Lockdown eased, but Thailand remains closed to foreign tourists for another month

[webfact]

Lockdown eased, but country remains closed to foreign tourists for another month

By The Nation

 

Street vendor Vilai Chanpeng, 54, protests in front of the Finance Ministry on April 28 after the Bangkok market where she works was closed and she was not granted the government’s Bt5,000 remedial cash handout.

 

Though Thailand will allow some businesses to reopen from Friday (May 1), the country is still not ready to welcome foreign tourists, say government officials. Tourists would find it difficult to enter the country anyway, since incoming flights are banned until the end of May, Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said on Wednesday (April 29).

 

He was responding to news reports that Chinese tourists have expressed a desire to visit Thailand next month. Last year the number of Chinese visitors rose 4.4 per cent to 10.99 million, out of a total 39.7 million tourist arrivals in Thailand, up 4.2 per cent.

 

Thailand will prioritise public health followed by economic matters, said Taweesin, adding that the CCSA will announce categories of businesses that can resume operations before Friday (May 1).

 

Disease prevention guidelines for both businesses and customers will also be announced in the few days, he said.

 

Social distancing and wearing of face masks would continue, he added. 

 

“We want to keep new daily confirmed cases in single digits for as long as possible, till the spread of the virus outside Thailand starts falling,” he said.

 

The Kingdom’s daily total of new cases has fallen below 10 for three consecutive days. Monday was the first time the case count dropped into single digits at 9 – the lowest since the peak of 188 on March 22 –while Tuesday saw 7 new cases followed by 9 on Wednesday (April 29).

 

Taweesin also said Thailand should learn lessons from other countries which had eased lockdown restrictions too early and then experienced a second wave of contagion.

 

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Natapanu Nopkun reminded foreigners stranded in Thailand that their visas will be automatically extended at no charge until July 31.

 

 

Economists project the Thai economy this year will be hit hard by the pandemic, with the Bank of Thailand forecasting a 5.3 per cent drop in GDP. Supavud Saicheua, adviser to Kiatnakin Financial Group, meanwhile predicts an economic contraction of much as 10 percent.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30387000

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-04-30

 

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[Justgrazing]

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

He was responding to news reports that Chinese tourists have expressed a desire to visit Thailand next month

What a surprise who'd have thought that .. Best get those seafood buffets laid out again .. 

 

[steelepulse]

Great, let's get that second wave started early with the originators of wave one.

[scubascuba3]

lot's of groups of Chinese has got to be a high risk, social distancing? no chance

[Puchaiyank]

All around the world tour companies are compling comprehensive lists of tourists clamoring to visit Thailand as quickly as possible...????

[ezzra]

I hear that droves of Chinese tourists from Wuhan are just raring to come to Thailand, bats soups and all...

[Grumpy John]

"the Bank of Thailand forecasting a 5.3 per cent drop in GDP. Supavud Saicheua, adviser to Kiatnakin Financial Group, meanwhile predicts an economic contraction of much as 10 percent. "  That's an optimistic outlook.  The rest of the world is hurting and they think the economy will only retract 10%!    

 

 

 

[lkv]

26 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

All around the world tour companies are compling comprehensive lists of tourists clamoring to visit Thailand as quickly as possible...????

You guys are laughing, but there is an element of truth in this article.

 

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/cv19-asia/thailand-turns-to-china-to-revive-post-covid-tourist-economy

 

And it's expected 83% will be FIT travellers because:

 

A. The experience with refunds from tour companies was unpleasant, to use a nice word. "I can't give you the money back because I don't have your money".

 

B. Increased digitalisation post covid.

[Cali farong]

So do the Chinese have to have the $100,000 corona insurance or is that for farang only ??

[PETERTHEEATER]

30 minutes ago, Cali farong said:

So do the Chinese have to have the $100,000 corona insurance or is that for farang only ??

They don't need the insurance, they already have the virus????

[mrfill]

Well, at least the streets of Pattaya will be back to normal soon  packed out with thousands of Chinese tourists. That'll keep the expats happy...

 

[Phuketshrew]

2 hours ago, lkv said:

And it's expected 83% will be FIT travellers because:

Good. It's about time they started sending the fit birds over rather than the mingers they have been sending up to now.

[Geoffggi]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand will prioritise public health followed by economic matters, said Taweesin, adding that the CCSA will announce categories of businesses that can resume operations before Friday (May 1).

This I can't wait to see and will definitely be a first for this Government.....LOL

[Jeff Simoneaux]

1 hour ago, mrfill said:

Well, at least the streets of Pattaya will be back to normal soon  packed out with thousands of Chinese tourists. That'll keep the expats happy...

