BANGKOK (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reports that the country is rethinking its reopening model as it will adopt the "One SOP, One System" (OSOS) policy, scrapping both mandatory quarantine and sealed routes for all pilot areas within this year and cutting COVID-19 test costs by half.

 

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the reopening plans for Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Cha-am and Bangkok will be submitted to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) next week, seeking to receive inoculated tourists from October 1st, while “Samui Plus” will pivot to a quarantine-free destination.

 

He said, under this plan, every province will apply the same standard operating procedure (SOP), which will enable tourists to travel freely within designated areas in each province. Tourists are required to follow the guidelines, such as activating the Mor Chana app and being checked daily by an SHA Plus manager, instead of being kept in quarantine or only travelling under a tour program.

 

Mr. Yuthasak said the TAT has also discussed with health authorities a reduction in the price, to around 8,000 baht, for three RT-PCR tests, which is considered an obstacle for the reopening program in both “Phuket Sandbox” and “Samui Plus”. The package price should be universally applied to every province from October, including the “Phuket Sandbox”.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-09-14

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

How about the funny insurance scheme that has less than 1% of premiums payed out for treatment? Must be a good business...

10 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reports that the country is rethinking its reopening model

and here we go again with TAT ""expecting, rethinking, proposing, anticipating and........ ""  555

Edited September 14, 20214 yr by Mavideol

OSOS, oh-SOS! Yet another reopening plan, how confusing. 

Ridiculously overpriced tests.

 

Who's actually pocketing that money?

 

There still going to make money at 8000.00 baht.

 

Thais are always trying to rob you blind.  It doesn't matter if you're a foreigner or a Thai.

 

So greedy!

Thats why Phuket was declining even before COVID-19.

 

 

O-SOS 

Oh save our ship indeed.

Business is leaving, government is infighting, people are starving.

2 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

Ridiculously overpriced tests.

 

Who's actually pocketing that money?

 

There still going to make money at 8000.00 baht.

 

Thais are always trying to rob you blind.  It doesn't matter if you're a foreigner or a Thai.

 

So greedy!

Thats why Phuket was declining even before COVID-19.

 

 

That’s for 3 x tests I believe. If you work it out in £ it’s around £60 per test. 
 

As a comparison they are charging up to £90 in the UK. So Thais not the only ones to rob you. 

23 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

Ridiculously overpriced tests.

 

Who's actually pocketing that money?

 

There still going to make money at 8000.00 baht.

 

Thais are always trying to rob you blind.  It doesn't matter if you're a foreigner or a Thai.

 

So greedy!

Thats why Phuket was declining even before COVID-19.

 

 

Profiteering during times of trouble and tragedy is an old practice - worldwide. 

Actually dropping first O is more appropriate...

 

. . . _ _ _ . . .

Thailand could reopen completely if it makes a good fist of its vaccination program, everything else is fluff.

 

A real milestone would be having over 50's and vulnerable groups double jabbed.

 

No point trying to limit spread with vaccine passports, testing, etc, because once you're open it's going to happen sooner or later.

58 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Profiteering during times of trouble and tragedy is an old practice - worldwide. 

Especially prevalent here.

1 minute ago, MrJ2U said:

Especially prevalent here.

Much more prevalent within the confines of those selected civilised cultures.

Most have become blind to such realities.

No COE, no stupid COVID insurance, no ASQ, no travel restriction so I can fly into BKK and go home to Udon.

 

Or, you are not "open"

37 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

Thailand could reopen completely if it makes a good fist of its vaccination program, everything else is fluff.

 

A real milestone would be having over 50's and vulnerable groups double jabbed.

 

No point trying to limit spread with vaccine passports, testing, etc, because once you're open it's going to happen sooner or later.

I am 77 and had my first jab of Pfizer on Friday 10 September and my second is due 04 October, also Pfizer. I live in rural  Kamphaeng Phet.

TAT thinking, hoping, proposing...

CCSA hitting with the sledgehammer

Edited September 14, 20214 yr by KhunBENQ

7 minutes ago, 86Tiger said:

No COE, no stupid COVID insurance, no ASQ, no travel restriction so I can fly into BKK and go home to Udon.

 

Or, you are not "open"

Agreed. Simple and straight forward. 

