Thai Minister of Public Health says No lockdowns or bans on concerts, entertainment venues in response to Covid-19 concerns in North Thailand - Pattaya News

Thai Minister of Public Health says No lockdowns or bans on concerts, entertainment venues in response to Covid-19 concerns in North Thailand

Saturday, 5 December 2020, 14:26

Thailand-

The Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul, spoke to the press today, December 5th, 2020 and stated that rumors an impending lockdown or business closures due to cases of Covid-19 being found mostly in the North of Thailand in the Chiang Rai, Mae Sai and Chiang Mai areas are false.

Anutin said that the Ministry of Public Health had the situation under control and that the contact tracing and quarantine program was working. This is in response to multiple cases of Covid-19 being detected domestically after women fleeing rising cases from the border town of Tachiliek, Myanmar, illegally crossed the border and ignored mandatory quarantine processes. You can read more about that situation below:

Hundreds of anxious residents in northern provinces flock to local hospitals for Covid-19 tests following several recent cases of Coronavirus

Anutin said rumors on social media of an impending lockdown, ban on concerts and entertainment or similar closures were false. He stated that the Public Health Ministry had the situation under control and so far there was no sign of a mass "super spreader incident" in relation to the women and only two cases of locally spread Covid-19 had been found despite hundreds and hundreds of tests on contacts of the women. He also said the women would all face significant legal charges including violating the Disease Control Act and Emergency Decree which could see them spend time in jail and pay hefty fines.

Anutin reminded the public to wear masks, wash their hands and socially distance where possible.  He and the Minister of Tourism will also be visiting the North next week to restore confidence in the area as local business operators report significant numbers of cancellation from nervous domestic tourists. Normally this time of year, with the colder Winter season, is the most popular time of year for Thai tourists to visit the North.

He and officials with Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai have strongly urged against fake news that could fear or scare the public, especially in regards to potential lockdowns.

Thais told to ‘Clean up your OWN filthy mess’ - Bangkok Jack



Thais told to 'Clean up your OWN filthy mess'

December 5, 2020

Thai caption: The shame of it! Throwaways after eating. Farang can't stand it and is needed to clear up the mess.

Thais who don't clean up after eating have been told in no uncertain terms: Don't expect civic minded foreigners to clear up after you. 

The message came as Manager spoke of the embarrassment and shame of pictures posted on Facebook that showed a Westerner clearing up food waste on the beach at Kamala in Phuket.

The poster said: "Please keep it tidy. Don't expect foreigners to clear up after you".

Picture: Manager Online

Manager contacted the poster who said that the good Samaritan foreigner was a Portuguese man called Rui who comes to the area on holiday every year.

He is so well known that the locals have given him the nickname of "Ooi".

He is seen out on Layi beach almost every day cleaning up after people, especially after municipal events.

Picture: Manager Online

Manager said that he was setting a great example but pulled no punches in saying Thais should stop littering in their country after eating. They should throw stuff away and behave better.

The said many online posted comments like "they know how to eat but they don't know how to tidy up". – Manager Online

Dagens ”skörd”

 

More than 80 Thais who worked at Myanmar hotel linked to COVID-19 outbreak skipped quarantine - Thai Visa

More than 80 Thais who worked at Myanmar hotel linked to COVID-19 outbreak skipped quarantine

 

Image: Reuters file photo

 

More than 80 Thais who worked at a hotel in Myanmar at the centre of a recent COVID-19 outbreak sneaked back into Thailand illegally and avoided quarantine.

 

The management of the 1G1-7 Hotel, which is located in Tachileik just 1.5 kilometres from the official border checkpoint at Mae Sai, said it employed 180 Thai women.

 

The National News Bureau of Thailand on Friday reported that 84 of the women have returned to Thailand, mostly via illegal natural crossings along the porous border. Many of the women are understood to have skipped the mandatory quarantine procedures for anyone entering Thailand. 

 

Many of the Thai women who worked at 1G1-7 are understood to be sex workers with the hotel frequented by Myanmar VIPs, including top ranking military personnel.

 

At the time of publishing, Thailand has linked at least 14 COVID-19 cases to the hotel, including three cases in Chiang Mai, seven in Chiang Rai and one each in Bangkok, Phayao, Phichit and Ratchaburi.

 

On Friday, Thailand's Disease Control Department confirmed one of the cases was that of a 51-year woman, from Singburi province, who travelled on the same flight as a Thai bar worker, who snuck back to Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai from Tachilek.

