Thailand’s Reopening Plan – Information For Travelers. Bangkok Jack

Thailand's Reopening Plan – Information For Travelers

March 14, 2021

Travel around the world at present is dependent on a range of factors. From providing negative Covid-19 tests to showing proof of vaccination, tourists are required to jump through a series of hoops in order to be able travel once more.

Yet, as countries become desperate to restart tourism, other solutions are being found. Much like Spain's bid to reopen when citizens are vaccinated, Thailand is planning to reopen its popular destinations without a quarantine beginning in July once 70% of its citizens are vaccinated.

Here's more on this exciting plan, plus a reminder of the restrictions and requirements for travel to Thailand at present.

A country that is heavily reliant on tourism for both income and jobs for its citizens, Thailand has struggled greatly during the pandemic, with once-thriving businesses now closed for the foreseeable future, beaches deserted and hotels empty.

However, the emergence of a new plan of action suggests a partial end to the struggles may be within sight.

Whilst the government's proposed date for the reopening of the whole of Thailand is October 1^st, one leading minister suggested that the country could be welcoming foreign guests to select provinces without quarantine from as early as July 1^st.

Speaking at a meeting of leading tourism representatives, Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, revealed that the key to reopening early would be vaccinating 70% of the population of the three select provinces.

The provinces in question – Phuket, Phang-Nga and Krabi – have been selected due to the revenue they generate, with these three alone responsible for bringing in 20% of the total tourist revenue, worth 600 billion baht (around $20 billion USD).

Each located on the country's Andaman seaboard, they feature stunning beaches and the karst landscape that has made Thailand a must-visit for travelers in recent years.

Speaking at the meeting on Wednesday, Ratchakitprakarn said:

'According to the timeline set by the government, foreigners will be allowed to travel to Thailand without quarantine. But we want to do it faster. We hope this can be done starting with Phuket in July under the condition that at least 70% of its population is vaccinated, a requirement of 900,000 doses for 450,000 people.'

The plan is set to be discussed at a meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on March 19^th. Should the plan be accepted, it is bound to be warmly received by travelers.

Thailand's pricey quarantine has long since been a barrier for many travelers, so the decision to allow travelers to visit without having to quarantine is sure to be a popular one.

Thailand's Entry Requirements Travelers Should Know

Once home to extremely restrictive borders at the start of the pandemic, Thailand's borders have softened in recent months.

Those who live in a country that has a visa exemption or visa on arrival arrangement with Thailand do not need to obtain a visa before traveling to Thailand.

Those from countries who do not have such an arrangement can apply for the Special Tourist Visa, which is open for travelers of any nationality.

All travelers must obtain a certificate of entry, and must have insurance that covers Covid-19 up to $100,000. Travelers must provide a negative Covid-19 test.

There is a mandatory quarantine period of 14 days at present, though this is due to change for some from next month. – TraveloffPath.Com

The UK authorities have declared overseas leisure travel to be “illegal” until further notice, with mid-May as the earliest possible relief date. Potential travellers must show at UK departure points a completed form why the journey is absolutely necessary for health, work, study or compassionate reasons. They are advised to carry some documentary evidence, usually an official letter, to justify breaking the travel lockdown. - Pattaya Mail

UK visitors to Thailand facing huge bureaucracy in both countries

Pattaya MailMarch 14, 2021

New arrivals at Bangkok airport have been on a huge paper chase.

Although both Thai and British government sources express confidence in the future of international travel and tourism, the wannabe visitor to the Land of Smiles must provide a veritable avalanche of documentation and endure restrictive delays in both countries.

The UK authorities have declared overseas leisure travel to be "illegal" until further notice, with mid-May as the earliest possible relief date. Potential travellers must show at UK departure points a completed form why the journey is absolutely necessary for health, work, study or compassionatereasons. They are advised to carry some documentary evidence, usually an official letter, to justify breaking the travel lockdown.



Brits then returning to UK after their vital journey must complete a passenger locator form, show proof of a recent negative Covid-19 checkand self-isolate for a further 10 days with two supplementary coronavirus tests. Those returning from some countries in Latin America and Africa must separately undergo supervised quarantine at their own expense.

Pre departure contact tracing app now mandatory to visit Thailand.

