Other Asian countries opening up soon?

[finy]

There doesn't look like much hope for Cambodia and Malaysia opening up by 31st July.

 

Has anyone seen any news from countries like Sri Lanka or Philippines?

[Pattaya46]

Your title sound like some fake news  

You should have at least put a question mark... IMHO. 

[cleopatra2]

Vietnam E visa system back in operation on July 1st. 

However no confirmation of who can enter or on what conditions.

[Scouse123]

So you are just asking people to join in on guesswork and silly supposition which will achieve precisely nothing?

 

Governments are changing policies from one week to the next, as news of the virus comes in, but you have already decided that Malaysia and Cambodia won't be ready to open by July 31st.

 

Your assumptions are based on what?

 

Do you honestly think that many people of influence are not exerting just that, to get the borders open and trade flowing again?

 

This is crucifying economies.

 

By the way, Cambodia's borders are not closed. They just have certain restrictions in place and criteria to follow to enter.

 

 

 

 

Edited June 26, 2020 by Scouse123

[Burma Bill]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

By the way, Cambodia's borders are not closed. They just have certain restrictions in place and criteria to follow to enter.

 

 

Cambodia's borders are basically closed to tourists  - NO TOURIST VISAS are being issued. Persons entering the Kingdom are foreigners such as business people, diplomats and other Government Officials etc. with special visas who must comply with the strict financial requirements regarding Covid-19 and undergo a test and spend at least one night in quarantine until test result known. Repatriated Cambodians are exempt. The border with Vietnam is open but mainly for trade purposes - again NO TOURIST VISAS. So, for ex-pats wanting to do a "visa run" or exit Thailand - forget at the moment!!

[Pattaya46]

On 6/25/2020 at 2:45 AM, cleopatra2 said:

Vietnam E visa system back in operation on July 1st. 

However no confirmation of who can enter or on what conditions.

Not for tourists before long time... ????

 

 

 

[Pattaya46]

2 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

By the way, Cambodia's borders are not closed. They just have certain restrictions in place and criteria to follow to enter.

Similar situation in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos...

Some people can enter, but tourists can't.   ????

(because of border closed, or no visa available)

Edited June 26, 2020 by Pattaya46

[Deli]

Sri Lanka and Maldives plan to open in July. Turkey, which has his biggest part in Asia, is desperate for visitors.

[DJ54]

Other than what’s put out is a guesstimate.... one thing discouraging if going to Cambodia as a foreigner your required to deposit $3,000 USD.

 

Following on US Embassy website...

 

On June 10, authorities announced a requirement that all foreign travelers entering Cambodia pay a deposit of $3,000 upon arrival at airports for mandatory COVID-19 testing and potential treatment services. 

Edited June 26, 2020 by DJ54
Spelling

[gomangosteen]

Cambodia, not so simple

 

Cambodian Health Ministry brings in $3,000 deposit for all foreign arrivals

Asia News

June 12, 2020 

 

Any foreigner planning on entering Cambodia from 11 June will be required to pay a US$3,000 deposit as well as other fees relating to coronavirus testing.

 

Cambodian Finance Minister, Aun Pornmoinroth, announced the decision following a request by the Ministry of Health to charge foreigners for all Covid-19-related expenses.

 

The new requirements are in addition to the rules that require foreigners intending to travel to Cambodia to possess a health certificate issued less than 72-hours prior to departure stating the traveller is free of coronavirus, in addition to having a minimum of $50,000 health insurance.

 

The Cambodian government has previously born the costs of screening arriving passengers and the medical treatment for those who test positive after arriving from abroad.

 

All arrivals to Cambodia, whether locals or foreigners, must currently go to waiting centres and undergo a Covid-19 test. They must stay there until the results are clear, usually around 24 hours.

 

Foreigners must now pay for all expenses, including US$5 for the transport between the border and a waiting centre, $100 for the coronavirus test, $30 for a day at the centre, and $30 for meals.

 

To ensure all foreign arrivals pay the fees, $3,000 will be collected from visitors with the charges deducted from the deposit before it is returned.

 

Anyone testing positive for Covid-19, everyone on their flight will need to undergo 14 days of quarantine, with foreigners required to pay $84 per day for the duration.

 

Foreigners testing positive for Covid-19 have to pay $225 per day for hospital treatment.

 

The Health Ministry added that a charge of $1,500 will be levied for cremation services in the event of death.

Edited June 26, 2020 by gomangosteen

[Christie Paul]

So damaged is the world economy, that when countries realise they now face more death, destruction and misery than this years routine flu, which has a kill rate of 0.003%, they might fling open the doors to tourism. Problem is by that time only a small percentage of people are solvent enough and in the mood for a holiday.  

[superal]

6 hours ago, gomangosteen said:

Cambodia, not so simple

 

Cambodian Health Ministry brings in $3,000 deposit for all foreign arrivals

Asia News

June 12, 2020 

 

Any foreigner planning on entering Cambodia from 11 June will be required to pay a US$3,000 deposit as well as other fees relating to coronavirus testing.

 

Cambodian Finance Minister, Aun Pornmoinroth, announced the decision following a request by the Ministry of Health to charge foreigners for all Covid-19-related expenses.

 

The new requirements are in addition to the rules that require foreigners intending to travel to Cambodia to possess a health certificate issued less than 72-hours prior to departure stating the traveller is free of coronavirus, in addition to having a minimum of $50,000 health insurance.