The bar worker had taken the same flight to Don Mueang as the woman from Singburi.

 

Also on Friday, health officials in Chiang Mai confirmed that a 32 year old local man who had recently returned to the city after being employed as a DJ at the 1G1-7 Hotel had tested positive for COVID-19. 

 

Earlier this week, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the full force of the law will be used against those who returned to Thailand illegally, evaded quarantine and caused the recent spike in cases in the country.

 

Describing the illegal returnees as "selfish", Mr Anutin said: "That should not have happened. The selfishness of a few people troubles many other Thai people. Although immigration is being restricted, the group of people sneaked through the border at will. They violated laws,

 

"I ordered provincial health officials through disease control committees chaired by provincial governors to file complaints to take all possible legal action against the group of people. We are about to reopen the country but now measures must be reviewed." 

1G1-7: Luxurious Myanmar hotel at center of Covid outbreak - Thai Visa

 1G1-7: Luxurious Myanmar hotel at center of Covid outbreak

 

Image: Sanook

 

A luxurious hotel full of nighttime entertainment is now firmly at the center of the Covid-19 cases discovered in the north of Thailand. 

 

The 1G1-7 lies just 1.5 kilometers from the border checkpoint at Mae Sai, reported Sanook.

 

The modern complex has "all forms" of entertainment, they said, including a large number of karaoke rooms and a disco that caters to well-heeled Thai and Myanmar tourists.

 

The hotel employs a large number of Thai women who are popular with guests. After an outbreak in the town of Tachilek many of these women are believed to have sneaked back across the border into Thailand unwilling to have to undergo the 14 day state quarantine. 

 

Now many cases are being discovered and the Thai authorities are desperately trying to trace all contacts with those who have sneaked in after the first of an initial six was discovered last week. 

 

Elsewhere in the Thai media it has been alleged that prostitution has gone on at the hotel that is believe to be owned by a Chinese investor.

 

Karaoke in Thailand is often a front for prostitution. At the 1G1-7 karaoke rooms can be rented for up to 2,000 baht an hour.

 

It has 100 rooms with prices from just over 1,000 baht up to 10,000 baht and its entertainment areas can accommodate a thousand guests.

 

Source: Sanook

Phuket: We're ready for foreign tourists - but there aren't any - so domestic tourists remain target - Thai Visa

Phuket: We're ready for foreign tourists - but there aren't any - so domestic tourists remain target

 

Image: Manager

 

It has become an almost daily headline in the Thai media, especially that which focuses on business, the economy and tourism.

 

Manager's latest headline summed it up: Phuket was ready for foreign tourists, but there were virtually none, so they'd have to make do with the domestic market.

 

At least in this story there were some revealing figures of just how bad the situation is in Phuket.

 

There have been only three dozen foreign visitors and another small group is stuck on yachts offshore.

 

The media were reporting on a visit of the TAT's marketer for Europe, Africa, the Middle east and US, Siripakorn Chiawsamut and his entourage who went to see Phuket governor Narong Wun-siw and his deputy to discuss ways to stimulate the flagging tourism economy.

 

But apart from the usual talk there was very little new to add to the argument.

 

Narong said that Phuket was ready for foreign tourism and had done everything in its power to prepare. It was Covid secure, there were labs at the airport, the alternative local quarantine (ALQ) hotels were primed and there were contingency plans if things went wrong.

 

However, there were next to no foreigners. 

 

Citing the eleven groups of people like businessmen who have been allowed entry by the CCSA or Covid steering committee and plans for the special tourist visa (STV) he said that as far as he knew just THIRTY FIVE foreign tourists had made it to Phuket.

 

Another nine were on six yachts stuck 6.2 kms offshore.

 

He conceded that others were expected soon.

 

The parties agreed that the limited expectation for foreign tourists were a reality and that for now Thai domestic tourists remained the target.

 

More Thais were visiting and it was hoped that there would be a good response to the upcoming long weekend next week.

 

Source: Manager 

Thailand is the Number 1 Asian destination for travellers planning holidays in 2021 - TAT Newsroom



Thailand is the Number 1 Asian destination for travellers planning holidays in 2021

Respondents in Tourlane travel survey name Thailand as their top choice in Asia and 4th choice worldwide

 TAT Newsroom Send an email5 hours ago

 71 1 minute read

 Wat Lokayasutharam, Ayutthaya Historical Park

Bangkok, 04 December, 2020 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased to announce that Thailand was named the number one Asian destination, and the fourth destination worldwide, according to a recent survey by German-based online travel agent Tourlane.

