It’s official: Thai govt approves plans to re-open to foreign tourists

[webfact]

REUTERS FILE PHOTO for reference only

 

Thailand’s Cabinet on Tuesday formally approved plans to re-open the country to foreign tourists.

 

The planned gradual re-opening will see quarantine reduced for fully vaccinated tourists to Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya, Phang Na, Koh Samui and Phuket from as early as next month. 

 

Tourists who intend to visit the aforementioned destinations will still have to undergo quarantine but only for 7 days rather than the 14 days mandatory quarantine needed previously.

 

From 1 July, vaccinated tourists will be able to visit Phuket without the need to quarantine.

 

If the scheme in Phuket proves successful, quarantine will be scrapped in other popular tourist destinations throughout Thailand, namely Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya, Phang Na and Koh Samui from 1 October. 

 

Thailand then plans to lift all quarantine requirements for foreign tourists next year.

 

The Thai government now faces a race against time as it aims to vaccinate some 70 percent of Phuket’s population ahead of the return of foreign tourists.

 

On Tuesday, Phuket Governor said he hopes that as many as 50,000 people will receive the first dose of the vaccine within seven days of it arriving on the island in April. 

 

The news comes as Thailand will reduce quarantine for anyone arriving from overseas.

 

From 1 April, quarantine will be cut from 14 to 10 days for all arrivals, with the exception of visitors from some African countries.

 

 

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[darksidedog]

Anyone want to bet that this is what will actually happen? Top dollar is likely to go with this plan going the way of those before it by the middle of next week, if not earlier.

Maybe one day they will come up with one that is actually workable in practice.

[ThailandRyan]

Glad to see this report was done on the 31st. If it was tommorow, oh who to believe on April fools day.

[Big Yuley]

So from July if i go to Phuket for say 10 days, after the 10 days can i then travel to other parts of the country?

 

 

[Kaopad999]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand then plans to lift all quarantine requirements for foreign tourists next year.

 

vaccinated, or not? 
 

[khunphil]

6 minutes ago, Big Yuley said:

So from July if i go to Phuket for say 10 days, can i then travel to other parts of the country?

 

 

I would think not without some test and/or quarantine .... but if you stay there until October ???? , it could be possible yes...

"If the scheme in Phuket proves successful, quarantine will be scrapped in other popular tourist destinations throughout Thailand, namely Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya, Phang Na and Koh Samui from 1 October."

[aussiexpat]

Sounds great. Pity Australia aren't vaccinating anyone under 70 until June, with 12 week wait for 2nd dose. 

 

Think I'll do the 10 days quarantine and get the vax in Thailand

[ozfarang]

6 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

Sounds great. Pity Australia aren't vaccinating anyone under 70 until June, with 12 week wait for 2nd dose. 

 

Think I'll do the 10 days quarantine and get the vax in Thailand

 

Exactly what I am going to do, leave in May

 

Not waiting for the totally shambolic rollout of the vaccine here in Australia for the saving of 3 days quarantine

[madmitch]

Is this a highly diluted version of what might actually happen?

 

No quarantine at all in Phuket from 1st July for vaccinated travellers? Free to travel anywhere from day one? No Covid tests? No restriction on nationalities?

 

Let's wait and see.

[Bkk Brian]

They are expecting 920,000 doses of the vaccine. The target date is 1st July opening so that means 10,222 shots needed to be administered daily from tomorrow. Lets see................

[Big Yuley]

21 minutes ago, khunphil said:

I would think not without some test and/or quarantine .... but if you stay there until October ???? , it could be possible yes...

"If the scheme in Phuket proves successful, quarantine will be scrapped in other popular tourist destinations throughout Thailand, namely Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya, Phang Na and Koh Samui from 1 October."

truth be told i would prefer the option of Quarantine in BKK for 7 nights and then being able to travel anywhere in the country i wanted to. 

[Big Yuley]

13 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

They are expecting 920,000 doses of the vaccine. The target date is 1st July opening so that means 10,222 shots needed to be administered daily from tomorrow. Lets see................

yeah i wouldn't hold my breath

[Big Yuley]

16 minutes ago, madmitch said:

Is this a highly diluted version of what might actually happen?

 

No quarantine at all in Phuket from 1st July for vaccinated travellers? Free to travel anywhere from day one? No Covid tests? No restriction on nationalities?

 

Let's wait and see.

im sure their are restrictions on nationalities.

[madmitch]

4 minutes ago, Big Yuley said:

im sure their are restrictions on nationalities.

Exactly. As I said, we're not being given the warts and all version.

[Big Yuley]

1 minute ago, madmitch said:

Exactly. As I said, we're not being given the warts and all version.

yes mate

 

[2530Ubon]

46 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Anyone want to bet that this is what will actually happen? Top dollar is likely to go with this plan going the way of those before it by the middle of next week, it not earlier.

Maybe one day they will come up with one that is actually workable in practice.

 

I'll bet that after Songkran, all plans are put on hold again.

We all know BKK and the surrounding cities still have daily cases of COVID being found by the government and very soon they're going to be travelling all over the country. Some muppet thought everyone (well, only gov workers actually benefit) needs a week off for Songkran this year so it'll probably be worse this time.

Oh, and don't forget the thousands of Myanmar folks who are fleeing violence and possibly bringing more covid with them. I think we had 3000 yesterday?

