Special Tourist Visa: Good news for Scandinavians and Aussies/New Zealanders

[webfact]

Special Tourist Visa: Good news for Scandinavians and Aussies/New Zealanders

 

 

Channel 7 quoted TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) chief Yuthasak Suphasorn as saying that the recently announced Special Tourist Visa (STV) would target foreign tourists from countries where there had been no Covid-19 infection for 28 days or where the risk of transmission was deemed low.

 

He mentioned Scandinavia and in particular Sweden, Norway and Finland. He also singled out Australians and New Zealanders as being welcome come the end of the year. 

 

He reiterated that the new visa meant people would go through a 14 day quarantine, be subject to tracing, have to have a 72 hour non-Covid certificate and take a direct flight. 

 

It would bring in 1.2 billion baht a month to stimulate the economy, said the media.

 

Source: Channel 7

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-09-21

 

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[pegman]

Dream on

[Sharp]

Covid-19 insurance and tracking app people would probably accept but 2 weeks quarantine that's a tricky sell to say the least!!

Plus the needless scaremongering needs to stop from all MSM and alike. 

[RotBenz8888]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

He mentioned Scandinavia and in particular Sweden, Norway and Finland. He also singled out Australians and New Zealanders as being welcome come the end of the year. 

There'll be a huge demand a 14d cooking class, learn how to make Tomyum pizza. 

[xylophone]

14 minutes ago, pegman said:

Dream on

Yes indeed........although there may be a few who need to get back here for family and business reasons, but apart from that, the days of having to "jump through hoops" to appease ill-thought-through TAT and Immigration regulations have pi$$ed too many off, so not likely to be a rush.

 

Besides that, in Oz and NZ "come the end of the year" it will be summer time so better to stay where they are.

Edited September 21, 2020 by xylophone

[Kaopad999]

23 minutes ago, webfact said:

chief Yuthasak Suphasorn as saying that the recently announced Special Tourist Visa (STV) would target foreign tourists from countries where there had been no Covid-19 infection for 28 days or where the risk of transmission was deemed low.

Makes sense for now.

[Logosone]

So Sweden among the most successful countries in containing Covid19, now considered for special visas.

 

No masks, no lockdown. 

 

How did the Swedes do it? Oh that's right, no masks, no lockdown.

[redwood1]

2 minutes ago, Logosone said:

So Sweden among the most successful countries in containing Covid19, now considered for special visas.

 

No masks, no lockdown. 

 

How did the Swedes do it? Oh that's right, no masks, no lockdown.

Sir please dont bring up this point .......It makes the mask wearing sheep uncomfortable.....

[ezzra]

Don't even know where to start to tell this guy, who is obviously lives on the moon, how far he's of the mark in what ever fanciful rubbish he's talking about...

[fredob43]

Are these people completely brain dead??? People for OZ will not arrive as they cant leave OZ. No one from the UK USA EU India either. All with have to do a 2 weeks Quarantine that they will have to pay for themselves + lots of other paperwork, Dream on. And they think it'll bring in 1.2 Billion Bht a month. Are got it now they are going to charge all the arrivals 5 MIl: each for their quarantine. I think they have got the UK Ms Abbot doing the sums.

Edited September 21, 2020 by fredob43

[2 is 1]

5 minutes ago, Logosone said:

So Sweden among the most successful countries in containing Covid19, now considered for special visas.

 

No masks, no lockdown. 

 

How did the Swedes do it? Oh that's right, no masks, no lockdown.

Yeah Swedish has never use mask or been any kind lockdown! Now Thailand want they come practice here!

[4MyEgo]

15 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

2 week quarantine with free daily happy ending massage could be a winner if TAT threw it in as a sweetener  

I was just thinking the same thing.

 

If someone with serious money got the government on board and said oi, here is a great waterfront hotel that is doing no business, I will take over it with a years lease, all tourists will stay in the hotel grounds with security at front and back, we will cater for all of their needs, the hotel has a swimming pool, golf course, we will provide the caddies/girls for the whole 18 hole course so to speak, massages with happy endings, room service with, food, alcohol, etc etc, it could be a deal maker for those not looking at it as 14 days of quarantine, but 14 days of holiday heaven that caters for their every need.

 

I would be in and I live here ????

 

[holy cow cm]

52 minutes ago, webfact said:

He reiterated that the new visa meant people would go through a 14 day quarantine, be subject to tracing, have to have a 72 hour non-Covid certificate and take a direct flight. 

Oh yeah, a special Regime Tracking chip inserted. Dreaming that anyone wishes to be tracked after 14 days of hotel prison. If only in the mobile then does it have the program to listen in and see what you are doing?

