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It's now official.... From The Thaiger Starting tomorrow, travellers entering Thailand will no longer need to take a PCR Covid-19 test before their flight, but visitors will still need to take a PCR test once they land. All travellers – vaccinated and unvaccinated – no longer need to take the pre-departure test, but requirements after entry vary depending on the scheme. To make travel a bit more convenient and entice more people to visit Thailand, the government’s Covid task force decided to scrap the requirement for a pre-departure test taken within 72 hours before take-off. The revised entry requirements were published in the Royal Gazette yesterday, making the new rules official. For those who are fully vaccinated and entering under the Test & Go scheme, a hotel must be booked for their first night in Thailand while they wait for the test results to come back, which can take up to a day. On the fifth day of their stay, travellers will need to take a self-administered rapid antigen test and report the results. Before flying to Thailand, travellers must apply for a Thailand Pass QR code through the official website run by the Department of Consular Affairs at https://tp.consular.go.th/. The Thai government is gradually easing entry requirements as the country prepares to transition from a pandemic to an endemic in the next several months. Thailand plans to declare Covid-19 an endemic by July 1, but the date could change if there is a spike in the infection rate following the Thai New Year, Songkran, on April 13.

it's becoming ever more evident that until test-and-go is totally scrapped and entertained venues free of restrictions, there won't be the number of tourists to support a 2019 version of Patpong. In the meantime, the operators of the clubs that choose to open should adopt some incentives to lure in the small number of would-be customers who are trickling back. In the same way hotels lower rates, bars should cut the price of drinks through a variety of promotions. Even in good times, many bars offered "happy hour" pricing or drink specials on mid-week nights. Here are some ideas that I believe might succeed in helping to improve the bottom line: Early bird 200 baht drinks for first hour every night 2-for-1 specials (per customer) Tuesdays through Thursdays Beer special of 100 baht beers on Tuesdays through Thursdays Off fee of 400 baht Tuesdays though Thursdays Last-minute weekend specials None of these are particularly new ideas. They've been used by bars and clubs around the globe and they frequently persuade undecided customers to give it a try.

I just checked again for the promised English version of the "PC-COVID" platform described in the above article. It does not appear to be available. Comments of some international users who've attempted to complete the Vietnamese version report numerous problems with the Android app.

From The Nation Tourism Ministry wants PCR tests for tourists scrapped from May 1 The Tourism and Sports Ministry will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to cancel mandatory PCR testing for foreign tourists and replace them with ATK tests from May. Under the move, tourists would no longer face the expense of a PCR test and mandatory first night’s stay in an SHA+ hotel. “We expect the move to be approved and implemented from May 1 onward, provided that there is no surge in new infections and Covid-19 deaths during and after Songkran,” Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said. He added that the “acceptable” limit is 60,000 daily infections – including those who test positive via ATKs – and 100 fatalities. The ministry last week unveiled a plan to scrap the Thailand Pass requirement for incoming travellers from June 1 in a bid to boost tourist arrivals. Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said.

From Bloomberg News Cathay Pacific plans world's longest flight Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. plans to reroute its New York-Hong Kong service to avoid Russian airspace, in what would be the world’s longest commercial passenger flight by distance. The airline plans to fly from John F. Kennedy International Airport over the Atlantic Ocean, the U.K., southern Europe and central Asia, according to a memo to Cathay flight staff seen by Bloomberg News. The distance of 16,618 kilometers (10,326 miles) would surpass Singapore Airlines Ltd.’s New York service, which takes about 17-and-a-half hours to cover 15,349 kilometers, FlightRadar24 data show. The Cathay new flight will take about 17 hours. A spokeswoman for Cathay said Airbus SE’s A350-1000 is capable of operating the route, which would typically fly over the Arctic and through Russian airspace. Many Asian airlines are avoiding Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine.

From VN Express Vietjet has resumed its international route to Da Nang in central Vietnam from Bangkok, Thailand, boosting post-pandemic recovery of tourism and trade connectivity across the region. Passengers can now reserve a ticket to Bangkok with fares only from VND68,000 ($3) (excluding taxes and fees) at www.vietjetair.com. In addition, Vietjet offers complimentary pre-flight RT-PCR tests for its passengers on international services. The Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi International Airport) - Da Nang route is operated by Thai Vietjet with three round trip per week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). The flight time is around 1 hour and 40 minutes per leg. From Thailand to Vietnam, the flight takes off from Bangkok at 10:50 a.m. and lands in Da Nang at 12:30 p.m. In turn, the flight departs from Da Nang at 13:15 p.m. and arrives in Bangkok at 14:55 p.m. Vietjet also operates five flights per week between Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok with the frequency to be increased to daily flights as of April 12, including on the Hanoi - Bangkok route.