In a survey to identify travel trends that are emerging for 2021, it found that Thailand was the fourth most popular worldwide destination named by respondents, after the USA, South Africa, and Canada.

Ms. Helen Scheepers, Head of Sales at Tourlane, said: "The survey shows that 2021 will be a year of the great outdoors, so it's no surprise to see that Thailand, with its incredible range of outdoor activities, is the fourth most popular worldwide destination for 2021. With so many participants rating travel as a top priority for 2021, we're excited about a potential boom in travel to countries like Thailand that's on the horizon."

Over 1,200 travellers aged between 18 and 65 were surveyed in the October 2020 online poll, which indicated that while most participants would not be traveling again in 2020, the majority did plan to travel in 2021 as one of their top priorities for the year.

Key findings showed that more than two thirds (69%) of international travellers preferred a destination that offered plenty in the way of outdoor activities, and that over half (54%) of the travellers wanted to travel for two or three weeks during the spring or summer time. Clear safety guidelines and hygiene standards was also mentioned as a priority by 43% of the respondents along with good health facilities (37%).

Thailand continues to be ranked one of the top countries among 180 countries worldwide for its ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery efforts according to the Global COVID-19 Index (GCI).

Mass tourism to Thailand might never return - Pattaya Mail

Mass tourism to Thailand might never return

Pattaya MailDecember 4, 2020

The Tourist Authority of Thailand does not expect a return to mass tourism and the environmental damage it creates.

The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand has intimated that the country may never get back to welcoming 40 million foreign visitors every year. Yuthasak Supasorn said that although Thailand had relaxed entry restrictions for some groups in the past two months, there were only 1,200 international arrivals in October, a far cry from the three million a month prior to the pandemic.



He was referring to the fact that more categories of foreigners could now apply for the essential certificate of entry from their home-based Thai embassy. The newer groups have included farang who have bought their own condominium here and investors who have obtained the Elite visa. There is also a 60-day tourist visa available from most countries, including the US, the UK and most of mainland Europe. However, the need to quarantine in a registered hotel for two weeks on arrival is proving to be a negative factor for many.

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Yuthasak stressed that the resurgence of the coronavirus is likely to hamper international travel for some time. According to a survey by 29 TAT overseas offices, tourists said they will be unlikely to take overseas trips before next summer. Even then, there may be resistance as air travel is likely to become more expensive and with extra rules. Even the rebound from China may be slower than predicted as it was far from clear that the Chinese government would be encouraging its citizens to take overseas vacations in 2021 rather than domestic ones.

The governor said the most sensible tourist policy for Thailand was to boost domestic trips by Thais and expats to achieve 1.2 trillion baht from 170 million internal trips in the calendar year 2022. As regards the foreign market, the best estimate was that 8 million non-Thais would enter from mid-2021 to mid-2022. He suggested that Thailand should promote itself as a holiday paradise for the better-off providing safety, hygiene and a focus on higher spending.

Jason Hammond, spokesman for the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said that Thailand's tourist industry would certainly improve once a safe vaccine was available globally in 2021 or 2022, but might look different. "It might be harder to offer cheap vacations like in the past because costs are rising all the time including more expensive aircraft seats and the possibility of mandatory insurance of some kind."

He added that the numbers of westerners visiting Thailand had been going down for many years and there was no reason for this trend to reverse as the country was no longer seen as a cheap, long-haul destination. 

More efforts urged for medical hub status - Bangkok Post

More efforts urged for medical hub status

Dr Prasit Watanapa, dean of Siriraj Hospital's Faculty of Medicine, gives an explanation during the 'Thailand's Mega Trends Forum 2020' forum organised by Forbes Thailand at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld on Thursday. (Photo by Somchai Poomlard)

Thailand needs to seize on the opportunity to be Southeast Asia's first medical hub before new pandemics emerge in the future, urged the dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Prasit Watanapa, on Thursday.

Dr Prasit made the call at an event titled "Thailand's Mega Trends Forum 2020", which was organised by Forbes Thailand at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld on Thursday.