[steven100]

36 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

That would be an extreme measure to take, just to get masterbated for free .

Not sure there would be too many people taking up that offer 

i'm open to new ideas

[Lupusthai]

I can agree to include Finland, Australia and New Zealand.

But why Sweden and Norway?

(included UK and Germany for comparison)

[DaftToPutRealName]

28 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

I thought the Australians and New Zealanders were locked up on their prison colonies......I have not heard of any dates where as the prisoners might be released to travel......

You expect decision makers to do research into things like whether or not there is a complete travel ban? That's too much effort... sooooo tired...

[soi3eddie]

So they make an anouncement about "Special Tourist Visa" and when the details are released it appears that the hoops and hurdles will be far too great for almost anyone to benefit. i.e. from a country where no covid cases for 28 days, 14 day quarantine, 72 hour advance covid test, $100,000 covid insurance, take a (likely expensive) charter flight with THAI Airways. Even if Aussies and Kiwis can leave their countries chances are they won't be able to return home until late 2021 (AUS) or 2022 (NZ) based on current specualtion of those countries relaxing entry requirements. So really in effect it seems that this non-sense anouncement of a "special tourist visa" is so special that, like the Phuket model, it will fall completely flat when they realise that it will be unworkable and not even attract the miniscule numbers of intended capacity. Also, if you are intending to use it as a route to come back and "live" in Thailand, will the STV be convertible to Non-O marriage or retirement visas for those qualifying? I very much doubt it. Sooner or later countries are going to have to realise that this shutdown of travel will ruin their economies completely for decades. Probably already the case.

[Logosone]

21 minutes ago, Lupusthai said:

 

But why Sweden and Norway?

 

Only 1.2 per cent of Sweden's 120,000 tests last week came back positive, data from their national health agency shows, according to The Guardian, that's why.

 

Their 14-day accumulative total of new cases is 22.2 for every 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 279 in Spain, 158.5 in France, 118 in the Czech Republic, 77 in Belgium and 59 in the UK.

 

All those countries imposed lockdowns in the grips of the pandemic in March but Sweden opted for a lighter approach which now appears to be paying off. 

 

It is even outperforming its Scandinavian neighbours, Norway and Denmark, suggesting the Swedish approach may have helped them in the long term. 

 

Amazing how the countries with the strictest lockdowns and mandatory masks have the highest case numbers, whereas Sweden, with no masks and no mandatory lockdown, does not.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8736063/Sweden-records-lowest-number-covid-cases-March-108-did-not-impose-lockdown.html

Edited September 21, 2020 by Logosone

[2 is 1]

19 minutes ago, Lupusthai said:

I can agree to include Finland, Australia and New Zealand.

But why Sweden and Norway?

They want Swedish bring they famous food here!

 

[NanLaew]

20 minutes ago, Lupusthai said:

I can agree to include Finland, Australia and New Zealand.

But why Sweden and Norway?

(included UK and Germany for comparison)

WRT Australia... it really depends if you are talking about the People's Republic of Queensland, the Democratic Republic of Victoria (and the Free Melbourne Enclave) or the West Australian Free State.

 

WRT why Norway and Sweden... because they are neigbours.

[Xmas]

I am currently in Aus. we are not allowed to leave the country without a special permit which is very difficult to get. This rule will stay in place until the state of emergency is reviewed on the 17th. December. It would be very difficult to find a flight even if a permit was issued.  The information regarding this new Thai Visa seems to change each time I read a report. Getting insurance for we older persons is also difficult. I would like to see the Government come up with a scheme for us long time residents to return under our previous visa conditions. I left in March for a 5 week trip and have now been locked out for 6 months.

[geriatrickid]

49 minutes ago, 2 is 1 said:

Yeah Swedish has never use mask or been any kind lockdown! Now Thailand want they come practice here!

Sweden experienced many of the same reductions in activities as other countries experienced. In Sweden, it was in large part voluntary.

[Nout]

1 hour ago, CorpusChristie said:

That would be an extreme measure to take, just to get masterbated for free .

Not sure there would be too many people taking up that offer 

I would. You obviously have never had a full, skilled HE massage. A major sensual delight.

[geriatrickid]

1 hour ago, Sharp said:

Covid-19 insurance and tracking app people would probably accept but 2 weeks quarantine that's a tricky sell to say the least!!

Plus the needless scaremongering needs to stop from all MSM and alike. 

Please  provide some examples of this scaremongering.  Imagined claims are not facts.

