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From The Thaiger Tourism industry pushes for scrapping of Thailand Pass and PCR testing Key figures in Thailand’s tourism industry have renewed their calls for the Thailand Pass and PCR testing on arrival to be scrapped. Speaking at the Thailand Tourism Forum in Bangkok yesterday, the chairman of global hotel operator Minor International, renewed his call for the government to ditch the Thailand Pass system. Bill Heinecke has been vocal on issues affecting tourism’s recovery for some time, penning an open letter to PM Prayut Chan-o-cha at the start of the year, urging him to reinstate the suspended Test & Go entry scheme. Addressing forum attendees yesterday, Heinecke said the government must now lift all restrictions on international visitors immediately if Thailand is to remain competitive. Thailand was the first country in the region to re-open its borders but the near-total lifting of restrictions in other countries now means it’s lagging behind. Neighbouring Cambodia has completely opened up, as have the Philippines, the Middle East, many European countries, and the UK and US. Heinecke has warned that the government’s aim of attracting 10 million tourists this year is in jeopardy if the current rules remain. Instead, Thailand risks only seeing 10% of pre-pandemic numbers, or around 4 million. Despite a recently agreed travel bubble between India and Thailand, Heinecke points out that there are still no flights between the 2 countries. Adding to the existing challenges is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Heinecke says has led to cancellations from all over the world. The president of the Thai Hotels Association also expressed her concern for the industry if the current requirement for PCR testing on arrival remains. Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi says the number of infected international arrivals is negligible when compared to cases of community transmission. She says if the government really is serious about encouraging its citizens to live with the virus, which it plans to declare endemic by June, it needs to abolish the Test & Go entry scheme and allow people to arrive with proof of vaccination and a pre-departure negative PCR test result. ============================== From Richardbarrow.com The infection rate of all travellers entering Thailand November: 0.13% December: 0.45% January: 3.73% February: 2.25% March: 1.43% · Test & Go: 0.92% · Sandbox: 4.50% · Quarantine: 2.11% ========================================= The Ministry of Public Health’s permanent secretary said 95% of cases are now either asymptomatic or mild, meaning there is no need for most people who are infected to receive medical treatment at hospitals

From The Thaiger Impeccable timing! The Russian Ambassador to Thailand met with officials in Phuket to discuss establishing Russia’s Kamchatka Krai Administrative Region as a sister city and other matters that affect the roughly 8,000 Russian citizens on the island. Vice Governor Pichet Panapong says Thai authorities are in the process of reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding with the region, adding that it is being handled by the Treaty Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Interior. Ambassador Evgeny Tomikhin also discussed plans for a new Muay Thai camp in Phuket. Information on the meeting released by Phuket’s public relations department says that the boxing camp can be constructed on the island as long as permission is granted by Phuket officials. According to PR Phuket, the ambassador gave a statement on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying Russian officials attempted to negotiate, but the two countries could not come to an agreement. With Russian tourists the top demographic to enter Phuket under the quarantine exemption entry schemes, Sandbox and Test & Go, some have been concerned that the conflict “could lead to less tourists travelling to Thailand”. The President of the Phuket Tourism Association is telling the public not to worry as Russians are still planning trips to the island (although some of the scheduled flights are already being cancelled).

From The Thaiger 'Anti-Covid-19' nasal spray will be available later this year A new “anti-Covid-19” nasal spray is being developed by Thai scientists and the medication, which is said to prevent a coronavirus infection, is expected to be available to the public later this year. In studies using lab animals, the nasal spray has been shown to block the virus from entering the body. The Health Systems Research Institute, Silpakorn University, Chulalongkorn University, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation and an unnamed private bioscience organisation are working together to produce the spray. The spray is expected to be ready to buy in the third quarter of this year, according to the the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University. The spray is based on a previous study that used a monoclonal antibody collected from recovered Covid-19 patients.

