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From Bangkok Post Phuket issues alert on infected arrivals Phuket is asking the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to improve Covid-19 screening measures for international visitors, following an alarming number of tourists testing positive on arrival. This is suspected to have largely stemmed from fake negative results from pre-departure testing or inaccurate testing that's only been detected after travellers arrive. The call was made by Pichet Panapong, Phuket's vice governor, during Thursday's teleconference between Phuket Covid-19 control organisations and the CCSA's operations centre. This number is expected to rise given the many tourists applying to enter the resort island under the government's quarantine-free Test & Go scheme that resumed on Tuesday. "False Covid-19 RT-PCR test results are assumed to have something to do with the sharp rise in the number of post-arrival positive tests among tourists,'' he said. On Monday and Tuesday, a total of 7,742 travellers arrived in Thailand, 344 of whom tested positive for Covid upon arrival. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2258347/phuket-issues-alert-on-infected-arrivals

From ScandAsia Warning against traveling to Thailand Travelers to Thailand whose PCR tests return a positive are in a very high risk of being caught up in a web of rules that nobody warned them of before their departure. The SHA+ and ASQ hotels where the travelers are required to stay, must all have contracts with a specific hospital, usually a private hospital. If a traveler staying at their hotel tests positive, the guest has no choice but to be hospitalized at that specific hospital for 7-10 days at their own cost – usually around 10.000 THB per day. In most cases, tourists are requested to pay upfront this amount and coordinate insurance claims by themselves later – holding the risk of not being compensated for their hospital expenses. Sharing hotel room in close contact with a COVID patient also subjects you to quarantine 7-10 days as a high risk close contact person. This is usually not included in the insurance coverage so it would be completely at your own cost. The PCR tests are performed by the hospital who has the exclusive rights to receive all the patients from the hotel they stay at. You must do two PCR tests on the first day and the fifth day of your traveling, and the authorities prefer that you test both times at the same hotel. Some travelers question, if the PCR tests follow same procedures as back in their home countries, since many find the positive result when arriving Thailand, when they just tested negative 48 hours ago before flight departure. All travelers believe they are adequately insured because when they applied for the Thailand Pass, their health insurance was approved. But when the traveler arrives here, it some times turns out that although the Thai embassy or consulate had accepted their insurance policy, they are not covered anyway because of the fine print in the insurance policy. Sometimes, the insurance only covers if the patient has symptoms or is hospitalized in a hospital, not a ‘hospitel’. The Thai hospitals will keep the patient in quarantine regardless of symptoms and for the maximum days they can charge for, all solely depending on the opinion of the doctors’ team at the assigned hospital your hotel is associated with. In other situations, it has turned out that the insurance only covers if the patient is admitted to a public hospital. But the patient has no right to refuse to be hospitalized at the private hospital or hospitel facility which has obtained an exclusive contract with their hotel. Also in this case, the traveler will have to pay the amount at around 100.000 THB themselves. A resident Dane in Bangkok who has been part of a network to come to the rescue of these unfortunate travelers who were trapped in this web of rules says to ScandAsia, that frankly she has come to the sad conclusion that the safest thing to do is not to fly to Thailand on a Thailand Pass until this hotel-hospital alliance is broken or the insurance policies that the embassies accept follow standards that are in compliance with these hotel-hospital contracts. There are so many special situations and describing them all is not possible here, she says. But she wants to add one piece of useful advice: If you have had Covid in the past 2-3 months before your arrival to Thailand then you must remember to bring along with you PCR proof and preferably a medical recovery certificate stating your Covid history in detail with a doctor’s signature. This documentation may help you not to become yet another unfair victim of the medical care protocol. If you show this evidence and insist that your positive result is most likely because the test is picking up dead cells from your past infection, you may be able to avoid being detained. https://scandasia.com/warning-against-traveling-to-thailand/

