The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 835 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with 9 new deaths, September 15th. Pattaya News

Chonburi new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 drop to 835 with 9 deaths

Wednesday, 15 September 2021, 12:41

Highlights:

• 835 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today

• 911 people recovered and were released from medical care

• 9 new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 835 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with 9 new deaths, September 15th.

This makes a total of 75,844 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 13,537 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 529 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. The details on yesterday's 9 new deaths were not given, which is standard for the health department.

Additionally, 911 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 61,778 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 190, Si Racha 135, Banglamung (Pattaya) 118, Panat Nikhom 35, Sattahip 129, Ban Bueang 99, Pan Thong 47, ฺBor Thong 12, Ko Chan 19, Nong Yai 8, Koh Sichang 8, and 35 transferred from other provinces for medical care.

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Cluster, conscript in Sattahip, 19 cases
2. Cluster, soldiers in ship in Sattahip, 19 cases
3. Cluster, Baan Sahachai in Sattahip, 6 cases
4. Cluster, fishing boats at Kanasinuwat Pier in Sattahip, 11 cases
5. Cluster, Cobra Group company in Pan Thong, 11 cases
6. Cluster, CSSG (subcontract) in Pan Thong, 8 cases
7. Cluster, migrant wokers in palm plantations in Moo 11, Huayyai, Banglamung, 5 cases
8. Cluster, Xetera company in Banglamung, 4 cases
9. Cluster, Meyer Industries company in Si Racha, 5 cases
10. Cluster, Kasem Engineering & Consultant in Ban Bueng, 4 cases
11. Cluster, boats at Koh Si Chang Pier, 4 cases
12. A risky occupation, meeting a lot of people, 25 cases
13. 5 medical staff
14. Many establishments in Rayong Province brought to Chonburi for medical care, 31 cases
15. Close contacts of confirmed patients in the family – 256 cases, in workplaces – 110 cases, close friends – 34 cases, and joined parties, 3 cases
16. Close contacts of confirmed patients (under investigation), 125 cases
17. 150 cases are under investigation in general as to the cause of the disease

A total of 964 close contact searches were received today, and 525 proactive search reports are pending.

There are currently clusters of outbreaks in 72 establishments and five markets, 10 construction worker camps, and four communities.

The next two weeks are crucial to Bangkok’s survival. The question of whether to lift or reimpose coronavirus restrictions in Bangkok would depend on the situations in the next two weeks, a health official said. The COVID Clown Show senior advisor Udom Kachintorn said any further relaxing of restrictions will only be made if officials are certain that the outbreak is well under control. Bangkok Jack

The next two weeks are crucial to Bangkok's survival

September 15, 2021

Empty streets in Bangkok are likely to stay empty

The question of whether to lift or reimpose coronavirus restrictions in Bangkok would depend on the situations in the next two weeks, a health official said.

The COVID Clown Show senior advisor Udom Kachintorn said any further relaxing of restrictions will only be made if officials are certain that the outbreak is well under control.

Thailand logged approximately 12,000 new infections on Monday. The daily infection number has been decreasing in recent days, but so has the number of daily tests conducted.

But Udom said the downward trend is the result of the lockdown measures introduced back in July, and more vaccination coverage.

In order to keep the infections in manageable range, Udom urged members of the public not to let their guard down.

The Public Health Ministry also launched the official "Digital Health Pass" on Monday. All residents in Thailand are encouraged to download the pass from the government's Mor Prom application.

The pass includes a person's proof of vaccination, details of their most recent coronavirus test, and their antibody readings, if available.

This key information will be used by businesses and services to verify the safety status of the pass holder. Some Airlines, like Bangkok Airways, Lion Air, Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, and Thai Smile are already accepting the health pass, according to media reports.

Soon restaurants, salons, gyms, spas and more may adopt them to verify their customers as the government is pushing ahead with its plans to reopen some provinces for tourism by Oct. 1. – Khaosod English

Common Sense Finally? TAT Boss Says Cities' Quarantine, 'Sealed Routes' Plans Could Be Ditched. Tourists would still be required to follow previously established rules, such as activating the Mor Chana tracking app and checking in daily at a government-certified SHA+ hotel. Bangkok Herald

Common Sense Finally? TAT Boss Says Cities' Quarantine, 'Sealed Routes' Plans Could Be Ditched

15 September 2021

After months of short-sighted and overly cautious programs and proposals, a glint of common sense popped from the mouth of a senior Thailand tourism official, suggesting the country may ditch differing and restrictive city reopening plans and go with one standardized system for welcoming back foreign tourists.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Gov. Yuthasak Supasorn told reporters Tuesday that government officials are reconsidering having individual cities create their own models for reopening to fully vaccinated foreign tourists and instead go with a "One SOP, One System" policy.