Meanwhile, Brits booking overseas holidays for the summer are being warned that cancelled trips may not easily result in quick insurance refunds. The Association of British Travel Agents told BBC news that package tourists would be covered but would most likely experience delays in the payout schedule.

Airlines UK has warned potential travellers that vouchers offering alternative flights would be the preferred method of compensation. Those customers paying by credit card appear to be better safeguarded than those using a debit version, but the subject is tinged with ambiguity with frequent complaints to the Civil Aviation Authority.

Nobody in UK can travel to Thailand without the express permission of the London-based Thai embassy which issues a certificate of entry. The embassy website is comprehensive as it wades through the complex requirements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. All potential visitors need recent Covid tests and Covid-related insurance and must pay in advance for the 14-days hotel quarantine after landing.

But the detail varies according to the specific visa applied for. Some categories require general medical insurance in addition to a Covid policy and some do not. Some require proof of address in Thailand post-quarantine but not all. Some require proof of substantial cash in UK bank accounts, others a regular income, still others only a token amount. What is incontrovertible is the sheer stack of paperwork required. Not to mention the considerable expense involved for the applicant.

International travel future depends on how effective vaccines are in practice.

Thai authorities now also require foreign visitors to download and install on their mobile phones pre-departure the Thailand Plus app. This is a contact tracing device which uses GPS and Bluetooth data to detect user locations, combined with check-in records via QR code-scanning. The health ministry in Bangkok says the app minimizes the possibility of the user being personally identified.

Meanwhile, the Thai government is expected in May or June to begin signing vaccine passport deals with other countries which have low-incidence of the dread disease and have begun vaccination programs of their own. As ever the details are hazy, but the most likely candidates for early recognition are China and other selected Asian countries. So far, about 50,000 people have been vaccinated in Thailand under the Mor Phrom (The Doctor is Ready) scheme.



How quickly the huge bureaucracies now in place to vet and monitor all British visitors to Thailand are dismantled remains to be seen. Much will undoubtedly depend on how quickly vaccination rollouts proceed in both countries and how effective they are against new variants which obstinately keep appearing in the global context. In other words, the pesky virus will determine the future of international travel. Thailand is certainly no exception.



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In a bid to meet demands and support tourism, Thai Airways International (THAI) has launched special flights to 13 destinations in Asia and Europe, acting executive vice president Nond Kalinta said on Friday. - Bangkok Jack

THAI launches special flights to 13 destinations in Asia, Europe

March 13, 2021

In a bid to meet demands and support tourism, Thai Airways International (THAI) has launched special flights to 13 destinations in Asia and Europe, acting executive vice president Nond Kalinta said on Friday.

Some flights have started operating, while some will be launched soon.

The flights are:

• Bangkok-Tokyo (Narita) every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and return flight every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday

• Bangkok-Tokyo (Haneda)-Bangkok special flight on March 30

• Bangkok-Osaka-Bangkok every Saturday

• Bangkok-Seoul-Bangkok every Sunday, but the first flight on Wednesday, March 31

• Bangkok-Taipei-Bangkok every Friday

• Bangkok-Hong Kong-Bangkok every Wednesday

• Bangkok-Manila-Bangkok special flights on March 9, 16 and 23

• Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok special flights on March 16 and 31

• Bangkok-London-Bangkok every Sunday

• Bangkok-Paris-Bangkok special flight on March 25

• Bangkok-Frankfurt-Bangkok every Friday and special flight on Sunday, March 28

• Bangkok-Stockholm-Bangkok special flight on March 17

• Bangkok-Copenhagen-Bangkok every Sunday

Thailand postpones vaccine after blood-clotting reports - Bangkok Jack / The Nation

Thailand postpones vaccine after blood-clotting reports

March 13, 2021

The Ministry of Public Health has postponed the launch of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday, as it is awaiting the results of an examination after cases of blood clotting were reported in some countries.

Dr Piyasakol Sakonsattayatorn, consultant on strategy and planning for management of the Covid-19 vaccine, announced the postponement of AstraZeneca vaccination for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Cabinet members, who were to be the first recipients.

Dr Piyasakol said that it was necessary to delay the vaccination because there were reports from Denmark and Austria on Thursday night about suspected side-effects that caused blood to clot in the veins.

