Thai Visa’s while under Covid

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Thai Vietjet resumes domestic flights from 1st September 2021

Thai Vietjet offers Welcome Back to The Sky special fares from only 499 THB (inclusive of taxes, fees, and surcharges) available for booking from 27 – 31 August, 2021 with during 1 September - 30 November, 2021 (exclude of public holidays).

Following latest policy of the competent authority on travel relaxation and domestic flights allowed to/from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport, Thai Vietjet confirms its resumption of domestic services from 1 September, 2021. Further details of requirement for traveling passengers will be advised soon by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailland (CAAT) on 28th August 2021.

Celebrating the travel restriction uplift, Thai Vietjet offers 'Welcome Back to The Sky' special fares from only 499 THB (inclusive of taxes, fees, and surcharges) available for booking from 27 – 31 August, 2021 with during 1 September - 30 November, 2021 (exclude of public holidays). The promotional tickets are available at www.vietjetair.com, applied to Thai Vietjet's domestic flight network from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Hat Yai, Surat Thani, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, and Ubon Ratchathani; cross-regional flights from Phuket to Chiang Mai (starting form 15 September, 2021), Chiang Rai to Hat Yai and Phuket (from 1 October, 2021) and Phuket to Udon Thani (from 10 November, 2021)

On this special occasion, Thai Vietjet's loyalty SkyFUN members would also get double Funcoins for any ticket purchase during the promotion period. On every 10 THB spending, members will earn 2 coins (instead of 1 coin as normal rate). Funcoins can be redeemed for various discount rewards and vouchers. Membership subscription is free and passengers are encouraged to do so by simply sign-up at www.vietjetair.com before purchasing tickets for full benefits.

For those who hold Thai Vietjet domestic tickets with travel date during 1 – 30 September, 2021, yet wish to amend their itinerary due to travel restrictions, may choose to change travel date free of charge with new departure by 31 December, 2021 (black out period applies) or to keep value of the ticket as 'Credit Shell' for future use valid until December 31, 2021. For further information and support, please visit www.vietjetair.com.: https://www.nationthailand.com/thai-...ation/40005386

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Sandbox at risk of collapse after surge

PHUKET: Local tourism organisations have called for strict Covid-19 curbs to be relaxed to help with a quick recovery despite authorities struggling under the weight of a new surge of up to 200 infections a day.

Thanet Tantipiriyakit, president of the Phuket Tourism Council (PTC), said the latest cases were not caused by tourists but by local activities.

Disease control measures should be eased to allow visitors who are fully vaccinated and pass swab tests to enter the province to boost economic recovery, he said.

Chernporn Kanchanasaya, president of the Federation of Thai Industries' Phuket Chapter, said September will be a pivotal month. It is essential to vaccinate as many local residents as possible to shield them from the virus.

She also said the Digital Economy Promotion Agency is expected to set up smart checkpoints to screen visitors in October.

"The best measures must be put in place before people are allowed to enter Phuket,'' she said.

Sarayuth Mallam, chief adviser to the PCT, said that if the island is put under a two-month lockdown, it could spell doom for the Phuket Sandbox scheme.

"Foreign consuls have said foreign visitors already feel deceived having arrived in Phuket. If the province is locked down again, no visitors will come at all," Mr Sarayuth said.

"Tourists from Bangkok and Europe will disappear during the high season. We need to strike a balance to coexist with Covid," he added.

Tourists from Europe want to dine and have a beer and wine together, but right now they can't do anything. Many have said they have felt cheated for three months now.

"If Phuket was not ready, then why reopen? Without an easing of the curbs, all will be ruined,'' Mr Sarayuth said.

Phuket governor Narong Woonciew said local authorities are stepping up efforts to contain the surge of infections as quickly as possible. Many of the new cases were detected using antigen test kits, whose results were confirmed again for accuracy by RT-PCR, he said.

Transmissions have increased among residents and migrant workers, he added.