Yet another acronym for politicians and bureaucrats to bandy about, OSOS would replace city-based plans for mandatory quarantines and unpopular "sealed routes" and halve the cost for Covid-19 tests.

Yuthasak said the reopening plans for Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Cha-am and Bangkok will be submitted to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration next week, seeking to receive inoculated tourists from Oct. 1.

Meanwhile, while "Samui Plus" program will morph into a quarantine free "sandbox".

Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, on Sept. 8 criticized how the Surat Thani Province reopened, saying mandatory quarantine and high Covid-19 test prices resulted in far fewer tourists arriving.

As of Sept 7, Samui saw only 628 travelers taking advantage of Samui Plus, while Koh Phangan and Koh Tao getting laughably low arrival of 43 and 26, respectively.

Ratchaporn said public officials in Pattaya, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai planning to impose quarantine and "sealed routes" in their reopening plans should do something unusual and actually learn from another area's mistakes.

Quarantine and movement restrictions don't work he said, wondering aloud why those municipalities were still proposing failed approaches.

were preparing their standard operating procedures, they should learn from Samui Plus that any restrictions, such as mandatory quarantine, can create a tremendous negative impact on the market.

The TAT chief said, under OSOS, every province will apply the same standard operating procedure (SOP), which will enable tourists to travel freely within designated areas in each province.

Tourists would still be required to follow previously established rules, such as activating the Mor Chana tracking app and checking in daily at a government-certified SHA+ hotel.

But gone would be requirements, such as those planned by Chonburi, forcing tourists to remain in their hotels for the first three days and then, over the next 11 days, only travel to prepaid, predetermined tourist attractions approved by the government on a "sealed route" segregated from Thais, who currently are testing positive at more than 10 times rate of arriving, fully vaccinated foreigners.

Yuthasak said the TAT also discussed with health authorities a reduction in the ridiculous price of three required but almost entirely unnecessary and invasive RT-PCR coronavirus tests. Government approved labs currently charge up to 16,000 baht for the tests. That has been a major obstacle in attracting tourists to the Phuket "sandbox" and Koh Samui.

Instead, the agency wants to see the price cut by at least half to 8,000 baht, with less-invasive and cheaper antigen tests administered for the second and third tests.

It should be noted that TAT can't run a bath on its own, let alone a reopening plan. The agency has no power to open or close anything and its wishes are more often ignored by government health officials than adopted.

Yuthasak's statement also came only two days after officials said Pattaya's "Move On" plan would be decided on by the CCSA on Friday.

Also speaking to reporters Sept. 14, Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn made no mention of the OSOS proposal or hint that city-drafted reopening plans would be ditched.

In fact, he reaffirmed that Bangkok, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chiang Mai would begin implementing their tourism reopening plans on Oct 1 as planned.

He said another 21 provinces will follow suit on Oct 15, which for some dispelled doubts over whether the government would be able to proceed with its plan in the face of the ongoing pandemic.

Pipat acknowledged that the continued high number of new Covid-19 cases remains a major hindrance to reopening, but said the ministry is fully prepared.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul separately said his ministry also is fully prepared for a Oct 1 reopening.

What that "reopening" looks like, however, no one knows or will know until at least next week.

Tourists from Middle East put off Thailand due to bureaucracy, costs of Covid tests. The cost of a PCR test in the United Arab Emirates is between 200 and 300 baht, compared to 8,000 baht for 3 tests in Thailand.



Tourists from Middle East put off Thailand due to bureaucracy, costs of Covid tests

By 

Maya Taylor

Wednesday, September 15, 2021 09:35

The Tourism Authority of Thailand says the high cost of Covid-19 tests, coupled with Certificate of Entry bureaucracy, is proving a deterrent for tourists from the Middle East. According to a Bangkok Post report, Chaiwat Tamthai from the TAT's Dubai office says would-be tourists from the Middle East are in favour of the Phuket sandbox concept, but put off by everything it entails.

"Feedback from tourists about the Phuket sandbox is positive, but applying for the COE and expensive PCR tests remain obstacles."