From The Thaiger Hoteliers asked to issue refunds to Test & Go travellers for Day 5 packages With the government scrapping the Day 5 requirements for Test & Go travellers, more than 2,000 hotels and their partner hospitals or test centres are being asked to refund the costs of a night stay with Covid-19 RT-PCR testing. Under the revised entry requirements, travellers can take a self-administered antigen test instead of a PCR test on the fifth day of their stay and they are no longer required to book a stay at an approved hotel while they wait for the results. The hotels are being asked to voluntarily refund the cost of the room, or at least convert the pre-paid booking into credits. Hoteliers are also being asked to work with their partner hospitals and testing centres to refund the 2,000 baht for a PCR test. The Thai government has said they will not require hoteliers to issue refunds for the Test & Go packages, but an official from the Tourism Authority of Thailand argues that some hoteliers have said they need a legal order from the government as their cancellation policies do not cover the refund. If a full refund isn’t possible, they will be asked to convert the payments into credits, according to TAT’s deputy governor for marketing communications, Siripakorn Cheawsamoot. “The Tourism and Sports Ministry will issue an announcement asking cooperation from hotels to refund the fifth day expense to their guests. This rule is definitely not mandatory. Hotels are encouraged to manage those bookings according to their own cancellation policy. If refund is not possible, they should consider converting payments into credits or vouchers for in-house services or restaurants.”

From Channel News Asia SINGAPORE: The Court of Appeal on Monday (Feb 28) upheld a lower court's decision to dismiss three challenges to Section 377A of the Penal Code, which criminalises sex between men. The challenges were mounted by: Disc jockey Johnson Ong Ming, retired general practitioner Roy Tan Seng Kee and Bryan Choong Chee Hoong, the former executive director of LGBT non-profit organisation Oogachaga. High Court judge See Kee Oon had dismissed their challenges in March 2020, and the three men turned to the Apex Court to appeal against the decision. According to Section 377A of the Penal Code, any man who commits any act of gross indecency with another man in public or in private can be jailed for up to two years. This extends to any man who abets such an act, procures or attempts to procure such an act. In a 152-page written judgment delivered by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon on behalf of a five-judge panel, the Court of Appeal stressed that the appeals are "not about whether Section 377A should be retained or repealed", as this was "a matter beyond our remit". "Nor are they about the moral worth of homosexual individuals," said the Chief Justice. He quoted Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's words that homosexual individuals are "part of our society" and "our kith and kin". The appeals are also "not about the fundamental nature of sexual orientation (whether immutable or not)", this being an "extra-legal question well beyond the purview of the courts", he said. The Court of Appeal held that the entirety of Section 377A is "unenforceable" unless and until the Attorney-General of the day provides clear notice that he, in his capacity as the public prosecutor, intends to reassert his right to enforce the law by way of prosecution and will no longer abide by representations made by the then-AG in 2018 as to the prosecutorial policy that applies to certain conduct. Chief Justice Menon said it is therefore "unnecessary" for the Court of Appeal to address the constitutional questions raised by the appellants. "They do not face any real and credible threat of prosecution under Section 377A at this time and therefore do not have standing to pursue their constitutional challenges to that provision," said the Chief Justice. "First, although Section 377A was retained in our statute books, this was on the terms that it would not be proactively enforced," said the Chief Justice. "The Government's evident unwillingness to repeal Section 377A signals its assessment that society has yet to adequately integrate the opposing views of mainstream conservatives and the homosexual community, as well as its awareness that our multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-religious community remains vulnerable along such fault lines. The Government was especially cognisant that forcing the issue would polarise those who are 'presently willing to live and let live'." Second, the retention of Section 377A in 2007 "was directed at addressing a deeply divisive socio-political issue in a pragmatic way", the court said.

From The Nation The first batch of 236 Thai evacuees from Ukraine are due to arrive back in Thailand from Tuesday to Friday (March 1-4), the Royal Thai Embassy in Warsaw said. he embassy said 47 Thais are currently at the evacuation centre in the city of Lviv, western Ukraine, while another 43 Thais are on their way there from cities across the war-torn nation. However, it said about 100 Thai nationals are unable to travel due to curfews or unsafe conditions in the cities where they live. Among this group are seven Thais in Mykolaiv and 12 in Kharkiv. Fighting between Russian troops and Ukrainian defence forces has been reported in both cities. Thais in other cities were safe, the embassy said. Fighting has also reached the outskirts of the capital, Kyiv. The embassy said that 102 out of 148 Thais in Kyiv had been able to leave the city, adding that 43 had already arrived at the Lviv operations centre. The Warsaw embassy said it will organise a bus to take 41 Thais from Odessa in western Ukraine to Romania's Bucharest on Sunday. "After that, the Royal Thai Embassy in Bucharest will send them back to Thailand by commercial flight on March 1 and 2," the embassy said. It said it was also organising a bus to take 43 Thais from the Lviv operation centre across the border to Warsaw on Sunday, followed by a second batch on Monday.

From Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) UTravellers can arrive in Thailand by air, land, and water with the required prepaid accommodation reduced to 1 night and the COVID-19 tests revised to 1 RT-PCR and 1 self-ATK. The health insurance coverage has also been reduced to no less than US$20,000.PDATED! TEST & GO rules from 1 March 2022 The following rules will be in effect from 1 March, 2022, and will also apply to travellers who have applied/obtained the TEST & GO Thailand Pass or Certificate of Entry with scheduled arrivals from this date. Points of entry: By air (direct international flight or transit domestically via dedicated flights.) By land (at the border checkpoints in Nong Khai, Udon Thani, and Songkhla.) By water (yachts.) Eligible travellers / countries: For arrivals by air and water: Fully vaccinated Thai citizens and foreign travellers from all countries/territories. For arrivals by land: Fully vaccinated Thai citizens and foreign travellers from neighbouring countries connecting with the reopened border checkpoints (Nong Khai, Udon Thani, and Songkhla). Pre-Arrival Requirements All travellers must have the following documents for entering Thailand: A Thailand Pass (via https://tp.consular.go.th/) for arrivals by air and land; or a Certificate of Entry (via a Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General) for arrivals by water. A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling. Travellers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents with a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours before travelling, are not required to have a pre-arrival negative RT-PCR test result and can have a saliva test when entering the Kingdom. For arrivals by water, everyone on board the vessels must have a medical certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected within the officially specified time frame. Anyone on aboard with a history of COVID-19 infection within a period between 14-90 days must have a medical certificate of recovery. An insurance policy with coverage no less than US$20,000. Thais and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are exempt from this requirement. TAT recommends that travellers make sure to check the small print of any COVID-19 insurance policy before purchasing. Ultimately, the policy should cover the cost of treatment and other medical expenses associated with being infected with COVID-19, including in-patient hospitalisation, hospital isolation, hotel isolation, or related quarantine. The insurance policy should also cover the whole duration that travellers are planning to stay in Thailand, plus at least 10 extra days as a precautionary measure in the event that the traveller’s second swab test result returns as positive. A proof of prepayment for 1 night of accommodation at government-approved hotel/s; such as, SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) on Day 1, which should also include the expenses for 1 RT-PCR test on Day 1 and 1 Antigen Self-Test Kit (self-ATK) on Day 5. A Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination/Recovery Everyone 18 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travelling to Thailand. Travellers 12-17 years of age travelling to Thailand unaccompanied must get vaccinated with at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine. Those travelling with parents are exempt from this requirement. Travellers 6-11 years of age, travelling with parents, are exempt from this requirement. For arrivals by water, everyone on board must be fully vaccinated. This is except for travellers under 18 years of age, travelling with parents or guardians. Travellers with a history of COVID-19 infection who have recovered by medical treatment, and travellers who have received at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine after post-infection must have a certificate of COVID-19 recovery. All travellers must undergo ‘exit screening’ at the point of departure, i.e., at the airline check-in counter and present the required documents to the person-in-charge to carry out the checks. On-Arrival Requirements / During the Stay All travellers must undergo entry screening including body temperature check, and presenting the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks. 1.1 Arrivals by air: Arrivals on a direct flight to Thailand’s international airport: At the point of entry. Arrivals with domestic connecting flights: At either the first point of entry before boarding the transit flight, or at the final airport. 1.2 Arrivals by land and water: at the point of entry. Proceed to the prearranged accommodation or medical facility to undergo the Day 1 RT-PCR test. *Travellers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents, can have a saliva test. 2.1 Arrivals by air and land: The trip must be by a prearranged vehicle on a sealed route within a travelling time of no longer than 5 hours. Then, all travellers must wait for the test result within the hotel only. 2.2 Arrivals by water: All travellers must wait for the test result on board the travelling vessel (yacht). Travellers whose test result returns as negative are free to go anywhere in Thailand, but will be provided with 1 Antigen Self-Test Kit for a self-test on Day 5 and be required to report/record the result via the MorChana application or another specified application. Travellers whose test result returns as positive will be referred for appropriate medical treatment in accordance with Thailand’s Communicable Diseases Act B.E. 2558 (2015). The expenses must be covered by the required insurance / own expense for foreign travellers, or national healthcare coverage for Thais and eligible foreign expatriates. Pending on their conditions, they may be medically advised to receive treatment in either hospital hotel isolation or community isolation. During receiving the medical treatment – at least 10 days, they must remain in their accommodation only. They should not leave their accommodation unless utmost necessary, and must notify the Communicable Disease Control officer in-charge. After having recovered from COVID-19, they will receive a medical certificate of recovery. While in Thailand, travellers are advised to strictly follow standard, good personal hygiene practices; such as, wear a mask in public, maintain hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or using hand sanitiser), and keep physical distance of at least 1 metre from others. Travellers who are experiencing COVID-like symptoms should get tested. If testing positive they must get appropriate medical treatment. All travellers must download and install the MorChana application, and set it on at all times for the COVID-19 precautionary measures and to record the self-ATK result on Day 5 in the application. The self-ATK on Day 5 will not be required if the traveller’s length of stay is less than 5 nights, or his/her scheduled international departure date out of Thailand is on Day 5 or before. For example, if the traveller plans to stay in Thailand for 3 days, then he/she does not have to report the self-ATK result, but he/she must leave for another country immediately. However, the traveller may be required to take another test depending on the airline and the final international destination. Guidelines for Domestic/International Departure For domestic departure, travellers must show proof that they have received a negative result for their Day 1 RT-PCR test. For international departure, it is the responsibility of travellers or their organisations to make sure that the travellers meet the requirements of their specific international destination regardless of the point of departure. Kindly note the information is to serve as reference only. It is especially important to check in regularly on www.tatnews.org to stay current on what remains a very fluid and fast changing situation. ======================================= For updated Sandbox requirements: https://www.tatnews.org/2022/02/thailand-reopening-living-in-the-blue-zone-17-sandbox-destinations/