With the spikes in local infections, the prospects for the Phuket Sandbox scheme may look dimmer now than when it first started, he said.

"We have to do everything we can to get through this difficult situation and hope case numbers will slow down.

"We have to join forces and move forward. This is a life-and-death situation for the future of Phuket Sandbox,'' the governor said.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business...se-after-surge

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Hua Hin opts for Phuket's approach

Hua Hin's reopening plan has adopted the quarantine-free approach from the Phuket sandbox, while the tourism sector is confident about achieving herd immunity by the slated Oct 1 reopening.

Krod Rojanastien, president of the Thai Spa Association and head of the Hua Hin Recharge programme, said it will use the same model as Phuket but on a smaller scale.

As of Aug 30, the vaccination rate reached 55% of the 90,564 inhabitants of Hua Hin Municipality, of which 59.2% received the first jab and 22.2% were fully inoculated.

Mr Krod said he would hold talks with tourism and sports minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn to help allocate 30,000-40,000 doses by this month.

The goal to welcome 100,000 international travellers, generating 1.2 billion baht, in the fourth quarter despite the challenge posed by the pandemic in Thailand which has triggered travel warnings from several countries.

"If the infection rate in Thailand continues to drop and many countries put Thailand back on the safe list, we can expect a travel rebound in the last three months," Mr Krod said.

Meanwhile, operators in Hua Hin are working with the Public Health Ministry and the Transport Ministry to welcome private jets via Hua Hin airport.

High-spending tourists who can afford private jets are also a key market for wellness tourism in Hua Hin, if the airport is ready with safety protocols.

Hotels in Hua Hin, with only 56 open of the 200 in total, are applying for the Safety and Health Administration (SHA) Plus standard.

"We have to create diverse packages to attract tourists such as golf, wellness and community tourism," Mr Krod said.

Tourists can travel independently or book packages under Hua Hin Recharge, which covers 86.3 square kilometres between Hua Hin Municipality and Nong Kae district.

He said if tourists slip out from the reopened area, there is no penalty for them, but investigations by operators will be conducted case by case.

Under the draft standard operating procedures, vaccinated tourists have to take an RT-PCR test at the airport and will be transferred directly to the hotel. They can roam freely within Hua Hin after getting a negative test result.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business...ukets-approach

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PM rejects cabinet revamp talk

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday denied rumours regarding a cabinet reshuffle and a House dissolution, saying that he intended to stay on until the government completes its four-year term in 2023.

"Such thoughts have not crossed my mind. Whoever spoke about it should be careful, regardless of their aim to stir unrest during the no-confidence debate or whatever," Gen Prayut said.

He made the remarks as the government faced a grilling from the opposition during the four-day no-confidence debate which started on Tuesday, with the votes to be cast on Saturday.

The debate targets the PM and five cabinet ministers, namely Anutin Charnvirakul, deputy prime minister and public health minister; Saksayam Chidchob, transport minister; Chalermchai Sri-on, agriculture and cooperatives minister; Suchart Chomklin, labour minister; and Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, digital economy and society minister.

Gen Prayut's comments also come as the coalition government is rocked by rumours that efforts are being made to vote against and unseat the prime minister at the no-confidence debate.

He said on Wednesday that Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, also the leader of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), had reassured him that he has cleared the air within the ruling party and there were no problems.

Previously, Gen Prayut admitted he asked Gen Prawit via a Line chat about a rumour that MPs from some coalition parties were plotting to vote against him at the no-confidence debate and pressure him to reshuffle the cabinet.

In light of this, during a meeting at the Five Provinces Bordering Forests Preservation Foundation on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road on Monday, Gen Prawit read out a message from Gen Prayut to MPs and cabinet ministers from the PPRP who were present at the meeting, according to sources at the meeting.

"Why do the MPs not support me? What are their reasons?" the PM's message, as relayed by Gen Prawit said.

Gen Prawit stressed the need for party MPs to vote for all six cabinet ministers, including the PM, after the no-confidence debate, the sources said.

