Thais Only: Bus companies, Bangkok temple bans foreigners citing COVID-19 restrictions

 

File photo

 

A famous Bangkok temple has banned foreigners from entering, citing restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

On Thursday, popular blogger Richard Barrow visited Wat Pho, known for its reclining Buddha statue, only to find signs erected outside which read: “ONLY THAI PEOPLE, NOW NOT OPEN FOR FOREIGNERS,” and “open for Thai people only”.

 

 

Richard Barrow said he made the same post on his Facebook page which was eventually seen by more than 165,000 people from around the world.

 

Richard later tweeted that a message posted on the Wat Pho Facebook page that said foreigners had not been permitted entry for their own safety and that the temple had been closed to tourists due to restoration work which is currently taking place.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile several reports have been posted on Thaivisa by expats who had been told they were not allowed to use certain interprovincial bus services, with the bus companies citing restrictions put in place due to COVID-19.

 

The posts were made by long term expats and refusal to allow them to use the bus services comes despite no foreign tourists being able to arrive in Thailand since April.

 

On Thursday, state enterprise Transport Co., confirmed to Khaosod English that foreigners are not allowed to use their services at this moment in time.

 

The news comes as Thailand is currently easing restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

 

Many tourist attractions have now reopened nationwide, including beaches, and most have no restrictions on who can enter. Some attractions, such as the popular Nong Nooch gardens in Pattaya are even offering free entry to expats.

 

 

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Thailand really is very good at shooting itself in the foot. With BLM / racial discrimination being so high on the global agenda - and as a country that relies on tourism, this becomes high on the agenda of Thailands customers. These actions are clumsy at best and paint Thailand in a poor light, opening the proverbial barn doors to Thailand being seen as an unfriendly country to foreigners. 

Just now, Mr Meeseeks said:

I believe foreigners cannot use the govt. bus services now either.

 

Any you are still stupid enough to want to risk having your family and assets here?

 

The messages are loud and they are clear.

No - these messages are the result of people not being able to understand the rules, underpinned by ignorance, fear and just poor comprehension of what the government has been doing. 

 

Most restaurants with the silly social distancing procedures have misunderstood similarly - I can walk into a restuarant holding my wife's hand, but we need to have a plastic screen between us when we eat to stop the spread of Co-vid 19  - The screens are meant to seperate people who are not part of the same family group. If we are holding hands, a screen when we eat has no health merits at all. 

Thailand: we need to welcome tourists to boost the economy after the pandemic.

 

Also Thailand: BAN FOREIGNERS!!!!

 

You couldn’t make this stuff up.

The government owned interprovincial bus company states that all customers must use Thai ID to travel so they can track them should it be necessary. Many foreigners, myself included, have Pink ID cards that provide a ID number within the Thailand registry, so has anyone with a Pink ID tried to use the bus service?

The Wat Po exclusion is simply xenophobia and not very Buddhist in my opinion. 

21 minutes ago, webfact said:

Richard later tweeted that a message posted on the Wat Pho Facebook page that said foreigners had not been permitted entry for their own safety and that the temple had been closed to tourists due to restoration work which is currently taking place.

I can't wait for the TAT spin on this one.

Although I suppose it doesn't matter to them, as there won't be any tourist for the duration of the restoration work: Probably ten years going on many quoted completion times versus the real time taken when comparing other projects.

 

Remember that the Thai-China high-speed railway was slated to start running next year.

9 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I can't wait for the TAT spin on this one.

Clearly ......... it's a misunderstanding. ????

Good  to see FLM, Farang Lives matter and then again Thai  Lives don't, of  course its total BS  from the temple , however I'll make sure I never visit that temple and let everyone else i know,not that it'll make any difference to their  coffers when the locals will no doubt  supply them with unlimited funding for their "worthhy causes" ie themselves.

 

This message has just been posted on Wat Pho Facebook page: “Due to restoration in progress on the Reclining Buddha & paintings inside the building [we are] not allowing access to non Thai nationals, it was decided that for the safety of tourists we would restrict access.” 1/2

 

I hope all future foreigner tourists are seeing this and ban themselves on a permanent basis preferably from Thailand

I expect the Chinese will still be allowed in

35 minutes ago, jonclark said:

Thailand really is very good at shooting itself in the foot. With BLM / racial discrimination being so high on the global agenda - and as a country that relies on tourism, this becomes high on the agenda of Thailands customers. These actions are clumsy at best and paint Thailand in a poor light, opening the proverbial barn doors to Thailand being seen as an unfriendly country to foreigners. 

only certain foreigners - the ones that speak up rights and freedom, we are an obstacle to their agenda

20 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I can't wait for the TAT spin on this one.

