The following is our weekly feature in which we take a look at the top developing stories and things to follow over the next week. We are focusing on what is happening for the third week of March 2022, ending March 19th, 2022.
Thailand-
As we publish dozens of stories a week, this allows our readers to get a quick glimpse of the most important stories taking place in Thailand and Pattaya and to monitor and follow for the week ahead, as chosen by our editorial team. Let's get right into it with the biggest news of the week and what important stories to follow and look for this week that are likely to see further developments.1. Thai Covid Center and relevant agencies to meet on Friday, March 18th, about Songkran, travel restrictions, moving Covid to endemic status, and more
It seems this has been our main "Coming Soon" topic for some time, but this is because for several weeks now the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, has delayed their final decisions on Songkran-related rules, restrictions, and other items. Officially, this delay has not even been acknowledged as a delay and only referred to as rescheduling or finalizing prior agreements. Unofficially, multiple media sources have reported over the past few weeks that the CCSA and the business/tourism/hospitality sector have not seen eye to eye on restrictions, rules, and regulations still in place around Covid-19 as more countries drop or ease nearly all restrictions but Thailand still keeps international travel restrictions like Test and Go and Thailand pass, keeps bars and nightlife legally closed and under stifling temporary rules, and more. As for Songkran, the Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan O'Cha, has said it will one hundred percent go ahead and not be essentially canceled as it was in 2020 or whittled down to almost nothing except small religious events and some travel like 2021. There will be no travel restrictions, people can go home and see their families, take the nearly week off, and celebrate the Thai New Year in mid-April. Songkran is Thailand's biggest holiday and biggest annual migration, like Golden Week or Chinese New Year in other countries. Still questionable, however, are rules and guidelines for the world-famous water fights that come with Songkran and fun activities like concerts, parades, street festivals, shows, and more. However, Prayut has hinted this will not be banned this year, under heavy pressure from the tourism and hospitality sector, and instead focus on health and safety protective rules. This has caused the CCSA to rush to get booster shots and vaccinations for an estimated 2 million elderly and vulnerable, mostly in the Northeast, who remain at-risk. The CCSA has repeatedly said they are not trying to be "party poopers" or "fun police" but have legitimate concerns about the at-risk groups in rural provinces and Covid spreading to these individuals. Tourism areas, like Pattaya and Phuket, are highly vaccinated and have become "used" to Covid, with many daily cases for some time now. Rural provinces, however, only recently have seen many cases of Covid-19, causing many knee-jerk reactions (like an alcohol ban in Khon Kaen) and nervous leaders. Also likely to be discussed at the meeting will be Thailand Pass and Test and Go, which has been under a virtual onslaught from the business sector to just "Get rid of it" and make it easier for tourists to visit. This is unlikely to change this round, notes TPN media, despite the heavy pressure, as instead, the CCSA focuses on a four-month plan to make Covid-19 endemic and, as usual, move slowly, cautiously, and deliberately….but far too slow for the tourism, hospitality, and business sector. March 18th will be the date to watch and we will be YOUR source for what will be happening. Have a great weekend ahead. Adam and the TPN team.