In his remarks, he said the world has gone through five pandemics since the beginning of the 21st century -- namely Sars (2002), swine flu (2009), Mers (2012), Zika (2015) and Covid-19.

"Humans, animals and the environment are intertwined. As long as we cause climate change, we will face new diseases, as the migration of [animal] vectors brings about the rapid spread of viruses," he said.

"Covid-25 and Covid-30 will come. Three months ago, I warned of a second wave [of the coronavirus]. We should learn to tackle it and identify an opportunity."

Dr Prasit said there is an urgent need to step up disease prevention measures, because the 11 Covid-19 vaccines which are now in their third phase of efficacy trials are being fought over by richer, developed nations -- especially those being developed in the United States.

"Our local development is very limited because we still import vaccines from abroad. However, vaccination is now a matter of national security," he said.

"I don't think CLMV [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam] countries will set up vaccine factories.

"Indonesia is the only exception [in the region]. Thailand should tap into this opportunity now that we know our strengths in handling Covid-19."

Also, he said, Thailand should improve its diagnostic capabilities if it wants to be known as the region's medical hub.

"If we can enhance our health literacy, everything will become much more convenient. We can predict the risk of cancer, drug allergies, and optimise medical procedures. With the help of AI technology we have received from China, we have been able to diagnose Covid-19 much faster and with increased accuracy," Dr Prasit said.

"5G technology has helped support telemedicine. Currently, we are collaborating with Huawei to develop AI and Deep Learning technology for healthcare, which other countries in the region are not able to do. Thailand is a leader."

He also urged the kingdom to better utilise information technology to improve health literacy, as well as patient experience.

"Your carer can alert you [remotely]. We can develop this kind of technology if the government supports us," he said. 

Tourism Authority of Thailand launches Amazing Thailand Plus travel inclusive packages for foreigners with quarantine included - Tourism Authority of Thailand.



Tourism Authority of Thailand launches Amazing Thailand Plus travel inclusive packages for foreigners with quarantine included

Thursday, 3 December 2020, 18:13

The following is a press release from the Thai Tourism Authority. 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in collaboration with Thai Airways International (THAI), Thai Hotels Association (THA) and Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), is launching an 'Amazing Thailand Plus' offer for foreign visitors wishing to enter Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said, "The Amazing Thailand Plus offer gives visitors value added benefits while ensuring safety and health for both themselves and the Thai people. Every foreign traveller to Thailand must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine and follow all rules and regulations set by the Ministry of Public Health just like every Thai national returning home from overseas."

Amazing Thailand Plus comes with over 400 packages, inclusive of special fares on international and domestic flights, rooms at government-accredited Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) hotels, and post-quarantine tours or transfers. Accommodation options are available at 70 ASQ hotels and over other 100 hotels in designated destinations.

Bookings and airfares must be made through Thai Airways International by selecting either package A, B, or C. Terms and conditions apply.

Package A: Bangkok Extra offers a stay at ASQ hotels of one's choice and comes with a complimentary post-quarantine half-day or one-day city tour of Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, or Ayutthaya.

Package B: Bangkok and Beyond (drive-in) is inclusive of a stay at ASQ hotels of one's choice plus a complimentary post-quarantine transfer, up to 3,000 Baht, from Bangkok to selected hotels in Cha-Am, Hua Hin, Chon Buri, Khao Yai, and Rayong.

Package C: Bangkok and Beyond (fly-in) covers a stay at ASQ hotels of one's choice. It includes an option between a complimentary round-trip domestic ticket post-quarantine when travelling to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Krabi, or Phuket with Thai Smile Airways, or a 3,000 Baht post-quarantine discount on a round-trip ticket when travelling to Ko Samui with Bangkok Airways.

The offers are available from December, 2020, until March, 2021, while the travelling period starts from December 2020 until April 2021.

Travellers wishing to visit Thailand during this time need to apply for a visa, which can include a Single-Entry Tourist Visa (TR) or a Special Tourist Visa (STV) currently available for non-Thai citizens from the COVID-19 low-risk countries (according to the Ministry of Public Health, which may change without prior notice).  

It is highly recommended for interested travellers to enquire at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate General in their home country before making any bookings. This is because the application for both the TR and STV is to be made only in the traveller's country of origin at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate General.

For more details on the special packages under the Amazing Thailand Plus initiative, visit https://www.thaiairways.com/en/book/offers/asq_hotels/index.page

Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand