Thailand will end coronavirus quarantine requirements for vaccinated visitors from 10 low-risk countries starting Nov. 1, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Monday

[Guest]

"BANGKOK, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Thailand will end coronavirus quarantine requirements for vaccinated visitors from 10 low-risk countries starting Nov. 1, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Monday, as the Southeast Asian nation tries to revive its pandemic-hit economy.

Thailand last year suffered its deepest economic contraction in more than two decades, with the key tourism sector still struggling.

Visitors from at least 10 countries including the United Kingdom, Singapore, Germany, China and the United States will be exempted from quarantine on arrival, Prayuth said in a televised speech.

More countries will later be added to the list, he said"

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-end-quarantine-some-vaccinated-visitors-nov-pm-2021-10-11/?fbclid=IwAR1mDYaAJDtr28pXnklXJrNZHLE_x4jPGQlCxNoE_A_Bzz3oi9uWd-gCWHY

 

I think there are some lower risk countries, but am not complaining !

[reader]

I see no mention of requirements for Covid insurance or COE.  Let's hope it stays that way.

[t0oL1]

"Thailand also plans to allow resumption of alcohol sales at restaurants and to reopen entertainment venues by Dec. 1, Prayuth said, adding that the country will have more than 170 doses of vaccine by the end of the year."  

hopefully 170 million doses...

 

 

[Vessey]

Good news about the quarantine (and presumably the Sandboxes),

But entry requirements, curfew, etc etc. ? I didn't read any definite pledge to resume alcohol sales in December, just an ambition,

Maybe there we be more detail to follow?

[Patanawet]

PM has asked the CCSA and the Ministry of Public Health to urgently consider allowing foreign visitors to enter Thailand without any requirement for quarantine if they are fully vaccinated and arrive by air from low-risk countries.

All they are required to do is to show an RT-PCR test result undertaken before they leave their home country, and do a test in Thailand. After that they will be free to move around Thailand as Thais can do.

 

Actually the CCSA meeting will be on Thursday, chaired by the dictator  can approve these or other easing (or tightening) of restrictions.

 

Also no alcohol in restaurants till December!

[Patanawet]

And no mention of the curfew!

[Boy69]

3 hours ago, Patanawet said:

Also no alcohol in restaurants till December!

It is well known that consumption of alcohol is a major contribution of spreading the Covid 19.lol.

 

[TotallyOz]

First, I would wait until this is published in the Royal Gazette before I do anything. At that time, Book a ticket and do it fast.

[Londoner]

Find a hotel before you book. Most are closed.

[Guest]

7 hours ago, TotallyOz said:

First, I would wait until this is published in the Royal Gazette before I do anything. At that time, Book a ticket and do it fast.

I presume ending quarantine means a "sandbox" scheme.    That might limit demand.  

[reader]

As the local and international press digests the PM's announcement, some of the usual suspects have again emerged to throw cold water on the plan.

Among the first was a doctor from Chulalongkorn University who has long argued against any bordering reopening. Next at bat was Pattaya Mail columnist Barry Kenyon who contends that the COE, covid insurance and possibly other restrictions will remain in place (and for all I know, he may turn out top be right).

The most objective article I believe is from Bloomberg News that looks at the government's proposal from a purely economic outlook. In any case, perhaps we'll know a lot more after the powers that be meet to consider the recommendations on later this week.

From Bloomberg / BP

‘Bold move’ to revive tourism to take years, analysts say

The government’s plan to end quarantine for vaccinated visitors is “a fight to win foreign tourists,” Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said Tuesday. But analysts and industry executives see it as a long road to recovery fraught with risks of periodic virus resurgence and unpredictable travel trends.

A return to the pre-pandemic levels of tourist arrivals and spending will likely take a few years, according to Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, the president of the Thai Hotels Association. It’s unlikely that large groups of visitors will immediately head to Thailand given the volatile nature of global travel and the coronavirus situation, she said.

“The light at the end of the tunnel is here, but at the same time it will be a slow climb back to the levels seen before the pandemic,” Ms Marisa said. “Travel is still so volatile so we have to manage our risks. Keeping costs low will still remain a key strategy for all the hotels in Thailand.”

Thailand will end quarantine for vaccinated visitors from low-risk nations from Nov 1, joining a growing list of nations reopening to cross-border travellers ahead of the year-end holiday season, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Monday. The surprise announcement saw the nation’s currency surge the most in more than two weeks, and stocks of airport operators, hotels and airlines rally to lift the benchmark index to a one-month high.

Ekasit Kunadirekwong (analyst, Krungsri Securities):

With the “bold move,” tourism recovery is expected to accelerate in the fourth quarter along with rising vaccination rate and roll-out of booster shots.

Thailand’s low vaccination rate of 32% could lead to a spike in new cases upon reopening for inbound travellers and easing of restrictions for business activities.