 

The Cambodian government has previously born the costs of screening arriving passengers and the medical treatment for those who test positive after arriving from abroad.

 

All arrivals to Cambodia, whether locals or foreigners, must currently go to waiting centres and undergo a Covid-19 test. They must stay there until the results are clear, usually around 24 hours.

 

Foreigners must now pay for all expenses, including US$5 for the transport between the border and a waiting centre, $100 for the coronavirus test, $30 for a day at the centre, and $30 for meals.

 

To ensure all foreign arrivals pay the fees, $3,000 will be collected from visitors with the charges deducted from the deposit before it is returned.

 

Anyone testing positive for Covid-19, everyone on their flight will need to undergo 14 days of quarantine, with foreigners required to pay $84 per day for the duration.

 

Foreigners testing positive for Covid-19 have to pay $225 per day for hospital treatment.

 

The Health Ministry added that a charge of $1,500 will be levied for cremation services in the event of death.

That is a conclusive statement , however posts 5 and 7 must be wrong as there is no mention of tourists being refused entry from a direct flight to Phnom Penh, only strict and costly rules and is post 4 correct ?  but who would want to go to Cambodia under those potentially expensive rules ?

Loss of tourist revenue must be huge especially for the number one attraction Siem Reap Angkor Wat at $37 entry for a single day 

[finy]

So it seems like it's just Vietnam soon.

 

Did that 1 month visa thing ever come into affect?

 

And maybe Sri Lanka soon too?

[cerox]

Sri Lanka and Maldives would be great. Never been there.

And Thais could go too without visa.

Also little covid official cases, so likely be part of some kind of Thai travel bubble. Would potentially be a good "few weeks stopover" to avoid Thai quarantine later this year, if they do not use the passport country for determination.

[Mitkof Island]

On 6/26/2020 at 10:11 AM, DJ54 said:

Other than what’s put out is a guesstimate.... one thing discouraging if going to Cambodia as a foreigner your required to deposit $3,000 USD.

 

Following on US Embassy website...

 

On June 10, authorities announced a requirement that all foreign travelers entering Cambodia pay a deposit of $3,000 upon arrival at airports for mandatory COVID-19 testing and potential treatment services. 

I wonder if they found a sucker yet?

[johnmell]

Laos seems to be doing well.Only 19 infections now for ages. Wonder how many tested.

[JohnBZ]

All countries with land borders with Thailand have zero or close to zero new local infection.  What are the reasons  they don't open borders to each other.  What are they waiting for?  

 

Tourism among these countries may be small but it is something.  Also, opening up to these countries will build up experience and overtime show everybody the extremely low risk of traveling between low risk counties is the same as traveling within the same country.

[elephant45]

The easy days are over.....twenty years had it made and didn't know it, well maybe I did. I had an account at Canadia Bank for many years making great interest and always wondered if or when the &%$ would hit the fan. And now I wait no longer. Seems like the guys at the top are al in it together and don't care anyway or the other about most below them.

[drbeach]

On 6/26/2020 at 7:39 PM, Deli said:

Sri Lanka and Maldives plan to open in July. Turkey, which has his biggest part in Asia, is desperate for visitors.

Sri Lanka opens in August but under VERY stringent conditions. Foreigners are barred from using public transport, for one.

[drbeach]

On 7/3/2020 at 7:46 PM, JohnBZ said:

All countries with land borders with Thailand have zero or close to zero new local infection.  What are the reasons  they don't open borders to each other.  What are they waiting for?  

 

Tourism among these countries may be small but it is something.  Also, opening up to these countries will build up experience and overtime show everybody the extremely low risk of traveling between low risk counties is the same as traveling within the same country.

Their hands are tied. They can't just "open up" because you want them to. This covid thing is a global agenda. They will open up whenever they are allowed to. Whether that's in 1 month, 2, 3, 4 or 6 months, I don't know. We'll find out soon enough.

[finy]

2 hours ago, drbeach said:

Sri Lanka opens in August but under VERY stringent conditions. Foreigners are barred from using public transport, for one.

Bla Sri Lanka, Surf season on east coast now anyway.

[JohnBZ]

Time slips away. It is already summer time.  Virus is almost non existent  in Thailand and surrounding countries. How many more months do we have to wait before we are allowed to move across borders.  I hope Auguest.  Otherwise we may be stuck here for months when cold weather comes back.

[drbeach]

3 hours ago, JohnBZ said:

Time slips away. It is already summer time.  Virus is almost non existent  in Thailand and surrounding countries. How many more months do we have to wait before we are allowed to move across borders.  I hope Auguest.  Otherwise we may be stuck here for months when cold weather comes back.

With minimal or no restrictions, indications as of the time I'm making this post are September or October. Wouldn't be surprised if this gets dragged out until next year though.

 

Hard to say, since governments are flip flopping and making contradictory statements almost on a daily basis. My gut feeling is that since decisions seem to be made on a month to month basis, things will be a lot clearer by August 1. That said, I am quite sure that August will still be restrictive. Expect limited tourist arrivals then, but more along the lines of an "open air prison camp" type, where you are only allowed to visit one island and not permitted to travel elsewhere, or only after 14 days, with continual monitoring, covid testing and all. If you want to avoid that, you'll need to continue waiting.