[Bkk Brian]

3 minutes ago, madmitch said:

Exactly. As I said, we're not being given the warts and all version.

It will probably include this list.

 

South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana and Tanzania.

 

The Ministry of Public Health says they’ll update the list every 2 weeks.

 

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism/11-countries-must-still-do-full-14-day-asq-quarantine-when-travelling-to-thailand

[Fat is a type of crazy]

Hope Australia makes it easy to go from 1 July. I appreciate that the Thai government have a plan. I get a bit sick of all the negative nellies on this site whenever they come up with something in a difficult situation. 

[BritManToo]

6 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Hope Australia makes it easy to go from 1 July. I appreciate that the Thai government have a plan. I get a bit sick of all the negative nellies on this site whenever they come up with something in a difficult situation. 

They have a million plans, none of which ever come to fruition.

Hard not to be a little negative.

[Big Yuley]

22 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Hope Australia makes it easy to go from 1 July. I appreciate that the Thai government have a plan. I get a bit sick of all the negative nellies on this site whenever they come up with something in a difficult situation. 

I think your bigger worry is Australia letting you out. And if they do let you out, might want you to Quarantine when you return.

If the current vaccination rate in Australia continues, us Aussies aint going anywhere until next year.

 

The vaccination program in this country is worse than Thailands.

[internationalism]

without a full vaccination program, that is a death sentence for tens of thousands. This would shut down public health system in those regions, as well as domestic tourism.

 

There are now many new strains, more dangerous than this from wuhan, to which thai probably were immune.

The first wave caused the strain from Italy, in March.

The second wave in december from myanmar workers came from virus from bangladesh

[CRUNCHER]

All the talk about tourists is all very well and perhaps understandable, but what about long stay residents (retirees, married to Thai etc.).  What is our position if we visit Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam etc. What quarantine do we have to do when we come back? 

[Peter parker]

I am confused they state fully vaxed people quarantine reduced to 7 days not 14. From the first of April. Then further down it states from the first of April Quarantine to be reduced from 14 to 10 days? Which will it be then? Just my few bahts worth on international travel, I and many here in Australia feel the Government will attempt to halt all international travel for as long as possible, in a attempt to force us to spend our hard earned money here. 

[kotsak]

As with everything else in this country I only believe it when I see it ????

[cyril sneer]

These changes will make little difference to almost everything 

[Mr Meeseeks]

It's a real shame that some want to continue to risk the health of the Thai population for profits or to further their own selfish self-interests.

 

Get the Thais all vaccinated and then start to talk about opening up, otherwise this is a disaster waiting to happen.

 

No problem reducing quarantine times, if it is proven effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 from new arrivals in the country. 

[madmen]

1 hour ago, Big Yuley said:

So from July if i go to Phuket for say 10 days, after the 10 days can i then travel to other parts of the country?

 

 

This a good question. My guess is the other sandboxes would need to have been vaccinated in preparation for their turn so flying to Chiang Mai or Pattaya etc would probably be OK but traveling to a village in issan may not. 

[madmen]

29 minutes ago, Peter parker said:

I am confused they state fully vaxed people quarantine reduced to 7 days not 14. From the first of April. Then further down it states from the first of April Quarantine to be reduced from 14 to 10 days? Which will it be then? Just my few bahts worth on international travel, I and many here in Australia feel the Government will attempt to halt all international travel for as long as possible, in a attempt to force us to spend our hard earned money here. 

It's simple ignore the math and whatever is lost in translation 

Arrive unvaccinated anytime its 10 days 

Arrive vaccinated its 7days 

Arrive vaccinated July 1st it's freedom in Phuket at this stage 

[Big Yuley]

23 minutes ago, madmen said:

This a good question. My guess is the other sandboxes would need to have been vaccinated in preparation for their turn so flying to Chiang Mai or Pattaya etc would probably be OK but traveling to a village in issan may not. 

 

So BKK is going to be out until 2022 by the looks of things.

I can see the Phuket sandbox working as its an island and can be monitored re people leaving.

 

However, lets take Pattaya for example.

I have a thai phone and Aussie number.

I arrive at BKK, down load required app on my thai phone. 

Travel to Pattaya and check in to my Patts hotel which i have booked for 14 days.

After about 10 days, i say to myself, i want to go to BKK for a few days. Leave thai phone in hotel room in Patts.

Get my taxi driver to driver me to Bkk and check  into hotel for 2 or 3 nights in BKK.

Plenty of ways out of Chonburi to get to Bangkok. 

 

So the Thai authorities think im in Pattaya as my phone is siting in Avani Pattaya but im at Landmark Hotel in BKK and heading to Nana Plaza.

 

I see some problems with that,

[Sydneydave]

So when will non vaccinated tourists be able to visit without quarantine? And how will it be determined if a person has received the vaccine? Doctors certificate, government health record or microchip implant? And how long since the vaccine has been received will it enable one to have no quarantine? As flu shots are said to last for 6 months maximum, I presume a new vaccine will need to be received within the last 6 months before arriving in Thailand. And what happens if one stays in Thailand for 2 months without receiving a booster? It seems that all of this is to ensure maximum profits to pharmaceutical companies, with the inconvenience to tourists being dismissed.

My family and I will stay away until we can freely travel without needing to be forced to vaccinate.