BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will waive its mandatory quarantine requirement in Bangkok and nine regions from Nov. 1 to vaccinated arrivals, authorities said on Monday, as the country tries to boost its immunisation rate and revive its battered tourism sector.

 

The regions include popular tourist areas Chiang Mai, Phangnga, Krabi, Hua Hin, Pattaya, and Cha-am, and follow the successful reopening of Phuket and Samui islands to vaccinated people in pilot schemes since July.

 

The country is keen to welcome back foreign visitors, after nearly 18 months of strict entry policies that contributed to a collapse in tourism, a key sector that drew 40 million visitors in 2019.

 

Authorities will also reduce the quarantine time nationwide for visitors arriving from Oct. 1, the COVID-19 task force said, halving it to seven days for vaccinated arrivals, and cutting it to 10 days for those not inoculated.

 

It will also further ease restrictions from Friday in 29 "dark red" provinces under maximum control, including Bangkok, to allow more businesses and activities to reopen, such as spas, libraries, cinemas, indoor sports venues and nail salons.

 

The easing of measures come as the country tries to increase the rate of vaccinations, after initial supply shortages. Less than a third of the population has been inoculated so far.

 

The task force also approved a plan to procure a combined 3.35 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, although no delivery timeframe was provided.

 

Pending Cabinet approval, Thailand will seek to buy 2.79 million doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines and 165,000 AstraZeneca shots from Spain and 400,000 AstraZeneca doses sourced from Hungary, a spokesperson said.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-09-27

 

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

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

(Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Martin Petty)

Great news, until tomorrow when it will be reversed

I will believe it when it happens, I'm going to be very surprised if this doesn't change before November.

 

This is the way they should be doing it as COVID is already well established inside Thailand.

 

Having active curfews and closures in force will only discourage visitors from coming.

Finally the nail salons open ..... ????

I'm assuming, (I know thats the wrong thing to do with Thailand) that they'll open to its actual residents first, lift curfews, open up all the businesses, schools etc......

Other sources are confirming reduction to 7 day quarantine but not removing quarantine.

 

https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/travel/travel-update-next-when-new-restrictions-start-date-covid-review-explained-1207690

 

No firm date for the next UK review of Thailand's red list status either.

2 minutes ago, Havnern said:

Finally the nail salons open ..... ????

at last

Believe it when it happens.

It could change before lunchtime !

So then the SHA+ and ASQ hotels will be gone, and one could fly out and then back in and return to their home here possibly.  What about the need for a COE, or does this mean that international travel is back in play as long as your vaccinated and can show the airline and the new pre-immigration location they will probably be making permanent at the airports.  All speculative on my part, but hey if it is as I wrote then the world might return to Thailand to visit without all the hoops and obstacles.

Quarantine is still 7days for fully vaccinated people and it is not 1 November yet... As some have predicted that October would be worse again, it is impossible to know if this announcement will stand

18 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will waive its mandatory quarantine requirement in Bangkok and nine regions from Nov. 1 to vaccinated arrivals, authorities said on Monday, as the country tries to boost its immunisation rate and revive its battered tourism sector.

Who are "authorities"? Nothing is set in stone except the brains of the announcers.

And, as usual, vague on all other details, like COE, insurance etc.

I don't want to be Debbie Downer, but we've been through a plethora of these announcements, only for them to be walked back in steps, large and small.

1 minute ago, ikke1959 said:

Quarantine is still 7days for fully vaccinated people and it is not 1 November yet... As some have predicted that October would be worse again, it is impossible to know if this announcement will stand

So we'll take it as a definite maybe. ????

Quarantine for fully vaccinated to be reduced to 7 days from Oct, 10 provinces to reopen on Nov 1

 

 

Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) decided on Monday (September 27th) to extend the nationwide State of Emergency to the end of November, but ease some of the partial lockdown measures effective October 1st, including shortening the quarantine period for those fully vaccinated to 7 days, and shortening the night-time curfew in the “dark red” provinces to 10pm – 4am for at least 15 days.

 

The curfew will be shortened by one hour, from currently 9pm – 4am. The CCSA also agreed to reduce the quarantine period for vaccinated travellers to 7 days, instead of 14. Those who do not have documents proving their vaccination will, however, have to go through 10-14 days of quarantine.

