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  • Thai Visa’s while under Covid

    An opinion piece.

    What next for tourism sector?

    With the deadline for the estimated 150,000 stranded foreign tourists in the kingdom to renew their visas having passed yesterday, it remains to be seen how many will continue to stay in the country either legally, having extended their right to stay, or illegally, facing arrest and jail as threatened by the Immigration Bureau.

    However, what is not in doubt is that Thailand's ailing tourism industry, until recently estimated to contribute up to 20% of the nation's GDP, cannot survive on those who were able to overcome a number of much-criticised hurdles (in particular, requiring a letter from their embassy) to extend their stay.

    Some foreign business owners have also complained that as the pandemic has forced them to scale down their operations, they too face a problem renewing their visas as they no longer meet requirements pertaining to the employment of a minimum number of Thai nationals.

    Thailand's undoubted success in all but eliminating Covid-19 infections within its borders may ultimately end up being a hindrance as much as a help when it comes to rehabilitating this key sector.

    Previously, the Prayut chan-o-cha government mulled long-stay visas under the so-called "Phuket model" special tourist visa (STV) scheme which, if implemented, would limit visitors to certain provinces. While the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) insists there is high interest from overseas tour agents, a number of business operators still lack confidence regarding practicality.

    Meanwhile, the government is considering shortening the compulsory two-week state quarantine to seven days for some groups of foreign visitors. More details for this proposal will be available this week.

    As long as other stringent measures accompany it, a shorter quarantine period could be a useful option to help this major economic sector out of stagnation.

    Many countries that also rely on the income generated by tourists, and which have suffered far higher death tolls, such as France, Spain and Portugal, are already accepting arrivals based on negative test results and a two-week prior history free of exposure to confirmed cases.

    Tomorrow, the European Union is set to announce its latest set of guidelines to reactivate tourism, which will include coronavirus PCR tests both at origin and destination, to allow businesses and citizens to further return to a modicum of normality with regard to foreign travel.

    For Thailand, the much-trumpeted "travel bubbles" with nations largely free of infection have yet to emerge and the only options being openly talked about are for medical tourists who may barely spend a baht outside their hospital of choice and long-term visitors whose numbers can be expected to be limited.

    The government needs to consult all stakeholders before issuing any guidelines to ensure practicality and acceptance. The constantly changing guidelines and list of destinations that require self-isolation on return have caused confusion among travellers in countries such as the United Kingdom, and this is something our government must strive to avoid.

    Indeed, the Immigration Bureau's hard line with the 150,000 tourist visa holders may also be driven by a desire to crack down on those who were illegally working in the country on tourist visas. It's well known that the pandemic has effectively brought "visa runs" to an end.

    The agency should, however, be cautious when following up on its threats of arrest and jail as there may still be real tourists who have been forced stay longer in the country without proper documentation for technical reasons.

    At the same time, immigration chiefs should work closely with business operators to finally put an end to practices that have seen workers on the wrong type of visa put through a torrid few months.

    Back to tourism, in order to restart the engine of this major sector while a vaccine is not available, the government must examine all possibilities to keep Thailand safe, through stringent measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing, as well effective screening of arrivals.

    One option could be to trial short-stay visas with revised rules in order to test the country's readiness to tackle sporadic outbreaks of Covid-19 as it may not be feasible to halt regular tourism until a vaccine is found.

    However, whatever path the government decides upon, the rules must be clear in advance to avoid confusion.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/...erbox#cxrecs_s

    I personally miss being able to visit but will wait till there’s a vaccine.

    Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

  • #2
    Why the possessive instead of the appropriate plural in the topic title?

    One of my pet hate's.
    Originally posted by Ergenburgensmurgen;n186588
    What are you talking about, I don't post on Teakdoor.


    https://thailandchatter.com/core/ima...ies/giggle.gif

    Comment


    • #3
      ^ Lack of intelligence. As is the case for starting this thread after strong rumours of a new 31 October amnesty were circulating.

      Comment


      • #4
        Emergency decree extension, new visas approved/One-month extension needed to keep balance after reopening to tourists

        The government will extend the state of emergency through October and approve special tourist visas starting next month after a six-month gap, say ministers.