According to Chaiwat, the cost of a PCR test in the United Arab Emirates is between 200 and 300 baht. In Thailand, tourists are charged 8,000 baht for a mandatory 3 tests in 14 days. He adds that 5,000 Middle Eastern tourists visited Phuket in July, the first month of the sandbox. This dropped to 2,000 in August, due to a tightening of regulations and the start of a new school term in the Middle East.

According to the Bangkok Post report, Chaiwat believes that if no changes are made to the current travel requirements, visitors from the Middle East will reach 20,000 during the last quarter of the year. However, if some of the measures could be relaxed, Thailand could see 100,000 visitors from the Middle East between the last quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022.

From October to March of next year, Dubai will host the World Expo and Chaiwat says his office will have a marketing booth at the event, with the aim of attracting 10% of Expo visitors to Thailand. Phuket will be promoted as the key destination for 2022, due to its sandbox programme and the Dubai TAT office will focus on wealthy individuals interested in yachting and golf. Chaiwat is hopeful that tourist numbers from the Middle East could reach 200,000 in 2022.

For more information on how to get into Thailand during the pandemic, CLICK HERE.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

What about us? Furious retirees/expats in Thailand slam proposals to attract wealthy foreigners . The Thai government's ambitious proposals to attract a million foreigners in the next five years and get a trillion baht into the ailing economy - as reported by Daily News and many other Thai sites - have been roundly slammed by retirees and foreigners with Thai families already living and contributing to the kingdom. They are shouting from the rooftops throughout the nation: What the hell about us? ASEAN NOW



REUTERS file photo for reference only

 

The Thai government's ambitious proposals to attract a million foreigners in the next five years and get a trillion baht into the ailing economy - as reported by Daily News and many other Thai sites - have been roundly slammed by retirees and foreigners with Thai families already living and contributing to the kingdom.

 

They are shouting from the rooftops throughout the nation: What the hell about us?

 

They feel the government don't care about people who have committed to Thailand for years. They say the cabinet's decision is just a cynical ploy to try and get money in taxes - especially from other Asians. 

 

They feel that they will have to continue to jump through numbing hoops like 90 day reporting because they don't have a million dollars to invest and don't work in Thailand.

 

They say they bring money in, support the local economy, support Thai people like wives and children but are treated like second class citizens as they are not the cash cows favored by the government.

 

In fact they feel they are being treated more like buffaloes. 

 

They think they deserve residence not people with more money who will leave after a few years anyway.

 

ASEAN NOW posters led the way in swift condemnation of the plans even though those plans have been in the air for months and some of the finer details like the hot chestnut of land ownership, for decades.

 

Djayz summed it up well with: "What about those foreigners who have lived here for years, have families, jobs, cars, houses, stay out of trouble, support the local community and are here long term, not just to move money about, invest then (leave) as things get ugly?"

 

Almer said: "I'm lacking in all their requirements, but I spend my pension here and help the needy in the village - if that counts for anything". 

 

Clearly he thought it didn't.

 

Starky said: "What about those that live here and spend over a million baht a year".

 

Some pointed out that the answer to that was that a million baht was not much in the grand scheme of things and the government were trying to make things easier for foreigners with much more wealth. 

 

Others called it greed and mentioned the targets for the scheme were more likely Chinese nationals and even Indians. 

 

Dg1980 summed up this feeling with: "Top earners in, broke-ass dudes out".

 

InThailand said: "These clowns don't get it. The Land of Smiles is becoming less attractive each year".

 

Others pointed to better and more trustworthy schemes to attract foreigners in Malaysia, even Singapore.

 

Still more suggested that the plans were a sneaky way to turn an Elite Card - Thailand's expensive long term visa style scheme - into a way to get residence.

 

While more drew attention to the words "lure" and "attract" and the heavy connotations of each.

 

Yet more pooh-poohed the notion that the Thai authorities would ever change the rules on land ownership as has been muted for years. 

 

And even if they did, shouldn't those who live in Thailand already be first in line for benefits rather than those with a fat checkbook who know little about and care not a jot about the country and its people.

 

Emdog an expat in Jomtien summed it up in a final, devastating one liner:

 

"What am I chopped liver?"

 

He answered that question himself with an emphatic "yes".