Gen Prayut said on Wednesday that he had heard about various rumours; one being about the move to gather support among MPs to vote against him at the no-confidence debate. Gen Prawit, he said, had pledged to look into the matter.

"If that is true, this is ungentlemanly. This is no time for such things. Another rumour is that I will dissolve the House and everyone panics. I insist this is not true," Gen Prayut said.

"There will be no House dissolution. We are working hard to tackle important issues. There is no reason why I should dissolve the House," he said.

Asked to comment on a report that some PPRP MPs are trying to reclaim the Interior Ministry post held by Gen Anupong Paojinda, Gen Prayut said: "Is such a move in the country's best interests?"

Gen Prayut also insisted that he will stay on until the coalition government completes its term. "I told leaders of the coalition parties that we have to stick together at the moment," he said.

Asked by reporters if he had met with small coalition parties for talks, Gen Prayut said he did not speak directly to them, though they had been in contact with leaders of the major coalition parties.

The prime minister said he has appreciated the support of small parties and he has attached great importance to them.

Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister and PPRP secretary-general Thamanat Prompow on Wednesday dismissed a rumour that he was involved in a move to lobby coalition MPs to vote against the prime minister at the no-confidence debate.

"Those who started and spread the rumour are not in the opposition, but in the government's coalition parties," Capt Thamanat said.

Gen Prayut said he would not hold talks with Capt Thamanat when asked by reporters about the rumour.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, the government's legal adviser, said on Wednesday that in the event of "a political accident" such as the PM failing to get enough votes as required for the legal threshold, Gen Prayut would then have to relinquish office and the government would come to an end.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...et-revamp-talk

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Chiang Mai ready to share its ‘charms’ under new travel scheme

The Tourism Council of Chiang Mai plans to launch the “Charming Chiang Mai” scheme on October 1 in a bid to bring tourists back to the North.

Council president Punlop Saejew said the scheme is over 90 per cent ready and is waiting for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s approval.

Like Phuket Sandbox and other schemes launched to boost tourism, Charming Chiang Mai will also have tourists visiting under specific conditions.

Punlop said tourists will be given several options under the scheme, like spending only five days in Chiang Mai before flying back home or dividing their first 14 days between Chiang Mai and Phuket before being allowed to travel elsewhere in Thailand.

He said travellers going for the five-day option will only be allowed to stay in specific hotels and visit golf clubs.

However, if they choose to spend 14 days in Chiang Mai or divide the period between the North and Phuket in the South, they will be allowed to travel around Thailand once that period is completed, and they test negative for Covid-19.

The areas earmarked for the Charming Chiang Mai scheme are Muang, Mae Taeng, Mae Rim and Doi Tao districts and the initial target are travellers from Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan before it expands to travellers from China and India.

Punlop believes the scheme should generate up to 100 million baht for the province if it can be launched without any problems.

He explained that Chiang Mai’s earnings from tourism had dropped to 60 billion baht in 2020 from 1.2 trillion baht the year earlier.

“Over the past one year and eight months, when foreign tourists were banned from entering Chiang Mai, the province has lost at least 180 billion baht in tourist dollars,” he added.: https://www.nationthailand.com/thai-...ation/40005612

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Visitors trickle back to reopened Koh Lan

Koh Lan, a popular tourist destination a short ferry ride from Pattaya, saw a small number of holidaymakers on Saturday, as the island gradually reopens to tourists after Covid-19 restrictions were eased.

Chon Buri was among the 29 dark-red zone provinces where strict movement curbs were lifted on Sept 1, as the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration is shifting its focus to learning to live with the coronavirus.

Municipal officials from Pattaya were on hand at Bali Hai pier to greet tourists heading for the island. ID cards and passports were checked before they were allowed to board, but migrant workers are not being allowed to visit the island yet. Alcohol gel was available at the pier and social distancing measures were observed on the ferries.

