PM mulls quarantine 'bypass' - Bangkok Post

PM mulls quarantine 'bypass'

A foreign tourist undergoes a health screening before going into 'villa quarantine' at the Sri Panwa Hotel in Phuket last month. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has agreed to consider a proposal by the Phuket business community to allow foreign visitors to the island province who have already been vaccinated against Covid-19 bypass regular quarantine.

From next month, foreign tourists who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 will be allowed to visit six tourism provinces, namely Phuket, Krabi, Phangnga, Surat Thani (Koh Samui), Chon Buri (Pattaya) and Chiang Mai.

Those who have been inoculated, however, must still be quarantined, although the mandatory isolation period has been reduced from 14 to seven days.

In July, Phuket will be the first province to waive the quarantine requirement for vaccinated foreign visitors who have been vaccinated, as part of the government's plan to reopen the country.

As Thailand has to compete with other nations in luring back foreign tourists while Phuket has been designated the country's first tourist destination to fully reopen to vaccinated foreign visitors, the government now needs to ensure its massive inoculation programme runs smoothly and proceeds as planned, said Gen Prayut on Tuesday after the weekly cabinet meeting.

"The point is how we can we ensure the safety [of this reopening programme].

"Phuket, for instance, has proposed that vaccinated tourists should be exempted from the mandatory quarantine. Well, if possible I'm ready to take care of that," he said.

Gen Prayut said a digital platform needs to be created to register the tourists.

As for the national Covid-19 vaccination programme, he said, the Finance Ministry and Krungthai Bank have been assigned to jointly develop a digital platform to help with the proper and effective allocation of vaccines.

Allocation is handled mainly by the Public Health Ministry, he said.

Gen Prayut also stressed the need for the owner of every fresh market in the country to strictly follow Covid-19 containment protocols, including body temperature checks and wearing face masks by both vendors and shoppers, he said.

He was responding to the discovery of several Covid-19 clusters which originated in wet markets.

Deputy Bangkok governor Sophon Phisutthiwong, in his capacity as the head of Bangkok's Covid-19 Situation Administration Centre, said each district office has been told to rein in the markets and determine if they meet the ventilation and hygiene standards.



Cabinet approves plan to reopen Thailand for foreign tourists - The Nation

Cabinet approves plan to reopen Thailand for foreign tourists

National

Mar 30. 2021

By The Nation

Ministers at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting approved the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)'s plan to reopen the country with seven-day quarantine for foreign travellers.

The plan reduces the quarantine period to seven days for fully vaccinated tourists in Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

From July 1, vaccinated tourists can visit Phuket without undergoing quarantine.

From October 1, the quarantine measure will be lifted in Krabi, Phang Nga, Pattaya and Chiang Mai.

According to the plan's timeline, Thailand will lift all quarantine restrictions on foreign travellers next year, Anucha said.



Many local Pattaya business owners against Pattaya becoming a "sandbox" for foreign tourists, think it will hurt domestic tourism - The Pattaya News

Many local Pattaya business owners against Pattaya becoming a "sandbox" for foreign tourists, think it will hurt domestic tourism

Monday, 29 March 2021, 16:16

Pattaya, Thailand-

The president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association revealed to the local press that many Pattaya business owners are against any plan for Pattaya to become a trial, or sandbox, for foreign tourists to visit until the pandemic situation improves overall.

The statements were made by Mr. Boonanan Phattanasin, the president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, last week in a meeting with the local press to discuss his opinions, which represents many local businesses, in terms of a sandbox proposal for Pattaya.

The Pattaya News notes that the businesses opposed to Pattaya becoming a sandbox, or test ground for foreign tourists, are primarily those focused on domestic Thai tourists who rely little, or not at all, on foreign tourists such as seafood restaurants, Thai clubs, Thai BBQ establishments, and similar places.