        The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday approved the extension through Oct 31, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

        The panel also approved special tourist visas for foreign tourists starting next month, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said.

        After the panel endorsed the measures, the cabinet will likely give them the final green light on Tuesday.

        The one-month extension to the state of emergency would be the sixth since the initial order in March. The emergency rules allow the government to enforce mandatory quarantines and streamline disease-control plans without multiple approvals from various agencies. The measures were set to end on Wednesday.

        Thailand has managed to control the coronavirus outbreak quickly and to gradually restart most parts of its economy since May. It has so far reported 3,545 cases and 59 deaths, and the majority of its recent cases were found in state quarantine.

        However, the economy, which is also reliant to manufacturing, is on track for its worst contraction on record as the pandemic disrupted international trade and travel.

        The limited number of visas to foreign visitors is aimed at testing the nation’s readiness for a wider tourism reopening in the coming months as part of its efforts to boost the ailing sector. The government wants some foreign visitors to return because they made up two-thirds of the country’s tourism receipts before the pandemic, and many businesses are struggling to survive a long period without foreign visitors.

        Seeking balance

        The country is trying to strike a balance between minimising risks of infections and reopening for foreign visitors who could help rescue its economy. Foreigners who wish to visit the country will need to seek a special visa, get tested for Covid-19 before departure, and agree to more tests and a quarantine upon arrival.

        While the government said that there’s some interest from groups to want to stay in the country long-term, critics said the programme might be too costly for many visitors, who need to pay for health insurance that can cover at least $100,000 in Thailand, a hotel quarantine and charter or private flights.

        Tourism is an important part of the economy, contributing to about one-fifth of its gross domestic product. The pandemic has devastated the industry, which provided more than 3 trillion baht in revenue from about 40 million foreign visitors in 2019.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...visas-approved

        Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

        Comment


        • #5
          More foreigners to be allowed entry into the country

          The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) approved on Monday entry into the country for more groups of foreigners.

          Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesperson for the CCSA, said the meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

          The CCSA has agreed to allow sportspersons who will compete in a closed area to enter Thailand for tournaments. The first group will be international cyclists participating in the royal marathon cycling event. The badminton world tour is being held in Thailand in January 2021.

          Non-immigrant visa holders, such as business people who do not have any type of work permit, are now allowed entry, but they must have savings of at least Bt500,000 in the past six months.

          The STV (Special Tourist Visa) scheme has been given the nod. The PM has ordered the Tourism and Foreign ministries to discuss a clear framework and guidelines, giving top priority to national benefit. Foreigners who intend to visit Thailand can contact the Thai Embassy or visa agency ( http://www.thailongstay.co.th/stv_visa.html ) for further information.

          Natapanu Nopakun, deputy spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that from October 8 onwards, around 150 verified foreigners would start arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport or Phuket airport.

          Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation cardholders in low virus risk areas, such as New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, China, and Hong Kong, are now allowed entry.: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/...ernal_referral
          Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

          Comment


          • #6
            Thailand to slowly restart tourism with flight from China

            Thailand will receive its first foreign vacationers when a flight from China arrives next week, marking the gradual restart of a vital tourism sector battered by coronavirus travel curbs, a senior official said on Tuesday.

            The first flight will have about 120 tourists from Guangzhou, flying directly to the resort island of Phuket, Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn told Reuters.

            The country has kept coronavirus infections low with just 3,559 cases and 59 deaths, but the economy has taken a hit from a ban on foreign visitors since April and is expected to contract 8.5% this year.

            Government spokeswoman Traisulee Traisoranakul expects 1,200 tourists in the first month, generating about 1 billion baht in revenue and 12.4 billion baht over one year, drawing in 14,400 tourists.

            Nationalities permitted to enter will be from countries deemed low risk by the government, which will keep tabs on them.

            "We are not opening the country, we are limiting the number of entries and will manage with wrist bands, apps to follow them," Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told reporters.

            The government predicts just 6.7 million foreign visitors this year after a record 39.8 million in 2019, whose spending made up about 11.4% of GDP, or 1.93 trillion baht.

            Thailand in January was the first country outside of China to detect the coronavirus, in a visitor from Wuhan.

            "Tourists will be on a long stay visa starting Oct 8 and will stay in alternative state quarantine for 14 days," Mr Yuthasak said.