The Ministry of Public Health and the medical team believed that the vaccination would be the safest for the public but wanted to find out if the side-effects in some European countries, especially Denmark and Austria, were caused by the vaccination, he said.

Prof Dr Yong Poovorawan, head of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok said there were chances of finding adverse reactions or side-effects in a mass vaccination programme.

Blood clot in the veins is most common among African and European people, who are at three times more risk than Asians, indicating that genetic factors are involved.

There are currently 3 million doses of the vaccine given in Europe, of whom 22 have died, or 7 in a million. – The Nation 

Travel association sees 8 million tourists, but only if Thailand reopens by June - Pattaya Mail

Travel association sees 8 million tourists, but only if Thailand reopens by June

Pattaya MailMarch 13, 2021

If the government stubbornly sticks to overzealous border controls, the economy will collapse, he predicted.

The Association of Thai Travel Agents predicted Thailand could see 8 million foreign tourists in 2021, but only if the government reopens the country without quarantine for coronavirus-vaccinated travelers by June.

ATTA President Vichit Prakobgosol forecast March 11 that 200,000-300,000 tourists would arrive in June, increasing to 500,000 in July to 1.5 million in October to 2.5 million in December as vaccinated tourists go aboard for the first time in two years.



Vichit said those numbers would be halved, however, if the government continues to insist on 14-day quarantines and doesn't reopen the country by June.

Vichit said those numbers would be halved, however, if the government continues to insist on 14-day quarantines and doesn't reopen the country by June.

The tourism industry needs a three-month roadmap to plan for the country's reopening, Vichit said, so that packages and tours can be planned. If the government stubbornly sticks to overzealous border controls, the economy will collapse, he predicted.

He claimed only 25 percent of four million tourism-sector employees still had jobs.

Even if the country reopens soon, it will take three years for Thailand's tourism industry to recover to 2019 levels, Vichit predicted.

In the interim, the government needs to expand its subsidized domestic-tourism campaign and "Let's Go Halves" economic-stimulus initiative, he said.

ATTA President Vichit Prakobgosol predicted Thailand could see 8 million foreign tourists in 2021, but only if the government reopens the country without quarantine for coronavirus-vaccinated travelers by June.

The Association of Thai Travel Agents forecast that 200,000-300,000 tourists would arrive in June, increasing to 500,000 in July to 1.5 million in October to 2.5 million in December as vaccinated tourists go aboard for the first time in two years.



Nedräkning till Hennes & Mauritz öppnar i Central Plaza, Chonburi

 

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Koh Samui aims to implement quarantine-free travel for inoculated visitors from Oct 1 in tandem with Phuket. - Bangkok Post

Samui prepares no-quarantine plan

Visitors browse travel deals offered at the 'Wonder Islands Samui, Phangan, Tao' event, which runs from March 11-17 at CentralWorld.

Koh Samui aims to implement quarantine-free travel for inoculated visitors from Oct 1 in tandem with Phuket.

"Koh Samui wants to grab tourist demand as there are many destinations globally that require no quarantine," said Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui.

Koh Samui is expected to be the first area in Surat Thani to test entry procedures for foreigners because the island has an airport.

Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are reachable via ferry transit and they can develop their own entry standards.

Mr Ratchaporn said Koh Samui's district chief officer insisted local communities have no opposition to a quarantine-free tourism plan.

The island also joined the tourism sandbox, a pilot programme to accelerate the reopening process before the whole country opens up to the international market in the fourth quarter.

However, some 300,000 vaccine doses have to be administered in Samui to create herd immunity first, he said.

In addition, the government has to allow international commercial flights to transit in Bangkok at a sealed terminal before flying to Koh Samui.

Mr Ratchaporn said the aircraft type can be the 70-seat ATR 72-600, with one flight per week to facilitate the flow of tourists to the island without undergoing quarantine in Bangkok.

The association already arranged meetings with the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration for further discussion on the reopening scheme.

Meanwhile, to boost the domestic market, operators on three islands are hosting a promotional event called "Wonder Islands Samui, Phangan, Tao" from March 11-17 in Bangkok. They expect to stimulate the local economy via package sales worth a combined 20 million baht, with more than 5,000 hotel bookings.

