Thailand now open to long-stay tourists

[Guderian]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

* Evidence of payment for the purchase or lease of a condominium-type residence that foreigners can legally buy or lease.

Aha, and there's the rub, all those dastardly foreigners who thought they could get away with not living in a concrete box perched in the sky and so bought a house via the company route will never be allowed back in. A good job I never left, lol, I'm attached to my lovely bungalow.

[Rancid]

40 minutes ago, wombat said:

Under current coronavirus travel restrictions, Australians are only allowed to leave the country for official business or compassionate personal reasons.

Yes, checked into it, according to an immigration lawyer almost all compassionate applications are refused with the bureaucrats giving no explanations as to why. Australia is a Gulag, only the rich and connected can travel out freely.

[Kaopad999]

3 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

When will this list of low risk countries be revealed? Aside from the paymaster generals China.

 

Strange how in China aside from Public holidays the minimum annual leave entitlement is only 5 days, so how and why are these Chinese coming here? Nothing to do with tourism thats a fact.

A quick google search will show you that. Countries listed in light blue = Low Risk Dark Blue = High Risk.  Taken from the WHO website. 
 

[Cat Boy]

I don't see why anyone in their right mind would go through all this just to be a tourist, long-stay or not. Unless one already owns a condo, or is married to a Thai national or has family here, in which case a more substantive visa would be in order, why would anyone do this, fortnight of quarantine, prepaid hotel, wrist bands, monitoring and surveillance, letters from the embassy, <deleted>, I'd sooner go to Panama if I weren't already here. 

[aussiexpat]

4 minutes ago, Rancid said:

Yes, checked into it, according to an immigration lawyer almost all compassionate applications are refused with the bureaucrats giving no explanations as to why. Australia is a Gulag, only the rich and connected can travel out freely.

I posted on another thread Australia is now letting us out if for compelling reasons if staying away longer than 3 months. Good article describes it

 

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/revealed-the-secret-to-beating-the-government-s-overseas-travel-ban-20200925-p55zfh.html

 

Now if only I could get back to Thailand without being fleeced and treated like a criminal ????

[Cadan]

Why the heck they first don’t allow the stranded retirement visa holders to come back ? Why aim for new tourist visa ? Makes no sense 
 

[NRGF]

First China group returns to Phuket

By

 Don Ross

 -

October 1, 2020

    

PHUKET, 1 October 2020: The first group of Chinese visitors are due to arrive in Phuket 8 October aboard a Thai Airways International flight from Guangzhou.

A tour operator close to travel firms in Guangzhou forwarded an outline of the trip details to TTR Weekly that suggested Tourism Authority of Thailand officials in Guangzhou and Kunming had confirmed a group of 150 business travellers for the Phuket visit. They are due to stay for 90 days.

TTR Weekly filed questions with the TAT office in Shanghai, Wednesday, asking for further clarification and confirmation of the details provided by the tour operator.

Details are sketchy, but the message sent to TTR Weekly suggested participants were “business travellers invited by Thailand’s Board of Investment.”

The reliable source identified the guests as “CP Group business travellers” saying they constituted a corporate or “incentive travel group” not your typical leisure tourists.

Some local news reports suggested Thai AirAsia would fly the group to Phuket, but the Chinese tour company in Guangzhou claimed the travel arrangements were managed by Guangzhou Panda Inter Travel Service, while THAI would provide the charter flight to Phuket. The practical details, including visa requirements, are being coordinated by the Thailand Long-Stay Company, a fully-owned subsidiary of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

According to the reliable source who shared details on a ‘Line’ post the Chinese guests will pay around THB173,500 for the 90-day visit which includes 14 days quarantine with three meals a day and three Covid-19 tests during their five-star resort stay in Phuket. The package also includes the THAI airfare, 90 days medical insurance cover and the long-stay visa also for 90 days.

In Thailand, veteran tour operators told TTR Weekly the project was “admirable in concept as something needs to be done urgently to kick-start travel from a relatively safe market such as China.”

But they cautioned: “Business travellers willing to stay 14 days in quarantine who are described as guests of a major conglomerate such as the CP Group technically do not fit what we would consider as being normal tourists.”

Meanwhile, reports surfacing in Thai media claimed a group of 120 Scandinavian visitors are due to visit Phuket, 1 November, travelling on a Thai Airways International flight.

The government has approved more hotels to join the Alternative State Quarantine programme after public health officials visited Phuket to inspect and certify hotels.