No more talk. No more rhetorical speculation. No more woulda, shoulda, coulda. No more BS.

 

Just open, <deleted>.

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Tourists are required to follow the guidelines, such as activating the Mor Chana app and being checked daily by an SHA Plus manager

Yes there will be masses of people standing in line to spend their Holiday with an spy app controlling every move they take. Privacy and personal integrity like a Chines citizen. Hordes of western people will sign up for that, or maybe not.

Think they have to wait for the Chines, who are use to no freedom to bee let out of their cage. 

4 hours ago, Kadilo said:

That’s for 3 x tests I believe. If you work it out in £ it’s around £60 per test. 
 

As a comparison they are charging up to £90 in the UK. So Thais not the only ones to rob you. 

UK is changing to lateral flow tests when you arrive back from 1st Oct according to the update by Boris today, so much cheaper, when you actually come to Thailand then you will of course need fit to fly certificate pcr test but as you know boots the chemist is everywhere and it’s 85 pounds there, 48 hour turnaround time. Better than the cheaper places that often take longer.

2 hours ago, bokningar said:

Yes there will be masses of people standing in line to spend their Holiday with an spy app controlling every move they take. Privacy and personal integrity like a Chines citizen. Hordes of western people will sign up for that, or maybe not.

Think they have to wait for the Chines, who are use to no freedom to bee let out of their cage. 

I dont mind the app.

I have 3 mobile phones.I will certainly download the app and leave it in my luggage.

Time to go to plan 26 Z since the first 25 failed. TIT

Saving 40-50$ on PCR tests won’t change anyone’s mind.

 

Vaccinate the population with quality vaccines and get rid of the tests completely or keep dreaming.

THB8000 for 3 rapid PCR tests in Phuket is actually comparatively good value. Last week I had to pay THB9,000 in USA for just one rapid PCR test.

12 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

Ridiculously overpriced tests.

 

Who's actually pocketing that money?

 

There still going to make money at 8000.00 baht.

 

Thais are always trying to rob you blind.  It doesn't matter if you're a foreigner or a Thai.

 

So greedy!

Thats why Phuket was declining even before COVID-19.

 

 

As a foreigner in Laos, I pay 500 baht for a Covid test, locals are much cheaper and free in some places

Just advise when Thailand will welcome vaccinated  tourists without any other restrictions. Looks like peak season will again be lost so may as well wait until later half of next year by which time TAT will realise we are all going to have to live with the Viras whether we like it or not.

15 minutes ago, radjag said:

THB8000 for 3 rapid PCR tests in Phuket is actually comparatively good value. Last week I had to pay THB9,000 in USA for just one rapid PCR test.

On November last year I was in Miami (on a tourist B1/B2 visa) and got 2 PCR tests (in 2 different locations) plus 1 Antigen test offered by the state, totally free of charge.
Got the results pretty quickly too.

Edited September 14, 20214 yr by dr_lucas

What does being checked daily by an sha plus manager, actually mean?. That you are still alive?

????????????????????????????????????????

Can someone tell TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn not to waste his and other people's time please. 

 

I had to look it up as well but SOP stands for "standard operating procedure". Share the breaking news with the kiddo at the TAT that, as long as Khon Thai cant even stop at a red light once it is red, the "One SOP One System Policy" might be yet another golden opportunity to loose face and prove, how things are definitely NOT done! 

What a joke, take the clown away and try to find a real professional for the job! 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He said, under this plan, every province will apply the same standard operating procedure (SOP), which will enable tourists to travel freely within designated areas in each province. Tourists are required to follow the guidelines, such as activating the Mor Chana app and being checked daily by an SHA Plus manager, instead of being kept in quarantine or only travelling under a tour program.

No quarantine but you can only go as far as the shackle will let you.

{ Queen song "I want to break free} playing in the background.

13 hours ago, Mavideol said:

and here we go again with TAT ""expecting, rethinking, proposing, anticipating and........ ""  555

Failing?

7 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

I had to look it up as well but SOP stands for "standard operating procedure". 

Perhaps if you read the text you wouldn't have to look it up.

 

Quote:

he said, under this plan, every province will apply the same standard operating procedure (SOP)