From Bangkok Post Push for bubbles amid tourism drive The Tourism and Sports Ministry plans to continue travel bubble discussions with short-haul destinations following this week's resumption of the Test & Go scheme. The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) is calling for a more relaxed RT-PCR testing regime to bring back at least 5 million tourists this year. The country wants to continue travel bubble initiatives, particularly with nearby countries that generate enormous cross-border traffic, such as Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia, said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. The ministry plans to visit Beijing for the Winter Olympics this month and wants to use the opportunity to seek further updates from China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism regarding a travel agreement. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn said 35,046 tourists registered for Thailand Pass during its first day of reopening on Feb 1, of which 31,343 were for the Test & Go scheme. As hotels must now verify Thailand Pass bookings via the new Thailand Pass Hotel & Swap System, 20% of guests were verified as of Feb 1. Mr Yuthasak said hoteliers have to verify bookings within 30 hours or registration will be rejected and tourists must resubmit the application. Vichit Prakobgosol, TCT vice-president, said even though the tourism sector was improving, strict testing rules were an obstacle to growth as they deter tourists. He said locations that require no RT-PCR test on arrival, such as Dubai, the Maldives and Turkey, can now attract more arrivals than in 2019 before the pandemic and such reopening policies have not worsened their outbreaks. "If there is no new surge in cases and fatalities after the first month of Test & Go resumption, the government has to consider dropping the RT-PCR test requirement. If it does, the country is projected to see at least 5 million tourists," Mr Vichit said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2257855/push-for-bubbles-amid-tourism-drive

From Bangkok Post Prompted by large numbers of tourists testing positive for Covid-19 upon arrival, Phuket on Wednesday switched to imposing a repeat RT-PCR Covid-19 test on international tourists arriving under the quarantine-free Test & Go scheme. Phuket has now issued a new order requiring all Test & Go tourists to undergo a repeat RT-PCR Covid-19 test on the fifth day of their stay in Thailand, in addition to the first test upon arrival, said provincial chief health officer Dr Koosak Kookiatkul on Wednesday. "This means Test & Go tourists coming to Phuket will have to pay for their two Covid-19 tests and book their hotel rooms on the first and fifth days in advance," Dr Koosak said. "In case they test negative for Covid-19 in the first test, they may undergo the second test and stay in a hotel while waiting for the test result of the repeat test," he added. The infection rate for the first test found in international tourists arriving in Phuket was 2%, while the result of a repeat test showed the infection rate had climbed as high as 4-5%, which were mostly cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, he said. On Tuesday, the first day Thailand resumed its Test & Go scheme, Phuket welcomed 17 Test & Go tourists and 2,439 others via its tourism sandbox programme, according to the province's immigration office. The province recorded 493 new Covid-19 infections, 387 of which were local cases, two in the Test & Go scheme and the other 104 were in the Phuket Sandbox programme, said Dr Koosak. The province was concerned that the high infection rate among visitors from Russia and Kazakhstan would badly hit the tourism industry, said Phuket governor Narong Woonciew. Of the about 300 new Covid-19 infections recorded daily, about 100 were foreign visitors arriving mainly from those two nations, he said. "Russian tourists account for a vast majority of international tourists arriving in Thailand through Phuket," the governor said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2257883/phuket-ups-tests-on-foreign-visitors

From Richadbarrow.com According to a spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, the total number of registrations for Thailand Pass on the first day of 1st February amounted to 29,194 people, with 23,660 people applying for Test & Go alone. ..................................... Hotels must verify the 1st and 2nd room & test bookings within 30 hours or the visitors' Thailand Pass registration will be automatically rejected, according to new procedures aiming at monitoring RT-PCR tests. --------------------- According to Facebook page B-Bangpakong, football giants Manchester United and Liverpool FC will play a friendly match at Rajamangala National Stadium on 12th July. They will sign the contract this week.