From The Thaiger Authorities in the north-eastern province of Surin say they will declare Covid endemic from April 1, adding that they will become the first province in Thailand to do so. With the central government seemingly taking its sweet time to lift restrictions and move to a “living with Covid” approach, Surin is going it alone. According to a Nation Thailand report, the Surin Information Office confirmed the move on its Facebook page over the weekend, encouraging all residents to get their booster vaccines if they haven’t already done so. The provincial administration says Surin has met all the criteria for declaring the virus endemic, which includes a death rate no higher than 0.5% No more than 3% of Covid patients require hospitalisation And at least 70% of the population have received 2 doses of a Covid-19 vaccine

From Channel News Asia NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar's junta will "annihilate" coup opponents, army chief Min Aung Hlaing said on Sunday (Mar 27) as the military staged a show of force on the anniversary of its bloodiest crackdown so far on democracy protests. The country has been in chaos since a putsch in February 2021, with more than 1,700 people killed in crackdowns on dissent, according to a local monitoring group. Presiding over an annual parade that showcased tanks, truck-mounted missiles, artillery and troops on horseback, Min Aung Hlaing told about 8,000 assembled security personnel that the army would not let up. The military will "no longer negotiate ... and annihilate until the end" groups fighting to overturn its rule, he said ahead of the Armed Forces Day procession in the army-built capital Naypyidaw.

According to the, Public Health Ministry just 56 (0.002%) of the 25,821 Covid-19 cases registered today were imported. Yet the government maintains that the destiny of "test-and-go" will ride on the outcome of how many cases they can blame on Songran.

I'll take the open weight-lifting area at Lumpini any day over the newest, Hermes-inspired gym opening in front of Central Word. The luxury brand best known more for pricey handbags wants to attract the well-heeled--as opposed to the necessarily well-built--to its pop-up fitness center at Central World. Who knows? It may prove an interesting distraction but I won't go expecting to see sweaty, shirtless young men pumping iron like those just down the road a bit. Photos courtesy of Hermès Thailand

From Pattaya Mail The advantage of polymer over paper is such that it does not absorb moisture and dirt while the polymer banknotes can last significant longer than paper banknotes. The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has launched the new 20 Baht polymer banknote. The 20 Baht polymer banknotes keep the same theme of design and features as the current 20 Baht paper banknotes in circulation. Advanced anti-counterfeit technologies are used to ensure that the new polymer banknotes are difficult to counterfeit, similar to the current banknotes. The additional security feature is the “clear windows”, which can be seen through from both sides. The lower clear window exhibits color-shifting from translucent yellow to red. For the visually impaired, the added feature is the small numeric “20” embossed numbers in the upper clear window, which can be easily touched and felt. The new 20 Baht polymer banknotes were issued today through all banks’ branches. The 20 Baht paper banknotes will remain legal tender. The initiative to change from paper to polymer for 20 Baht banknotes is to improve the quality: cleaner and more durable. As the 20 Baht is the most widely used denomination, it is therefore prone to being more worn out and soiled than other denominations, said the BOT in its statement.

From Bangkok Post The Test and Go scheme and Thailand Pass registration are expected to be scrapped by June 1 if there is no surge in infections or fatalities during the Songkran festival in April, says the Tourism and Sports Ministry. Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said Thai tourism has to move forward after opening the Phuket sandbox in July 2021. "Thailand started like a rabbit, running quickly last year as we reopened to visitors. We cannot let the country fall behind as many nations are opening borders and have fewer restrictions than us," Mr Phiphat said. Mr Phiphat said the upcoming Songkran holidays will be a critical test for further easing of rules. The number of daily cases, including results from ATK tests in April, has to remain stable. An acceptable rate might be 50,000-60,000 cases, while the fatality rate should stay below 100, he said. The viral caseload in April could lead to the cancellation of the Test and Go scheme and Thailand Pass from June 1, he said. Mr Phiphat said if the country fully reopens and returns to pre-pandemic norms, there would be no need to require RT-PCR test results from tourists. However, an ATK test should be administered the arrival day to maintain confidence locally and prevent uncertainty, he said.

I agree. The posted information should be viewed as informational but not gospel. I'm in the process of verifying requirements of two transit airports in different countries I pass through en route to BKK. I know others who doing the same thing but on different routing. Check, double check and confirm your understanding with the airline. And after that's done, don't let down your guard. Requirements can change at any time before departure. Check again five days out to be sure nothing has changed.