 



Tourism Authority of Thailand plans to propose no-quarantine tourism - This is, to say the least, a stunning U-turn according to observers online as just 48 hours earlier the TAT had still been pushing the Move On Plan and similar, more restricted, plans. In layman’s terms, this means a single plan for all five new areas, not five separate plans, simplifying the process. Basically, the plan, in its current proposal, would move from a safe and sealed route (tours) to allowing tourists freedom of movement throughout the entire area, such as Pattaya or Hua Hin. Under the proposal, the tourist would still need to stay at a SHA+ hotel and meet various paperwork, testing, and other requirements but would have freedom of movement, being able to go where they wished, similar to the Phuket Sandbox plan. Pattaya News

Tourism Authority of Thailand plans to propose no-quarantine tourism under "One SOP One System" scheme for fully-vaccinated foreigners

Tuesday, 14 September 2021, 21:56

National –

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is preparing to introduce to the Center for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) a no-quarantine tourism proposal for fully-vaccinated foreigners under the "One SOP One System" (OSOS) scheme to be implemented this October.

The proposal will be introduced accordingly with the second phase of the government's country reopening plan on October 1st. The plan will also include five more areas, namely Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Cha-am, and Bangkok. We first reported on the plan likely changing from the previous proposal yesterday here.

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn revealed to the press today, September 14th, that the TAT has come up with the new tourism scheme as the previous requirements were complicated and attracted far fewer foreigners than the authorities expected. This includes, notes TPN Media, the widely criticized plan for Pattaya "Move On", which many felt was too restrictive and would not benefit most businesses. You can read about this prior proposal here.

"Under this OSOS plan, every province will apply the same SOPs (standard operating procedures) which will allow tourists to travel more freely within designated areas," he said.

This is, to say the least, a stunning U-turn according to observers online as just 48 hours earlier the TAT had still been pushing the Move On Plan and similar, more restricted, plans.

In layman's terms, this means a single plan for all five new areas, not five separate plans, simplifying the process. Basically, the plan, in its current proposal, would move from a safe and sealed route (tours) to allowing tourists freedom of movement throughout the entire area, such as Pattaya or Hua Hin. Under the proposal, the tourist would still need to stay at a SHA+ hotel and meet various paperwork, testing, and other requirements but would have freedom of movement, being able to go where they wished, similar to the Phuket Sandbox plan.

TPN media wants to stress this is only a proposal, and still has multiple levels of approval to go through. There is also no guarantee that every sector would be allowed to open, such as bars or entertainment, for the proposal. It is, however, a major improvement over the prior proposal which would have restricted tourists and visitors to a single resort and guided tours of selected attractions.

The new plan also is likely to include the 7×7 plan currently in place in Phuket, allowing tourists to visit different areas after 7 days. You can read more about this portion of the proposal by clicking here.

Additionally, the "Samui Plus Model" will be slightly changed to non-quarantine tourism and allow tourists to travel more freely in the Sealed Area under the new name "'Samui Plus Sandbox" with the pilot areas of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. This would, essentially, be a program the same as Phuket, with freedom of movement, ditching unpopular sealed routes.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn also stated at a meeting with Chonburi authorities last weekend that domestic travel will be able to start again in October as more vaccines from many authorized manufacturers are scheduled to arrive and be allocated nationwide in September.

The no-quarantine tourism plan will also be planned for provinces or areas that account for at least 15 percent of the total revenue from foreign tourists, including Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Surat Thani, Bangkok, Chonburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Chiang Mai.

However, it is worth noting that this is only a proposal planned by the TAT and the Tourism and Sports Ministry and must be proposed for approval by multiple agencies like the CESA, CCSA, and the Cabinet Committee. All the measures and requirements are only initial suggestions.

We will provide further details after expected meetings this weekend with the TAT and relevant agencies that would need to approve the plan. We also note that the TAT plans to use data from the Phuket Sandbox showing that foreign tourists are incredibly low risk in terms of having Covid-19 to leverage the proposal.

The cabinet on Tuesday approved measures to attract foreign investors and experts to Thailand for a long-term stay with a 10-year visa. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, the government’s spokesman, said that the measures should attract more than one million foreign investors and experts within five years, which should increase the amount of money spent in the economy by more than one trillion baht.

 Cabinet approves long-term 10-year visa to attract foreigners

September 14, 2021

The cabinet on Tuesday approved measures to attract foreign investors and experts to Thailand for a long-term stay with a 10-year visa.

Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, the government's spokesman, said that the measures should attract more than one million foreign investors and experts within five years, which should increase the amount of money spent in the economy by more than one trillion baht.

