JohnBZ

Thai visa open in China

I think most government do not know what they want to achieve.  I think the restriction should be applied to the point that hospitals will not be overwhelmed.  In a country like Thailand, it is safe to have 20000 active cases, no problem as Thailand has 60000 hospital beds.  Enough margin of safety to set the alert level at 20000.

Before that, business should go on as normal as possible IMHO

19 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Some tourism will start next month, most likely from Asian countries, and certainly international travel for business will re-start.  European and American tourism will take longer.

Agree.  First, business visa will open up and then work visa and last tourist visa.  June may get started but July is when you see meaningful amount of international travel.  Region wise, first, low risk counties in Asia and then the rest of world

17 minutes ago, Mulambana said:

For Thailand it is mostly sex toursim from the West and family tourism from China and India. China will start trickling and then followed by India. And for the Westerners, it is a double bonanaza - an opportunity to flee their desease infested countries and the possibility of finding a bride in the new land. Thailand should introduce a single entry 6-month tourist visa that will allow people to stay up to 6-month without leaving the country. And you will see people pouring in in search of their brides. 

Well put.  Give people what they want.  They will come in droves.

Beijing just announced that the city of Beijing coronavirus risk levels will be downgraded twice from level I to level III by the May 31st. 

Chinese will be coming soon and could be as soon as this June, certainly sooner than the 4th quarter!

Beijing just announced that the city of Beijing coronavirus risk levels will be downgraded twice from level I to level III by the May 31st.

Chinese will be coming soon and could be as soon as this June.

Up to today, Thailand only has 54 deaths from Coronavirus: great job.  Is it not obvious that these coronavirus restrictions are too costly and out weighting the benefit in Thailand.  It is all true in most part of Asia in its war against the corona virus.  People can come up with cheaper way to save 54 deaths/3000 for infections in Thailand, right?  Loose the restrictions greatly and quickly is the way to go! Till the point cost and benefit will start to make some sense.  

2 hours ago, ChouDoufu said:

 

those will not be a problem for the chinese.

 

insurance is already cheap...... picc offers private policies similar to the bupa my thai gf has but about 25% cheaper.  the government could easily mandate some form of short-term policy with covid coverage at a reasonable cost.

 

virus tests are available on demand at the main hospital where i live, small city in hainan province.  cost about 1000 baht.  two airports (haikou and sanya) have direct flights to thailand, could set up test clinics outside the terminals, assuming there's a reliable 15-minute test.

 

flights won't be a problem either.  domestic flights are operating, and at least a dozen chinese-branded carriers already have established routes to thailand.  they have the planes and the staff, record-low fuel prices, and pent-up demand.  only waiting for approval from both governments.

 

the main problem will be quarantines.  trips to thailand are perfect for the chinese, only a couple hours flight from major hubs.   with visa on arrival a weekend trip to thailand is as cheap/convenient as a domestic visit to popular domestic destinations.  it's the  14-day isolation at either end that will kill the deal.

 

you needn't worry about many not having jobs for months.  lots of factories were shut down, migrant workers stayed home, but they aren't the ones taking trips.  much of the population still got their paychecks.  chinese are big savers, will often buy their cars or apartments for cash.  a trip to thailand won't dent their savings. 

 

be ready..........they are coming.

It won't happen.  Without the trade surplus with US mostly and developed world, Chinese government most likely will try to restrict Chinese to go oversea to save hard currencies. So large flood of Chinese visitors after the pandemic would not happen.

10 hours ago, EricTh said:

With this low number of cases, Thailand should open to some countries with low new cases during the last 2 to 3 weeks.

 

The people in Thailand are suffering more from lack of money/food than possibility of being infected by the virus.

 

Infection doesn't mean death sentence....just like driving your car doesn't mean you will die in an accident.

I agree.  Every country should be color coded.  People from low infection country should be allowed to travel. I see low risk of being infected in most parts of Asia but high risk of no job/no money on this planet. 

21 hours ago, ChouDoufu said:

no idea.  it's a big country with many regions, all hit differently.  some like wuhan suffered the confeve apocalypse, while other areas like hainan were mostly unaffected.

 

each province is following its own schedule to reopen, for business and for schools.  as they already have slightly different tourism visa zones, no reason they couldn't try something similar when they decide to open tourism.

 

by that i mean some of the larger cities already allow transit visitors to spend 48 or 72 hours in the immediate area visa free.  i would expect them to do something like that for specific virus free areas, allowing entry from other countries similarly virus free.  that surely would require a test to enter, then a test to return home, with follow-up testing according to some schedule. 

 

i'd also expect them to waive or massively reduce the visa fees if they want to "lure" tourists.  and would only work if there is no longer a quarantine requirement.

I do not see China depend so much on tourist revenue.  I think they are going to let big time CEO to go into China for business first and then people with China work visa. Tourists would be after that.  I do not see China open for foreign tourists till like at least 2 months later

On May 1st, tomorrow.  I plan to go to Chanthaburi from Sa Kaeo.  My question is Does Chanthaburi have lock down.  Will I be quarantined as a out of province visitor?  I hope not.  I do plan to come back to Sa Kaeo same day.  Will there be any problem on the major inter province freeway? Thanks

Quite a few hotels closed down due to Coronavirus.  Supply of rooms is down.  This is what the hotel price is steady

7 hours ago, ChouDoufu said:

 

just confirmed the hospital is offering covid testing for 230 RMB, about 1000 baht.