Ferry services are running three times a day with tickets at 30 baht per head per trip. Speedboats charge 250 baht per head.

The number of tourists at Bali Hai pier was not high on Saturday. They were mostly Thai visitors who arrived in small groups of families and friends.

One ferry operator said he was delighted that Koh Lan had reopened, as both ferry operators and local residents would have a chance to earn some income. Almost 100% of the island’s residents have been vaccinated against Covid-19, he said.

Operators of resorts on the island said they had received many room bookings for weekends since authorities eased the Covid restrictions on Wednesday.

Tourism operators in Chon Buri are still hoping for a broader resumption of activity on Oct 1, including vaccinated international travellers. They would be allowed to travel on selected “sealed routes”, similar to the model first tested in Phuket and neighbouring destinations.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said this week that the reopening next month of five more destinations including Chon Buri would depend on a number of factors including the overall Covid case trend and vaccination rates of local residents.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...opened-koh-lan

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Sandbox tourism programme helps generate THB3.8 billion revenue for Phuket

The Phuket "sandbox" tourism programme generated THB3.81 billion circulating funds to the economic system, the Tourism and Sports Ministry said on Saturday.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn explained that from July 1 to August 31 this year, 26,400 foreign travellers had visited Phuket under the scheme.

"The top five foreign travellers who visited Phuket were from the US (3,482), UK (3,351), Israel (2,909), Germany (2,092) and France (2,083)," he said.

He said the scheme had generated THB1.63 billion in revenue -- THB565 million in accommodation, THB376 million in tourism products and services, THB350 million in foods and beverages, THB229 million in healthcare services and THB114 million in other expenses.: https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005737

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Phuket sours on Sandbox

The private sector in Phuket is urging the government to fully reopen the resort island by Dec 1, saying the move can bring in more than 210 billion baht in tourism-related revenue in just three months.

The call came as businesses in Phuket realised that they won't be able to survive with the island only partially reopened under the Phuket Sandbox scheme.

"Only over 20,000 tourists have come over the past two months since the Phuket Sandbox was launched," said the vice-president of Phuket Tourism Association, Nanthida Atiset.

"We can't continue this way. Hotels are suffering losses.

"What we need is 'freedom day' on Dec 1."

Along with the president of Phuket Tourism Council Thanet Tantipiriyakit, Ms Nanthida led local business associations to submit their proposal for the island's reopening, under a new campaign called "Phuket Freedom Day".

Under the proposal, all businesses on the island will fully resume, with all residents of the island returning to their usual way of life while remaining safe from Covid-19 by observing public health guidelines.

With domestic travel adapted to a "new normal", the province will be able to attract some 3.5 million tourists who will come between December and March next year -- about half the number of tourists in the same period before the pandemic -- bringing in some 210 billion baht in tourism-related income.

All target groups on the island should receive a third booster jab for the reopening to succeed. Meanwhile, tourists would be required to show proof of vaccination and/or undergo a rapid Covid-19 antigen test prior to entering, the groups said in their proposal.

The proposal was designed to follow the United Kingdom's model for reopening, which required 90% of target groups within the population to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, Ms Nanthida said.

To achieve the goal, she said, Phuket will need to roll out more jabs. About 400,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will have to be procured, along with 70,000 of the Pfizer vaccine for interdermal injections -- which require 20% of the usual dose required for a booster shot, but confers equal immunity against the virus.

She cited the result of a study in the Netherlands which showed the technique was as effective as the intramuscular injection method, in which a full dose was administered.

Vachira Phuket Hospital is conducting a trial on intradermal injections, using 20% of the usual amount of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine on those who have already received two shots of the Sinovac vaccine, according to the groups.

So far, 76.5% of Phuket's population have been vaccinated against Covid-19, while up to 87.1% of the elderly population and 70% of those with underlying medical conditions have been inoculated.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, from July 1 until Aug 31, 26,400 foreign tourists visited Phuket under the Phuket Sandbox programme, which has generated 1.6 billion baht in tourism related income.