"This includes 800 billion baht from the expected increase in investment and 270 billion baht from the expected increase in tax collections," he said.

The measures include:

• A 10-year "long-term resident visa," also for spouse and children
• A work permit
• Exemption from foreign income tax 
• Land and real estate ownership and rentership rights
• 90 days report not required
• No quota of hiring four Thais for every one foreign employee

The four groups that can apply for the visa include:

• Wealthy global citizen: People with a high income of at least US$80,000 in income over the past two years and a minimum asset of $1 million
• Wealthy pensioner: Pensioners, age 50 and above, with a stable pension of at least $80,000 over the past two years
• Work-from-Thailand professional: Foreign workers with employers outside of Thailand, more than five years of working experience and make at least $80,000 over the past two years
• High-skilled professional: Professionals working in targeted industries such as future services, infrastructure buildings, logistical systems and digital systems who make at least $80,000 over the past two years

The measures will be run by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development.

They will be working with the Board of Investment of Thailand, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Finance and the Royal Thai Police to sort out and provide more details on the measures later, Thanakorn said.

The measures will be reevaluated every five years, he said.

🔴 #COVID19 on Wednesday: ⬆️ 13,798 cases ⬆️ 144 deaths. Richard Barrow





Bangkok Post highlights 15/9



Chonburi new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 rise to 955 with 12 deaths. Pattaya News

Chonburi new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 rise to 955 with 12 deaths

Tuesday, 14 September 2021, 11:44

Highlights:

• 955 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today

• 811 people recovered and were released from medical care

• 12 new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 955 new and confirmedcases of Covid-19 today with 12 new deaths, September 14th.

This makes a total of 75,009 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 13,621 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 520 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. The details on yesterday's 12 new deaths were not given, which is standard for the health department.

Additionally, 811 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 60,867 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 295, Si Racha 189, Banglamung (Pattaya) 137, Panat Nikhom 37, Sattahip 127, Ban Bueang 32, Pan Thong 53, ฺBor Thong 1, Ko Chan 1, Nong Yai 5, and 78 transferred from other provinces for medical care.

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Cluster, Bangkok Komatsu company in Mueang Chonburi, 9 cases
2. Cluster, Chain Chang Machine company in Mueang Chonburi, 7 cases
3. Cluster, Daikin Industries company in Mueang Chonburi, 7 cases
4. Cluster, dormitory in Moo 4 Nong Maidang (working at Papaspong company in Rayong), in Mueang Chonburi 5 cases
5. Cluster, Mitsubishi in Si Racha, 6 cases
6. Cluster, TIP Metal Industries company in Si Racha, 19 cases
7. Cluster, Meyer Industries company in Si Racha, 7 cases
8. Cluster, Acushnet Footjoy company in Si Racha, 4 cases
9. Cluster, fishing boats at Kanasinuwat Pier in Sattahip, 5 cases
10. Cluster, Mangkorn Thong industrial estate in Nong Yai, 4 cases
11. A risky occupation, meeting a lot of people, 27 cases
12. 2 medical staff
13. Back from a risky area in Bangkok, 1 case
14. Many establishments in Rayong Province brought to Chonburi for medical care, 27 cases
15. Close contacts of confirmed patients in the family – 330 cases, in workplaces – 186 cases, close friends – 31 cases, and joined parties, 4 cases
16. Close contacts of confirmed patients (under investigation), 79 cases
17. 195 cases are under investigation in general as to the cause of the disease

A total of 927 close contact searches were received today, and 246 proactive search reports are pending.

There are currently clusters of outbreaks in 72 establishments and five markets, 10 construction worker camps, and four communities.

Ranking of 10 provinces with highest COVID-19 transmission, as of 14 September 2021. PRD



TAT proposes end to quarantine for foreign tourists and simplification of area requirements. The penny finally seems to have dropped at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, notes ASEAN NOW. Its director Yutthasak Suphasorn will be proposing to the CCSA committee at their next meeting (thought to be this Friday) that from October 1st foreign tourists will not have to quarantine. ASEAN NOW

Yutthasak Suphasorn. File photo: Tourism Authority of Thailand

 

The penny finally seems to have dropped at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Its director Yutthasak Suphasorn will be proposing to the CCSA committee at their next meeting (thought to be this Friday) that from October 1st foreign tourists will not have to quarantine.

 

If the Covid-19 authority agrees it will apply to Chiang Mai (four districts), Bangkok, Pattaya (and Sattahip), Cha-Am and Hua Hin. 