 

and that's a good thing, i guess.  found out today that we here on hainan have a new case, first new case in over six weeks.  63-yo returnee from wuhan, asymptomatic. 

 

they traced and tested 344 contacts.  closed and disinfected her housing area and a nearby supermarket.  (actually a small shop about the size of a mini-tesco convenience mart)

 

worrying.  those from wuhan are required to undergo 14 days quarantine, being tested on arrival and again before release, same as with the overseas returnees.

 

 

Chinese virus test was perceived to be not accurate overseas.  It is cheap but it is better if one can have end or 3rd test just to be sure.  By the way, when do you think China will open again for foreigners to enter?

The ban on incoming international's flights was extended till the end of May.  Foreigners can not get in Thailand till after that.

This travel ban between provinces is a mess.  Thailand should have a national plan for all the provinces with exceptions if needed.

Thai province is small and it is easier to get into neighboring province.  How is possible for driver to check each individual provide policy?

The seems that outbound flights from Thailand are still open.  My question is: are airlines willing to fly into Thailand with passengers and to only have passengers flying out of Thailand? It seems expensive as half of the round trip is waisted.

June 1 is earlier day Thailand opening up for Chinese tourists.  You can book a flight with Air Asia from Guangzhou to Bangkok for 438 RMB. You can also book a flight from Bangkok and Guangzhou for 639 RMB now.

For the opening to be meaning, other countries would somehow open up for foreigners at the same time.  Otherwise, airliners would not want to fly for economical reason as one part of round trip will be empty.

Let us hope these flights from and to China won't be cancelled.  China and Thailand would need to cancel the 14 day quarantine requirements.  Otherwise, no too many people would want to fly.

On 4/23/2020 at 6:51 PM, timoti said:

So basically we still need to go back and convert these under consideration into real visa stamps right?

No, you do not need to if you have a tourist visa that expired after March 26 2020.  We all got extended automatically till July 31.  In my case, my last visa expired on April 3.  This is what happened to me at Sa Kaeo Immigration.  I think this policy is the same nationwide in Thailand. 

I enclosed my under consideration stamp here.  You can see there is no visa stamp after the under consideration stamp.

Cheers

I went in Sa Kaeo immigration today on April 23 as I have an under consideration stamp for that date.  I was running out of passport pages. so I like to leave one whole page open in case I need to go to one of these countries with big visa stamps.

Immigration officers and I tried to find big enough space in the other pages of my passport.  To no avail.  In the end, the officers decided not to stamp on my passport because I already have a valid stamp till April 3 2020.  Per the second amnesty, I will be automatically permitted to stay till July 30.

I am very grateful for the officer help.  Just to stay safe,  I did take selfies of myself at the door of the Sa Kaeo immigration to prove that I was there on April 23 as instructed.  

I did ask if there is any penalties for not putting a visa stamp on the passport with the after consideration stamp.  I think the officers said no.  In case case, I was told before I could leave before April 23 if I need to.  If that happened, I also would not have a visa stamp after the under consideration stamp.

I think I am good and safe now.  Unless someone knows something I do not.  Thanks.

I am running out of space on my passport.  Does anyone know what is the real visa stamp size after you go your under consideration stamp in Thailand?

Many thanks.

John

For those foreigners wanting to go to China, good news:

China to ease entry ban on foreigners with South Korea 'fast track'
AFP Relax NewsApril 21, 2020, 7:59 PM GMT+8
The Asian giant has tightened controls on returning travellers and drastically cut international flight routes after largely bringing its virus outbreak under control in recent weeks.
The Asian giant has tightened controls on returning travellers and drastically cut international flight routes after largely bringing its virus outbreak under control in recent weeks.
China has reached an agreement with South Korea to set up a "fast track" for businesspeople to travel between the countries as Beijing looks to ease an entry ban on foreigners imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

With the deadly disease spreading globally, China last month blocked almost all foreigners from entering as authorities fretted over cases being imported from abroad.

Beijing is also in talks with other countries including Singapore to set up a similar channel to stabilise economic cooperation and ensure supply chains run smoothly, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a press briefing Tuesday.

The virus, first discovered in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December, has since spread like wildfire and killed more than 167,000 people worldwide with cases reported in over 190 countries.

But there are signs that China is looking to relax some of its controls as the measures used to curb the pandemic place a huge economic strain on nations worldwide.

"China is in talks with relevant countries to set up fast-track channels allowing... business and technical personnel to travel," Geng told reporters on Tuesday.

"The purpose is to stabilise important economic and trade cooperation... and to ensure the safe and smooth operation of international industrial and supply chains," he added.

Beijing has reached a consensus with Seoul on the fast-track channel and both sides are working to implement the plan, Geng said.

China and Singapore have also discussed personnel exchanges via video conference, he said, but Geng declined to elaborate on which other countries authorities were negotiating with.