Boonanan specifically mentioned Koh Larn business owners who have experienced a boom in business, especially over weekends, from domestic Thai tourists and were concerned that opening to foreign tourists and potentially having outbreaks of Covid-19 could cause devastating restrictions and closures once again. These business owners are also concerned that Thai tourists who are currently flocking to the island and Pattaya will avoid the area if they know the area is a sandbox and that some tourists could have Covid-19, even if vaccinated and having gone through testing and other precautions.

Under the sandbox plan, selected vaccinated tourists from certain countries would be able to visit the Pattaya area without a quarantine, although other restrictions would apply such as mandatory tracking and only being able to visit "approved" locations for at least the first few days of their trips while awaiting further Covid-19 testing. This plan would also require at least 70% of local residents, especially those working in the tourism industry, to be vaccinated and Pattaya plans to move forward on this plan in May. You can read more about that plan below:

Thai Government to start to mass distribute Sinovac's Covid-19 vaccine to general public in Pattaya by end of May, Banglamung Public Health reveals

The sandbox idea will be first trialed on Phuket, under a proposal announced by the Thai Government, and you can read more about that proposal below and the original proposal of Sandbox for Pattaya. However, if the plan is successful, it will likely be rolled out to Pattaya in late quarter 3 or quarter 4 regardless of the concerns of some business owners as a "land-based" trial. Koh Samui will likely also be an early test ground. In 2019, Pattaya and Phuket welcomed roughly ten million foreign tourists each, although Pattaya has picked up significantly with domestic tourism since the Covid-19 pandemic. Many tourist attractions and local businesses, however, are entirely dependent on foreign tourism and are eagerly awaiting their return to the country-without quarantine.

Boonanan concluded by admitting that the pressure of businesses that rely on foreigners, which is the majority of tourism to Pattaya, will likely overtake those of Thai focused business, but stated that the best solution for everyone was to ensure that a majority of local residents were vaccinated before opening and to see how a trial of the sandbox would go in Phuket or Koh Samui before allowing Pattaya to take place. In the meantime, Pattaya would continue to focus on appealing to domestic Thai tourists and running events and promotions nearly every weekend to attract them to Pattaya.

Minister of Tourism visits Pattaya today to discuss "Sandbox" policy to welcome foreign tourists to stay in Pattaya without quarantine

Thai economic committee approves in principle to welcome selected vaccinated foreign tourists to visit Thailand without state quarantine, piloting in Phuket

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Samui plans for 1,000 foreign tourists in July - Pattaya Mail

Samui plans for 1,000 foreign tourists in July

Phuket to get 100,000 doses of vaccine on Thursday

With no foreign tourists, Mae Nam beach on Koh Samui is deserted on Sunday. (Photo: Dave Kendall)

SURAT THANI/PHUKET: Koh Samui has plans to reopen to the first batch of 1,000 foreign visitors who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 on July 1.

Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, said efforts are being made to draw tourists back to the island, with a plan to vaccinate at least 70% of the population on Koh Samui to prepare for a safe reopening.

Foreign tourists must receive two doses of Covid-19 vaccine before they are allowed to visit the island, he said.

Once there, they would be required to stay in alternative local state quarantine (ALSQ) facilities, although they would not be confined to their rooms.

Mr Ratchaporn said local tourism operators and state agencies came up with a campaign to promote the reopening of Koh Samui, which they called "Wonder Island", which has been approved in principle by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

Under the plan, Bangkok Airways would provide flights to take inoculated foreign tourists from Singapore as well as the United States, Europe and Australia to Koh Samui from July 1, he said.

Koh Samui expects to receive about 1,000 foreign tourists in the first week of July, with 10 ALSQ facilities ready to take them in, he said.

Upon arriving, tourists would be escorted from the airport to their hotels.

On the second day of their visit, they would be tested for Covid-19.

If the results were negative, they would be allowed to engage in activities on "sealed routes'' between the 3rd-7th days of their stay.