            Visitors need health insurance and a negative coronavirus test 72 hours before travelling and will be tested twice in quarantine.

            "Thailand's protection system can prevent a second wave," government spokeswoman Ms Traisulee said.

            "We have prevented local transmission for 100 days before," she said, adding that had made Thailand attractive for visitors wanting to avoid infections.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business...erbox#cxrecs_s

            Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

            Comment


            • #7
              Little more…

              First group of Chinese tourists to arrive in Phuket on Oct 8th

              On October 8th, a group of 150 Chinese nationals, issued with special tourist visas (STV), will be the first foreign tourists allowed into Thailand, under the conditional entry scheme for selected groups of foreigners endorsed by the CCSA yesterday.

              Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister, Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, said today that they will fly directly to Phuket on a chartered Air Asia flight, adding that another, smaller group of seven Chinese businessmen will arrive at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on a private jet on the same day.

              He added that, on October 25th, another group of 126 Chinese tourists, from Guangdong, will fly into Suvarnabhumi on a chartered Thai Smile flight, to be followed by a group of 120 tourists from Scandinavia and Schengen countries on a Thai Airways International flight on November 1st.

              Regarding quarantine facilities to accommodate these tourists, the Minister said that three hotels in Phuket, and one each in Chon Buri and the northeastern province of Buri Ram, have been chosen.

              Meanwhile, Phuket Deputy Governor Pichet Panapong said that the provincial disease control committee is prepared to cope with the arrival of selected foreign tourists, such as long stayers, the STV tourists and those who have a second home in Thailand.

              He said that a cargo container, based at Terminal X of Phuket International Airport, has been converted into a laboratory, which will conduct tests on all arriving tourists, adding that those who are cleared by the tests will be taken to the quarantine hotels, where they will remain for 14 days, and all of them will be required to load the tracing application in their smart phones, so that they can be traced throughout their stay in Thailand.

              He said that the security at the selected quarantine hotels has been tightened, to prevent the tourists from leaving during their mandatory isolation period.

              Amorn Intharacharoen, Chairman of the Board of Phuket Pearl Group, admitted that there is still public concern over the risk of new COVID-19 infections being passed on by the tourists.

              The emphasis now should be on preventive measures and the readiness of officials to cope with the situation, he added.: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/first-g...et-on-oct-8th/

              Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

              Comment


              • #8
                TAT confirms special tourist visa scheme

                The Tourism Authority of Thailand has confirmed that the initiative to welcome foreign tourists back to Thailand under the Special Tourist Visa (STV) scheme will proceed.

                TAT governor Yutthasak Supasorn said that despite the delay, the first group of tourists from China will arrive in Phuket under the STV scheme within this month.

                Previously, Phuket had prepared to receive its first group of tourists from China who were expected to arrive next week under the STV scheme aimed at supporting Thailand's economic recovery.

                In the initial stage of reopening, the first flight, scheduled to land on Oct 8, is expected to carry 120 tourists from Guangzhou.

                However, Pilot Officer Thani Chuangchoo, director of Phuket international airport, said a check with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has found no confirmation of chartered flights from China.

                "As far as I know, just as in the news, the flights will be chartered flights with a limited number of passengers, and they must follow the measures as considered by the Thai government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs from their point of origin," he said.

                According to the airport's flight schedule from Oct 26 onwards, international inbound and outbound commercial flights have not yet been approved, Plt Off Thani said, adding that the airport has yet to take any action and is waiting for orders from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

                Gen Natthapon Nakpanich, head of the CCSA's panel on the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, said on Wednesday that the STV scheme will first be introduced on the resort islands of Phuket and Samui.

                He said the first group of foreign arrivals is considered a low-risk group because there have been no new Covid-19 cases in Guangzhou for an extended period.

                In an article published on tna.mcot.com on Thursday, Pailin Chuchottaworn, head of a panel assigned to steer economic management measures, said that it may now be the time for the government to review its measures to tackle Covid-19.

                He said that Thailand has been commended for its ability to curb the spread of the pandemic, but he questioned if it is worth Thailand maintaining its Covid-free status at the expense of the economy.

