Thailand Requires Chinese Tourists to Show Medical Certificates

[webfact]

Thailand Requires Chinese Tourists to Show Medical Certificates

By Suttinee Yuvejwattana

 

China Says Coronavirus Cases Rise to 17,205

video screenshot

 

Thailand said all arriving Chinese tourists must provide medical certificates stating they are healthy and free of infection from the novel coronavirus.

 

This measure is being implemented in the wake of the World Health Organization’s decision to call the virus outbreak a global health emergency, the government said in a release dated Feb. 1.

 

Chinese visitors spent almost $18 billion in Thailand last year, more than a quarter of all foreign-tourism receipts. With China banning outbound group tours to fight the virus, Thailand’s tourism industry -- which makes up about 21% of the economy -- is taking a severe knock.

 

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-03/thailand-requires-chinese-tourists-to-show-medical-certificates

 

-- Bloomberg 2020-02-04

[Captain Monday]

Will they be selling these at the departure lounges?

[NanLaew]

Desperation... asking Chinese travelers to produce something that their government hasn't mandated because instead of chasing bits of hard-to-authenticate paper, they have chosen to stop any Chinese leaving in the first place.

[Don Mega]

I'll bet it aint hard to find a chinese knock-off of a certificate !

[Hackney35]

So many things wrong with this it actually made me laugh out loud when I read the headline.

Maybe someone should explain what a 14 day incubation period means to the geniuses who thought this one up.

 

HK have the right idea about the virus, no qualms about closing the door to their mainland brothers to protect themselves. 

[Iron Tongue]

Will be as useful as the health certificates Thai bargirls need to get!

[ukrules]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thailand said all arriving Chinese tourists must provide medical certificates stating they are healthy and free of infection from the novel coronavirus.

That's all folks!

It's over for the Chinese coming to Thailand.

 

They've pulled a another in a long line of sneaky moves here.

 

They don't ban something outright but they make it much much harder to obtain what you want.

 

Like for example they don't ban the O-A visa for those more likely to have health problems (advanced old age) so they force the insurance issue making it impossible for some people to comply with.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if there are hidden hurdles here as well like the certificate needs to be signed off by a Thai Doctor before they're allowed to board the flight.

[billy54]

Dodging the issue again , and the medical cert was issued how many days ago ,if at all ,copy and paste 555 , if it's that much of a concern ,grow a pair of gonads and stop the flight's ,

 

[Oxx]

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

they have chosen to stop any Chinese leaving in the first place.

 

False.  It's only tour groups that have been stopped leaving; individual travellers can still travel abroad.

[harada]

The statements are getting more bizarre every day, they need someone with at least a modicum of intelligence to take control of the situation or I fear it will quickly get out of control, and I'm sure that if that is the case those responsible will take their usual coarse of action, slither off to their overseas penthouses.

[gk10002000]

siiigh. 

1 hour ago, Iron Tongue said:

Will be as useful as the health certificates Thai bargirls need to get!

haha.  years ago on my very first trip to Thailand I was in Pattaya (sep 2004).  i was in one of the soapy massage places on second road in pattaya, either sabai dee or one of those.  Was chatting with a girl and having some drinks and I noticed girls behind the glass getting up, going over to some door, and then after a few minutes coming back and sitting on their bench seat.  One after another.   I thought it might be them just taking a short leg stretch or getting a smoke or going to the bathroom.  Then the girl I was with said, "Doctor check pussy".  OK.  Not a bad idea, but I don't think it was a very thorough gynecological or disease exam!

[Somtamnication]

Why not? Teachers need to show syphilis-free certificate!

[AndrewMciver]

^{What about the incubation period ?!}

 

^{This is more crazy wacky nonsense.} 

[mtls2005]

Seems like they should have to show the certificate prior to being allowed to check in for the flight?

 

Asking for it in the VoA channel or at an arriving immigration desk at BKK or DMK seems like a a bit late. If they don't have it then what? Denied entry and returned?

 

 

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand Requires Chinese Tourists to Show Medical Certificates

That must be a classic Catch 22: The need to get past immigration and to Khao San Road to buy a copy certificate, in order to show immigration.