From Thai PBS World Thailand to bar use of digital assets for payments for goods, services Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a set of regulations to be applied to digital assets operators, which take effect on April 1st, barring them from using digital assets as a means of payment for goods or services. The regulations are intended to control the use of digital assets as a means of payment, to prevent cybercrime, money laundering, data leaks and any threat to financial stability and the economic system. The use of digital assets for investment is not affected by the new regulations. According to the regulations, all digital assets operators are barred from providing services or acting in a way which is deemed as supporting or promoting the use of digital assets as a means of payment for goods or services, such as advertising, and from persuading people to use digital assets as a means of payment. Businesses will have until the end of April to comply with the new rules. The prohibition covers the opening of e-wallets or the provision of tools or systems to facilitate the use of digital assets as a means of payment for goods or services. In case a customer of a digital asset operator is found to have used their digital assets as a means of payment, the operator must immediately warn that customer to stop the practice, as it is deemed to contravene the operator’s regulations. The operator may suspend providing services to such a customer. The regulations cover digital asset exchanges, cryptocurrencies, digital tokens, digital asset brokers and traders.

From Richardbarrow.com / The Nation Tourism and Sports Minister said if the number of Covid-19 cases does not increase after Songkran he will ask the Cabinet to allow vaccinated foreign arrivals to switch to ATK tests on the first day of their trip from 1 May onwards. “If the government approves [this move] and the situation improves further, the ministry will propose lifting all travel restrictions on June 1," he said, adding that this means fully vaccinated foreign tourists would be able to enter Thailand freely.

And when the war ends, they'll be looking around for a better place to park their cash. And when Thailand eliminates the Thai pass and test-and-go, tourists will again flock to its shores, the hotel bargains will gradually go south and the baht will reverse it's slide that began last June. Although these numbers have very likely increased in over last few years, investors continue to buy their bonds. They're evidently confident in the ability of these nations to meet their financial obligations. Brazil at first glance may seem to be the outlier of the group. However the ever increasing numbers of board members choosing to return there are apparently propping up confidence in the economy. 😉

It's becoming an increasingly good time to visit Thailand if you're drawn by bargains in accommodations and favorable exchange rates. According to Bloomberg, the baht is under pressure from a rare, back-to-back current accounts deficit. From Bloomberg The pandemic has robbed Thailand of tens of billions of dollars it used to generate annually from the millions of foreign tourists. A gradual rebound in tourism with the lifting of most border controls is now at risk from flight disruptions and payment difficulties for Russians, once again leaving the nation’s currency vulnerable to a sell-off. Thailand’s status as a net oil importer is fueling a trade deficit and inflation, muddling the outlook for an economic recovery, said Somprawin Manprasert, chief economist at Bank of Ayudhya. The lender, a unit of Mitsubishi Financial Group Inc., has cut Thai growth forecast this year to 2.8% as it sees a hit from low tourist arrivals and supply disruptions from the war, he said. “It will be a double-whammy for Thailand as it faces rising inflation and a slowdown in the economy,” Somprawin said. “Tourism will be affected as it’s not only Russians who will not travel, as the sour sentiment and falling income will discourage others too. Thai economic outlook is worrisome.” Thailand’s tourism will not return to the pre-pandemic levels -- 40 million visitors and more than $60 billion in revenue -- without the Chinese, who made up almost 30% of the travelers. While the country has lifted most of the curbs on visitors, Covid tests on arrival and the paperwork to secure a pre-arrival visa are seen discouraging holidaymakers even as more tourism-reliant countries open up. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-22/thailand-faces-current-account-blowout-on-oil-tourism-risks

Judging by an artist's conceptions of what the futuristic changes will look like (one of which shows the since razed Dusit Thani Hotel in the background), I think this has been in the works for quite some time. From The Nation Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Monday unveiled computer-generated images of Lumpini Park as it will look after an upgrade is completed in 2024, in time for the park’s 100th anniversary in 2025. The images published on Facebook show the new and improved 360-rai (0.57 square kilometres) park, equipped with dedicated bicycle and jogging lanes that connect with nearby Benchakitti Park. All cables and powerlines have also been buried underground to create an unobstructed view of the vast green garden in the heart of Bangkok. Lumpini Park in Pathumwan district has been the green lung of the concrete metropolis since it opened in 1925. Paths that stretch for 2.5km around the park are popular with morning and evening joggers while ornamental lakes surrounded by lawns make perfect picnic spots. The park is open from 4.30am to 9pm and sees 15,000 to 20,000 visitors every day. The improvement project will be divided into three phases, starting with an infrastructure upgrade, said the BMA post. “The second phase will add more facilities and create learning areas, while the third will develop unused areas in the park.” Facilities to be added include the six-storey high Lumpini Corridor that will serve as a new scenic point in Bangkok, seamless paths for wheelchair users, additional parking areas and water retention areas to reduce the chance of floods during rainy season.

