New Buzzword: Area Quarantine - Thailand set to open resorts and islands as three ministries tackle tourism crisis - Thai Visa

New Buzzword: Area Quarantine - Thailand set to open resorts and islands as three ministries tackle tourism crisis

 

Pipat Ratchakitprakarn (File photo for reference only)

 

There is a new buzzword on the lips of every Thai in the tourism industry from the minister down through the ranks. 

 

Area Quarantine.

 

This is now being hailed as the answer to Thailand's tourism crisis after the pandemic saw the 3 trillion dollar industry that is 17 % of GDP decimated. 

 

Here's how it will work come next month then progress later from July.

 

In the first phase long stay tourists will be targeted for the main tourist areas.

 

Then "travel bubble" countries will be identified from the third quarter. That is as early as July.

 

These are countries that have been as successful as Thailand in controlling the pandemic and delivering vaccine. 

 

The selection of areas where tourists have been well known to stay at least one month and possibly as long as three is seen as vital to success. 

 

These will be Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Pattaya, and the three islands of Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. 

 

All these are ready and willing and able to cope with the anticipated numbers who will be beating a path to Thailand's door. 

 

Importantly, THREE ministries are working on the plans, tourism and sports minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan told the Thai media yesterday. 

 

This three pronged approach is crucial, he said. His own ministry will grinding down into the nitty gritty of the obstacles.

 

The transport ministry under Saksayam Chidchob - from a well known family in the north east not unfamiliar with getting things done - will handle the all important flights and travel arrangements.

 

While the ministry of public health under Anutin Charnvirakul - who has masterminded Thailand's Covid-19 response strategies - will handle health and vaccine matters making sure that each and every Thai and foreigner is as safe as can be. 

 

Pipat said they were also looking into the possibility of even stopping two week quarantine at some stage this year for foreigners who have had two doses of vaccine. 

 

Pipat has been busy this week on all his plans.

 

Thai media reported that he had a "video conference" with the Department of Health Promotion of the MoPH and 216 tourism operators to present his ideas and plans.

 

Nothing is set in stone just yet - that will come when PM Prayuth Chan-ocha and his cabinet rubber stamp the plans. 

 

But it is hoped that as early as next month and certainly by May "Area Quarantine" will be in full swing in the tourist areas.

 

The media reported that tourism was 17% of Thai gross domestic product pre-pandemic raking in 2 trillion baht from foreign tourists annually and a further trillion from the domestic tourism market. 

 

Critics of the minister's gung-ho stance suggest that few foreign visitors have much appetite for travel just yet and only this week a tourism Thai business leader said it was all pointless if 14 day quarantine stays in place. 

 

Others point out that the tourism ministry and TAT(Tourism Authority of Thailand) plan to promote long stay tourists already flopped not even meeting unambitious targets.

 

The Thais seem to be pinning their hopes on vaccines creating confidence though many have criticized the slow rollout of vaccination in the country.

 

A process that has already been mired in allegations of smoke and mirrors and flip-flopping. 

 

 



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Thai Health Minister to chair panel on travel bubbles, vaccine passports - The Thaiger



  

Thai Health Minister to chair panel on travel bubbles, vaccine passports

By 

Maya Taylor

Friday, March 5, 2021

Thailand's Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, will chair a meeting on Monday, in which a vaccine passport scheme and potential travel bubbles will be discussed. Anutin says those who've been inoculated against Covid-19 will be issued with a book to confirm their vaccination. It's hoped this will make international travel easier, as well as boosting the public's confidence and helping life return to some kind of normality.

"The Public Health Ministry is making preparations to bring life back to normal, restore businesses and revive the Thai economy."

A number of groups and industry representatives have added their voices to growing calls for a vaccine passport policy. The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking is urging the government to implement the scheme without further delay, while also calling for private companies in Thailand to be allowed purchase and distribute vaccines.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is also pushing for a vaccine passport policy, while the Tourism Ministry has urged the Health Ministry to approve one. Meanwhile the PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked the Foreign Ministry to carry out a study on vaccine passports, adding that the jury is still out as to their effectiveness. They also have their critics, primarily among rights' groups and doctors, who argue that there is not yet enough evidence that vaccination prevents transmission.