[cardinalblue]

Is this like the income verification letter from their consulate for retirees?

 

another example of thailand shifting accountability to someone else...you told us you were virus free...

[RichardColeman]

OK, so yesterday some guy put a sign up saying no CHinese and farang and was condemned for it, All that will happen now is he'll legally ask that they provide a health certificate from a Thai doctor done in the last few hours for admittance - which will be unlikely

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[findlay13]

2 hours ago, Don Mega said:

I'll bet it aint hard to find a chinese knock-off of a certificate !

Or bring a note from your Mum.

"Dear immigration officer please allow [insert name] into Thailand today as he is not sick.

Signed {Insert name]'s mother.

[BobbyL]

Another truly bizarre idea. How is this ever going to be enforced? Can you imagine the carnage at the VOA with hordes of Chinese in face masks not understanding English and shouting at each other whilst an IO is trying to ask them for a medical certificate. 

 

What happens if someone's medical certificate is older than another person in their group? Are these people then sent home? Who is paying for that flight? 

 

Just another example, like the 3am fireworks idea for the Bangkok Marathon by the Tourism and Sport Minister, that these people have no idea what they're doing. It is utterly tragic. 

[steven100]

I think this is a good initiative done by the government. At least it's one way of assisting in stopping the spread and it's better than nothing at all. 

[roadrunerboi]

3 hours ago, Don Mega said:

I'll bet it aint hard to find a chinese knock-off of a certificate !

Like renewing the driver's license...

[roadrunerboi]

Let's just hold up Immigration a little longer... bcos it ain't long enough a wait now...

Thank you ABTC!

[justin case]

reality check :   0 new cases for a week in thailand ?

 

come on ...

 

and still letting chinese in ... how stupid can you be, ah yes, self elected scum

[BobbyL]

4 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I think this is a good initiative done by the government. At least it's one way of assisting in stopping the spread and it's better than nothing at all. 

Of course. Little P HAS to keep that Chinese tourism train rolling in at the expense of his own people's safety. 

[steven100]

TV whinges & moaners brigade are out this morning I see. At least this idea will go some way to help stop the virus from entering Thailand. 

But hey, there are some farang you just can't please .....  

[steven100]

3 minutes ago, BobbyL said:

Of course. Little P HAS to keep that Chinese tourism train rolling in at the expense of his own people's safety. 

So you think this s not a good idea  ??  what do you expect ?? all you do is moan and bitch about nothing so why bother living in Thailand if it's such a bad place, seems a terrible waste of your life having to put up with such a bad country.  Go back home if it's that bad. 

[spiekerjozef]

That's the chinese TM30.

[ChipButty]

They cant even get to see a doctor

[jesimps]

The letter will need a certificate of authentication from the Chinese embassy in Bangkok of course the same as farang proof of retirement income? Rhetorical question. Strange that they're quite lax concerning a disease that can kill and yet incredibly pernickety about farang wanting a 12 month retirement/marriage extension. Most of us have no intention of killing anyone.

[steven100]

21 minutes ago, BobbyL said:

Another truly bizarre idea. How is this ever going to be enforced? Can you imagine the carnage at the VOA with hordes of Chinese in face masks not understanding English and shouting at each other whilst an IO is trying to ask them for a medical certificate. 

 

What happens if someone's medical certificate is older than another person in their group? Are these people then sent home? Who is paying for that flight? 

 

Just another example, like the 3am fireworks idea for the Bangkok Marathon by the Tourism and Sport Minister, that these people have no idea what they're doing. It is utterly tragic. 

FYI - Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that the worst thing about the ongoing novel coronavirus situation in Thailand is panic caused by fake news, as he warned those with ill-intent that they will be dealt with decisively and in accordance with the law.

 

He reassured the Thai public that their Government is capable of containing the spread of the coronavirus and is fully equipped to accommodate the 160 Thais being evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan tomorrow on a chartered flight.

 

“You can burn anything you like, but do not burn your own country – burning it with distortion, with fake news.  I am not quarrelling with you, but I must warn you,” said the Prime Minister, apparently referring to those who disseminate distorted, inaccurate or false news about the virus on social media.