ThailandPlus: Tracking app now mandatory for foreign tourists

 

Image: Thailand PRD

 

Foreign tourists who have received the certificate of entry to Thailand are now required to download the ThailandPlus app, prior to their arrival, the Thai government has confirmed.

 

The app, which works similar to GPS, will enable officials to know the whereabouts of foreign tourists during their stay in Thailand in the event of a new outbreak of COVID-19.

 

First announced in November last year, the app has been developed by the  Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Digital Government Development Agency (Public Organization).

 

According to the Government Public Relations Department, the app “will create confidence among foreign tourists about their health and safety and help contain the spread of COVID-19 infection”.

 

“With this application, the authorities will be able to reach out to individuals sooner and will also alert local officials, if there is a high risk of transmission. Thai embassies and consulates overseas will provide foreign visitors to Thailand with information about how to download ThailandPlus”, the government said.
 
“ThailandPlus functions like the Mor Chana app, but it will link to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regarding the certificate of entry of the arriving foreign tourists, for screening and tracing, from their arrival in Thailand”.

 

The government said “the application would not infringe on the visitors’ right to privacy but would enhance COVID-19 tracing”.

 

In December, the Tourism Authority of Thailand shared the video below explaining how the application will work. 

 

ThailandPlus Application from TATnews Official on Vimeo.

 

 

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the app has been developed by the  Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Digital Government Development Agency (Public Organization)

That's not good! Probably work as well as the online 90 day reporting site.

 

I assume the app will be required by returning Farang "residence" as well. How many of them don't use smart phones?

 

Quote

The government said “the application would not infringe on the visitors’ right to privacy but would enhance COVID-19 tracing”.

Certainly won't when their phone is turned off.

 

I guess the TAT will have to revise their figures again - down!

Well, Officer Somchai. How do we tell the general public of this apps great success without also telling them we've learnt that 90% of tourists never leave Gogo bars? ????

The best way to stay COVID free here in Thailand as a tourist is stay away.. all the requirements made to visit a country for holiday will surely be an invitation to come..

10 minutes ago, bdenner said:

That's not good! Probably work as well as the online 90 day reporting site.

 

I assume the app will be required by returning Farang "residence" as well. How many of them don't use smart phones?

 

Certainly won't when their phone is turned off.

 

I guess the TAT will have to revise their figures again - down!

We see nothing but opaque self serving behaviour.

 

Given that the original app was abandoned by it's creators (MorChana) due to dodgy behaviour, and the proliferation of video's featuring Thai officials blatantly lying (like 'Stop asking, there will be no coup' - you know the stuff) I'm curious if anyone in the world isn't laughing their socks off listening to these assurance.

 

Interesting the way that most Thai's, even those with smartphones, tend to opt to scribble their name on a book instead of scanning in with apps everywhere...

What about tourists who do not have a mobile phone?

What about tourists who do not have an Internet connection to their phone?

No consideration of these people.

12 minutes ago, bdenner said:

That's not good! Probably work as well as the online 90 day reporting site.

 

I assume the app will be required by returning Farang "residence" as well. How many of them don't use smart phones?

 

Certainly won't when their phone is turned off.

 

I guess the TAT will have to revise their figures again - down!

 

Or if you simply go into SETTINGS>PRIVACY...and turn it off there.  Having said that I have nothing to hide and welcome most of the initiatives introduced to limit spread of C-19 even though some of them are borderline useless.

Mandatory for people who don't have smart phones ?

Some sort of implant perhaps ?

Ludicrous.

I watched the video but didn't get any answers. Do tourists get a (free) SIM card? And if tourist don't have a smartphone what then? And are they required to take it with them all the time? And are they not allowed to switch it off? Questions... 

this is going to go done well with the dailymail crowd 

 

 

4 minutes ago, SGD said:

Mandatory for people who don't have smart phones ?

Some sort of implant perhaps ?

Ludicrous.

 

Maybe they give you free Internet, or why would anyone waste their money for roaming?

40 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

According to the Government Public Relations Department, the app “will create confidence among foreign tourists about their health and safety and help contain the spread of COVID-19 infection”.

 

will it <deleted>

 

it will create fear and distrust

 

this government really needs to brush up on european history

 

3 minutes ago, SGD said:

Mandatory for people who don't have smart phones ?

Some sort of implant perhaps ?

Ludicrous.