From Reuters Streets in some of Myanmar's main cities were nearly deserted on Tuesday as opponents of military rule held "silent strikes", making the first anniversary of a coup that sparked deadly chaos and snuffed out tentative steps towards democracy. The United States, Britain and Canada imposed new sanctions on the military and joined other countries in calling for a global halt in arms sales to Myanmar, a year after Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government was overthrown. Since its bloody suppression of protests in the weeks following the coup, the military has faced armed resistance on multiple fronts in the countryside from groups allied with the ousted government. On Tuesday, an explosion took placed during a procession of military supporters in the eastern border town of Tachileik, two witnesses told Reuters. The blast killed two people, said one of the witnesses, and wounded more than 30 others. The coup triggered a huge backlash, with strikes and protests that led to about 1,500 civilians being killed in crackdowns and more than 11,787 unlawfully held, according to United Nations human rights office figures on Tuesday. The U.N. human rights expert on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, on Tuesday said the junta was functioning like a criminal enterprise, harming its people and stealing their resources. "The international community must take strong, meaningful steps to cut the junta's access to weapons, funds and legitimacy," Andrews said. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-activists-vow-defy-junta-with-strike-coup-anniversary-2022-02-01/

From Vietnam News HÀ NỘI — Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Văn Hùng has just submitted a proposed plan to the Government for reopening international tourism in safe and effective manner. According to the plan, after the first pilot period for receiving international tourists, the second phase will last from now until March 30, 2022, with the number of eligible localities in the programme extended to all those who have completed coverage of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots and with contained outbreak (green zone, as per the health ministry’s outbreak assessment criteria). This is a huge step up from the currently five localities of Phú Quốc Island (Kiên Giang Province in the southern region), Quảng Nam, Đà Nẵng, and Khánh Hoà in the central region, and Quảng Ninh in the northern region, with HCM City and Bình Định soon to join the list. From March 31, 2022, Việt Nam will be fully open to international tourism, with inbound and outbound tourists welcomed at all international border gates. The tourists accepted into Việt Nam must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (with certificates) at least 14 days before entry, or have proof of recovery from COVID-19 within six months prior to entry. (There will be separate requirements for partially vaccinated or young children). They will also need a negative PCR-RT COVID-19 tests taken 72 hours prior to entry, and purchase health insurance with COVID-19 treatment coverage with minimum value of US$50,000. https://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/1141562/vietnamese-tourism-ministry-proposed-total-reopening-to-international-tourism-from-april.html

If they didn't know about it before they arrive, visitors to Phuket (domestic and international) soon learn about what many feel are the outrageously high fares charged by taxi drivers. Today's Thiager carries yet another account. --------------------- If you’ve been to Phuket, you’ve probably paid way too much for a taxi. Now, one Thai traveller claims a Phuket taxi driver ripped him off by charging a fare of 600 baht and even got the police involved to sort out the situation. He filmed confrontations with the police and taxi driver, posting the videos on Facebook and drawing criticism on the island’s notoriously high taxi fares. The traveller had tried to book a ride through the application Bolt to get back to his hotel, but he says the driver refused service because he was afraid of the taxi drivers in the area. He tried booking a Grab, but the same thing happened and the driver refused service. He and his girlfriend then decided to hail a taxi, but the driver charged them 600 baht… much higher than the 168 baht fare listed on Bolt. The 21-minute drive was around 12 kilometres from Cafe Del Mar in Kathu to a hotel near Patong Beach. In the video, the man who appears to be the driver yells that the fare is 600 baht. He added that he wasn’t scared of the police, daring the customers to call and saying he and the police are friends. After talking with the police, officers called the driver to the station. Reports say that the driver insisted that 600 baht was the standard price and that no one forced the traveller to use his service. Since it was late at night and the trip was quite far, the price at 600 baht was responsible, the driver reportedly claimed, adding that he would increase the price with more passengers. The traveller is the son well-known dentist who has a large following on TikTok, so his posts drew a lot of attention on social media. Some commented saying they’ve had similar situations in Phuket. Phuket officials reviewed taxi rates in July of last year after some tourists under the Sandbox, or the island’s pilot reopening programme, reported high prices. The Phuket Tourist Police Department then announced maximum taxi fares for rides from the Phuket International Airport and encouraged travellers to report rip-offs. For a roughly 20-kilometre ride from the airport to Surin Beach, a taxi driver can charge up to 550 baht. Read more about the maximum taxi fares HERE. https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/traveller-calls-police-over-high-fare-charged-by-phuket-taxi-driver