From news.com.au By Alex Carlton The odd small food cart, usually without customers. Street dogs snuffling in gutters, sometimes outnumbering people. The Koh Samui of 2022 is Thailand like you’ve never seen it before. The tiny island off the east coast of the mainland, around a 90-minute flight from Bangkok, has been hit hard by Covid shutdowns and border closures. In a normal year, Thailand welcomes around 40 million tourists, making up 11 per cent of its GDP. The country is a big favourite with Australians, with around 800,000 of us visiting each year, pre-pandemic. And for islands like Koh Samui, usually buzzing with music, cheap and delicious food and beer, nightclubs and hostels, the effect of tourism shutting down has taken a huge toll. “Many people simply couldn’t stay in the cities; they returned to their family farms and lived very simply,” one local told me. “It’s been absolutely devastating.” Thailand, like so many places in South East Asia are only just beginning to recover from the effects of the last two years. But borders are now open to Australians – you need to be vaccinated, apply for the Thailand pass and have a Covid test on arrival and isolate until you get a result (in my case, under 12 hours which is standard) but otherwise there’s no quarantine. And that’s exactly why you should consider travelling to Thailand right now. It’s the only chance any of us will ever get to see and experience this beautiful country without its usual crowds. And it’s a way to do your part to support the Thai people – who are always so welcoming to people from all over the world – to get back on their feet.

I had posted this in the Beer Bar but I believe it's a better fit here because of its importance to gay sexual health. From AFP US authorizes first condom for use in anal sex The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday authorized the first condom for use during anal intercourse, in what was hailed as a victory for sexual health by experts. Although people already use condoms for anal sex -- as is recommended by health agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- regulators across the world had only previously allowed companies to officially market their products as "safe and effective" for vaginal use. Sexual health advocates considered this an unmet public health need since unprotected anal intercourse carries the greatest risk of HIV transmission via sexual exposure, with one study finding that 69 percent of men who have sex with men would use condoms more frequently if they were FDA-indicated. Wednesday's authorization of Global Protection Corp's One Male Condom follows a clinical trial involving more than 500 people, carried out by Emory University. "The FDA's authorization of a condom that is specifically indicated, evaluated and labeled for anal intercourse may improve the likelihood of condom use during anal intercourse," said agency scientist Courtney Lias in a statement. The condom is also indicated to prevent sexually transmitted infections -- and as a contraceptive -- during vaginal sex. The researchers behind the study, which was published in The Lancet's eClinicalMedicine, said one of the reasons the trial succeeded where others failed in the past was likely due to the provision of lubricant and inclusion of instructions on how to use the product. Lubricant reduces friction, which in turn causes condom failure from slippage and breakage. Another reason could be that participants were asked to keep mobile phone-based daily diaries, whereas past trials had asked volunteers to recall failure events up to several months later. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease doctor and medical director of an HIV clinic in San Francisco, welcomed the finding. "The important thing about condoms is they don't just prevent HIV, but they prevent gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis," she told AFP, adding it was surprising that such an authorization had taken so long to achieve. Quote

From Channel News Asia BANGKOK: Thailand and Malaysia agreed to expedite quarantine-free travels across the borders for travellers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Friday (Feb 25) after meeting his Malaysian counterpart Ismail Sabri Yaakob in Bangkok. “We share the hope that fully vaccinated people will soon be able to travel between Thailand and Malaysia without quarantine, while following public health measures of both sides,” stated Gen Prayut during a joint press conference at the Government House in Bangkok. According to Mr Ismail Sabri, quarantine-free air travels (VTL-Air) between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok will first become available for fully vaccinated travellers before other destinations are added later.

From AFP US authorizes first condom for use in anal sex The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday authorized the first condom for use during anal intercourse, in what was hailed as a victory for sexual health by experts. Although people already use condoms for anal sex -- as is recommended by health agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- regulators across the world had only previously allowed companies to officially market their products as "safe and effective" for vaginal use. Sexual health advocates considered this an unmet public health need since unprotected anal intercourse carries the greatest risk of HIV transmission via sexual exposure, with one study finding that 69 percent of men who have sex with men would use condoms more frequently if they were FDA-indicated. Wednesday's authorization of Global Protection Corp's One Male Condom follows a clinical trial involving more than 500 people, carried out by Emory University. "The FDA's authorization of a condom that is specifically indicated, evaluated and labeled for anal intercourse may improve the likelihood of condom use during anal intercourse," said agency scientist Courtney Lias in a statement. The condom is also indicated to prevent sexually transmitted infections -- and as a contraceptive -- during vaginal sex. The researchers behind the study, which was published in The Lancet's eClinicalMedicine, said one of the reasons the trial succeeded where others failed in the past was likely due to the provision of lubricant and inclusion of instructions on how to use the product. Lubricant reduces friction, which in turn causes condom failure from slippage and breakage. Another reason could be that participants were asked to keep mobile phone-based daily diaries, whereas past trials had asked volunteers to recall failure events up to several months later. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease doctor and medical director of an HIV clinic in San Francisco, welcomed the finding. "The important thing about condoms is they don't just prevent HIV, but they prevent gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis," she told AFP, adding it was surprising that such an authorization had taken so long to achieve.

From Thai PBS World No travel restrictions will be imposed when the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meets next week to discuss measures to be introduced during the annual Songkran festival in mid-April, said National Security Council Secretary-General Gen. Supot Malaniyom today (Thursday). In his capacity as chair of the CCSA operations centre, General Supot said it is expected that the ongoing surge in COVID-19 infections will level out during March and that, during the Songkran festival, people will be able to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year’s Day in a way as close to normal as possible. He said, however, that it is not possible for the celebration to be totally normal, noting that social gatherings, parties and other high-risk activities will still be prohibited, but inter-provincial travel will not. The NSC chief also said that the CCSA operations centre will develop a contingency plan, in case daily COVID-19 infections reach about 100,000 cases, in which case more health facilities will be needed, besides field hospitals, to accommodate patients. Thailand’s daily COVID-19 infection number has been on the rise and reached a record 23,557 cases today. ================================ From The Thaiger Health ministry wants to declare Covid-19 endemic within 4 months Thailand’s health ministry wants to declare Covid 19 as endemic in the next 4 months, according to a Bangkok Post report. Senior ministry official Kiattiphum Wongrajit says the Omicron variant has resulted in a much lower fatality rate than in previous waves and while lung infections are increasing, cases of severe illness are still lower than earlier waves of the coronavirus. Health officials say deaths are also 10 times lower and could be lowered further if 60% – 70% of the elderly population get their booster vaccine dose. The health ministry says it plans to hold a press conference to confirm the plan for transitioning the country out of pandemic status and on to managing an endemic illness. At the start of this year, the ministry confirmed its intention to declare Covid-19 endemic this year. Kiattiphum says that as part of the move, the duration of Covid treatment will be adjusted and the quarantine period for high-risk contacts will be reduced. At this stage, officials say a return to lockdowns is extremely unlikely, even with the current surge in cases.