At Monday's meeting of the National Communicable Diseases Committee, the Anutin-led panel will also discuss the idea of travel bubbles. Thailand has been considering entering into reciprocal travel arrangements with countries with a high take-up of Covid-19 vaccines.

Meanwhile, Anutin says the public must continue with the practice of mask-wearing, noting that the number of Thais doing so has recently slipped. He says that recent data shows the number of people wearing masks has dropped below 80%, compared to 90% last month.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand

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Thai Air Asia urges government to re-open the country to foreign tourism

  

Thai Air Asia urges government to re-open the country to foreign tourism

By 

Maya Taylor

Friday, March 5, 2021

The low-cost carrier, Thai Air Asia, is calling on the government to accelerate the re-opening of the country to international tourism. TAA chief executive Santisuk Klongchaiya says Thailand risks losing its status as a regional hub if the country does not re-open soon in order to re-ignite tourism and airlines. According to a Bangkok Post report, he warns that Thailand could lose out to places like Vietnam, should international carriers decide to move direct flights to other countries.

"After facing the pandemic for a year, the key factors that can strengthen Thai tourism are re-opening borders and financial aid such as soft loans to help airlines maintain their business and save jobs. If the plan to welcome foreigners is not ready, Thailand may lose those potential tourists to other competitors that have prepared to attract them with a practical scheme."

TAA is one of 7 local carriers that have been calling for a 14 billion baht soft loan since March last year. In 2020, the airline reported 16.2 billion baht in total revenue, a year-on-year decrease of 61%, with a 57% drop in passenger numbers. Santisuk says the carrier is planning for similar numbers this year, with 15% of total passengers expected to come from the international market in the last quarter of the year. He is also hopeful that cost-saving initiatives, such as placing some staff on furlough, should help lower operational costs by up to 20%.

In other tourism-related news, the Tourism Authority of Thailand says it will add a further 2 million room nights to the "We Travel Together" domestic tourism stimulus campaign. TAT is also planning another scheme aimed at tour operators, between now and July. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn says the scheme will be put to cabinet for approval next week. TAT is proposing a "buffet-style" ticket scheme for airlines, aimed at frequent travellers. Passengers receive their subsidy once they use the first flight that is linked to a hotel booking at their destination. Each tour operator can have up to 3,000 customers.

"These additional stimulus measures will boost travel sentiment for the upcoming regional holiday in the North on March 26, as well as the Songkran festival."

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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Private firms may get vaccine import nod - Bangkok Post

 Private firms may get vaccine import nod

A panel of advisers at the Public Health Ministry on Thursday suggested private companies be allowed to import another 15-20 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine by the end of this year.

Dr Sopon Mekthon, vice-minister at the ministry, said a panel of advisers to the public health minister had agreed that Thailand still needed more doses of Covid-19 vaccines, in addition to the planned 63 million doses, some of which have already arrived.

The government on Thursday reported one new Covid-19 death, raising the toll to 85, as 54 new cases, 44 local infections and 10 imported, lifted the total to 26,162.

Thailand has a population of about 65 million. If about 15 million teenagers were subtracted from the sum, the number of those eligible for vaccines would be about 50 million, plus another five million foreign migrants, Dr Sopon said.

With a calculation based on 80% of the 55 million people, about 40 million would receive two jabs of vaccines each which would require about 80 million doses, he said.

Apart from the planned 63 million doses, about 15-20 million more should be procured, though details regarding the prices had yet to be discussed, Dr Sopon said.

Dr Paisarn Dunkum, secretary-general of the FDA, said yesterday the private sector was welcome to import vaccines, though they needed to register with the FDA first. So far, no private hospitals have applied for registration, Dr Paisarn said.

Apart from Sinovac and AstraZeneca, other vaccine producers such as Johnson & Johnson and Bharat Biotech have applied for registration, Dr Paisarn said.

Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said yesterday that an idea has been mooted to procure coronavirus vaccines for around 2.3 million foreign migrant workers under the social security system.

"However, this is just an idea. The board of the Social Security Office is studying its possibility. No purchase has been made yet," Mr Suchart said.