Mr Ratchaporn said this event and the Songkran holiday should increase trips to the island and boost average occupancy to 60-70% in April from only 10% currently.

Tourism fairs are scheduled in other regions such as Chiang Mai and the Northeast to beef up inter-regional travel.

"The government should consider offering a 50% subsidy for ferry transit to every island destination," said Worapong Wongsuwan, vice-president of the Koh Tao Tourism Association.

He said a round-trip ferry package from Chumphon or Koh Samui to Koh Tao costs around 1,300 baht, and this subsidy would make it more likely Thais holiday on the islands.



New speed limits - The Nation

 

April 1st still on the table for Thailand's opening to foreign tourists - Thai Visa

April 1st still on the table for Thailand's opening to foreign tourists

Picture: Daily News

Thai media Daily News continued to maintain that April 1st would be the date that Thailand begins its path to accepting foreign tourists again.

They published a story that reported the Thai minister for tourism and sports Pipat Ratchakitprakan as meeting a delegation of tourism operators and associations from Surat Thani led by the deputy governor of the province.

Representatives came from the holiday islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan as well as the mainland to present their cases for the opening of the country.

Daily News said that Pipat will be proposing to a meeting of the CCSA (Covid steering) committee at the end of next week that visitors be allowed from countries such as the US, UK, Italy, Germany, China, Japan, South Korea and India. 

Without elaborating further the media harped back to previous reports from Anutin Charnvirakul, DPM and health minister, who favors 7 day area quarantine for  those foreigners who have received two doses of vaccine and ten days (not confined to hotel rooms) for those that haven't been jabbed. 

The media said that such a plan would inspire visitors to Thailand from many countries. 

Thaivisa notes that potential visitors to Thailand could be forgiven for being confused about contradictory messages coming from different ministries. 

Pipat and Anutin would say they have a common goal though it is plain they have their own proposals and agendas. 

Potential visitors to Thailand would be well advised to wait for firmer decisions at the CCSA main commitee on Friday March 19th before deciding their next move. 

Even then keeping a watchful brief would be advisable.

Reading between the lines April 1st seems to be a date for the next stage in "quarantine easing" for tourism while October 1st remains a more realistic date for a broader return to mass tourism with less restrictions.

 



Ministry postpones AstraZeneca vaccination after blood clotting reported in Europe - The Nation

Ministry postpones AstraZeneca vaccination after blood clotting reported in Europe

National

Mar 12. 2021

By The Nation

The Ministry of Public Health has postponed the launch of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday, as it is awaiting the results of an examination after cases of blood clotting were reported in some countries.

Dr Piyasakol Sakonsattayatorn, consultant on strategy and planning for management of the Covid-19 vaccine, announced the postponement of AstraZeneca vaccination for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Cabinet members, who were to be the first recipients.

Dr Piyasakol said that it was necessary to delay the vaccination because there were reports from Denmark and Austria on Thursday night about suspected side-effects that caused blood to clot in the veins.

The Ministry of Public Health and the medical team believed that the vaccination would be the safest for the public but wanted to find out if the side-effects in some European countries, especially Denmark and Austria, were caused by the vaccination, he said.

Prof Dr Yong Poovorawan, head of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok said there were chances of finding adverse reactions or side-effects in a mass vaccination programme. Blood clot in the veins is most common among African and European people, who are at three times more risk than Asians, indicating that genetic factors are involved. There are currently 3 million doses of the vaccine given in Europe, of whom 22 have died, or 7 in a million.

He said the vaccine was not bad but they needed to ensure that the problem did not occur from a manufacturing error. Some of the recent cases of blood clotting reportedly occurred after use of vaccine manufactured in South Korea from where Thailand is sourcing its supply after it's original supplier, Italy, was blocked from fulfilling the order because of an EU restriction. It is not known from where Denmark has got its vaccine.

The National Vaccine Committee has postponed the AstraZeneca vaccination for 1-2 weeks.

Dr Yong added that race or heredity was a major risk factor in vaccination.

However, coagulation has never been associated with any vaccine, he said, adding, Thailand now needs to patiently wait for the report data that may come out within 1-2 days. He still believes that AstraZeneca is one of the best vaccination options. 