Thai health officials last month predicted that new Covid cases would begin to decline in mid-March and that seems to be what's happening. Today 21,382 new cases were reported, continuing a downward trend that began several days ago. Although this doesn't mean things cannot still revert, it's encouraging for those of us who hope to arrive by mid-year.

From The Straits Times Thailand's higher production costs may soon be passed on to consumers The war in Ukraine has increased production and manufacturing costs that could soon trickle down to consumers already feeling the brunt of higher energy and consumer goods prices since late last year. Thailand's headline inflation rate rose 5.28 per cent in February from a year earlier, which was stronger than expected and the highest level since September 2008. Thailand's trade with Russia and Ukraine makes up just US$3 billion (S$4.08 billion), with total exports and imports amounting to a mere 0.5 per cent and 0.9 per cent of total trade respectively. But prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24, prices of jasmine rice, palm oil, rubber and live pigs had been on the up, as Thailand attempted to recover from pandemic-induced disruptions and a weak economy.

Actually I intended the photo above to serve as a euphemism for these other types of "squids".

From Channel News Asia HONG KONG: Hong Kong is set to resume international flights from the United States, Britain and seven other countries, the government said Monday (Mar 21) as it announced a loosening of some of the world's toughest COVID-19 restrictions. The quarantine period for arrivals from abroad will also be reduced to seven days. The flight bans, known as a "circuit breaker", would be lifted from Apr 1. These were put in place after the highly transmissible Omicron variant emerged in January, with the restrictions initially covering eight countries deemed high-risk - Australia, United States, Britain, Canada, France and India, Pakistan and the Philippines - and later Nepal.

From Bangkok Post Race to end restrictions After plaguing Thailand for two years with physical and economic ailments, the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to be downgraded to an endemic from July 1, marking a significant step towards full economic recovery. Businesses, notably entrepreneurs in the tourism and service sectors, welcome the state plan to redefine the scope of the disease, but more tasks to restore the economy are needed, ranging from efforts to stimulate tourism to measures to deal with higher energy prices. Chamnan Srisawat, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), said tourism will definitely benefit from the declaration of Covid-19 as endemic because it should lead to further easing of travel rules, which could help stimulate the economy. However, the July declaration date is almost four months away, which is too long for tourism operators struggling to maintain their business amid a lack of foreign visitors and slowing domestic demand because of the economic downturn and higher living costs, said Mr Chamnan. He said it is too late to wait for July to scrap the Test & Go scheme because countries need to be prepared to seize travel demand now to win a heated global competition. "Thailand used to be a first mover in terms of a reopening plan, but the country is going to face losses as it is slated to be one of the last ones to fully reopen now," Mr Chamnan said. The government needs to accelerate its plan and drop every travel restriction by Songkran as a gift for Thai New Year's Day, he said.

From CNN (CNN) — The closure of Russian airspace to some international carriers, including many in Europe, has forced airlines to seek alternate routes. For some flights, such as those linking Europe and Southeast Asia, that's especially problematic since Russia, the world's largest country, stands directly in between. The problem is best illustrated by Finnair's flight from Helsinki to Tokyo. Before the invasion of Ukraine, planes from Finland's national carrier would take off and quickly veer into the airspace of neighboring Russia, crossing it for over 3,000 miles. They would then enter China near its northern border with Mongolia, fly in its airspace for about 1,000 miles, before entering Russia again just north of Vladivostok. In addition to the polar route, Finnair can also reach Japan by flying south of Russia -- over the Baltics, Poland, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan to China, Korea and then to Japan. It's longer, but if wind conditions are particularly favorable it can be used, resulting in a similar flight time. Then, fuel consumption data, together with navigational fees, is used to estimate the cost for the flight. "After that, we need to check what kind of terrain we are flying over. For example, to see if the elevation at any point of the route requires special planning, in case we lose an engine or pressurization -- something that is always considered when preparing a flight," Kohvakka says. Once the new route is approved, the focus shifts to aircraft equipment and the associated processes and regulations. Among them is one called ETOPS ("Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards"), which dates back to the 1950s, when aircraft engines were less dependable and more prone to failing. ETOPS is a certification provided to aircraft that determined how far a plane with only two engines could fly from the nearest airport, in case it needed an emergency landing due to engine failure. "We need to have a suitable airport where we can divert to within a certain time limit," says Kohvakka. Continues at https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/north-pole-air-route/index.html