He said that if the vaccination for migrant workers is to materialse, it will take place only after most Thais receive vaccines.

The Public Health Ministry yesterday reported that another 99 people who had received Covid-19 vaccines experienced unpleasant conditions or side-effects, taking the accumulated number of cases to 119.

Of the 99 vaccine recipients, 59 had localised soreness while 19 experienced nausea; 11 had chest tightness; six had body chills; two had fevers, one felt fatigue and one had body aches.

Lack of Covid jab for youngsters will make family vacations to Thailand impossible: Krungthai Compass - The Nation

Lack of Covid jab for youngsters will make family vacations to Thailand impossible: Krungthai Compass

Even after the country reopens, the number of tourists visiting Thailand this year will remain low because family vacations are not yet possible, Krungthai Compass research centre said.

Kittipong Rueanthip, a senior economist at Krungthai Compass, pointed out that there is still no Covid-19 vaccine for children below the age of 16, and all tourists will have to get a Covid-19 jab before travelling.

"Many countries have agreed to issue a vaccine passport for tourists who have already received the Covid-19 vaccine," he said.

He added that most tourists come to Thailand with their family, relatives and friends, citing a Tourism and Sports Ministry survey.

"Some 73.2 per cent of all foreign arrivals in 2015 had travelled with their family and friends, and this rose to 78.5 per cent in 2018. Also, 85 per cent of the tourists who travelled with their family brought their children too," he said. "Hence, there will be a big change in tourism this year and next as we will see more solo travellers or couples."

He added that Krungthai Compass expects some 2.4 million foreign arrivals in Thailand this year as many people will not have received their Covid-19 jab by the third quarter.

"Hence, the government should promote other types of tourism, like medical and wellness tourism, which have gained popularity among foreign tourists. Tourism businesses should also support their marketing strategy to support other types of tourism as well," he added.



Thailand contemplates vaccine passport and shortening quarantine period

Thailand contemplates vaccine passport and shortening quarantine period

Pattaya MailMarch 4, 2021

The vaccine passport is under the consideration of the WHO and is scheduled to meet this week to formulate the standard and Thailand will wait for the announcement from the WHO. (TAT photo – Mai Khao beach, Phuket)

Thailand plans to discuss with the agencies concerned about the vaccine passport to set up the standard to issue the vaccine passport in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO)'s vaccine passport regulation for international travels and will also discuss the idea to shorten the quarantine period.

Director-General of the Disease Control Department, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong said Thais who are vaccinated against COVID-19 can ask for certificates as it is stipulated in the Communicable Disease Act. The authorized officials at the international disease control checkpoints or hospital directors can issue the certificate for the people who are fully vaccinated.

Dr Opas says the issue will be raised at the meeting of the National Infectious Diseases Committee on March 8 whether the certificate holders will be allowed to reduce the quarantine period or not.

Dr Opas says the issue will be raised at the meeting of the National Infectious Diseases Committee on March 8 whether the certificate holders will be allowed to reduce the quarantine period or not.

The vaccine passport is under the consideration of the WHO and is scheduled to meet this week to formulate the standard and Thailand will wait for the announcement from the WHO.

On the other side, Tourism and Sports Ministry is pushing the government to adopt the vaccine passport plan to draw foreign tourists, which will revive the economy during the second half the year.

Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said there are discussions between his ministry, Tourism Authority of Thailand and tourism operators about the progress of the vaccine passport.

If Thailand adopts the vaccine passport plan, it could guarantee the safety and will eventually draw more foreign visitors to Thailand. The vaccine passport will follow the same pattern of the WHO's regulations.

Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn believes that when the vaccine passport plan is rolled out, it can build confidence among foreign tourists to return to Thailand within six months. (TAT photo – Mai Khao beach, Phuket)

His ministry will propose the issue to Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to consider this week to further discuss with the agencies concerned.

He believes that when the vaccine passport plan is rolled out, it can build confidence among foreign tourists to return to Thailand within six months.

He assesses that if Thailand has vaccine passport this year or any measures that can encourage and facilitate the foreign tourists to Thailand without quarantine requirement, it will guarantee at least 5 million foreign visitors to Thailand this year. (TNA)



Thai Airways to resume flights to Europe after rehabilitation plan endorsed

Thai Airways to resume flights to Europe after rehabilitation plan endorsed

Pattaya MailMarch 4, 2021

Acting THAI president Chansin Treenuchagron said that in response to the Central Bankruptcy Court's order for the airline to rehabilitate its business and appoint rehabilitation planners, the airline completed a rehabilitation plan and submitted it with the Legal Execution Department on March 2.

The management of Thai Airways International (THAI) is confident that its creditors will endorse its rehabilitation plan on May 12 and it will resume international flights especially to Europe.

Acting THAI president Chansin Treenuchagron said that in response to the Central Bankruptcy Court's order for the airline to rehabilitate its business and appoint rehabilitation planners, the airline completed a rehabilitation plan and submitted it with the Legal Execution Department on March 2.

The plan described that the airline had a total debt worth 410 billion baht but it accepted an accumulated debt worth 160-170 billion baht before Sept 14, 2020. The airline had 13,000 creditors and the plan did not propose a haircut.

Chai Eamsiri, acting executive vice president for finance and accounting of the airline, said its workforce would be reduced to 14,000-15,000 within this year. Besides, the airline would downsize its fleet and reduce the types of its aircraft to respond to demand in the aviation industry.

Mr Chansin said he was confident that creditors would approve the rehabilitation plan in a vote set on May 12 and the Central Bankruptcy Plan would make its final decision on the plan in either June or July this year.

Chai Eamsiri, acting executive vice president for finance and accounting of the airline, said its workforce would be reduced to 14,000-15,000 within this year. Besides, the airline would downsize its fleet and reduce the types of its aircraft to respond to demand in the aviation industry.

He expected THAI to post its profit again in 2023-2024.

In July, THAI would resume its international commercial flights to Paris, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, London, Zurich, Japan, South Korea, Manila and Jakarta, Mr Chai said.  (TNA)



Pattaya tourism needs 4 years, herd immunity to recover fully, CITC says

Pattaya tourism needs 4 years, herd immunity to recover fully, CITC says

Pattaya MailMarch 4, 2021

The Chonburi Tourism Industry Council predicted it would take up to four years and 65 percent of Thailand's population to be vaccinated against the coronavirus before Pattaya tourism would return to 2019 levels. (file photo)

The Chonburi Tourism Industry Council predicted it would take up to four years and 65 percent of Thailand's population to be vaccinated against the coronavirus before Pattaya tourism returns to 2019 levels.

Council Chairman Thanet Supornsahatrangsi said March 1 that removing quarantine requirements for arriving tourists is key to the industry's recovery.

The snail-paced start of Thailand's vaccination campaign, which began with 4,700 doses of a Chinese vaccine being distributed in Chonburi, won't have any positive impact on Pattaya tourism, Thanet said. It won't be until 65 percent of the population gets vaccinated – reaching a level where it is supposed there will be so-called "herd immunity" – that tourism will be able to grow without restrictions, he added.

Council Chairman Thanet Supornsahatrangsi said March 1 that removing quarantine requirements for arriving tourists is key to the industry's recovery.

To reach that level, Thailand will need to import far more vaccine and effectively distribute it, Thanet added.

However, foreign tourists still will not come to Thailand if they are forced to endure 14 days of quarantine, Thanet said. The country must get rid of the quarantine requirement for vaccinated tourists, he said.

The snail-paced start of Thailand's vaccination campaign, which began with 4,700 doses of a Chinese vaccine being distributed in Chonburi, won't have any positive impact on Pattaya tourism, Thanet said.



CAAT issues important guidelines for international transit/transfer passengers - Bangkok Post

CAAT issues important guidelines for international transit/transfer passengers

International flights carrying "transit/transfer" passengers are now allowed to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) confirmed.