From the Thaiger After yesterday claiming that the situation in Ukraine wouldn’t affect UK to Thailand flights, officials from the Tourism Authority of Thailand now say the Russia-Ukraine conflict WILL impact tourism to Thailand. TAT’s deputy governor for marketing communications has now told the Bangkok Post that people might decide to cancel trips to Thailand because many airlines have had to divert or cancel their flights. The deputy governor also said it’s too soon to to asses the impact, though. =========================== From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon World shock at Putin’s invasion of Ukraine obviously sidelines Thailand’s entry and exit problems, but nonetheless they certainly abound. It can safely be assumed that tourist arrivals from both Russia and Ukraine will be sharply reduced to say the least, whilst there are already rumors of cancelled flights in both directions. Many Russian tourists are already returning in haste, whilst flights to Ukraine are jeopardized by the shelling of Kyiv’s main airport. The Tourist Authority of Thailand confirms today that the negative effect is “instant” and that attempts are being made to evacuate the 250 Thai citizens thought to be trapped in Ukraine. As regards the Russians and Ukrainians still in Thailand, thought to number tens of thousands, their extension of visa options are narrowing. Although the 60 day “Covid extensions” are still technically available until next month, they are at the discretion of each Thai immigration office. This was confirmed by the Bangkok immigration hotline earlier today.

Like in every other aspect of personal appearance, beauty--or revulsion--is in the eye of the beholder. But I have to say that I've seen some attractive tattoo artwork. Admittedly, I'm more than a bit influenced by the body that they're attached to. I agree that I'd prefer that they don't implant silicone into otherwise beautiful and functional appendages, or try to look as blanched as a Korean boy band member. in the end, however, I suppose it comes down to their personal choice.

The Thaiger today published an all-encompassing collection of the trials and tribulations of the expat community. It's too long to post in its entirety but if you're a member of the group, or considering it, you may find it of interest. From The Thaiger By Tim Newton There will be bumps along the way between your visits to the beach, bar and immigration office (sometimes the bumps will be at the beach, bar and immigration office). Expat life is what you make of it here in the Land of Smiles. Moaning about it never helps but accepting the bumps is part of the adventure. Here are our Top Ten Hard Truths for expats in Thailand. https://thethaiger.com/travel/top-10-hard-truths-living-expat-thailand

From Pattaya News The Pattaya City Public Relations Department this afternoon (February 24th) confirmed rumors online and officially announced that they have decided to postpone the Pattaya Music Festival due to concerns about rising Covid19 “cases”. Pattaya PR stated that due to many confirmed Covid -19 cases in Pattaya and Chonburi, the event has been postponed until the situation improves. They noted that although Chonburi is heavily vaccinated and Pattaya is over 90% vaccinated with plenty of hospital capacity and although serious cases remained incredibly low, as well as deaths, the concern was having an event that would encourage interprovincial travel from areas with more limited resources. The move has already caused many tourism and business associations to criticize the decision, stating that Pattaya and Thailand need to “live” with Covid-19 and stop canceling and postponing events that hurt tourism. TPN notes the overwhelming response on Thailand social media was negative, with most stating that they felt the decision to postpone was poor and that the event should have moved forward as scheduled. https://thepattayanews.com/2022/02/24/pattaya-music-festival-officially-postponed-until-further-notice-due-to-rising-covid-19-cases/

From Bangkok Post Thailand and Laos have agreed to soon reopen cross-border checkpoints, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Wednesday. The decision was made after Lao ambassador to Thailand Seng Soukhathivong paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to mark the occasion of his 4.5 years at Government House. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2269031/laos-agrees-to-reopen-border

I agree that it may at first glance seem counterintuitive. It appears, however, that health authorities in several SE Asia countries have been closely following the trend of Omicron infections in western countries and believe a turn downward is on the horizon. Thailand, which is also experiencing a surge, expects cases to peak by the middle of March. Likewise, a similar pattern can be seen in the Philippines. Both countries have--like Vietnam--recently announced plans to accelerate reopening to foreign tourists. Further, the symptoms of Omicron infections on citizens and visitors who have been vaccinated have been mild or non existent. The actions of all three nations suggest how critical tourism is to the recovery of their economies .