                "Thailand will remain the only country that is kept safe for the duration of the pandemic [until vaccines are available]. But does it want to keep this record at the expense of the economy?" Mr Pailin asked.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business...st-visa-scheme


                Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by S Landreth View Post
                  Some foreign business owners have also complained that as the pandemic has forced them to scale down their operations, they too face a problem renewing their visas as they no longer meet requirements pertaining to the employment of a minimum number of Thai nationals.
                  Boo hoo.hoo, this virus is interfering with our ability to parasite off of your peasant population and might lead to them employing more of each other instead. So unfair!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Govt health agency eyes opening four more airports to medical tourists

                    The committee tasked with developing Thailand into an international medical hub on Friday approved in principle guidelines for opening four more airports in the provinces for medical tourists.

                    Tares Krassanairawiwong, director general of the Department of Health Service Support, said the airports in question are U-Tapao, Samui, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

                    Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports are already open to medical tourists.

                    The committee is awaiting approval from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

                    Currently, there are 1,123 foreigners staying in alternative hospital quarantine, of whom 652 are patients and 471 are their companions. This group has brought Bt114 million in revenue so far.

                    Meanwhile, a CCSA sub-committee has approved the concept of wellness or spa quarantine and the department will soon draw up guidelines to govern this service.: https://www.nationthailand.com/busin...ernal_referral


                    Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Thailand to ease travel restrictions for foreign businesspeople

                      The government is considering how to further ease travel restrictions for people who want to enter Thailand for business or investment purposes.

                      Easing entry for businesspersons would help lift the economy, which is sagging under the impact from Covid-19, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Monday.

                      The Centre for Covid-19 Administration Situation has so far permitted about 11,000 foreign businesspeople and work-permit holders to enter Thailand. All went into alternative state quarantine for 14 days when they arrived in Thailand.

                      The centre has also given the green light for long-stay foreign visitors to enter Thailand from October 1 on Special Tourist Visas. The tourists must undergo alternative state quarantine for 14 days.: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/...ernal_referral
                      Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        'Reopen now or face collapse'/Hurry up or it will be too late, govt warned

                        Pailin Chuchottaworn, head of a panel steering the economic recovery, on Monday urged the government to reopen the country in order to prevent it from collapsing.

                        He said that despite the lockdown having been gradually eased six times, the country's output would not improve unless the country reopens, albeit with precautionary measures.

                        This year's annual GDP is predicted to fall to minus 8-10%, equating to the country losing 1.5-1.7 trillion baht in a single year, Mr Pailin warned.

                        He said that although the government had spent some time preparing to reopen the country to foreign tourists under the Special Tourist Visa (STV) scheme, Thailand is effectively closed.

                        If Thailand could not find a way to reopen its borders for the upcoming high season in the fourth and final quarter of this year, the STV scheme may have to be scrapped, he said.

                        "Currently, tourism is an important priority," Mr Pailin stressed.

                        "If the country does not reopen, it will be hard for GDP to grow because the country's economy depends mainly on the tourism industry and exports."

                        He went on to say that the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) had done well in controlling the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic but maintaining zero cases of local transmissions by keeping the country closed had come at the expense of the economy.

                        The fourth-quarter season was vital and airlines needed to make their flight schedules in advance, Mr Pailin said.

                        If no steps were taken soon to reopen Thailand during the peak season, there would be no time to schedule incoming flights and if it reopened any time after that, it would be too late.

                        Mr Pailin also lamented the number of requirements for foreign travellers to enter Thailand.

                        For example, they not only needed to show they had tested negative for Covid-19, but the test also needed to be taken 72 hours prior to travel. They must also have a medically trained escort with them, though it is unclear where they will find such people.

                        Those foreigners also had to undergo another test upon arrival and yet more while in quarantine, he said. Mr Pailin added that the 72-hour requirement also made it impossible to travel on Monday because of Saturdays and Sundays were non-working days.

                        The Tourism and Sports Ministry previously vowed to bring in 1,200 long-stay travellers this month despite a delay in enabling the first batch of tourists under the STV scheme.

                        Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn earlier said the first two STV groups from China had been pencilled in for this Thursday but as the ministry still needed to settle some entry processes, those itineraries had to be rescheduled until later this month.

                        After the cabinet approved the STV on Sept 15, the scheme was endorsed upon announcement in the Royal Gazette on Sept 29.