Beach traffic is zero at Shiva Samui resort on Koh Samui on Sunday. (Photo: Dave Kendall)

Activities would include sunset viewing, dinner cruises and outdoor activities such as yoga and spa treatments on private beaches on the nearby Koh Tan and the Ang Thong archipelago, which are isolated from other tourists and local residents.

On the 8th-14th days, they would be allowed to travel around Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.

On the 15th day, they would be tested for the virus again.

If no virus is detected, they would be allowed to travel to other provinces, Mr Ratchaporn said.

He said that the 14-day travel programme on Koh Samui was designed to make tourists feel relaxed, not confined.

Meanwhile, Phuket governor Narong Woonciew said 100,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine would arrive in Phuket on Thursday, adding the administration plans to vaccinate the first group of 50,000 people within seven days.

He said 80% of Phuket's population must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity before foreign visitors are allowed in on July 1.

Phuket will be the first province to waive quarantine requirements for foreign visitors who have been vaccinated against Covid 19.

But the plan is contingent on vaccine availability.

The lack of foreign tourists has left Koh Samui even more tranquil than usual. (Photo: Dave Kendall)



Vaccine passport skullduggery highlighted in Pattaya - Pattaya Mail

Vaccine passport skullduggery highlighted in Pattaya

Pattaya MailMarch 30, 2021

The faking of medical certification is a serious issue as world travel reopens.

With coronavirus vaccination currently unavailable to foreigners in Thailand and other non-priority groups, fraudsters and conmen are readily crowding the security breaches. Pattaya Mail has been informed of two Pattaya expats who fell victim to scams. It's very doubtful they are the only cases.



Harold G, a 66 year-old retiree, said he received a phone call purporting to come from a well-known hospital in Pattaya inviting him to jump the queue in the coming rush to be immunized. "I was told that I could have a choice of vaccines including the one-shot Johnson and Johnson which had already been approved by the Thai health ministry."

A fake Russian vaccine passport available on the dark web.

John was then advised that a one-off payment of 25,000 baht would secure not only the vaccination certificate but a later incorporation into the latest digital passport. That would be necessary anyway because the immigration bureau would be making such security measures compulsory from early next year for visa renewal. The immigration authorities, by the way, have not made any such suggestion.

The expat Brit then gave the phone scammer his credit card details. His card was used to transfer 35,000 baht to a furniture store in the Philippines, but no further information has been forthcoming about his hoped-for certification.

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He reported the affair to the local police and received a written report in Thai. An officer on duty said the incoming phone call was from a "dead" number, perhaps a theft, and added that telephone marketing scams are a worldwide problem for all.

With vaccine demand outstripping supply, organized crime steps forward.

Frank M, a 58 year-old American with a Thai wife, said he had investigated the internet dark web and discovered hundreds of sites offering to certify more or less any coronavirus vaccine for around US$600. He said he had obtained a certificate within minutes for the AstraZeneca vaccine, duly stamped and dated with a fake signature from a Pattaya medical consultant.



Pattaya Mail spoke to local computer guru Kevin Smythe who confirmed that the dark web sells absolutely anything, illegal or not. "The desire for customers to be anonymous is attractive to many, but there is absolutely no comeback or security concerning the purchase." He added that the production of fake documentation is a serious problem in Pattaya, as instanced by the recent arrest of Russians and Chinese offering for sale fake income letters to obtain annual visas and overseas driving licences.

Marion Quigley, spokeswoman for Passport Health Trust, said that even digital vaccine passports which provide multi-layered security on a mobile phone using QR codes, sometimes with facial or fingerprint recognition, were suspect. "The problem with any vaccine passports is that they focus only on the individual's current status. They don't tell you if that particular vaccinated person has immunity against future disease and for how long.  They don't tell you if that individual is resistant to new strains, and whether he or she can pass the infection to third parties."

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With Thailand due to reduce and abolish quarantine for vaccinated visitors in a staged adoption starting with Phuket in three months' time, the stakes could not be higher. The prime minister last month ordered the foreign ministry to carry out an international review of the whole subject.  Let's hope it is truly comprehensive and coming soon. 