From Vietnam News HÀ NỘI — The tourism industry is working hard to prepare for reopening on March 15, according to Nguyễn Trùng Khánh, director of Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). Khánh said the VNAT and local authorities were cooperating to revamp tourism facilities, which have been closed for two years. The authority is also calling for more training programmes and supportive policies to lure back workers who left the industry during the pandemic. It is also running the campaign “Live fully in Vietnam” and reaching out to international channels, including CNN and CNBC, to promote Vietnamese tourism to target markets. The authority has also suggested the resumption of the pre-pandemic visa waiver policy for tourists from 24 countries. “It is not price but the quality of tourism products and services that hold the key to a more competitive industry,” he said. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is consulting on new regulations to prepare for the reopening. According to the proposed regulations, foreign tourists can travel to Việt Nam by land, sea and regular international flights. They will no longer be restricted to only charter flights as in the pilot programme. Regarding compulsory medical insurance, the required minimum coverage will be reduced from US$20,000 to 10,000. Foreign tourists travelling by air will be required to have negative RT-PCR tests within 72 hours or negative quick tests within 24 hours before their arrival. After arrival, they must go straight from the airport to their accommodation where they must take quick tests within 24 hours. Foreign tourists arriving by land and by sea will take quick tests on arrival at border gates. If negative, tourists will be allowed to participate in tourism. Otherwise, they will be quarantined and treated at their accommodation. https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/1157460/tourism-industry-prepares-for-reopening.html

From Tourism Authority of Thailand The following new rules will be in effect from 1 March, 2022 (travellers can enter into Thailand on 7 March, 2022). Points of entry: By air (direct international flight or transit domestically via dedicated flights.) By land (at the border checkpoints in Nong Khai, Udon Thani, and Songkhla.) By water (yachts.) Eligible travellers / countries: For arrivals by air and water: Thai citizens and foreign travellers from all countries/territories. For arrivals by land: Thai citizens and foreign travellers from neighbouring countries connecting with the reopened border checkpoints (Nong Khai, Udon Thani, and Songkhla). Entry registration system: For arrivals by air and land: Thailand Pass system. For arrivals by water: Certificate of Entry system. Quarantine requirement: For arrivals by air and land: No quarantine, but on Day 1 must wait for the COVID-19 test result within an approved SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) or alternative quarantine facility. For arrivals by water: No quarantine, but on Day 1 must wait for the COVID-19 test result on board the travelling vessel (yacht). Accommodation requirement: A proof of prepayment for 1 night of accommodation at government-approved hotel/s; such as, SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) on Day 1. Health insurance: An insurance policy with coverage no less than US$20,000. Thais and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are exempt from this requirement. COVID-19 testing requirements: For arrivals by air and land: First test on Day 1 by an RT-PCR method (wait for the result within the hotel), and the second test on Day 5 by a self-ATK method (must report/record the result via the application). For arrivals by water: First test on Day 1 by an RT-PCR method (wait for the result on board the vessel), and the second on Day 5 by a self-ATK method (must report/record the result via the application). Existing requirements/rules remain unchanged: A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling. A Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination/Recovery. Current Rules (An update that reflects the new rules will be available from 1 March, 2022, onwards.) Fully vaccinated travellers from any country around the world can apply for a TEST & GO Thailand Pass under the following requirements. Eligible travellers • Thai citizens. • Foreign travellers, including but not limited to diplomats, guests of the government, Thai work permit holders, students and their family, and patients seeking medical treatment. Eligible countries • All countries/territories. This information has been updated on 23 February, 2022. https://www.tatnews.org/2022/02/thailand-reopening-exemption-from-quarantine-test-go/

