. Those issued the visa would be allowed to enter Thailand and stay up to 9 months.

Visitors will be issued a Special Tourist Visa, known as STV starting next month, according to “Thai Enquirer”, but no exact date has been announced. Each visa will cost 2,000 baht. It’s good for 90 days and can be renewed twice, adding up to a total of 270 days, according to initial reports.

Government spokesperson Traisuree Trisoranakul says the visitors must still go through a 14 day quarantine.

“Tourists who qualify for the STV must intend to stay in Thailand for a long period of time, comply with Thai Public Health measures of undergoing state quarantine or alternative state quarantine for 14 days, and show evidence of the hotels that they will be staying in.”

The visa is aimed at assisting the tourism industry which is estimated to bring in about 1.2 billion baht per month. Traisuree predicts around 1,200 tourists per month will enter under the new visa.

Visitors will be issued a Special Tourist Visa, known as STV starting next month, according to “Thai Enquirer”, but no exact date has been announced. Each visa will cost 2,000 baht. It’s good for 90 days and can be renewed twice, adding up to a total of 270 days, according to initial reports.

Government spokesperson Traisuree Trisoranakul says the visitors must still go through a 14 day quarantine.

“Tourists who qualify for the STV must intend to stay in Thailand for a long period of time, comply with Thai Public Health measures of undergoing state quarantine or alternative state quarantine for 14 days, and show evidence of the hotels that they will be staying in.”

The visa is aimed at assisting the tourism industry which is estimated to bring in about 1.2 billion baht per month. Traisuree predicts around 1,200 tourists per month will enter under the new visa.

The visas will cost 2,000 baht and will last for 90 days. When expired, the Immigration Office will allow for the visa to be extended up to two times with a cumulative total of 270 days. This will continue in effect until September 30, 2021. 

The target group for this scheme is tourists that are capable of long term visits to Thailand.

Traisuree also says that according to their estimation, there will 100 tourists entering Thailand per week and 1,200 tourists per month once the scheme starts.

The estimated income from this scheme would be 1.2 billion baht per month. 

Tourist that are interested in visiting Thailand must contact companies that are under the TAT so they are able to keep track and handle the visas of incoming tourists. 

However, the exact date in October has yet to be announced.  

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, reader said:

 

Traisuree also says that according to their estimation, there will 100 tourists entering Thailand per week and 1,200 tourists per month once the scheme starts.

The estimated income from this scheme would be 1.2 billion baht per month. 

 

some step in the right directions but goal in over ambitious and not ambitious enough at the same time.

1200 tourists per month is equivalent to say 4 -5 planeloads of 777. probably than many were  landing per hour.

and each of those is expected to spent 1 000 000 bath per  month , we are talking high heelers only here

[firecat69]

Looks like a 12 year old wrote it . 100 tourists per week which somehow will equal 1200 per month ? 1.2  Billion baht per month is equally ridiculous as they are unlikely to find many or any who would be willing to spend ( my calculator does not go that high) per month . And of course even if they were to find a great number of wealthy people to spend that there is no enforcement mechanism to determine what they would spend . And even if they somehow could monitor the spending there are already long stay visas which would be much less expensive for those who want to stay possibly for a year.

 

 

 

 

[reader]

I goal posts are changing by the day.

From Bangkok Post

Tourists must isolate in home countries

The Ministry of Public Health on Friday unveiled its latest plan to reopen to visitors from abroad with 2,270 foreign tourists already reportedly planning to visit Thailand.

Dr Chakrarat Pittayawonganon, director of the Bureau of Mental Health Strategy under the Department of Disease Control, (DDC) said in a press briefing yesterday that foreign tourists must present proof of a negative Covid-19 test no more than 72 hours prior to travel.

They must also have quarantined in their country of origin and have health insurance for international travel and a specified minimum amount of money in their bank account as well as a record of not visiting crowded places prior to their departure.

During their domestic quarantine, visitors must have been tested twice for Covid-19 at the beginning and end of the process.

If both tests are negative for the virus, they will be allowed to travel to Thailand.

The DDC said it planned to increase staff at international disease control checkpoints and allow people from low-risk countries to enter Thailand first.

The department will provide training on Covid-19 control and prevention for entrepreneurs as well as the general public and government officers whose jobs place them in contact with foreign travellers.

Related state bodies are currently deciding when these measures will take effect.

Director-General of the Health Service Support Department, Dr Thares Krasnairawiwong, said 735 medical tourists from China, Myanmar, Oman, Australia and Cambodia were receiving treatment in Thailand after they completed a 14-day quarantine. The tourists were expected to generate around 25 million baht for the country, said the doctor.

More than 2,270 foreigners from China, Myanmar, Japan and Kuwait have reportedly expressed their wish to enter Thailand, and are expected to generate 115 million baht in revenue.

O

 

[Boy69]

It's s joke ... A country which used to accommodate tens of millions tourists every year couple of thousands won't make any improvement at the dying tourist industry at the moment.

[vinapu]

7 hours ago, reader said:

They must also have quarantined in their country of origin and have health insurance for international travel and a specified minimum amount of money in their bank account as well as a record of not visiting crowded places prior to their departure.

 

that's enlightened requirement, I wonder how it can be enforced.

Like Boy69 said above , it's all joke but if Thai public at large is afraid that visitors will bring disease with them , so be it. Governmrnt must play to those fears.

We must wait until they will start missing us or rather our money. Then narrative will change for 71st  time

[Boy69]

3 hours ago, vinapu said:

that's enlightened requirement, I wonder how it can be enforced.