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has posted this information today: Kindly note that if you arrive during 00.01-18.00 Hrs., the day is Day 1. If you arrive during 18.01-00.00 Hrs., the day after is Day 1. You can find additional information and interpretation of regulations at Entry Thailand Frequently Asked Questions at the following link: https://www.tatnews.org/entry-thailand-frequently-asked-questions/

From Bangkok Post JAKARTA: Indonesia's holiday island of Bali will start welcoming back travellers from all countries from later this week, officials said on Monday, more than three months after announcing it was open to selected nationalities. Though Bali officially opened to visitors from China, New Zealand, and Japan among other countries in mid October, there has since been no direct flights, Tourism minister Sandiaga Uno told a briefing. Senior minister, Luhut Pandjaitan, said from Feb 4 international visitors who were vaccinated against Covid-19 would still be required to do between five and seven days of quarantine. https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2256459/indonesia-says-bali-to-reopen-to-foreign-travellers-again

Based on my observations of guys I've come know, the best predictor of stability and success outside of their pursuits in Bangkok is frugality. If they could live within their means--and avoid getting ensnared by lure of the illegal casino off Surawong road--they tended to survive the hardest economic impact of covid on their lives.

NOTE - Stickboy is not to be confused with Stickman who stopped posting in 2018. From The Thaiger / Coconuts Bangkok (Jan. 18) Popular “sexpat” blogger Stickboy leaves Thailand over dead nightlife, restrictions The popular redlight district blogger (and “sexpat”) Stickboy has left Thailand, apparently due to the lack of nightlife over the past two years. Stickboy, whose real name is Mike McKay, has been a long time expat in Thailand. He calls himself a “party animal with hollow legs” and is known for his posts of busty women mixed in with general information on Thailand… especially on the bar scene. On Mike’s Twitter bio, he said “Time for something new… South America maybe.” He says he’s left Thailand for good, and “no,” don’t worry, he hasn’t had a serious mental breakdown. Mike told Coconuts Bangkok said it was really the continued postponement of the reopening of bars and nightclubs that led to his decision to leave. Bars and nightclubs have been closed since April, but also faced closure orders early on in the pandemic. Bangkok’s booming nightlife districts have been dark and quiet. Nine months ago, Mike made a post on his website Stickboybkk.com with a photo of Soi Cowboy, a popular redlight district. All the bars were closed. The lights off. He wrote… Yes, there’s no denying it is a sad sight to see the Neon Alley looking like this but it will be back soon and the good times can roll again. With vaccine rollouts around the world picking up momentum and Thailand preparing for mass inoculations, there is light at the end of this Covid tunnel. Now, life has come back to Soi Cowboy and other nightlife districts. But it’s not the same. Healthcare workers in personal protective gear stand at the entrance of the street with rapid antigen kits to test partygoers on the spot. And bars in the capital must close by 9pm. He told Coconuts that with the restrictions and delays to fully reopen bars, he decided to “f**k it” and leave. https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/expats/popular-sexpat-blogger-stickboy-leaves-thailand-over-dead-nightlife-restrictions