Although I suppose it doesn't matter to them, as there won't be any tourist for the duration of the restoration work: Probably ten years going on many quoted completion times versus the real time taken when comparing other projects.

 

Remember that the Thai-China high-speed railway was slated to start running next year.

There won't be any TAT spin, as both decisions are short-term Covid related.  Wat Po have already clarified their notice, by claiming it's just to keep numbers down while the temple is being repaired. Most bus companies do not have the restriction, and the foreigners ban will be lifted once the Emergency decree ends, or sooner.

 

But it certainly boosts Richard Barrow's already high profile, and gives expats an excellent opportunity to get angry!

All fine with me.  I don't use their buses and I wouldn't set foot in one of their over blown temples. 

15 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Is anyone really surprised by this though? In the US blacks used to have to sit at the back of the bus. In 2020 Thailand White people cannot even board the bus.

I think we've moved on from the last century although some countries are now going backwards 

Hopefully these restrictions will be highlighted in all national newspapers throughout the world as "Racist Thailand..the land of double standards".....

6 minutes ago, cyril sneer said:

I expect the Chinese will still be allowed in

good reason  for others not to be then 

7 minutes ago, smedly said:

I hope all future foreigner tourists are seeing this and ban themselves on a permanent basis preferably from Thailand

Not very likely!  If foreigners were banned from the beaches, gogos or massage parlours it might! One temple and  few Govt. bus companies with silly policies isn't going to change anything.  

                                               

 

                                                   #oldfarangsmatter

13 minutes ago, cyril sneer said:

I expect the Chinese will still be allowed in

They were allowed on the navy aircraft carrier when I wasn't, at an open day at Sattahip.

 

Edited June 12, 20206 yr by bluesofa

13 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

There won't be any TAT spin, as both decisions are short-term Covid related.  Wat Po have already clarified their notice, by claiming it's just to keep numbers down while the temple is being repaired. Most bus companies do not have the restriction, and the foreigners ban will be lifted once the Emergency decree ends, or sooner.

 

But it certainly boosts Richard Barrow's already high profile, and gives expats an excellent opportunity to get angry!

Yes, because short term discrimination is fine. Great point.

2 minutes ago, Thailand said:

                                               

 

                                                   #oldfarangsmatter

No country for old men.. ???? 

it was decided that for the safety of tourists we would restrict access.” 1/2

 

Really, so  just limiting  numbers of  all nationalities was  too  difficult to comprehend then?

tv is loving all of these emotionally charged subjects dominating the news now a days. traffic is up i bet.

 

we need a good ol pattaya is dying thread. o wait. 

27 minutes ago, cyril sneer said:

I expect the Chinese will still be allowed in

Of course.

 

Chinese taking a 14 days holiday to Thailand, although they must quarantine for 14 days at their own expense.  Now that's something I would like to happen.

It has no impact on me, however this is just yet another shocking indictment around the lack of thinking in this country.  Something so simple is like a Darwin-esque idea for a lot people in this country. This could have been handled in a far better way to avoid this problem. 

 

Thailand has been built on foreign tourists yet it seems to be becoming more and more happy to breed xenophobia. Could you imagine St Paul's Cathedral or Saint Agustin having signs saying, 'English only' or 'French only'. 

 

Yes, I know the old saying TIT, but if this place wants to be taken seriously these things shouldn't be happening. What happens if a white foreigner living here is a Buddhist and would like to go and pray at the temple? 

 

 

Just a temporary ban while the buses are repaired.

 

I think I read that Nakhon Chai Air bus service accepts foreigners.

 

 

21 minutes ago, kotsak said:

No country for old men.. ???? 

Great movie, no doubt politically incorrect in some way shape or form in today's world!

 

   #oldfarangsmatter

Plenty of <deleted> that needs to be repaired in Thailand. 

Racism is stupid, and Thai racism is no exception. But some Thai racism is the result of misinformation and indoctrination, and for the victims of such I have Buddhist compassion.

35 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

There won't be any TAT spin, as both decisions are short-term Covid related.  Wat Po have already clarified their notice, by claiming it's just to keep numbers down while the temple is being repaired. Most bus companies do not have the restriction, and the foreigners ban will be lifted once the Emergency decree ends, or sooner.

 

But it certainly boosts Richard Barrow's already high profile, and gives expats an excellent opportunity to get angry!

With Wat Po stated that, “Due to restoration in progress on the Reclining Buddha & paintings inside the building [we are] not allowing access to non Thai nationals, it was decided that for the safety of tourists we would restrict access.”

 

'safety of tourists' Are they saying that FLM - Ferang Lives Matter? Sounds great!

Does that mean conversely Thai Lives Don't Matter?