Like Boy69 said above , it's all joke but if Thai public at large is afraid that visitors will bring disease with them , so be it. Governmrnt must play to those fears.

We must wait until they will start missing us or rather our money. Then narrative will change for 71st  time

Opinion polls show Thai public wants the tourists back it's the Thai government afraid to open the borders unfortunately.

[gerefan]

On 9/19/2020 at 5:57 AM, reader said:

Director-General of the Health Service Support Department, Dr Thares Krasnairawiwong, said 735 medical tourists from China, Myanmar, Oman, Australia and Cambodia were receiving treatment in Thailand after they completed a 14-day quarantine. The tourists were expected to generate around 25 million baht for the country, said the doctor.

More than 2,270 foreigners from China, Myanmar, Japan and Kuwait have reportedly expressed their wish to enter Thailand, and are expected to generate 115 million baht in revenue.

 

the 735 medical tourists who are going to spend 25,000,000 baht will spend 34000 each.

are they going to the dentist?

 

 

[spoon]

Most likely some plastic surgery procedure. Some minor one should be cheap enough, and wont interfere with their travelling afterward. I wonder if botox injection is a valid excuse for medical tourism lol

[reader]

Contrary to the "quarantine-at-home" scheme discussed yesterday, the new flow chart seems to ignore mention of it.

From Bangkok Post

Special visa provisions prompt TAT inquiries

The special tourist visa (STV) scheme is starting to gain momentum as overseas offices under the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) report high interest from tour agents.

After the cabinet approved the STV scheme last week, all TAT offices in Europe received a number of calls and emails asking for more details about the visa process and available period, said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn.

For instance, the TAT London office reported 31 inquiries on one day after the news broke. But the scheme still requires an official announcement from the Immigration Bureau, meaning the TAT can clarify little at the moment.

Mr Yuthasak said that although tourists and tour agents from many countries have shown interest in booking long vacations via STV, Thailand may begin with low-risk countries first, such as those in Scandinavia and Central Europe that have lower infection rates.

TAT London conducted a tourist survey polling 1,200 respondents last month, the results of which showed that 22% of tourists are ready to come back to Thailand from October 2020 to March 2021 if borders are reopened to tourists from October this year.

Of the respondents, 45% said they will consider their trips after March 2021.

But as 23% still haven't made a decision, the TAT reported that Thailand has a chance to use safety travel measures to persuade this group to consider new trips again.

Srisuda Wanapinyosak, deputy governor of TAT for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, said the 14-day quarantine is an obstacle for tourists who would like to spend a holiday in Thailand, as only 6% accepted this rule.

For those who've already agreed to be kept in quarantine for two weeks, the TAT will help them reduce stressful conditions by conducting online recreational activities for in-room practices, such as virtual yoga and meditation class, and will work with alternative state quarantine sites that agree to arrange offline activities, such as live music shows that tourists can watch from their windows.

"We're aiming for digital nomads and healthcare seekers. They are often younger and can work remotely from anywhere," she said. "Before the pandemic, seaside Thai destinations already welcomed a substantial amount of digital nomads. If we can provide safety measures, they will consider coming back again."

 

 

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, reader said:

 

For those who've already agreed to be kept in quarantine for two weeks, the TAT will help them reduce stressful conditions by conducting online recreational activities for in-room practices, such as virtual yoga and meditation class, and will work with alternative state quarantine sites that agree to arrange offline activities, such as live music shows that tourists can watch from their windows.

 

are those people for real with that non-senses, it may be takers for those but how many ? 1 in 873 149  of those waiting to travel there ?

Who would pay airfare to watch live show from their hotel windows , hotel they are locked in.

It sounds like  people  spewing those ideas never took vacations themselves and have no idea what it is , just like lesbians discussing merits of gay male sex

[vinapu]

Just now, vinapu said:

are those people for real with that non-senses?, it may be takers for those but how many ? 1 in 873 149  of those waiting to travel there ?

Who would pay airfare to watch live show from their hotel windows , hotel they are locked in ?.

It sounds like  people  spewing those ideas never took vacations themselves and have no idea what it is , just like lesbians discussing merits of gay male sex

 

[Boy69]

7 minutes ago, vinapu said:

are those people for real with that non-senses, it may be takers for those but how many ? 1 in 873 149  of those waiting to travel there ?

Who would pay airfare to watch live show from their hotel windows , hotel they are locked in.

It sounds like  people  spewing those ideas never took vacations themselves and have no idea what it is , just like lesbians discussing merits of gay male sex

It's only the polite way of the Thai government to tell you : "You are not aloud to come yet ! "

[vinapu]

7 hours ago, Boy69 said:

It's only the polite way of the Thai government to tell you : "You are not aloud to come yet ! "

at least it would be sensible and concise

[reader]

From The Thaiger

Government tentatively approves visa amendments to bring in more investments

In an attempt to bring in future investments to the country, the government has tentatively approved amendments to the criteria of granting permanent residence and smart visas to foreigners. The Centre for Economic Situation Administration says the new amendments may allow foreigners who purchase condominium units under certain rules to gain permanent residency. Such stipulations, however, include applicants purchasing the properties without using a mortgage loan and not selling or transferring the properties for a period of 5 years after purchasing.

As for those foreigners who wish to develop start-ups or create jobs in fields away from science and technology, the amendments would decrease restrictions for granting such investors smart visas. It also could cover independent experts who do not have a work contract in Thailand and allow current smart visa holders to work other jobs that are not listed on the visa.

Originally, Thailand’s smart visa programme was created to attract skilled workers, executives, investors and entrepreneurs to work in specific industries. As the new amendments have been approved in principle, there is no word yet on when they will be made final.