Among these tourists were 3,647 Americans, 3,437 Britons, 3,141 Israelis, 2,174 French and 2,159 Germans, according to the Immigration Bureau.

As for those tourists who want to return to their home countries at the end of their visits but couldn't leave Thailand due to new Covid-19 protocols imposed by airlines, Phuket governor Narong Woonciew said the province is trying its best to help.

In some cases, tourists weren't aware that their airlines require a proof of a negative Covid-19 test, which usually takes at least 48 hours to issue, leaving them stranded at the airport, he said.

"We are compiling updates to help tourists," he said.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business...urs-on-sandbox

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TAT launches campaign to boost Chonburi’s tourism industry

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched the “Check-in Chonburi Free 500” campaign last month to lure tourists back to the province after the Covid-19 lockdown.

Under the campaign, which runs until September 25, travellers will be given a 500-baht voucher when they check into any of the following hotels:

• Sunbeam Hotel Pattaya
• Bella Villa Cabana
• Ravindra Beach Resort and Spa
• Mera Mare
• Villa Wanida Garden Resort
• The Now Hotel Pattaya
• The Tara Residence
• LK Emerald Beach
• Chezzotel

The terms and conditions of the campaign are:

• Guests receive a 500-baht voucher per room when checking into a participating hotel. The voucher can be used for food and drinks in the hotel.
• The campaign only applies to people who reside outside Chonburi province.
• The campaign runs until September 25.
• The voucher cannot be exchanged for cash.
* TAT reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions without prior notice.: https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005770

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Samui Plus Model misses the target on number of foreign visitors

The island of Samui in Surat Thani province has seen only 628 foreign visitors as of September 7, lower than the target of 1,000, per month, since the launch of the “Samui Plus Model” on July 15.

Among foreign visitors to Samui, the top three countries are France (118 visitors), Germany (96) and the United Kingdom (95).

The Samui Plus Model is a more liberal tourism "sandbox" programme that aims to promote the local tourism industry by reopening certain areas of Surat Thani to foreign visitors. Under the programme, vaccinated visitors are required to stay on the property of a participating hotel for the first three days. From day 4 to 7, only travel to specific routes and destinations are permitted. From day 8 to 14, tourists can travel anywhere in Samui, and even go to Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. On the 15th day, a visitor can leave Samui and travel anywhere in Thailand.

“The programme needs to adjust its criteria by eliminating the period in which visitors have to stay in the hotel to attract more visitors,” Phatcharaphorn Phoonsawas, president of Samui Tourism Promotion Association, said on Thursday.: https://www.nationthailand.com/thai-...ation/40005956

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Five Thai provinces are set to reopen to foreign tourists on October 1

Bangkok, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chiang Mai are set to reopen to foreign arrivals on October 1st, following the successful implementation of the first phase of the “sandbox” scheme in the southern provinces of Phuket, Krabi, Phang-nga and Surat Thani, Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said yesterday (Wednesday).

For the second phase of the “sandbox” scheme, he said that preparations have been made in the five provinces, such as mass vaccinations of people and promotional campaigns to attract tourists.

For the next step, which is the third phase of the scheme, he said that 21 provinces will be reopen to foreign tourists. These include Lamphun, Phrae, Nan, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai and Sukhothai in the North; Udon Thani, Nong Khai, BuengKan and Ubon Ratchathani in the Northeast; Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi in the western region; Rayong, Trat and Chanthaburi on the eastern coast; the central province of Ayutthaya and the southern provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, Trang, Satun and Songkhla.

While promoting foreign arrivals, Thanakorn said that the government will encourage more Thais to travel locally, under the “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) and “Tour Tiew Thai” (Thailand Tour) programs.

Under the “Rao Tiew Duaykan” scheme, the government will subsidize 40% of hotel room charges, 600 baht food coupon per night and a 40% discount on two million air tickets or hotel rooms.