                        But since the STV is a new type of visa, the authorities have required more time to ensure the process runs smoothly at travellers' departure locations.

                        Mr Phiphat insisted the delay would not upset the plan, under which Thailand is set to welcome at least 1,200 tourists, and that the ministry would monitor the scheme for 30 days before deciding when to proceed with the next step: reducing the quarantine period to seven days.

                        Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Monday that after the STV scheme is approved for long-stay tourists, the next step will be for the government to allow in foreign businessmen interested in investing in Thailand as they have the potential to spur the country's economic growth.

                        Mr Anucha said state agencies would propose measures to a meeting of a panel easing Covid-19 restrictions headed by the secretary-general of the National Security Council.

                        Mr Anucha added that so far the CCSA had allowed in about 11,000 foreign businessmen and those with work permits and they had been willing to stay at alternative state quarantine facilities for 14 days.

                        Thailand on Monday recorded five new Covid-19 case, one of them a Thai national. The new cases recently arrived in the kingdom from India, Bahrain, Malaysia and Japan.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...-face-collapse


                        Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Public Health Ministry to ask CCSA to cut mandatory quarantine to 10 days

                          Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health will, in the next fortnight, propose to the CCSA a reduction in the mandatory quarantine period for foreign tourists from 14 to 10 days and then 7 days, in line with the COVID-19 situation in visitors’ home countries.

                          Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Kiartiphum Wongrachit said today the proposed reduction, to be worked out by the Diseases Control Department, would take into consideration public safety, adding that, for countries where the pandemic is widespread, the quarantine period will remain unchanged.

                          He expects the proposed change to come into effect within a month.

                          Dr. Kiartiphum said that Thailand has won worldwide recognition for its success in controlling the spread of coronavirus, with the number of total infections, to date, being about 3,600, despite the worst case scenario projected early this year, which put total infections at about 16.7 million.

                          He said that it is still necessary for Thailand to maintain its guard, although he believes any second wave of infections, if there is one, will not be as widespread as the first was earlier this year.

                          Regarding the plan to reopen the country to “selected” foreign tourist arrivals, Dr. Kiartiphum said he expects 85-90% of Thai people to wear face masks in public, to keep social distancing and to wash their hands with sanitizer regularly.

                          Meanwhile, Dr. Thares Karatnairaveewong, Director-General of the Health Service Support Department, said today that Koh Samui in Surat Thani, Phuket, Buri Ram and Chon Buri have been chosen as alternative local state quarantine centres for long-staying foreign tourists.

                          There are altogether 84 alternative state quarantine locations, 12 alternative local state quarantine facilities plus alternative hospital quarantines to accommodate foreign tourists.

                          To accommodate the infected, there will be 20,000 hospital beds throughout the country, including up to 400 beds for very sick patients in Bangkok and up to 1,700 beds in other provinces.

                          Also, there is enough Favipiravir for 8,900 patients and enough Remdesivir for 125 patients. There are also about 3,000 teams of health investigators who are expected to contain any outbreak within 3-4 weeks.: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/public-...ne-to-10-days/


                          Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Medical chief backs reopening/Preventing Covid-19 forever is 'unrealistic'

                            The director-general of the Department of Medical Services is backing the proposal to reopen the country to revitalise the virus-battered economy.

                            Dr Somsak Akksilp said that not only was Thailand well prepared for a second wave of Covid-19 but that maintaining zero local infections was an unrealistic target since it was still not known when a vaccine would become available.

                            "We cannot afford to maintain zero cases forever," Dr Somsak said. "We need to reopen the country. The country must move forward and people have jobs to do.

                            "This means we may have to see a small number of infections but if we work together to prevent them, the country will be able to achieve a balance between public health and the economy."

                            He said the Public Health Ministry wanted to reassure the public that the medical system was well-equipped to detect and control the disease.

                            Dr Somsak said 2,000 beds were already available across the country for Covid-19 patients. Bangkok could treat up to 400 patients per day and the rest of the country 1,000-1,700 patients per day, he said.

                            "We have upgraded our medical system," Dr Somsak continued. "We won the first round because of the trust between the people and doctors. We believe we will get through this."