 

The CCSA also allowed the reopening of certain businesses, such as children’s nurseries, child development centres, libraries, museums, nail salons, tattoo parlours, spas, health centres, indoor sports arenas, cinemas and live music in restaurants.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/quarantine-for-fully-vaccinated-to-be-reduced-to-7-days-from-oct-10-provinces-to-reopen-on-nov-1/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-09-27

 

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

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

Too early to rejoice. 

Wait for the details and small print. 

Also no name or source given in the article. 

I believe there will be still some kind of quarantine or minimum stay...

Not to mention the COE or insurance requirements.

Tourists want to arrive with their passports at immigration and get a stamp as in pre-Covid times.

If not, the masses will choose alternatives countries.

 Now Thailand needs to lobby the UK to take us off the Red List and accept vaccinations in Thailand from November!  And our Government needs to speed up vaccinations across the country and more testing. 

8 minutes ago, steven100 said:

great news !!      sadly,  some farang just have to whinge at any news.

We'll whinge a whole lot less if they go rid of the coup leader and the other dinos and ex convicts in the government. A more incompetent bunch is hard to imagine led by the biggest little failure in Thailand.

13 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So then the SHA+ and ASQ hotels will be gone, and one could fly out and then back in and return to their home here possibly.  What about the need for a COE, or does this mean that international travel is back in play as long as your vaccinated and can show the airline and the new pre-immigration location they will probably be making permanent at the airports.  All speculative on my part, but hey if it is as I wrote then the world might return to Thailand to visit without all the hoops and obstacles.

I'm presuming that all inclusive restrictions might be honoured - lifting of mandated quarantine, ridiculous COE requirements and the scam which is COVID health insurance?

It's as clear as mud. As usual.

Why can Thai media not report clear and precise details?

Most likely not their fault but surely the exact details where given at the meeting?

 

4 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

I'm presuming that all inclusive restrictions might be honoured - lifting of mandated quarantine, ridiculous COE requirements and the scam which is COVID health insurance?

good luck with that one  !

40 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The country is keen to welcome back foreign visitors

Then let them go out for a ******** drink!

4 minutes ago, steven100 said:

good luck with that one  !

Then no volume of people will come.

100,000 people expected through Phuket sandbox, 6000 tourists came.

Peanuts.

2 minutes ago, Cherrytreeview said:

Then no volume of people will come.

100,000 people expected through Phuket sandbox, 6000 tourists came.

Peanuts.

Not true, 37,477 up to yesterday 

 

2 minutes ago, Cherrytreeview said:

Then no volume of people will come.

100,000 people expected through Phuket sandbox, 6000 tourists came.

Peanuts.

they may lift the three points he mentioned,  I just don't know if they would take the Covid health insurance off the table ..... but hey !   lets hope some common sense prevails and they do get rid of all the requirements.

as you mentioned,  folks won't come if they don't.

1 minute ago, aussiexpat said:

Not true, 37,477 up to yesterday 

 

They think the vast majority are people who have had to return, family, business etc. Not 2 week holiday makers.

Would you travel half way round the world to shuttered shops, restaurants and an alcohol ban?

If you still need quarantine , why not open all provinces!? I think many like myself want to go elsewhere than those 10 named province! I dont want stuck in place where i dont want to be! Want travel straight to my home province!

There is a big misunderstanding...

 

No way the quarantine will be dropped on november 1.

 

The "reopening" of BKK on november 1 is just a gimmick. A motto.

 

Meanwhile : quarantine (even though reduced), borders closed, COE, curfew (reduced by 1 hour...), no alcool, no schools.

 

The biggest news : the emergency decree is EXTENDED to november 30 !

 

Voilà the "reality".

The 'right hand' will be along shortly. Oh, here he is, just two stories down....

 

"The restrictions on people travelling to Phi Phi Island have been extended until further notice as a precaution following more construction workers there being confirmed as infected."

 

 

 

33 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The curfew will be shortened by one hour, from currently 9pm – 4am.

From 9pm to 3am!

If it is for only certain areas..how to go from Swampy to other cities that are open that might not have direct flights ?

Are we to arrive swampy and get in travel corridor buses or planes...like that ?

 

2 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

If it is for only certain areas..how to go from Swampy to other cities that are open that might not have direct flights ?

Are we to arrive swampy and get in travel corridor buses or planes...like that ?

 

If i was a betting man, you will not be free to get a passport stamp and walk to the taxi line unhindered.

Until that day comes I won't be returning.