[Nout]

3 minutes ago, Xmas said:

I am currently in Aus. we are not allowed to leave the country without a special permit which is very difficult to get. This rule will stay in place until the state of emergency is reviewed on the 17th. December. It would be very difficult to find a flight even if a permit was issued.  The information regarding this new Thai Visa seems to change each time I read a report. Getting insurance for we older persons is also difficult. I would like to see the Government come up with a scheme for us long time residents to return under our previous visa conditions. I left in March for a 5 week trip and have now been locked out for 6 months.

I wonder if the situation in Australia will impact on their insufferable arrogance and complacency.

[Misterwhisper]

Mr. Yuthasak... why no mention of all those "other" prerequisites?

 

- STV quota limit of 300 tourists per week -- encompassing ALL targeted source nations

- quarantine at pre-selected hotels must be PRE-BOOKED through a Thai travel agent only, with the 14-day stay is not exactly cheap (even for Scandinavians), ranging from 50,000 - 150,000 baht and above

- subsequent post-quarantine accommodation must be PRE-BOOKED through a Thai travel agency only

- Covid-free certificate must be arranged PRE-TRAVEL through a Thai embassy/consulate only and must not be older than 72 hours prior to the arrival date

- Covid health insurance with a coverage amount of $100,000 minimum must be presented on arrival and be taken out through a designated THAI insurance company only

 

With all that additional information I am quite positive the joyful singing and dancing among hopeful Thailand tourists in the streets of Canberra, Wellington, Oslo, Stockholm or Helsinki might not turn out nearly as boisterous as Mr. Yuthasak hopes. 

[Nout]

2 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

Please  provide some examples of this scaremongering.  Imagined claims are not facts.

Just read a British newspaper any time in the last few months and misinformation, scaremongering and confusing, contradictory hysteria are the dominant stories

[Nout]

37 minutes ago, steven100 said:

i'm open to new ideas

A hug and a tug are a great way to start the day. Can't beat it!

[ICELANDMAN]

Why the funny news comes so late this morning ?

[geriatrickid]

Thailand will most likely change its plan once the surges underway in the world are more defined. Thailand will certainly not remove the 14 day isolation requirement, and especially not for Sweden. It is the only way in which it can minimize the potential entry of  infected people.  What may be possible is a 10 day  waiting period if linked to the PCR test age.  There is absolutely no support in the  public health community or the public at large to remove the  waiting period. 

 

Every country has its own unique pandemic characteristics and the prevention measures must be adapted to those characteristics. Comments on the Swedish strategy are distinguished by  misinformation and decontextualization.

 

Fact: Sweden had an extended summer vacation period. Infections dropped. The same thing  as in France.  As schools re-open, and workers return to the workplace,  Sweden will soon see a surge in its infections. This is what is happening now in Canada, and much of Europe. Sweden has not  reported its cases and trends in the same detail as is done elsewhere. Sweden does not have extensive testing and it does not track and trace. It is one of the few developed countries without a surveillance program.

 

Fact:  Sweden had its own version of a lockdown. It emphasized a voluntary reduction of activity. Sweden’s response to the pandemic saw recommendations to work from home, to isolate if ill, frequent hand washing, to effect physical distancing, a limitation of the size of group gatherings and to avoid non essential travel.  The population was compliant and co-operative. There were no gun toting protesters and no rallies against the measures.   Cinemas closed because people stayed away on their own. The reason why some countries had "lockdowns" is because the populations refused to  voluntarily comply. Canada, the UK and Australia are examples. T

 

Fact: Although some TVF posters insist that there is herd immunity, the reality is that it has not been shown to exist here. The Swedish government has stated repeatedly that herd immunity was not part of the strategy. The Swedish blood surveys show relatively low levels of antibodies and this validates the government position to abandon the concept of  herd immunity. The issue is put to rest with this review;

Four months into the COVID-19 pandemic, Sweden’s prized herd immunity is nowhere in sight

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0141076820945282

 

Fact: Sweden's economy is damaged. Conservative estimates model a contraction of between 4 and 6% this year. Consumer spending has declined by 25%. Unemployment is still above 9%. These are not the markers of a robust economy.  The point being is that Sweden has taken a serious financial hit too.

 

Fact: Sweden has not ruled out the use of masks. A few weeks ago Johan Carlson, director-general of Sweden’s Public Health Agency said that his agency was reviewing a decision on masks to take into consideration the lack of social distancing in some venues such as public transit. One of the most blatant decontextualizations is on the subject of masks. Because Sweden had  good social distancing and avoided the crowding issues seen in the EU, and UK, masks were not emphasized.