NOTE -- Singapore Airlines is now flying two flights out of JFK: a nonstop A350 and a one-stop (Frankfurt) A380 to Singapore. From Channel News Asia SINGAPORE: The pandemic has had a decimating impact on international hub airports with Asia Pacific particularly hard hit due to border closures and travel restrictions. Changi Airport handled only 3.05 million passengers in 2021, or 4.5 per cent of the 68.3 million passengers handled in 2019. Changi has slipped completely out of the rankings of top airports globally after having ranked seventh in 2019 for international passenger traffic and eighteenth for total passenger traffic. Changi is hardly alone as all Asia-Pacific airports have slipped out of the top 20 international rankings. Airports outside Asia have done much better, having benefited from a much earlier and broader reopening of their regions and neighbouring regions. Amsterdam, Dubai and Istanbul each handled over 25 million international passengers last year. However, Changi has performed better during the pandemic than most of its peers in Asia. It handled more international passengers in 2021 than five of the other six main international hub airports in Asia – Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Hong Kong International (HKIA), Kuala Lumpur International (KLIA), Taipei Taoyuan and Tokyo Narita. Changi’s biggest rival is arguably HKIA given they have nearly identical profiles – they do not have domestic markets and are major financial centres. The two also have similar traffic breakdowns in terms of inbound (roughly 40 per cent), outbound (30 per cent) and transit (roughly 30 per cent). Both also have been investing in the future with third runways and new or expanded terminals to support growth over the next few decades. HKIA was slightly bigger than Changi prior to the pandemic, handling 71.5 million passengers in 2019. Since the start of the pandemic Changi has handled about twice as many passengers as HKIA. This gap widened significantly after Singapore started reopening with vaccinated travel lanes (VTLs). Singapore currently permits quarantine free travel from 27 countries through VTLs while seven to 10 days home quarantine options are available for about another 60 countries. The VTL scheme has boosted passenger traffic, which reached 7 per cent of pre-COVID levels in November 2021 and 13 per cent in December 2021 (compared to November 2019 and December 2019). Meanwhile, Hong Kong has kept its borders shut and is currently requiring 14 days of hotel quarantine for all travellers as part of its zero-COVID strategy. Cathay Pacific Group’s passenger capacity is currently at about 2 per cent of pre-COVID levels, compared to 11 per cent in December 2021, and is expected to stay at this extremely low level until crew quarantine requirements, unique to Hong Kong, are eased. Cathay Pacific Group passenger numbers were already very low, at 3 per cent of pre-COVID levels in December 2021 compared to 17 per cent for SIA Group. While Singapore has a golden opportunity to benefit from the current situation in Hong Kong and become the leading Asian hub, the window for seizing this opportunity could be short and the outcome is hardly certain. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/hong-kong-airport-changi-covid-air-travel-pandemic-travel-2463651

Forget your libido and trust your instincts. As soon as you detect anything going south, act immediately and get yourself out of the situation and back on the street. Don't argue or try to negotiate over money after any threat or actual violence. As soon as you learn that there's a second person on the premises, that's another signal to get out. I've never had a situation In Thailand (or any SE Asian country) where I felt physically threatened. I've had guys who want to try to negotiate a bigger tip before they left but that only happened a handful of times. In cases where a guy (massage or off) fails to make good on things he agreed to, I tend to lose interest and end the session. I pay him the usual ST fee or tip for massage and cut my losses. There are too many good ones out there to waste time on a loser. But like I say, those situations are rare in Asia in my experience. When entering the apartment of a stranger, take note of how the door is secured so you'll know how to quickly exit. It takes but a few seconds to check. But I reiterate, your number one objective should be your personal safety. Act quickly. The longer you remain in a confrontational situation (especially involving more than one person), the odds go against you.

From Pattaya Mail Pattaya-area tourism officials met with hospital representatives to hammer out final details on plans to offer “hotel isolation” for “Test & Go” tourists found on arrival with Covid-19. Chonburi Sports and Tourism Director Ampai Sakdanukuljit Sliwinski met Jan. 26 with the heads of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya office, Chonburi Tourism Industry Council, Pattaya Business & Tourism Association and Thai Hotels Association Eastern chapter, as well as representatives from area hospitals. Ampai said the restart of the Test & Go tourist-entry scheme Feb. 1 will see changes for Pattaya hotels. For starters, hotels are now required to have the TAT’s “SHA Extra Plus” certification, which requires not only all staff to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, but a partnership with a local hospital to provide coronavirus testing and medical services. Previously, only SHA+, without the hospital integration, was required. Second, Pattaya hotels will now be eligible for the “Hotel Isolation” program, which began in Phuket when tourists tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival but were denied coverage by their insurance companies as their symptoms weren’t serious. The tourists refused to leave their room, pointing out Thailand’s government required them to purchase the insurance, and now the companies refused to honor their policies. The tourists refused to pay for medical care at hospitals and would not leave their rooms. To save face, Thailand allowed the revolting tourists to stay and began calling it hotel isolation. Expecting the same circumstances elsewhere, the government expanded the program nationwide. Currently, 177 Chonburi hotels are SHA Extra Plus-certified, with 125 of them in Pattaya. Those resorts are required to reserve 5% of their rooms for Hotel Isolation. The rooms must be separated from other guests, the hotel must provide three daily meals in disposable containers, provide essential medical supplies and medicine, and use standardized equipment. The partner hospitals must arrange enough appropriate medical and public-health staff to follow up daily and evaluate the patients’ symptoms via video call. Moreover, the patients can contact and question the partner hospital at any time. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/hotel-isolation-coming-to-pattaya-387735