From Bangkok Post The cabinet has approved waiving personal income tax for three foreign groups of taxpayers: high-income earners, retirees and those who want to work remotely from Thailand, said Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith. Mr Arkhom said on Tuesday that the beneficiaries would be considered investors in Thailand as required by the government offering them long-term residence (LTR) visas. Foreign retirees must be at least 50 years old, have an annual income of $40,000 or more, and invest $250,000 in government bonds or real estate. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2268283/long-stay-visa-to-waive-personal-income-tax

An article from the Washington Post included information about Test and Go insurance requirements that I don't recall seeing before. I believe the writer may have gotten this wrong. For any of Thailand’s tourism programs, travelers must purchase insurance with a minimum coverage of $50,000 that includes the cost of treatment and other medical expenses associated with a coronavirus infection. The policy must cover the full duration of the traveler’s stay plus a minimum of 10 extra days in case the fifth-day PCR test returns positive. Continues at https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/tips-for-traveling-in-thailand-right-now-from-people-who-just-went/ar-AAU7JTH

From Kyodo News / BP Thailand brings "boys' love" back to Japan with homegrown dramas Once an importer of "boys' love" (BL) media from Japan, Thailand has now brought the genre full circle with its growing range of dramas themed on romances between impossibly beautiful young men. Known locally as "Y series" -- a reference to the Japanese term "yaoi" that refers to works featuring homoerotic relationships between male characters -- these homegrown dramas have been on the rise following the success of the 2016 Thai BL series "Sotus". But it wasn't until the release of "2gether", a 13-episode series about two handsome college boys who go from being in a fake relationship to falling in love, that the flame for a boom in Japan was well and truly ignited. The show, produced by television production studio GMMTV Co, debuted in February 2020 and soon became a hit overseas due to the "stay-at-home" lifestyle brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. "One of the greatest draws (of the show) is that viewers can learn about a culture different to that of Japan, such as food and fashion," said a spokesperson for Contents Seven Co, a video licensing company that promptly acquired the Japanese distribution rights for "2gether". Japanese television and publishing companies have also jumped on board the Thai BL train. After announcing a business partnership with GMMTV in November 2020, TV Asahi held exhibitions in Tokyo and other major cities across Japan in collaboration with the studio throughout last year. Meanwhile, major Japanese publishing company Kadokawa Corp has been acquiring the rights to translate original Thai novels through its local subsidiary Kadokawa Amarin Co, officially launching its foray into Thai BL with the release of the Japanese edition of "Manner of Death" in January 2021. Set in a fictional rural town in northern Thailand, "Manner of Death" depicts a romance between a forensic pathologist and a suspect in a murder case, offering a refreshing change from campus-based, vanilla themes typically used in Thai BL. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2268135/thailand-brings-boys-love-back-to-japan-with-homegrown-dramas

From Richardbarrow.com The infection rate of all travellers entering Thailand by air November: 0.13% December: 0.45% January: 3.73% February: 2.55% · Test & Go: 1.05% · Sandbox: 5.14% · Quarantine: 3.04% 137,090 international arrivals in February so far. ========================== Thailand has approved two additional COVID-19 vaccines for international travellers to Thailand under the Sandbox programme. The latest additions are Medigen COVID-19 vaccine and Sputnik Light. ========================== The next big meeting of the CCSA to review the Covid-19 situation will take place on Wednesday and the highlights of this meeting will then be outlined in the press briefing in Thai and English starting from 12:30pm.

From Coconuts Bangkok Less than a year after successfully opening near Victory Monument, Bangkok’s first and only Polish bakery has been relocated a few kilometers further downtown. After leaving its former location inside the 515 Victory Mall, Holy Donut Paczkarnia’s new shop on Soi Chula 5 in the Samyan area will host a grand opening party on Feb. 24, which is the Christian feast of Fat Thursday, or Tlusty Czwartek in Poland, when people overindulge in food and booze before giving things up for Lent. The 10am-11am opening event next Thursday will be attended by Waldemar Dubaniowski, Polish ambassador to Thailand. The shop is serving its signature paczki – donuts of sweet yeast dough, eggs, milk and butter and a splash of Polish vodka – in a variety of flavors and they range from THB55 to THB75. The joint’s specialty cold brew coffee, dubbed Warsaw Fog, is THB60. Polish pizza, Zapiekanki, will be available soon. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/food-drink/fat-thursday-bangkoks-only-polish-bakery-opens-new-branch-in-samyan/