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Restrictions to end 'by October' - Bangkok Post

Restrictions to end 'by October'

Dr Apisamai Srirangson, assistant spokesperson for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, is in her press conference at Government House in Bangkok on Wednesday. (Screenshot)

Thailand will be fully reopened by October and all Covid-19 restrictions lifted, if all sectors continue to cooperate with the government in its containment efforts, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) hinted on Wednesday.

Among the major requirements for reopening the country, after more than a year of costly restrictions, was the public sector's readiness to resume normal life, said CCSA assistant spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangson.

Speaking after a meeting of the CCSA's sub-committee on easing business and activity restrictions, Dr Apisamai praised officials in Samut Sakhon, the epicentre of a recent wave of infections.

They had been performing well to contain Covid-19 and continued to be highly compliant with the CCSA's control protocols, she said.

Active cooperation by the private sector and a similar good response by members of the public to the government's Covid-19 containment efforts were two other major criteria to take into consideration before approving the full reopening of the country, she said.

"The proposal will be discussed at a meeting of the CCSA's main committee on March 19," she said.

As part of the reopening proposal, the CCSA will consider upgrading Samut Sakhon from a maximum control area to an area on high alert for Covid-19, she said.

The province is due to receive 70,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines in three weeks and no serious side effects of vaccinations administered in the province in the first week had been detected, the doctor said.

On Wednesday was the last day of preparing to imnplement so-called "bubble and seal" Covid-19 containment measures, Dr Apisamai said.

Under these measures, factories which provide on-site accommodation for workers will be "sealed", meaning employees cannot leave the grounds.

Workers from factories that don't offer on-site dormitories and sleep elsewhere will have to adhere to a "bubble" approach -- their movements will be strictly monitored, and officials may be required to deliver their food and other essentials, so they have no reason to leave their dormitories.

As of Monday, 112,595 factory workers and fresh market vendors, as well as local of various communities in Samut Sakhon, have been tested for Covid-19, said Dr Apisamai, of whom 975 had tested positive for Covid-19, approximately 0.87%.

The CCSA on Wednesday recorded 39 new cases of Covid-19, 34 of which were local transmissions and the rest imported.

Taweesilp Visanuyothin, the CCSA's spokesman, told the Bangkok Post that clearer details of the idea of reopening the country should be made available after the March 19 meeting of the CCSA since they concerned several ministries and would take time to finalise.

Meanwhile, the Department of Medical Sciences said its inspection of 230 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine would likely be completed today.

Jabs from this batch of imported vaccine will be administered to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and other cabinet ministers by the end of this week, said the Department's director-general, Supakit Sirilak.

The government on Wednesday also claimed a success in its so-called Villa Quarantine programme, being piloted as a tourism-based Covid-19 quarantine option on the resort island of Phuket.

A total of 58 European visitors who arrived there on a chartered flight from Indonesia on Feb 21 had completed their quarantine periods and now were ready to travel more freely in Thailand, said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.

Those tourists planned to stay for a month and were also interested in visiting other key destinations, said Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn.

However, Ekkasit Ngamphichet, president of Pattaya's Business and Tourism Association, urged the government to speed up its vaccination programme and hasten the adoption of shorter quarantines for foreign tourists as the economy needed a lift. 

Immigation Bureau Information

 

Thai Government aiming to October to "open the country" but will depend on many factors, say Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration - The Pattaya News

Thai Government aiming to October to "open the country" but will depend on many factors, say Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration

Wednesday, 10 March 2021, 15:17

Bangkok, Thailand-

A spokesperson for the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) confirmed this morning, March 10th, 2021, that the Thai Government had their eyes set on October to "fully open the country" but many factors would be in play for this decision.

Dr. Apisamai Srirangsan, the assistant spokesperson of the CCSA, made the announcement at a press conference, although was careful to state this was a goal and not a set decision or promise.

The country is planning to implement reduced quarantine and more "freedom of quarantine" with area quarantine programs first, hopefully starting from April, according to Apisamai. We have covered this previously at The Pattaya News here. However, the decision will need approval from several meetings scheduled for next week both on Monday, March 15th with the CCSA, Tuesday, March 16th with the Thai Cabinet, and on Friday, March 19th.

