Thailand News - Corona - By Ola J. - Palmtree

A Russian tourist takes a selfie at Mai Khao beach in Phuket, Thailand. File photo: Reuters

● Money-transfer difficulties and flight cancellations following Russia's invasion of Ukraine have shaken Thai tour operators

● Russians were the largest group of visitors to the kingdom in January and some 1.5 million of them came in 2019 and spent US$3.3 billion

Bloomberg

A plunging rouble, flight cancellations and money-transfer difficulties are prompting Russian and European tourists to cancel trips to Thailand, a blow to the Southeast Asian nation's tourism-revival efforts.

The exclusion of many Russian banks from the Swift payments network has resulted in tour operators running into problems when making transfers, according to Charintip Tiyaphorn, co-owner of Pimalai Resort & Spa in Phuket. Some flights have been cancelled following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and many European airlines are re-routing to get to Southeast Asia, she said.

Russians were the largest group of travellers to Thailand in January and top applicants for new visas under a quarantine-free entry programme relaunched last month. About 1.5 million Russians visited in pre-pandemic 2019 and spent US$3.3 billion, the third-highest source of tourism revenue for the country, according to official data.

Full story: https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3168884/ukraine-invasion-crashing-russian-rouble-sanctions-deal

Neutral on Russia-Ukraine: PM

The first group of 38 Thai people evacuated from Ukraine pose for a photo before boarding a Thai Airways International flight in Bucharest, Romania. They are scheduled to arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport on Wednesday. (Photo: Foreign Ministry)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has insisted Thailand will maintain its neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a government source said.

The source said a meeting of cabinet ministers on Tuesday discussed the issue extensively following some 25 ambassadors based in Thailand pressuring the government to speak out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Gen Prayut told the meeting that the long-standing relations between Thailand and Russia must be taken into account and Thailand must tread carefully, the source said.

"We need to be composed and make decisions carefully. Thailand must maintain a neutral stance and bring Thais in Ukraine back home quickly," the source quoted the PM as saying.

Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Gen Prayut said Thailand will adhere to Asean's stance on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as the grouping has called for dialogue among parties concerned to resolve the Ukraine crisis.

The prime minister was speaking on Tuesday after the 25 ambassadors met with the permanent secretary for the Foreign Ministry Thani Thongphakdi at the ministry on Monday.

The ambassadors asked Thailand to speak out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and support the United Nations General Assembly's (UNGA) resolution on the Ukraine crisis.

After the meeting, David Daly, the European Union ambassador to Thailand, tweeted that the ambassadors visited the ministry to send a message that the Russian invasion of Ukraine breaches the UN Charter and that all UN members, including Thailand, should "speak up to save our rules-based international order and vote for the UN Resolution".

He was referring to the UNGA's resolution, which is expected to be put to a vote this week at the UN headquarters in New York.

Asked by reporters to comment on the matter on Tuesday, Gen Prayut insisted that Thailand has to follow Asean's stance on the matter.

"It is about the regional grouping's decision. We need to keep a balance. But most importantly, we have been concerned about the safety of people in countries involved in the conflict. We also have to ensure Thais in those countries are safe.

"We also support the peace process to end the conflict and war. We need to tread carefully and act through Asean's mechanisms," Gen Prayut said.

On Saturday, Asean foreign ministers issued a statement calling for dialogue among parties concerned in the Ukraine crisis.

"We call on all relevant parties to exercise maximum restraint and make utmost efforts to pursue dialogue through all channels, including diplomatic means to contain the situation," the ministers said in the statement.

Russia launched a military attack against Ukraine last Thursday after recognising the independence of the Eastern European country's Donbas region held by Russia-backed separatists.

"We believe that there is still room for a peaceful dialogue to prevent the situation from getting out of control," the Asean ministers said.

Asked what measures will be taken to deal with the impacts on Thailand if the conflict drags on, the prime minister said he held an urgent meeting with his deputies to instruct them to devise measures to respond to the situation.