30/3



Covid-19 Outbreak at another Market in Bangkok - NNT





 

Paphamon Arayasukawat

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has found Covid-19 spread from two vendors at a wet market in Saphan Sung district to five family members early this month.

 

CCSA assistant spokesperson Dr. Apisamai Srirangson said on Monday that the disease was first confirmed in a male meat vendor, 39, at the market. The native of Klong Sam Wa district sourced meat in nearby Pathum Thani province.

 

According to Dr Apisamai, the vendor started developing symptoms on March 11 and his test came back positive on March 18. He transmitted the disease to his 37-year-old wife who is also a meat vendor in Saphan Sung. The wife tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday and was asymptomatic.

 

She said another case in Saphan Sung is a woman, 57, who sold lottery tickets near the meat vendor. She had symptoms on March 17 and tested positive on March 22. She transmitted the disease to four family members.

 

 

Some advice for holidaymakers heading to Thailand - The Nation

Some advice for holidaymakers heading to Thailand

National

Mar 30. 2021

By THE NATION

Thailand has decided to reduce its mandatory quarantine period for foreign arrivals from 14 days to 10 days from Wednesdayonwards.

The quarantine period will be further reduced to just seven days for travellers who have been inoculated against Covid-19. 

However, travellers from high-risk countries will still be required to quarantine for 14 days. 

Meanwhile, the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) decided on March 26 to launch the Phuket "tourism sandbox" for vaccinated tourists from July 1 as proposed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said tourists who can verify they have been inoculated against Covid-19 and test negative can fly into Phuket and move around freely without having to quarantine.

Similar schemes will be applied to other destinations such as Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phang Nga and Surat Thani later, once more people have been vaccinated and preventive measures are put in place.

The government also plans to completely remove quarantine measures for foreign arrivals from October 1, by which time a large number of Thais should be vaccinated. 

But before the country completely opens, here is some advice for people planning to holiday in Thailand: 

UPDATE for foreigners wishing to enter Thailand - Richard Barrows



Thailand loses 1.45 million tourism jobs from pandemic: tourism group - Reuters



 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has lost about 1.45 million tourism jobs during the coronavirus pandemic, including 400,000 in the first quarter, a private tourism group said on Monday, as the country gets ready to reopen to visitors to try to rescue the struggling sector.

 

Tourism is a key driver of Thailand's growth, typically accounting for 11-12% of gross domestic product. The group says there were 4.5 million tourism jobs before the pandemic, from a workforce of about 38 million people.

 

The country could see 3 million foreign tourist arrivals this year under plans to waive quarantine for visitors vaccinated against COVID-19 in some parts of the country later this year, Vichit Prakobgoson, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, told a briefing.

 

From July, inoculated tourists will be allowed to visit Phuket without the mandatory two-week quarantine, and from October Pattaya, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Phang Nga and Krabi.

 

The projection is in line with the central bank's estimate but far below the 6.5 million tourists projected by the government's Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

 

"The TAT's target this year definitely won't be met. From our work plans, there should be 3 million," Vichit said.

 

"But if Bangkok is included in the reopening, it's possible to have 6 million people," he added.

 

Thailand's strict entry requirements have helped keep coronavirus infections relatively low, but have devastated tourism.

 

Last year, there were only 6.7 million foreign tourists, down from nearly 40 million in 2019 who spent 1.91 trillion baht ($61.24 billion).

 

Vichit projected spending by foreign tourists would be 156 billion baht ($5 billion) this year.

 

For Phuket alone, the group expects two million foreign visitors to spend 105 billion baht between July and December, he said.

 

The tourism council had urged the government to start travel bubbles from April with other countries and to issue clear guidelines for "vaccine passports" to attract more travellers, he said.

 

 

Thai tourism industry to focus on safety, cleanliness, sustainability and not taking advantage of tourists - Thai Visa

Thai tourism industry to focus on safety, cleanliness, sustainability and not taking advantage of tourists

 
 
 
 

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