Thailand continues to reopen for travellers slowly and safely

[webfact]

Thailand continues to reopen for travellers slowly and safely

TAT Newsroom

 

TAT's special tourist initiatives support ongoing Thai government COVID-19 measures, including 14-day quarantine and Certificate of Entry documents

 

 

Bangkok, 23 December, 2020 – Thailand’s tourism sector continues to safely and slowly reopen welcoming international travellers to the country with special tourist initiatives, while also remaining vigilant by enforcing strict public health guidelines to protect all during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The Royal Thai Government recently lifted restrictions on the Special Tourist Visa (STV), which allows entry for tourists from any country or territory worldwide. Prior to this, STV holders were only allowed from low-risk countries. The STV offers visitors an initial 90-day visa with two extensions totalling 270 days. The STV was also extended to allow arrival by private yacht.

 

Thailand also offers a single-entry Tourist Visa (TR) that permits stays of up to 60 days and may be extended once for an additional 30 days. In addition, visa exemptions have been reactivated for eligible passport holders of 56 countries and territories for a stay between 30-90 days. The validity of the Certificate of Entry (COE) was also extended to more than 72 hours in case of flight delays or missed connecting flights.

 

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said, “We recommend that all potential visitors who want to enter Thailand contact the nearest Thai embassy or consulate-general first regarding all the necessary visa requirements in their respective countries as the situation continues to evolve. In addition to other requirements, the 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival remains in place and applies equally to both Thai nationals and foreign visitors.”

 

TAT has created a variety of platforms and support mechanisms to facilitate ease of entry, while not compromising public safety to the Thai population at large. These include the collaboration with the Thai tourism industry partners on a series of tourism promotions and initiatives, including Amazing Thailand Plus, ASQ Paradise, and Happy DIY Set.

 

TAT also introduced the ‘Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) certification in collaboration with the public and private sector partners to help build confidence among Thai and foreign tourists. The certification is key to ongoing efforts by Thai tourism operators to certify that an establishment meets the standards of hygiene and health safety for their products and services during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as vaccination efforts begin in earnest.

 

Source: https://www.tatnews.org/2020/12/thailand-continues-to-reopen-for-travellers-slowly-and-safely/

 

[RotBenz8888]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

ASQ Paradise,

Nice try. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

In addition to other requirements, the 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival remains in place and applies equally to both Thai nationals and foreign visitors.

Yes, but you will have to share the flight with Thai nationals who are not tested for COVID-19 prior to departure so there's a high risk you will contract it on the flight or even in ASQ before your holiday really begins.

[Ohyesuare]

3 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Yes, but you will have to share the flight with Thai nationals who are not tested for COVID-19 prior to departure so there's a high risk you will contract it on the flight or even in ASQ before your holiday really begins.

I know Thais who have returned from abroad and they needed to show a negative COVID test within the past few days. Not sure where you're getting your info from. 

[Peter Denis]

2 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Yes, but you will have to share the flight with Thai nationals who are not tested for COVID-19 prior to departure so there's a high risk you will contract it on the flight or even in ASQ before your holiday really begins.

You are correct and it defies all logic to impose the mandatory test only on non-thai passengers, but 'high risk' is exaggerated.

Some airlines now do a rapid anti-gen test for all passengers (results in 10 minutes), so when worrying about the small risk catching it from the non PCR-tested thais on the flight, you could check out those airlines.

[Phuketshrew]

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

tourism promotions and initiatives, including Amazing Thailand Plus, ASQ Paradise, and Happy DIY Set.

???? Does the Happy DIY Set replace the Happy Ending whilst in quarantine? 

[Jimbo2014]

I guess it depends on your definition of safe.  Does breathing air count?

[Burma Bill]

 

 

 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

continues to safely and slowly reopen welcoming international travellers

Oh Really?? Quote:-

"a new category system will be implemented in order to declare areas of risk throughout the country"

This system, to date, lists 29 Provinces throughout Thailand, many with popular tourist destinations.

In my opinion, they are going bonkers in Bangkok!!! 

[ronaldo0]

7 hours ago, Ohyesuare said:

I know Thais who have returned from abroad and they needed to show a negative COVID test within the past few days. Not sure where you're getting your info from. 

From where ? Most airlines only require a Thai to have a fit to fly certificate to board and it is all the Thai government require as everyone goes into quarantine upon arrival by air . 

[Letseng]

28 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

 

 

 

Oh Really?? Quote:-

"a new category system will be implemented in order to declare areas of risk throughout the country"

This system, to date, lists 29 Provinces throughout Thailand, many with popular tourist destinations.

In my opinion, they are going bonkers in Bangkok!!! 

This has been implemented in many countries. It doesn't work in Europe but seems to work in Asian countries as ppl are more disciplined.

[phantomfiddler]

Thailand is for ever blowing their own trumpet ! Unfortunately the facts do not appear to follow the printed spin ????

[Isaan sailor]

By the time they get rid of quarantine, the incredibly rising Baht will have reached parity with most western currencies.  Amazing Thailand.

[schvonsky1]

10 hours ago, Ohyesuare said:

I know Thais who have returned from abroad and they needed to show a negative COVID test within the past few days. Not sure where you're getting your info from. 

Well said what a tool he is saying you Will catch from Thai nationals ????????????????????

[tomauasia]

10 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Yes, but you will have to share the flight with Thai nationals who are not tested for COVID-19 prior to departure so there's a high risk you will contract it on the flight or even in ASQ before your holiday really begins.