However, CAAT has issued a series of guidelines that such passengers and airlines should follow:

1. International flights carrying transit/transfer passengers will be permitted only at Suvarnabhumi Airport;

2. Each passenger should possess a complete set of relevant documents, which are:

(a) A fit-to-fly health certificate;

(b) Medical certificate with a laboratory result showing that Covid-19 is not detected (carried out by the RT-PCR technique and issued no more than 72 hours before travel);

(c) Travel health insurance (worldwide or including Thailand) that covers healthcare and treatment expenses for Covid-19, or any other guarantee throughout their stay in the kingdom, with a coverage of not less than US$100,000 (Bt3.08 million).

Before the issuance of a boarding pass, document verification will be carried out by an air operator. If any document is found incorrect or incomplete, the passenger will not be issued a boarding pass.

3. Passengers must not venture out of the specified area (Concourse E) and should proceed through a so-called "sealed route" as detailed below:

(a) Each passenger must disembark via Gate E10, go through security screening and board the transit aircraft via Gate E9, or head to a designated shuttle bus to board the aircraft at the remote parking stand;

(b) If demand exceeds existing capacity, there will be additional operations available at Gate E5, E7 and E8;

(c) Aircraft crew making a "technical" landing should also follow the above conditions.

In case Concourse E is under maintenance, Concourse F will be used under the following procedures:

(d) Each passenger must disembark via Gate F6, go through security screening and board their next aircraft via Gate F5, or get into a designated shuttle bus to board the aircraft at the remote parking stand;

(e) If demand exceeds the existing capacity, there will be additional operations available at Gate F1, F2, F3 and F4;

(f) Aircraft crew should follow the conditions stated in 3 (d) or (e).

4. Physical distancing must be followed in waiting areas for transit/transfer operations. Each passenger and personnel should wear a face mask at all times, except in necessary or emergency situations, and clean their fingers with available hand sanitisers, which contain at least 70 per cent alcohol;

5. Personnel working in waiting areas for transit/transfer operations must wear personal protective equipment.

6. There are food and beverage services in the waiting area. There will be "active oversight" to keep operations safe and effective.

7. Cleaning and disinfection of equipment and passenger areas will be carried out regularly, according to Public Health Ministry standards.

8. The time period of each transit/transfer operation must not exceed 12 hours. If the operation goes past 12 hours, airline staff are responsible for managing/transporting passengers by special bus to Gate D3 and or D4 to await flights.

9. There will be no Covid-19 screening or laboratory services in the transit/transfer areas of the airport.

10. If any passenger takes ill or is suspected to have contracted Covid-19, the airline has to bear full responsibility for the traveller.

11. Passengers are advised to avoid any port of embarkation with a high prevalence of Covid-19, according to the risk level categorised by the Public Health Ministry.

12. Airlines must submit transit/transfer flight plans with CAAT and the Airside Operations Control Centre at Suvarnabhumi Airport no later than 24 hours before the flight.



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Thailand's re-opening "coming soon" as Anutin shows "Vaccine Passport" - Thai Visa

Thailand's re-opening "coming soon" as Anutin shows "Vaccine Passport"

 

Picture: Kapook

 

Thailand's DPM and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul went on Facebook to show what he hopes every Thai will soon be holding.

 

A vaccine passport.

 

The passport is officially titled "International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis" and has parts in English to facilitate international travel. 

 

Every Thai who has been vaccinated will get one. 

 

Picture: Kapook

 

Anutin was upbeat on his page promoting Thai hashtags that translated as # Thais must be safe and # together the country will recover.

 

Based on this Kapook said that the opening of Thailand was "coming soon" and quoted the minister as saying that soon for Thais everything would be "relatively normal". 

 

Source: Kapook

 

 

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The prime minister said on Tuesday he has commissioned a study to look into issuing Covid-19 vaccination certificates for international travellers, as the country seeks to revive a tourism industry battered by coronavirus curbs.

Prayut orders study on 'vaccine passports' amid tourism wipeout

A man receives the Sinovac coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine at the Samut Sakhon hospital in Samut Sakhon province on Sunday. (Reuters photo)

The prime minister said on Tuesday he has commissioned a study to look into issuing Covid-19 vaccination certificates for international travellers, as the country seeks to revive a tourism industry battered by coronavirus curbs.

Thailand has been mulling the idea of so-called "vaccine passports", but no target date has been set and tourism operators have complained about lost revenue.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the country will proceed with caution, waiting to see how effective vaccines are first in preventing the spread of Covid-19.