Registration to apply for the subsidies or discounts under the tourism promotional schemes will begin later this month, so Thai tourists can start travelling in October, which marks the start of the tourism season.

Thanakorn said, however, that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has stressed the importance of COVID-19 screening measures, to ensure safety for all tourists, both Thais and foreigners.

For the fourth phase, which is tentatively scheduled to commence in January next year, 13 border provinces will reopen for tourist visits.: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/five-th...-on-october-1/

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October 1st will be soon and doubt they will open as planned

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but good luck to them

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Several incentives approved to attract long-staying foreign investors, wealthy foreigners

Today (Tuesday) Thailand’s cabinet approved, in principle, a measure to attract “high potential” foreigners, including wealthy retirees and specialists, to stay long term in the country in a bid to promote foreign investment and to improve the struggling economy.

Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said that Thailand has set a target to attract as many as one million of these classes of foreigners in the next five years, with an expectation that their spending and investments during a five-year period will inject one trillion baht into the Thai economy, including about 800 billion baht in foreign investment and 270 billion baht in taxes.

He also said that the arrival of foreign experts, attracted by this measure, will help strengthen the private business sector, which the government aims to promote, including industry, services, infrastructure and logistics, in line with the 20-year national strategic plan.

The four groups the government would like to lure to Thailand include high-income earners, foreign retirees, experts in various fields and those who want to use Thailand as their base for work.

To attract these high potential individuals, a new long-term resident visa or smart visa will be issued, under which they will be granted some privileges, such as not being required to notify Thai authorities every 90 days.

Thanakorn said that laws and regulations regarding land ownership will also be amended to attract foreign investors, adding that other incentives include tax exemptions and allowing foreigners who want to use Thailand as their workplace to work for their employers abroad or here in Thailand.

The requirement that four Thai nationals will have to be employed for every foreigner hired will also be lifted, he added.

The Board of Investment, the Interior and Labour ministries, the Royal Thai Police, the Finance Ministry and National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) have been assigned by the cabinet to develop a detailed plan for the implementation of this ambitious scheme.

The NESDC has also been assigned to assess this scheme every five years, including all the incentives, and consider extending any of the incentives as it thinks fit.: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/several...hy-foreigners/

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Tourism to reopen despite Covid, minister says

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has confirmed Bangkok, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chiang Mai will begin implementing their tourism reopening plans on Oct 1 as planned.

The 21 other provinces will follow suit on Oct 15, he said on Tuesday, dispelling doubts over whether the government would be able to proceed with its plan in the face of the ongoing pandemic.

Mr Phiphat admitted the high number of new Covid-19 infections is a major hindrance but said the ministry is fully prepared for the reopening.

Asked about the 200 plus new cases of Covid-19 recorded daily in Phuket, he said these high figures stem from the province’s active case finding in every community, including migrant workers.

Phuket was the first province to pilot the tourism reopening programme.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that the ministry is fully prepared for the Oct 1 reopening.

Phetchaburi is ready to reopen to tourists on Oct 1, with effective Covid-19 controls to reduce the threat of new infections, deputy provincial governor Natthawut Phetpromsorn said on Tuesday.

Strict disease control measures remain in place to contain infection clusters, said Mr Natthawut.

Bubble and seal measures applied at factories and markets have reduced the incidence of the disease, he said.

Now that infections have dropped, Phetchaburi can prepare to reopen for tourism on Oct 1, in line with the government’s plan, he said.

All sectors are well-prepared, he said, adding that tourists can have confidence that popular destinations such as Cha-am district are safe and free from the virus. Visitors could enjoy their stay in the province, said Mr Natthawut.

Phetchaburi public health office chief Phetchakit Thaensawat said that 54% of targetted groups in the province have been vaccinated, comprising mainly people aged 60 years and over, and people with any of seven underlying conditions, and pregnant women.

Vaccination would reach 70% when more vaccines arrive, Dr Phetchakit said.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...-minister-says