No smart phone? No problem!

A mandatory electronic tag fitted around your ankle...

26 minutes ago, bdenner said:

That's not good! Probably work as well as the online 90 day reporting site.

 

I assume the app will be required by returning Farang "residence" as well. How many of them don't use smart phones?

 

Certainly won't when their phone is turned off.

 

I guess the TAT will have to revise their figures again - down!

turning your phone off doesn't stop gps.

Neither does not having cell data plan.

4 minutes ago, MadMac said:

 

Maybe they give you free Internet, or why would anyone waste their money for roaming?

 

I don't have a phone !

1 minute ago, Dart12 said:

turning your phone off doesn't stop gps.

Neither does not having cell data plan.

 

I think it does. ????

2 minutes ago, Eindhoven said:

 

I think it does. ????

Jeez, and they went to school ?

14 minutes ago, SGD said:

 

I don't have a phone !

This is no problem. You simply stay in your hotel room so that we know where you are and where you have been. 

 

2 minutes ago, Oldie said:

This is no problem. You simply stay in your hotel room so that we know where you are and where you have been. 

 

 

Highly unlikely. Go track a dog but you won't track me.

What let they think, Farang are all stupid and can tell them any BS?

That is the Best way to fulfil the wet dream of Immigration which told last:

Farang, we want to know where You are!

But not due to Corona. That would work only if everybody in the country would have to install this App.

They should go shopping themself to see how the Thai (and also some Farang) use the Thermometer, log in/out books or this Thai Mor Chana App.

Thais don't get Corona? Was that only Burmese last month?

I just moved from TH to Singapore. What a nice Quarantaine. Can Order Outside Food and Drinks whatever You want.

The we use all the Tracetogether App. Where ever you enter a public place, Mall, Restaurant, you must show to a guard that you have checked in. This App trace via Bluetooth with whome you had contact.

It even calculate risk Level by the duration of contact. I have about thousand contacts a Day if I go shopping. This App show that number online.

Only if someone got covid then they trace all his/her Bluetooth contacts and send a msg to your own Phone. And even if Oma don't have an own Mobile (what is meanwhile difficult to believe in TH) then the People around her will know.

That way can accept if every body has to do. Then it can help to stop an outbreak by warning immidiatly all other.

 

But not the few thousand Farang in TH only. And they should not tell that they want to protect us!!!

 

 

1 hour ago, SGD said:

Mandatory for people who don't have smart phones ?
Some sort of implant perhaps ?
Ludicrous.

As some of my pals told me, you don't need a smartphone.

Just stand in front of the QR code photo, hold your phone out to it for a moment, then walk past.

Nobody ever checks your phone is smart, turned on, or has the app, only the motions are required.

 

Not that I would ever do that!

1 hour ago, SGD said:

Jeez, and they went to school ?

school does not teach you that GPS runs on phone's modem and that modems are always powered on (even when you click "flight mode" in phone menu) and run a completely different operating system than the phone, and modems can download and run applications without notifying you, and you have absolutely no control over that behavior.

 

2 hours ago, ben2talk said:

Interesting the way that most Thai's, even those with smartphones, tend to opt to scribble their name on a book instead of scanning in with apps everywhere...

you don't need to be an information security expert to understand that no one would ever read these countless books :D

TiT

Just what a tourist that wants to holiday and take time off has in mind! Tracking!

Very strange.

 

It's like Chinese Spy app.

I would not make holiday in Thailand, because for data safety reasons.

How about people without phones?

If somebody has two phones, put the app only on one phone and leave it in the hotel.

It also could be, that the virus came from China on purpose, since all the phones are produced in China, there can be something hidden, what send all the personal data and information to the Communist regime.

This is not my fantasy, I just tell what is possible with the technology.

Remember the regime in East Germany, with the "Stasi". Just spy on everybody.

 

Looks like a good idea to bring your old phone with app on it and sell it in mbk before carrying on

I landed two days ago so I've avoided it 

Last time I used roaming on my phone when returned to UK received roaming bill of 4,800,000 Baht the cost of a Villa so will not be returning if installation of this app mandatory.

How about just leaving your phone in hotel room? I suppose they can't imagine anyone who doesn't have phone on them 24/7 to keep up on selfies, likes and all that.

so I already Thai Chana, Mor Chana, AOT, HugUbon and GoPhuket so far as "regulatory" apps on my phone.