Tourism chiefs call for foreigners vaccinated against COVID-19 to be allowed to enter Thailand

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

The leaders of five key groups from Thailand’s tourism industry have called on the government to approve plans that would allow any foreigner vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter Thailand without restrictions.

 

While Thailand is open to foreign tourists, any foreigner visiting the country is required to undergo mandatory 14 day quarantine at their own expense.

 

Allowing vaccinated foreigners to visit Thailand without the undergoing quarantine would help to mitigate some of the effects the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the country’s now decimated tourism industry, the group said.

 

Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, was due to present the proposal for Cabinet approval on Tuesday, Siam Rath reported. 

 

Mr Pipat added that the Ministry of Public Health would also be required to decide on the matter.

 

The proposal is one of a number of measures put forward by the group, which is made up of operators including the Tourist Police, Thai Hotel Association and the Association of Thai Travel Agents.

 

Some of the other proposals include soft loans and reduction in rates, such as electricity bills, for hotels and tourism businesses.

 

More details were also put  forward regarding the so-called ‘golf quarantine’ which would allow tourists to stay at a resort and play golf, rather than being confined to their rooms. 

 

 

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Should depend on the vaccine...I recall most have 80%+ success but phase 3 trials in Brazil indicate only 50.4% efficacy for Sinovac. That will be of concern as I assume this proposal will be aimed at their largest market, China.

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

More details were also put  forward regarding the so-called ‘golf quarantine’ which would allow tourists to stay at a resort and play golf, rather than being confined to their rooms. 

What if they prefer badminton???

This guy will do anything to hit his number.

 

Surprised he hasn't suggested cloning tourists yet?

 

While millions of people may have received their first vaccination, they are mostly elderly, at-risk or essential workers, first-responders, politicians, health professionals. Hardly into temples, beaches and cuisine right now.

 

 

Maybe in a year or two, a COVID vaccination will be required, and without it, no entry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

... and then they cop an incoming carrier who's vaxx doesn't cover for the new strain 

Sensible suggestion as long as it's not the Sinovac vaccine.

if they are vaccinated they should be allowed in!

Whilst you may be vaccinated it's still unknown whether you could be a carrier...

An argument against similar suggestions were put by some Aussie big wig who says that even if the incoming travelers are vaccinated they can still be a carriers of the virus on their person without necessarily being infected themselves...Go figure what is the truth here...

pretty sure vaccinated people can be carriers/spreaders.

the vaccination hits the symptoms but cant prevent it hitting and sitting in upper respiratory to be coughed sneezed or spoken to others.

If wrong I would love to be corrected as vaccination pasports would be great for those of us itching to travel. And those in tourism wanting to rebuild their businesses

43 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

What if they prefer badminton???

Only lich Hiso golfers allowed. Badminton Farang no money no lich.

1 minute ago, Eibot said:

Only lich Hiso golfers allowed. Badminton Farang no money no lich.

All farang are lich.......let's rip them off!

4 minutes ago, beau thai said:

pretty sure vaccinated people can be carriers/spreaders.

the vaccination hits the symptoms but cant prevent it hitting and sitting in upper respiratory to be coughed sneezed or spoken to others.

If wrong I would love to be corrected as vaccination pasports would be great for those of us itching to travel. And those in tourism wanting to rebuild their businesses

You are not as efficient a spreader though, because you are not sick and therefore you are not coughing and sneezing.    They still don't know for sure if vaccinated people can be hosts and spreaders.  It's just a likely assumption at this point.

32 minutes ago, Chelseafan said:

Whilst you may be vaccinated it's still unknown whether you could be a carrier...

He didn't get the memo ????

 

They keep forgetting that the vaccine is to protect you from getting sick, not to stop the spread.

4 minutes ago, kotsak said:

He didn't get the memo ????

 

They keep forgetting that the vaccine is to protect you from getting sick, not to stop the spread.

 

4 minutes ago, kotsak said:

He didn't get the memo ????

 

They keep forgetting that the vaccine is to protect you from getting sick, not to stop the spread.

Yep. They are studying that point at the moment and are still on the side of 'you can still infect others'.

I reckon you need 80% of people vaccined before it becomes minimum risk.

The virus can thrive in the vaccinated aliens throat or nasopharangeal cavity.

 

When vaccines give efficiency figure - what does that mean ? Is it the rate of those catching it ?

I see those vax as a prevention of serious illness (which is good enough for me), but not being positive and have minor symptoms (hence able to spread virus).

so for those vaccinated there still should be form of isolation, but not quarantine.

Sometimes ago there was proposal for enclosed zone of hotels close to beaches, where guests were allowed to roam within 1km from their hotel, including visiting neighbouring hotels for sports facilities (golf), restaurants, entertainment, spa treatments. Such isolation would be closer to all-inclusive hotel stay, rather than full isolation for 14 days in a room, which is more like a prison stay.

 

Probably thailand would have to first approve those vaccines in the country. Or allow consulates to distribute vax already approved to all visa applicants   

Another issue: how do you prove vacinaton? - a piece of paper? ... a tattooed mark on your ear? ... in any case it's open to corruption?

Finally I hear a good step forward...

6 minutes ago, law ling said:

Another issue: how do you prove vacinaton? - a piece of paper? ... a tattooed mark on your ear? ... in any case it's open to corruption?

The whole reason why the vaccination process takes sooooo long because every single jab is registered. So yes you can prove it.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Tourism chiefs call for foreigners vaccinated against COVID-19 to be allowed to enter Thailand

This is a really bad idea, even if they have had the vaccination there is absolutely no concrete evidence how effective it will be across the board, newly vaccinated people still need to be checked and monitored.

Hilarious! The TV bar stool infectious disease unit are tripping over themselves in a rush to post misinformation! 

Great entertainment. 

Very little point in the vaccine if you cant return to normality is there, but time will be up for the ASQ cash cow something that will need a great deal of consideration decisions decisions ????

32 minutes ago, law ling said:

Another issue: how do you prove vacinaton? - a piece of paper? ... a tattooed mark on your ear? ... in any case it's open to corruption?

If you travel much, you probably have a yellow vaccination book that you carry.  It shows the jabs I've had, including yellow fever.  Which is a must if visiting many countries in Africa.  This will be no different, or something similar.

3 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Very little point in the vaccine if you cant return to normality is there, but time will be up for the ASQ cash cow something that will need a great deal of consideration decisions decisions ????

The point is to keep you out of the hospital, in ICU, with a hose jammed down your throat.  Sign me up for the jab!!!!

2 hours ago, 1fortheroad said:

if they are vaccinated they should be allowed in!

 

Watching a video this morning from the USA, said 7 million so far have been vaccinated and if the new Biden admin gets things happening, i.e. to vaccinate 1 million people a day, then by mid year they would have reached herd immunity.

 

So I think Thailand has to accept foreign tourists coming here is a ways off, 2021 should be the focus year and until then the Thai government should provide loans to tourism companies/hotels/resorts to keep them afloat, but not without secure tenure, and once they are all back and running, they can then repay the debts, could be a win/win, but does the Thai government have any money, who knows maybe they can knock on someone's door ?

No rush, Pattaya is fine the way it is. 

 

Yes I know a lot of people are suffering hardship and I don't wish to sound callous but as it is is fine by me. 

 

And why do the announcements state 14 days quarantine when everyone who's done it says 15 nights 16days. 

Or has it since changed.? 

2 hours ago, Chelseafan said:

Whilst you may be vaccinated it's still unknown whether you could be a carrier...

This is why there is a recommendation to still use precautions after vaccination. 

Yeah, why not, after the human trials in North America are successful.