 

Yutthasak is proposing that what has been called a sealed route will now be a sealed area.

 

Foreign tourists will have to stay in the confines of an area rather than quarantine, he said. 

 

In addition he is proposing a "One SOP (standard operating procedure) One System" plan, he told Thai business media.

 

This means that differences between approaches and names like Move On in Pattaya, Recharge in Hua Hin and the like will be brought under one standard umbrella.

 

He noted that differnces in approach had confused tourists and been a marketing headache.

 

Samui's reopening name will also change from the Samui Plus Model to the Samui Plus Sandbox. 

 

He noted that 3 days on a sealed route then 3 days in a sealed area was confusing so the whole of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao would be opened up like the Phuket Sandbox.

 

ASEAN NOW notes that the changes in the rhetoric still need to be remembered with the caveat that foreign tourists must be double vaxxed and have tests in Thailand.

 

What the changes mean are that tourists will be able to more freely move around a certain area right from the get go. 

 

Thus a trip to Pattaya would mean being able to move around the entire area of the city to Sattahip and in Chiang Mai it would mean instant access to four districts named in the October 1st reopening plan. 

 

However we caution that all this will depend on a nod from the CCSA. 

 





🔴 #COVID19 on Tuesday: ⬇️ 11,786 cases ⬆️ 136 deaths. Richard Barrow



Bangkok Post highlights 14/9



Quarantine, sealed routes to be scrapped. Thailand is rethinking its reopening model as it will adopt the "One SOP, One System" (OSOS) policy, scrapping both mandatory quarantine and sealed routes for all pilot areas within this year and cutting Covid-19 test costs by half. "Tourists are simply required to follow the guidelines, such as activating the Mor Chana app and being checked daily by SHA Plus manager [hotel manager in SHA Plus hotel], instead of being kept in quarantine or only travelling under a tour programme," said Mr Yuthasak. Bangkok Post

Country to rejig reopening model

Stores are closed on a deserted street in the Night Bazaar area of Chiang Mai on Thursday. Thailand is set to reopen more of its popular tourist destinations, including Chiang Mai, starting next month, betting that a higher local inoculation rate can help draw more foreign visitors and revive an economy battered by the pandemic. Bloomberg

Thailand is rethinking its reopening model as it will adopt the "One SOP, One System" (OSOS) policy, scrapping both mandatory quarantine and sealed routes for all pilot areas within this year and cutting Covid-19 test costs by half.

The reopening plan for five more areas -- Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Cha-am and Bangkok -- will be submitted to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) next week in order to start receiving inoculated tourists from Oct 1, while Samui Plus will pivot to a quarantine-free destination at the same time, said Yuthasak Supasorn, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor.

"Under this plan, every province will apply the same SOPs [standard operating procedures] which will enable tourists to travel freely within designated areas in each province," he said.

"Tourists are simply required to follow the guidelines, such as activating the Mor Chana app and being checked daily by SHA Plus manager [hotel manager in SHA Plus hotel], instead of being kept in quarantine or only travelling under a tour programme," said Mr Yuthasak.

He said the agency is also in a discussion with health authorities about reducing the price to around 8,000 baht for three RT-PCR tests which is considered an obstacle for the reopening programme in both Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus over the past few months.

"We will try to halve the RT-PCR price and allow tourists to use antigen test kits for their second and third tests. The package price should be universally applied to every province from October, including the Phuket Sandbox," he said.

The OSOS also eliminates different measures which each pilot province was preparing, such as Pattaya and Chiang Mai that previously opted for partial quarantine and sealed routes, respectively.

However, TAT this week still has to discuss further the tourism sector in Chiang Mai and Bangkok about the plan for these two areas, particularly the capital which will include 21 inner districts, plus Bang Phli in Samut Prakarn where Suvarnabhumi airport is located.

Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, acting president of the Chon Buri Tourism Council, said Bang Lamung and Sattahip will be the first two districts in the reopening programme.

The province will propose the plan to let tourists travel within those two areas as soon as they get negative RT-PCR results. They also can choose to stay at any SHA Plus hotel. The two districts already have 21 certified hotels.

He said over 63% of residents in both districts were vaccinated and they should reach the 70% target by the proposed reopening date.

Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, said there are few adjustments for Samui Plus's quarantine-free plan. Tourists who enter via this programme have to spend their first seven days on Samui island and can travel to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao from day eight.