There are now nine hotels in Phuket offering 14-day quarantine programmes in cooperation with the Bangkok Hospital Phuket that conducts Covid-19 tests during the stay and assigns medical staff to each property around the clock.

The nine hotels are:
Metadee Resorts;
Laguna Holiday Club;
Graceland Patong;
Senses Resort;
Banyan Tree;
JW Marriott;
Trisara Resort;
Anantara Layan;
Anantara Mai Khao. 

[barney42bb]

I do enjoy these early Xmas season jokes

[madmen]

12 minutes ago, NRGF said:

First China group returns to Phuket

By

 Don Ross

 -

October 1, 2020

    

PHUKET, 1 October 2020: The first group of Chinese visitors are due to arrive in Phuket 8 October aboard a Thai Airways International flight from Guangzhou.

A tour operator close to travel firms in Guangzhou forwarded an outline of the trip details to TTR Weekly that suggested Tourism Authority of Thailand officials in Guangzhou and Kunming had confirmed a group of 150 business travellers for the Phuket visit. They are due to stay for 90 days.

TTR Weekly filed questions with the TAT office in Shanghai, Wednesday, asking for further clarification and confirmation of the details provided by the tour operator.

Details are sketchy, but the message sent to TTR Weekly suggested participants were “business travellers invited by Thailand’s Board of Investment.”

The reliable source identified the guests as “CP Group business travellers” saying they constituted a corporate or “incentive travel group” not your typical leisure tourists.

Some local news reports suggested Thai AirAsia would fly the group to Phuket, but the Chinese tour company in Guangzhou claimed the travel arrangements were managed by Guangzhou Panda Inter Travel Service, while THAI would provide the charter flight to Phuket. The practical details, including visa requirements, are being coordinated by the Thailand Long-Stay Company, a fully-owned subsidiary of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

According to the reliable source who shared details on a ‘Line’ post the Chinese guests will pay around THB173,500 for the 90-day visit which includes 14 days quarantine with three meals a day and three Covid-19 tests during their five-star resort stay in Phuket. The package also includes the THAI airfare, 90 days medical insurance cover and the long-stay visa also for 90 days.

In Thailand, veteran tour operators told TTR Weekly the project was “admirable in concept as something needs to be done urgently to kick-start travel from a relatively safe market such as China.”

But they cautioned: “Business travellers willing to stay 14 days in quarantine who are described as guests of a major conglomerate such as the CP Group technically do not fit what we would consider as being normal tourists.”

Meanwhile, reports surfacing in Thai media claimed a group of 120 Scandinavian visitors are due to visit Phuket, 1 November, travelling on a Thai Airways International flight.

The government has approved more hotels to join the Alternative State Quarantine programme after public health officials visited Phuket to inspect and certify hotels.

There are now nine hotels in Phuket offering 14-day quarantine programmes in cooperation with the Bangkok Hospital Phuket that conducts Covid-19 tests during the stay and assigns medical staff to each property around the clock.

The nine hotels are:
Metadee Resorts;
Laguna Holiday Club;
Graceland Patong;
Senses Resort;
Banyan Tree;
JW Marriott;
Trisara Resort;
Anantara Layan;
Anantara Mai Khao. 

Now thats interesting. Looks like they not true tourists after all but a business group and makes totall sense 

Edited October 1, 2020 by madmen

[damascase]

1 hour ago, Deli said:

Why low risk countries only, if everybody has to do time in the monkey house upon arrival ?

Logic ?

Indeed! While returning Thais can come from any country and don’t even have to be Covid-tested before departure to TH.......

[JemJem]

28 minutes ago, Kaopad999 said:

A quick google search will show you that. Countries listed in light blue = Low Risk Dark Blue = High Risk.  Taken from the WHO website. 
 

The thing is, will Thailand follow this info/guideline? That is anybody's guess for now. 

 

Anyway, I have personally lost almost all hope of making it to Thailand this coming winter. For instance, the insurance requirement would likely be prohibitive for me. 

 

What is worrying is what will the situation be after the coming winter. Some of these tough requirements 

might stay in place for quite a long time, even if the Covid situation around the world improves. 

 

I hope I am just being pessimistic. 

[edward290453]

Letting Chinese into Thailand will not help the economy, they'll  stsy in Chinese owned hotels where every thing is paid for back in China.  Only go out on day trips never spend money in the community. What the country needs are the 3 week millionaires that splash the holiday cash then go home. Also not the old farts who know to the baht every day how much their going to spend, to match their pensions. But avoid the winter back home.