"I have already ordered the study so we can be prepared, but it's also important that we proceed in line with other countries," Gen Prayut said in a post on Facebook on Tuesday.

People in Thailand who are vaccinated would be given certificates, which could be used for international travel, he said.

Authorities will meet next week to discuss procedures to obtain such certificates, as well as quarantine arrangements for tourists with "vaccine passports" entering Thailand.

Previously, officials have said vaccinated visitors could have mandatory quarantine cut from two weeks to three days or waived entirely.

The global vaccine rollout has given hope to the pandemic-hit tourism industry, which directly makes up about 11% of the economy, and up to 20% by some calculations.

In 2020, Thailand's tourism revenue slumped to 332 billion baht from 1.91 trillion baht a year earlier, as visitor numbers plunged by 83%. 



Thai Airways Seeks $1.65 Billion Infusion Under Debt Revamp

Thai Airways Seeks $1.65 Billion Infusion Under Debt Revamp

Anuchit Nguyen

Airline seeking capital to remain a going concern, people say

Thai Airways International Pcl is seeking a capital infusion of as much as 50 billion baht ($1.65 billion) under a debt restructuring plan set to be submitted to a bankruptcy court to keep the flag carrier operational, according to people familiar with the matter.

The fund may be raised through equity, loans or convertible securities, said the people, who asked to not be identified before the debt plan is submitted to the court in Bangkok on Tuesday. The capital infusion plan will need to be backed by the airline's hundreds of credit-holders and approved by the court, they said.

Under the debt rehabilitation plan discussed by the court-appointed planners, banks and bondholders will have to take minimum haircut on their exposure, the people said.

A spokesman for Thai Airways declined to comment on the specifics of the debt rehabilitation plan but said the carrier's Acting President Chansin Treenuchagron will hold a briefing at 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday.

Thai Airways, which posted a record loss of $4.7 billion last year, is seeking to reduce its liabilities from 336.7 billion baht and return to profit once the Covid-19 pandemic ends. The airline has sold stakes in some units, cut staff and opened its flight simulators to the public to generate additional revenue and cushion the blow from an unprecedented hit to the global tourism and travel industry.

The bankruptcy court had in September approved Thai Airways' request to appoint EY Corporate Advisory Services Ltd. and the carrier's board members as debt revamp planners.

Largest Shareholder

Thailand's Ministry of Finance, the largest shareholder of Thai Airways, will look at the restructuring plan in detail once it's submitted to the court to see if it's in line with government rules and can support it, the State Enterprise Policy Office said. The office will also consult the Public Debt Management Office before advising the government on its stance, it said.

The airline's losses last year included one-time expenses of almost 92 billion baht from an employee separation plan and impairment losses on aircraft, right-of-use assets and aircraft spare parts, it said last week. The widening losses sent Thai Airways equity to a negative 127 billion baht at the end of last year, it said.

Thai Airways shares, up 29% this year, were suspended last week as the Stock Exchange of Thailand considered whether the company is subject to delisting because of its equity turning negative. The bourse will decide on delisting by March 7.

(Updates with comment from finance ministry in seventh paragraph.)

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Yesterday, (March 1st), about eight locals in the Baan Suan sub-district worked together to help pull the massive python from the undergrowth in the garden area they were working in. - Pattaya News

100 kilogram python reportedly captured in Chonburi

Tuesday, 2 March 2021, 14:09

PHOTO: Puchai Kerd Ma Lui

Ban Bueang, Chonburi –

A hefty 100-kilogram python was reportedly caught while locals were working at a garden in Mueang Chonburi yesterday.

Yesterday, (March 1^st), about eight locals in the Baan Suan sub-district worked together to help pull the massive python from the undergrowth in the garden area they were working in.

The python reportedly attempted to escape several times. It took about 30 minutes to catch the python in total. The python is six meters long and weighs about 100 kilograms according to animal rescue workers who were called to oversee the extraction of the gigantic snake.

The landowner, Ms. Phontip Raksasin, 54, told Associated Thai Press, "We were cleaning the area before we were surprised to discover the python. We have always had snakes in this area occasionally but never one quite on this scale, especially in a garden and farming area that is frequented by local residents."