(Photo by Thai PBS News) From Bangkok Post Oil washing up on Mae Ramphueng beach in Rayong could be the “nail in the coffin” for hotels and restaurants already brought low by the pandemic, local hospitality business operators said on Saturday. The navy and pollution experts are scrambling to clean up the mess created by the spill that took place in the Gulf of Thailand on Tuesday after at least 60 tonnes of crude leaked from a pipeline about 20 kilometres off the coast. Crews in yellow plastic protective suits fanned out along the beach on Saturday afternoon to start cleaning up the oil slick that began washing ashore late Friday night. Star Petroleum Refining Plc (SPRC), the operator of the undersea pipeline that leaked, said it was trying to minimise the amount of oil reaching the shoreline by using booms. An aerial surveillance aircraft is monitoring the slick on the sea. A 47-square-kilometre area was affected before the slick drifted to the shoreline late Friday, a satellite image from the government’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency showed. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2255531/oil-spill-the-last-straw-for-rayong-tourism

Thank you, Curtis, for a tender--and at times poignant--account of your trip. You took us many places, including the storied Bamboo Bar at the Mandarin Oriental. I first learned about it in John Burdett's first Bangkok novel, "Bangkok Eight," in 2003. Very much looking forward to what plans Bangkok Guy has in store for you going forward!

From VN Express International passengers entering Vietnam will not need to receive rapid tests for Covid-19 upon boarding or embarking planes, the Government Office announced. Passengers on international flights only need to present their Covid-19 PCR test results, according to document regarding international flights to Vietnam issued by the Government Office on Friday. Fully vaccinated people will be isolated at their residence or hotels for three days, and others for seven days. https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vietnam-scraps-rapid-covid-test-requirements-for-int-l-passengers-4422182.html

From The Star MANILA (AFP): The Philippines will re-open to fully vaccinated tourists from most countries on Feb 10 and lift quarantine requirements, officials said Friday (Jan 28), nearly two years after closing its borders to contain the coronavirus. A previous plan to welcome back tourists from Dec 1 was suspended after the emergence of the hyper-contagious Omicron variant that has since ripped through the Philippines. Friday's announcement allows for the resumption of visa-free travel for short visits by nationals from the 157 countries who already enjoyed permit-free entry to the Philippines before the pandemic began. Fully vaccinated tourists from countries on the list will need to test negative for Covid-19 shortly before flying to the Philippines and will not have to quarantine on arrival. https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2022/01/28/philippines-to-re-open-to-vaccinated-foreign-tourists-on-feb-10

From The Thaiger Big bike was travelling over 100 kph when it struck Dr. Waraluck last week After a reflective week of Thai social media mulling over the death of the ophthalmologist Dr. Waraluck Supwatjariyakul last Friday, police have today revealed new circumstances surrounding the incident. It’s been revealed that 21 year old Pol Lance Corporal Narawit Buadok was traveling at a speed between 108 to 128 kilometers per hour when he struck the victim, instantly killing her at the zebra crossing in Phaya Thai, Bangkok Apart from being charged seven other charges, he’s now going to be charged with “speeding over the 80 kilometre per hour speed limit”. The earlier charges include failing to stop at a crosswalk, reckless driving causing death, driving with no rear mirror, driving with no licence plate, driving a vehicle without current vehicle tax. https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/transport/big-bike-was-travelling-over-100-kph-when-it-struck-dr-waraluck-last-week