                            Sophon Mekthon, chairman of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO), said that it had ensured enough supplies of face masks, N95 masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) in the event of a second wave of Covid-19 -- and more could now be produced locally.

                            In particular, the GPO had been working with the Thai Textile Manufacturing Association and the Department of Science Service to make high-quality equipment, Dr Sophon pointed out.

                            Opas Karnkawinpong, acting director-general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), said it had about 1,000 rapid investigation teams and planned to triple the number.

                            The aim was to control any further waves of infections within three to four weeks, reduce the death rate to below 1.4% and increase each province's ability to deal with Covid-19, Dr Opas said.

                            Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, meanwhile, pointed out that the mandatory quarantine period for tourists was still 14 days and had not yet been reduced to 10 days since further studies were needed.

                            Regarding the government's special tourist visa (STV) scheme, the ministry has assigned 12 Alternative Local State Quarantine facilities in Phuket, Surat Thani, Buri Ram and Chon Buri, plus a further 84 Alternative State Quarantine facilities in preparation for the country's reopening.

                            Phuket had been preparing to receive its first group of tourists from China who were expected to arrive this week under the STV scheme aimed at supporting Thailand's economic recovery.

                            A group of 120 Chinese tourists and businessmen had been scheduled to arrive in Thailand on Thursday, but their trip has been delayed.

                            Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn confirmed that the initiative to welcome foreign tourists back to Thailand under the STV scheme will proceed as planned, though it might be delayed due to paperwork.

                            He confirmed the tourists in the STV scheme will be able to come to Thailand by the end of this month.

                            It's part of the conditions of the STV that they had to pay first, Mr Yuthasak said.

                            There's no need for refunds because their trips are not cancelled, they are only delayed, he told Thai media earlier.

                            The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday declined to elaborate on the matter saying the TAT governor had already clarified the issue.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...acks-reopening


                            Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Tourism minister raises caveat on reopening/First batch of arrivals via the special tourist visa scheme must be 100% clear of Covid-19

                              The entire batch of tourists coming to Thailand via the special tourist visa (STV) in the first phase must be 100% clear of the coronavirus or the reopening plan will be scrapped indefinitely, says Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister.

                              He said that if the scheme sees no infections for the first groups in October and November, fears about a local spread will subside.

                              "Before we approach the second stage on Nov 17, which aims to shorten the quarantine period, we must evaluate the first phase," Mr Phiphat said. "If there's even a single case, we cannot continue to the second phase."

                              Tourists from China applied for the STV and plan to enter Thailand via Suvarnabhumi airport on Oct 20. They are expected to go through a 14-day quarantine at an alternative state quarantine facility in Bangkok.

                              "The Chinese group previously set as the first batch to arrive via Phuket airport is rescheduled to Oct 26 to preserve the local confidence during the vegetarian festival of Oct 17-25," Mr Phiphat said.

                              A group from Scandinavia remains confirmed for entry on Nov 1. But because that group includes tourists from Denmark, which reported an increasing number of infections lately, the ministry has to coordinate with the Foreign Ministry again on how to decide on the issue.

                              To settle similar dilemmas in the future, the Tourism Ministry may propose that the Foreign Ministry consider eligible tourists based on city, instead of using a country-based list, as some countries have a wider area where some cities have remained clear of the virus for over 100 days.

                              If the first phase of reopening reports no new cases, the Public Health Ministry will consider reducing quarantine to the appropriate level again.

                              Mr Phiphat said he would like to propose a 7+7 plan where tourists are kept in their room for seven days, then allowed outside the room but still within the hotel area for another seven days.

                              The ministry plans to incorporate tour operators in the domestic stimulus scheme by asking them to arrange weekday tour packages for travellers aged between 55 and 75.

                              Mr Phiphat said he will discuss the idea with the prime minister soon to let tourists get a 40% subsidy on tour packages, capped at 5,000 baht per person per trip, in November.

                              He said the Association of Domestic Travel can propose to the ministry if they want to extend the target to all tourists regardless of age.

                              "The new measure will support more stakeholders, such as local operators, bus operators, restaurants and tour guides who suffered the most from the tourism slowdown," he said.

                              So far, 5 billion baht of the budget for stimulus projects has been used, leaving 14 billion baht for other schemes.

                              100%: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business...t-on-reopening

                              Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

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