On Feb 17, Mr Thani welcomed Russian ambassador Evgeny Tomikhin who paid a courtesy call upon assuming his diplomatic role in Thailand.

The two sides discussed a range of topics on bilateral relations between the countries, including plans to hold activities to mark the 125th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Thailand and Russia this year.

The Thai side also sought Russia's support for a bid for a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union and asked Russia to send its highly placed delegates to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit Thailand chairs this year.

On Monday, Mr Tomikhin led a delegation including Russian Consul General to Phuket Vladimir Sosnov, to pay a courtesy visit on Phuket deputy governor Pichet Panapong, acting on behalf of Phuket governor Narong Woonciew.

The topics discussed included the 125th anniversary of Thailand-Russia relations and plans to establish broader relations between Phuket and Russia's Far Eastern federal district of Kamchatka.

Call to scrap PCR tests, Thailand Pass

Leaders from Thailand's hospitality sector pose at the 'Thailand Tourism Forum 2022'. Mr Heinecke, third from left, urges the government to lift travel restrictions to help tourism.

Hoteliers want to scrap the RT-PCR testing requirement along with the Thailand Pass because the Russian invasion of Ukraine has darkened the tourism outlook to such an extent that the industry might attract only 10% of the pre-pandemic arrival numbers.

William Heinecke, founder and chairman of global hotel operator Minor International, said Thailand finally rebounded after two years of the pandemic, but at a slow pace.

If the country really wants to move forward, the government must lift the restrictions immediately, said Mr Heinecke.

He said Thai tourism in the second quarter could be better given huge pent-up demand, known as revenge travel, which would go to waste if the government does not simplify the rules.

Mr Heinecke said the government should acknowledge the only course that can help hoteliers and employees is to fully open its borders, as Thailand lags behind competitors despite being the first to reopen in the region.

Without these efforts, the tourism sector will face more unemployment because hoteliers who have rehired workers will eventually be forced into more layoffs, he said.

Mr Heinecke said Thailand should follow the lead of other countries such as the US, UK, much of Europe, the Philippines, the Middle East and even Cambodia, which are completely open to tourists.

"Thailand is competing with the rules, not with other countries, as the government is making it so difficult," he said.

Speaking at the Thailand Tourism Forum on Tuesday, Mr Heinecke said the government wants to bring back at least 10 million tourists this year, but it might receive only 10% of pre-Covid levels, or around 4 million tourists, if the current regulations remain in place.

Moreover, the government must help to stimulate air traffic from more countries, particularly low-cost Indian carriers, he said.

Despite an agreement for a travel bubble, there are still no available flights to Phuket or Thailand from India.

Mr Heinecke said the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine had resulted in cancellations from all over the world.

Thailand has seen more cancellations from the Russian market than have hotels in Europe, which makes the 10-million arrival goal even more difficult to achieve, he said.

Stephan Vanden Auweele, chief hospitality group officer at Asset World Corporation, said limited airspace because of the Russia-Ukraine war will deter tourists, as rerouting will result in 1-2 additional hours per flight.

Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said tourist Covid infections have been trifling compared with existing case numbers in the country.

In addition, the government has been encouraging local communities to live with the virus, she said. If the government declares Covid-19 to be endemic and abolishes the Test & Go scheme, tourists could travel seamlessly using only a vaccine certificate and a pre-departure negative RT-PCR test result, said Mrs Marisa.

Thailand News - Corona - By Ola J. - Palmtree

onsdag 2 mars 2022

Ukraine invasion: crashing Russian rouble, sanctions deal blow to Thailand bid to revive tourism. Full story: https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3168884/ukraine-invasion-crashing-russian-rouble-sanctions-deal. ASEAN NOW / South China Morning Post

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Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has insisted Thailand will maintain its neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a government source said. 25 envoys urge Thais to condemn invasion. Bangkok Post

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