Professional snake handlers reportedly relocated the python to a forest away from inhabited areas after the local residents got to take several photo opportunities with the monster-sized snake.



With vaccine rollout, national tourism operators call to reopen Thailand to tourism by July 1 - The Thaiger

With vaccine rollout, national tourism operators call to reopen Thailand to tourism by July 1

PHUKET: A consortium of major inbound international tourism operators, including Minor Group as well as the key hospitality association Skal International Thailand, have launched a campaign to reopen the country to international tourists by July 1.

A release issued by the group, campaigning under the theme #OpenThailandSafely, yesterday (Mar 1) said, "vaccines are a game changer that allow for the reopening of the country and for quarantine requirements to be dropped".

The #OpenThailandSafely campaign was launched with the support of over 15 major companies including YAANA Ventures, Minor Group, Asian Trails, Capella Hotels and Resorts, EXO and many others.

"The Open Thailand Safely campaign has laid out its arguments in a petition which will underpin a formal request to the Royal Thai Government to respond favourably to the rollout of COVID-19 vaccination programmes underway in Europe, USA and other Thailand tourism source markets," the release noted.

"The petition is open to anyone in Thailand or around the world who would like to see the country reopen," it added.

The release noted that the campaign argues July 1 is an appropriate date for five reasons: the majority of citizens in many source markets will have been vaccinated by then; it gives time to Thai medical authorities to vaccinate both front line staff in hospitality settings in Thailand and/or vulnerable citizens around the country; it gives international travellers time to make travel plans and bookings; the date gives time to airlines, hotels, tour operators and others to start marketing and sales and get ready for tourism operations to commence; and it will take Thailand at least a year, and maybe longer, to return to the large numbers of international visitors that it had before the COVID-19 crisis.

To ensure the safe reopening of Thailand, the petition argues that "international tourists can be asked to satisfy any safeguards the Thai Government may require. This may, for example, include showing officially recognised proof of a COVID-19 vaccination from their home country, purchasing health insurance, showing proof of a negative Covid test within 72 hours of departure, and so on."

#OpenThailandSafely was the initiative of leading Bangkok-based private sector travel companies YAANA Ventures, Minor Group and Asian Trails (see full list of signatories below).

Willem Niemeijer, CEO of YAANA Ventures, said: "The 1 July reopening would be a strategic opportunity for Thailand to show a leadership role among Asian countries and prepare the way for a solid recovery of the Thai economy in 2022."

In the coming days, the Open Thailand Safely campaign will also send the July 1 request to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn and Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn.

The release highlighted the damage done by policies implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"According to the Bank of Thailand and official sources in Thailand, tourism, pre-Covid, was worth about B2.9 trillion (US$96.5 billion). Some 39.7 million international visitors in 2019 helped sustain up to 8.3 million jobs. However, arrivals fell to 6.7 million in 2020 making between two and four million people unemployed.

"Meanwhile, destinations such as Seychelles, Maldives, Greece and Sri Lanka have either opened borders already or are in discussions to do so in light of successful Covid vaccine rollouts in their key source markets," the release said.

People can sign the petition for Thailand to reopen on July 1 at www.OpenThailandSafely.org 

---

Full list of signatories:

Minor International, William Heinecke, CEO

YAANA Ventures, Willem Niemeijer, CEO

Khiri Travel, Herman Hoven, CEO

Asian Trails, Laurent Kuenzle, CEO

Smiling Albino, Daniel Fraser, CEO

Go Vacation, Christoph Mueller, MD

Destination Asia, Monique Arnoux, CEO

I Asia Group, Nick Critelli, GM

EXO Travel, Hamish Keith, CEO

Cape & Kantary Hotels Poomiphat "Tom" Navanukroh, Group Director

Capella Bangkok, John Blanco, GM

Skål International Thailand, Andrew J. Wood, President

QUO Global, David Keen, CEO

Experience Mekong Collection, Jens Thraenhart, CEO

Portier Technologies, Olivier Dombey, COO

ScottAsia Communications, Ken Scott, Founder



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