From South China Morning Post / BP HONG KONG: China is unlikely to ease pandemic-related border controls any time soon, despite mounting calls from an international community shut out by strict zero-Covid rules for nearly two years. The National Immigration Administration hinted as much on Thursday, as a spokesman called on people to reduce cross-border activities this year if the trip was "not urgent, not necessary". "The pandemic has not been brought under control in foreign countries. It remains a challenging job for China to prevent imported cases," spokesman Chen Jie told a press conference in Beijing. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2255167/chinas-zero-covid-border-rules-going-nowhere-this-year =============================== From The Bear News Thailand to Reopen Border for Lao Workers after COVID Pause Lao workers can now officially return to Thailand after a pause caused by COVID-19, but pre-employment approvals and steep fees may force many laborers to continue to try to enter the country illegally, according to sources in both countries. Although the border has been closed, many workers still move across it in hopes of finding work that pays more than they can make in Laos. Lao authorities watch the border closely, but they cannot catch all migrants, as some get help from traffickers and employers in Thailand, said an official with the Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Services. “Thai employers sometimes call former workers on the telephone, asking them to return to Thailand,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter. “But if Lao workers want to go to Thailand without the consent of those employers, they won’t be able to go. “Middlemen are also sometimes hired to take Lao workers to Thailand. They know all the ways to get them in,” he said. Many Lao workers now try to enter without permission because of the high costs involved in obtaining visas and paying for the two required COVID-19 tests, a Lao man working for a job recruiting company said. The seven- to 14-day quarantine periods required before they can cross the border are another deterrent, the man said. “The fees they are charged to go to Thailand legally are very high, with the offices that find work for them charging around 30,000 bhat (U.S. $900) each, so the money they can make in one month by working in Thailand is less than what they will have paid to go there,” he said. By contrast, entering illegally with the help of middlemen costs each worker only around 7,000 to 9,000 bhat, he said. “They are both male and female, mostly aged around 17, who are trying to find jobs,” said an official in Thailand’s Ubon Rachathani province, bordering Laos. “They are going in and out illegally, because Thailand has not officially opened its border gates yet.” On Dec. 23, Lao authorities proposed to authorities in Thailand that the cost of two-year visa fees for Lao workers be reduced from 2,000 bhat ($60) to 500 bhat ($15), and that Lao workers testing negative for COVID-19 be allowed to begin work without entering quarantine. They also urged Thai authorities to strictly patrol the two countries’ common border to deter illegal entry and prevent migrants from becoming the victims of human trafficking or violence. Thai borders to reopen Thailand said it will reopen its borders, starting next week, to migrant workers from Cambodia and other neighboring countries for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the Thai government announced Thursday. Thailand Labor Minister Suchart Chomklin said that 446 workers from Cambodia will be the first batch to be allowed in for employers in Chon Buri and Ayudhya province on Feb.1. Late last year, the government signed a memorandum of understanding with private employers to import about 400,000 workers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to fix labor shortages. ”The 446 will travel to Thailand’s Sakaeo province [opposite to Cambodia’s Poi Pet] and will be quarantined at the companies' centers at least seven days,” Suchart told reporters Thursday. Unvaccinated workers or those with incomplete jabs will be administered the vaccine, another official at the department of employment said, adding that the fee for quarantine, including transportation costs, is 8,500 baht ($255) for each worker. ”We are still working on the arrangement with Laos and Myanmar. When finished, we will allow [labor] imports from those countries,” Suchart said. Nontarat Phaicharoen in Bangkok contributed to this report. https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/thai/border-opening-01272022164109.html

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) today (28 Jan.) issued revised information about the Test-and-Go application process. Pre-Arrival Requirements All travellers must have the following documents for entering Thailand: A Thailand Pass, which can be applied via https://tp.consular.go.th/. *The system will reopen for new TEST & GO applications from 1 February, 2022 (09.00 Hrs. Thailand Time) 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$50,000. 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. The policy should also cover the whole duration that travellers are planning to stay in Thailand. Thais and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are exempt from this requirement. A proof of prepayment for 2 separate nights of accommodation at government-approved hotel/s, such as, SHA Extra Plus (SHA++), AQ, OQ, or AHQ on Day 1 and Day 5, and the expenses for 2 RT-PCR tests on Day 1 and Day 5. The prepayment for Day 1 must include an accommodation, a test and a prearranged transfer from the airport to the hotel. *Travellers can book 2 different hotels for the accommodation on Day 1 and Day 5. However, on both Day 1 and Day 5, they must stay within the room for the RT-PCR test result. The second RT-PCR test 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 undergo the second RT-PCR test, but he/she must leave for another country immediately. However, whether the traveller will be required to take another RT-PCR test depend on the airline and the final international destination. 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 Kindly note that if you arrive during 00.01-18.00 Hrs., the day is Day 1. If you arrive during 18.01-00.00 Hrs., the day after is Day 1. All travellers must undergo ‘entry screening’, including body temperature check at the point of entry. Present the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures. Proceed to the prearranged accommodation or medical facility to undergo the first RT-PCR test. The trip must be by a prearranged vehicle on a sealed route. Then, all travellers must wait for the test result within the hotel only. Travellers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents, can have a saliva test. If testing negative for COVID-19, travellers are free to go anywhere in Thailand. However, they must stay at their prepaid accommodation on Day 5 and undergo their second COVID-19 test using the RT-PCR technique (they must stay within the room for the RT-PCR test result.) The second test can also be taken when the travellers experience respiratory symptoms. 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 for foreign travellers, or national healthcare coverage for Thais and eligible foreign expatriates. 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. The policy should also cover the whole duration that travellers are planning to stay in Thailand. 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 sanitizer), 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 an appropriate medical treatment. Those with COVID-19 testing appointment must get tested. 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 result on Day 5-6 in the application. Meanwhile, travellers who have applied/obtained their Thailand Pass QR code before 22 December, 2021, with scheduled arrival dates in Thailand from 24 December, 2021, onwards, are still required to undergo their second COVID-19 test using the RT-PCR technique at government-designated facilities on Day 5-6 of their stay in Thailand, or when they experience respiratory symptoms (no additional cost). Guidelines for Domestic/International Departure For domestic departure, travellers must show proof that they have received a negative result for their 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. https://www.tatnews.org/2022/01/thailand-reopening-exemption-from-quarantine-test-go

The Ministry of Foregn Affairs has issued a special warning to those seeking to acquire a Thai Pass. From Richardbarrow.com WARNING: It looks like the Thailand Pass email database has been hacked and is sending out spoof emails with a link that sends people to a malware site after they click on “download”. Everyone is getting the same QR Code for a Mr Hongkam. Please share this news with others UPDATE: The Thailand Pass IT team has checked their system and can confirm the email did not come from them. It is possible that email addresses could have been collected from websites pretending to be Thailand Pass. Make sure you only use official sites: https://tp.consular.go.th

They want to catch this guy like they want to catch the Delta variant 😄

I'm sure you're as shocked...shocked as I was to learn of this latest development. From The Thaiger Officials unable to extradite Red Bull heir Prosecutors say time is running out to prosecute fugitive Red Bull heir, Vorayuth Yoovidhya, and that they’re unable to extradite him…because they don’t know what address to write down in the extradition warrant. The heir to the Red Bull energy drink empire was charged on 2 counts in the death of a Bangkok police officer killed in a hit-and-run collision with Vorayuth’s Ferrari in 2012. The charge brought onto him for cocaine use is set to expire in September this year. Vorayuth has also been charged with reckless driving causing the death of another, with the statute of limitations on that charge expiring in 2027. According to Dr จุมพล พันธ์สัมฤิทธิ์ from the International Affairs Department, the case has not yet been referred for extradition, due to the fact that there is no confirmed address for Vorayuth, as he says several laws and treaties require a possible address as one of the three key conditions for extradition. The Office of the Attorney General says police have only sent them a copy of the court’s arrest warrant, but it’s an extradition warrant that they need before they can take any action to request extradition. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-news-today-officials-unable-to-extradite-red-bull-heir