Yes its criminal..they should be on seperate flights. No offence but not acceptable 

[tomauasia]

19 minutes ago, schvonsky1 said:

Well said what a tool he is saying you Will catch from Thai national????????????????

I don't believe you. Australians returned with no pre testing 

[drenddy]

Regarding Covid test to thais, it actually depends on the airline.

For example, as far as I know, Etihad and Emirates require all passengers to present a negative test 72 hours prior departure.

That's why I choosed Qatar, which does not have this requirement, only for few nationalities.Thais travelling with Qatar are exempt, but foreigners, enterind Thailand, they are not.

 

Anyways, I am not a virologist, but I guess risk of infection is quite low during flight?

 

Edited December 24, 2020 by drenddy

[CANSIAM]

Merry Xmas to all !!!!  from ASQ Bangkok, HoHoHo.......  

[Venom]

Tourists will be flooding in for the toxic air pollution, I have no doubt. The noise and flooding will be the icing on the cake. 

[BudRight]

I came to Thailand on a tourist visa and am on my 15th day of ASQ. It's the end of a nearly two month process to get into Thailand in which I've spent about 70,000 baht. Nobody is going to go through the trouble to get here under these conditions. Not that they should change them, mind you - just saying that the circumstances are too onerous to be inviting. 

 

Yes, the process is pretty clear cut these days if you research it thoroughly. But it still costs a lot of money, has a lot of steps, and takes at least a month. Knowing what I know now, I would still do it. But I hope to god I don't have to do it twice. 

[thai006]

nobody will  come with 14 day quarantine only that 

Quote

 

Edited December 25, 2020 by thai006

[Oldie]

13 minutes ago, BudRight said:

I came to Thailand on a tourist visa and am on my 15th day of ASQ. It's the end of a nearly two month process to get into Thailand in which I've spent about 70,000 baht. Nobody is going to go through the trouble to get here under these conditions. Not that they should change them, mind you - just saying that the circumstances are too onerous to be inviting.

Nobody? You just did it... 

[BudRight]

30 minutes ago, Oldie said:

Nobody? You just did it... 

Okay.

 

I mean almost nobody else. Is that better?

[Turkleton]

On 12/24/2020 at 3:18 AM, Mr Meeseeks said:

Yes, but you will have to share the flight with Thai nationals who are not tested for COVID-19 prior to departure ....

And this is exactly the point...
And lying in a Thai hospital with Covid, is pretty much the last thing I want....

[ThailandRyan]

Thai daughter and ex wife are returning to Thailand from the US after the first of the year. No covid test needed just a fit to fly cert as they are Thai nationals. But my ex wife's new husband who is American needs the Covid test 72 hours prior to flying.  Yes differences for non Thais.

[CANSIAM]

8 hours ago, Turkleton said:

And this is exactly the point...
And lying in a Thai hospital with Covid, is pretty much the last thing I want....

There is also an option regarding the 'untested' folks flying and a safer buffer zone for yourself so to speak, dig into your wallet further and get out of an economy seat. Total cost to LOS can easily get to 130,000 - 150,000 baht and hopefully a Covid free journey !! 

[sirineou]

What ever happened to reducing the quarantined, last month it was published the a reduction to 10 days had ben approved , and then,, nothing. 

Edited December 25, 2020 by sirineou

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

those are good news indeed.

if i come from a country that is allowed for the 30-45 days visa waiver, can i fly to thailand

also from another country, or only from the country of my citizenship?

[PatOngo]

37 minutes ago, sirineou said:

What ever happened to reducing the quarantined, last month it was published the a reduction to 10 days had ben approved , and then,, nothing. 

But that was last month, this is this month, just wait and see what they come up with next month! ????

[Peter Denis]

3 hours ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

those are good news indeed.

if i come from a country that is allowed for the 30-45 days visa waiver, can i fly to thailand

also from another country, or only from the country of my citizenship?

The now approved 45-day VisaExempt waiver is based on your nationality, so yes you can enter Thailand from any country.  But obviously your currently have to meet the CoE requirements when flying to Thailand (negative covid-test 72 hours before boarding, 15 days quarantaine in an ASQ hotel, 100.000 US $ insurance coverage for covid-19 treatment, ...).

[Bkktodd]

On 12/24/2020 at 7:03 AM, drenddy said:

Regarding Covid test to thais, it actually depends on the airline.

For example, as far as I know, Etihad and Emirates require all passengers to present a negative test 72 hours prior departure.

That's why I choosed Qatar, which does not have this requirement, only for few nationalities.Thais travelling with Qatar are exempt, but foreigners, enterind Thailand, they are not.

 

Anyways, I am not a virologist, but I guess risk of infection is quite low during flight?

 

First of all. Wouldnt you think its safer to fly on an airliner that had all its passengers tested with 72hrs?  Qatar’s exemption for thais can be a reason you get infected...before quarantine.

virologist im not either, but i work on board a major us airline.  I can tell you that its very risky.  Airlines brag about hepa filtered air every few minutes (true) but from the moment you arrive at the airport you are at risk.  Crowds, checkin areas, buckets used at xray, toilet door handles, the pen you borrow to fill out forms, so many touch points to be aware of.  A friend followed every CDC guideline, mask gloves.  and works as cabin staff.  Got covid still.   ALL passengers /crew should be tested.  No exceptions