This easing will be considered Phase 2 and a complete re-opening, potentially (but not promised) with no quarantine would be in Phase 3, hopefully starting in October of this year.

Dr. Apisamai stated that the government would ensure the decision would be announced officially well in advance, knowing that hotels, airlines, and the tourist industry would need time to prepare if the country would indeed re-open in October.

She stated that it was not clear if it would be only for vaccinated tourists and would depend drastically on the situation with Covid-19 around the world, the level of vaccinations taking place in various countries, and the safety standards being implemented by airlines. She did caution that a "re-opening" could exclude certain countries and places based on the prevalence of Covid-19 or if they were considered "high-risk." Africa, for instance, will not be included in a reduced quarantine program due to concerns about variants and overall testing, the CCSA stated earlier this week.

Although at this time the date is just a "goal", with many countries vaccinating quickly, especially those who are major tourist suppliers to Thailand like India and the UK, the landscape could see a wider opening by October, in time for Thailand's "high season."



Possibility of reopening Thailand on Oct 1 to be considered -The Nation

Possibility of reopening Thailand on Oct 1 to be considered

Apisamai Srirangsan

If vaccination drives in other countries continue easing the pandemic situation, then Thailand should be fully reopened within this year, Apisamai Srirangsan, Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesperson, said on Wednesday.

She said a CCSA team spoke with deputy Samut Sakhon governor Thiraphat Khashmat about infections in the province and learned that the number of new cases has been dropping continuously. CCSA will consider readjusting the colour-tier labels for provinces on March 19 because, over the past few weeks, only 10 provinces have been reporting infections.

The relaxation of more measures may be considered before April 1 so people can enjoy Songkran festival this year.

CCSA is considering the possibility of reopening the country on October 1provided the government is fully prepared, businesses are willing to follow health measures and the public will maintain guard against the virus.

Foreign students are not barred from taking part in political gatherings, so long as their actions stay within the law, Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang said on Wednesday. - Bangkok Post

Foreign students not barred from political gatherings, says Immigration

Anti-government demonstrators gather at Democracy Monument in Bangkok on Sunday. Foreign students can take part, if they stay within the law, says the immigration chief.(Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)

Foreign students are not barred from taking part in political gatherings, so long as their actions stay within the law, Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang said on Wednesday.

Pol Lt Gen Sompong was reacting to an announcment by an education institute in Pathum Thani province warning foreign students against taking part in political gatherings. It said they risked having their visas revoked, citing an order from the Immigration Bureau.

The immigration chief said the warning might have arisen from a misunderstanding.

He said the immigration office of Pathum Thani had earlier contacted all education institutes in the province to express concern that if foreign students took took part in political protests they could risk being infected with Covid-19.

"Please be assured that the Immigration Bureau has never issued an order to ban foreign students from political gatherings. We only want them to be careful about the pandemic. The bureau understands well about people's rights under the Thai constitution," Pol Lt Gen Sompong said.

However, the bureau chief said he would like to ask foreign students to be careful not to break the law. A criminal offence could affect their status as students in Thailand.

They could take part in political gatherings only if they stayed within the scope of the law, he said. 

Thailand Post Distribution teams up with THAI to deliver vaccines - The Nation

Thailand Post Distribution teams up with THAI to deliver vaccines

Thailand Post Distribution (THPD) has joined hands with Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) to deliver Covid-19 vaccines via its vast country-wide logistics network.

The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to cooperate in delivering Covid-19 vaccines to both domestic and overseas destinations.

"The THPD will use this opportunity of working with THAI to improve our logistics and warehousing systems as we aim to be certified under ISO9001 and the Good Storage Practice standards," said THPD managing director Pheera Udomkitsakul.

"We also hope this campaign will expand into future cooperation between the THPD and THAI in selling and distributing foods and products of both companies to a wider audience," he said.

Pheera said the THPD currently has a modern warehouse management system and has been operating cold storage warehouses of international standard, thus making it an ideal candidate in handling the delivery of drugs and medical supplies.

"Our delivery staff have been trained under GDP [good delivery practices] to ensure on-time deliveries and have received the Q-Mark certification, which has been issued by the Department of Land Transport as a service quality standard for truck operations," he added.

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