Krungsri expects Thailand’s population to reach 70% vaccination rate by year-end with tourist arrivals forecast maintained at 300,000 this year, 14 million in 2022, 34 million in 2023 and a rebound to pre-pandemic levels of 40 million by 2024.

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn (Minister for Tourism and Sports):

Thailand’s reopening plan coincides with many other nations’ efforts to allow easier cross-border travel and is a fight to win foreign tourists in the next few months.

The ministry wants to attract travellers from China the most, and may seek travel bubbles with Asean nations if they are low-risk countries and travellers have been fully vaccinated.

Sunthorn Thongthip (analyst, Kasikorn Securities):

This will help remove the barriers preventing tourists from coming to Thailand and to stimulate economic activity during the New Year festive period.

He sees upside to the Bank of Thailand’s 2022 GDP forecast of 3.9% which is based on tourist arrivals estimate of 6 million next year.

Every 3 million tourist arrivals in Thailand will create 1% upside to GDP growth.

He expects the baht to rise to 32.75 v. the US dollar by end-2021.

Kasikorn Securities is positive toward the Thai equities market as the reopening should benefit domestic and tourism-related sectors. The brokerage sees upside to its 12-month forward SET Index target of 1,680.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2196643/bold-move-to-revive-tourism-to-take-years-analysts-say

[Guest]

20 minutes ago, reader said:

Among the first was a doctor from Chulalongkorn University who has long argued against any bordering reopening.

I wonder how he justifies this ?     Thailand has the delta variant.   The countries they propose to put on the quarantine free list also have the delta variant.    

 

20 minutes ago, reader said:

Next at bat was Pattaya Mail columnist Barry Kenyon who contends that the COE, covid insurance and possibly other restrictions will remain in place (and for all I know, he may turn out top be right).

For entering Thailand, the only change the Reuters article refers to is ending quarantine.    No reference to getting rid of anything else (insurance, PCR test, COE etc).  

Even the quarantine might be replaced by a sandbox.     As long as the sandbox rules are reasonable, even that is a big step forward.

[reader]

The PM Thursday affirmed that Nov. 1 would be the reopening date for tourists from five countries to visit Thailand without quarantine but was silent on other issues many were hoping would be cleared up after the meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration at Government House.

As reported a few days ago, the countries are Britain, the United States, Germany, Singapore and China. There had been talk about five additional countries but none were announced.

It was also unclear if the covid test on arrival would be administered at the airport or another location. No mention of other requirements such as COE or insurance were released.

Also disclosed was that Thailand will reduce the duration of the nightly curfew and allow more provinces to welcome fully vaccinated visitors, with more businesses reopening, ahead of the November reopening.

The CCSA agreed to shorten the curfew from 10 pm – 4 am to 11 pm – 3 am starting from October 16 for at least 15 days.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2197799/quarantine-being-lifted-more-provinces-being-opened

https://www.thaienquirer.com/33954/covid-measures-eased-further-ahead-of-thailands-reopening/

 

 

[Guest]

The actual English Language version of CCSA video announcement says the list of quarantine free countries is not decided, but the principle is approved.    This guy speaks perfect English, so I assume no translation errors.

https://www.facebook.com/thailandprd/videos/447905443331887

 

[reader]

24 minutes ago, z909 said:

The actual English Language version of CCSA video announcement says the list of quarantine free countries is not decided, but the principle is approved.    This guy speaks perfect English, so I assume no translation errors.

Here's the Bangkok Post take:

Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said the CCSA resolved on Thursday to allow in fully vaccinated visitors from Britain, the United States, Germany, Singapore and China if they pass an RT-PCR test before arrival - for an initial period from Nov 1 to Dec 31.

Here's the Thai Enquirer take:

Despite expectations that more countries identified as “low-risk” would be released on Thursday, the centre’s spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said the CCSA is still reviewing them. The current list includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and Singapore.

“There are no more countries to be announced,” he said during a briefing. 

Judging by these statements, we can speculate that more countries may or may not be added. We know, from earlier reporting, that 10 nations were initially under consideration. With the Nov. 1 reopening only a few weeks off, there's precious little time remaining for those interested in returning to make plans.

[Guest]

I recommend anyone with a direct interest in traveling listens to the CCSA video.  They can decide for themselves if the CCSA announcement matches the Bangkok Post interpretation of it.     The announcer tells us the 5 countries are examples and twice tells us the list of countries is not finalized yet. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[reader]

I recommend that they read both the Post and Enquirer reports in addition to the announcement and then decide on their own.

Or maybe we could just debate how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

[Lonnie]

38 minutes ago, reader said:

how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

[Guest]

Today the CCSA say:

1 The list of countries which are quarantine free will be released next week, probably mid-week and will include a lot more than 10 countries.

2 The Thailand Pass will be simpler with fewer documents than the COE.

https://www.facebook.com/nbtworld/videos/554806905601077