[hobobo]

4 hours ago, HiSoLowSoNoSo said:

> Proof of health and accident insurance policy, which should cover the entire period of stay in Thailand, with insurance for medical expenses in case of outpatient treatment of not less than Bt40,000 and in case of inpatient treatment of not less than Bt400,000.

 

So no 100.000 USD special Corona insurance needed now? New rules every day in this country!

What about having to arrive by a charter flight / private plane?

[from the home of CC]

low risk? well, that totally eliminates the west..

[ronaldo0]

Nope still not interested. Won’t be returning until they dump the 14 day rip off !! Until then the wife can stay alone with the dogs and clean the place .

They are in for a big shock after the first couple of weeks as they won’t be even close to the numbers they allow to enter after hoop jumping . Only people returning now are people with family or people who live there most of the year in their own home and decided it’s cheaper to pay the quarantine than stay where they are outside the country .

 

[natway09]

After the 90 days the Immigration Officer has the power.............

More extortion on the way

[Chiang Mai Bill]

4 hours ago, HiSoLowSoNoSo said:

> Proof of health and accident insurance policy, which should cover the entire period of stay in Thailand, with insurance for medical expenses in case of outpatient treatment of not less than Bt40,000 and in case of inpatient treatment of not less than Bt400,000.

 

So no 100.000 USD special Corona insurance needed now? New rules every day in this country!

And no ''piece of paper'' saying you are covid free?

[Bender Rodriguez]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

immigration officers will have the power to permit

or deny or to force people to use SCAMMER agents & corrupted IO's ...

 

that freaking list is a BIG JOKE

[Pottinger]

3 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

Bit underwhelming really .. 

Was hoping for a fanfare then big drum roll alongside the announcement .. 

I was hoping for the full RTP treatment - senior officials pointing, plenty of helpful flow charts and graphics, and not forgetting the compulsory gormless man in hazmat suit flanked by the SWAT team in balaclavas.

[Imperio Developers]

Long stay means minimum how many days ? If I have my own condo can I quarantine in my condo ? 

[Tengtai]

What about us expats that has a retirement visa or extension of stay but we are in our home countries at the moment? I don't want or need a long stay tourist visa. I have an insurance already, had for many years. I have family, not married, in Thailand. I hope we can come back to LOS with the same permissions, quarantine, proof of insurance and address where we lives. 

[gamini]

2 hours ago, OnTheRun said:

Thats as far as you need to read in this thread to know this generous offer by the govt will entice people in the hundreds.

It already has, Many of my Scandinavian friends will use it. No promblem quarantine in a nice hotel for 14 out of 270 days. Its a great idea

[Dialemco]

Surely more clarification conditions required presume would be issued to tourist who want to stay less than 90 days. Why is Thai Airways resuming international flights under what conditions will arriving passengers be permitted to enter Thailand will this be the same as advertised arrivals from China before STV decided and if so what are these conditions and when will Thai Embassies receive instructions and guidance what visas they can issue

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, donnacha said:

Just hang tight. All these requirements will be dropped by January.

November, when no-one comes this month.

[Bogbrush]

What’s interesting is that, whilst the 400 000/40 000 baht insurance requirement looks the same as the OA requirement, there is one difference; the STV doesn’t specify that a Thai company must be used.  This should help people, as overseas insurance (including COVID cover) is much cheaper, as we all know. 
 

Also, it’s good to see the government insisting on insurance for tourists for once - long overdue.

[cerox]

Do not understand that light/dark blue WHO graphic.

Many countries in Europe are something in between, neither dark blue nor light blue. Lets wait and see until the list of countries is revealed.

[Travelanimal]

So a country which messed up your whole economy is first to be welcomed 

 

[Strongheart]

5 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

When will this list of low risk countries be revealed? Aside from the paymaster generals China.

 

Strange how in China aside from Public holidays the minimum annual leave entitlement is only 5 days, so how and why are these Chinese coming here? Nothing to do with tourism thats a fact.

Correct !!!

These are not tourists!
These are Chinese business men coming in on private planes.
They will now take advantage of the artificial "COVIT-19 Crisis" and buy all the broken businesses.
This government is selling out The country.
Shamefully blatent.

Corrupt beyond evil.

[moe666]

I guess you guys have missed it but plenty have already paid what the governement has asked for to get back in. If you think that there are not a few people willing to pay the price to come visit then you do not know human nature very well.

[paulikens]

thailand government are you ever gonna say what countries you consider low risk? or is it up to us?because i consider every country in the world low risk, as the virus still hasnt even affected 1% of the worlds population so every country is in actual fact low risk.