 

I hope you are being sarcastic? Expats hate the Chinese. More expats were out enjoying themselves when all this first started and the Chinese were not in Pattaya. Especially in Pratumnak. We could actually drive without all the buses blocking the sois. 

[Jeff Simoneaux]

You might know the Chinese are the first ones they are wanting to enter Thailand. The ones that started all this and the ones that don't contribute to any of the thai businesses. They only do business with Chinese owned businesses that are part of their tour group.

 

You never hear anything about the expats with visas that are stranded in other countries and still can't return to our homes in Thailand. The foreigners that actually contribute to the Thai economy. 

[Sharp]

2 hours ago, Cali farong said:

So do the Chinese have to have the $100,000 corona insurance or is that for farang only ??

Based on the original yearly premium of less than 1000b I think a holiday priced premium won't hurt of the pockets of  many holiday makers but who knows what the new critiria will be .

[Catkiwi]

Never mind the Chinese what about the golf courses? Has anyone heard when they will open again?

[Mark17AA]

4 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

lot's of groups of Chinese has got to be a high risk, social distancing? no chance

Not to.mention the flem

[4MyEgo]

I'm ok with it, but are they going to look after their own ?

[Ventenio]

HISTORY will be very unkind to all of us morons....

 

1.  pandemic and we all die because some people love money

2. we sell each other bad protective equipment for money

3.  we put people in harm's way over politics

4.  we die of starvation because we like lockdowns

5.  we let people with money go anywhere, even if unsafe

 

5-year old kids 100-years from now will say, "wow, what a bunch of morons!!!"

[Ventenio]

I remember in January I was thinking, "OMG, I don't remember Thailand being this loud every night.  I'm not in a big city and it's very noisy.  Maybe I'm getting older.... OK OK"

 

NOW, "OMG, This place is soooo quiet.  Does anyone live here?"

 

I swear I'm the only resident in my hotel.  

Edited April 30, 2020 by Ventenio

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Street vendor Vilai Chanpeng, 54, protests in front of the Finance Ministry on April 28 after the Bangkok market where she works was closed and she was not granted the government’s Bt5,000 remedial cash handout.

She's not alone, and I wonder which ballot box she will NOT be choosing next election day?  

[Millman]

2 hours ago, Cali farong said:

So do the Chinese have to have the $100,000 corona insurance or is that for farang only ??

Are the Chinese not farang!!!

[brewsterbudgen]

11 minutes ago, Millman said:

Are the Chinese not farang!!!

No, they're Asian.

[phkauf]

3 hours ago, Cali farong said:

So do the Chinese have to have the $100,000 corona insurance or is that for farang only ??

I am sure that a cottage industry supplying fake Wuhan Virus insurance and health certificates will spring up very quickly to enable these Chinese locusts to come to Thailand. Seriously does anyone think that Thai Immigration will be able to determine if some certificate is real or fake? 

This is the way the Chinese do business, it will be included in the price of the tourist package.

[Lacessit]

35 minutes ago, Ventenio said:

 

I swear I'm the only resident in my hotel.  

Have you considered changing your deodorant?

[DavidAlexander]

Two potential problems relying on the Chinese. 1) Their economy is sagging and will continue as such until the West gets back on it's feet and who knows when that will be. Any company in the international arena, and there are lots, will start the layoffs early summer. And remember, the social net in China is 'moving back in with your parents'. So, less people with the money to travel. 2) With the economy sagging and exports in the toilet, China will discourage tourism outside the country, they want to keep those RMB in China. Best way is to keep the 14 day return quarantine in effect through year end, for the health of the nation, of course. Just my opinion...

Edited April 30, 2020 by DavidAlexander
word

[spiekerjozef]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

He was responding to news reports that Chinese tourists have expressed a desire to visit Thailand next month.

Better have some bats on the menu...

[bbbbooboo]

Hmmm.... perfect really. Thailand only for Thais, without those pesky “aliens” and their money?

[Chaaang]

39 minutes ago, phkauf said:

fake Wuhan Virus insurance and health certificates

I've been thinking about it. Is there any info in what language do they want health certificate?

For example, you are from France, you will get this certificate in French. You show it at boarding, this may work out, but if you show it to the immigration officer... they'll just roll their eyes.

Or everybody will need to go down the following route: get the certificate, make a certified translation of it to Thai, then go to the MFA office and get it legalized. It's already impossible to make it within 72 hours, and if they will demand the legalized one it will take couple of weeks.