Thailand prepares airports for quarantine-free travellers

[webfact]

Immigration police officers are seen during a readiness inspection in preparation for the country's reopening on November 1, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, October 20, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai government officials on Wednesday inspected the readiness of the country's airports to welcome quarantine-free travellers, due to return next month after almost two years of strict COVID-19 rules that halted vital tourism.

 

From Nov. 1, the country will allow vaccinated arrivals from low risk countries to return to its popular destinations like Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

 

Tourism before the pandemic was a leading driver of the economy, accounting for 12% of GDP. But the tourism authority has forecast foreign arrivals will drop to just 100,000 this year, down from 40 million in 2019 before the pandemic struck.

 

"November 1 is the first step," Transport Minister Saksiam Chidchob said during a visit to Bangkok's Don Muang airport on Wednesday.

 

Airport staff practice departure protocols during a readiness inspection, in preparation for the country's reopening on November 1, at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, October 20, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

"Foreign tourists and investors from at least 10 countries which are in health-safe zones, as well as doing great financially, can come to visit and spend in the country."

 

Thailand piloted reopening earlier this year in its resort island of Phuket, allowing fully-vaccinated tourists to skip Thailand’s mandatory two-week quarantine provided they remained on the island.

 

But Saksiam said the wider reopening would be even simpler for travellers, as testing on arrival could be done at hotels and other accommodations rather than at the airport.

 

"The entire time a visitor will spend from getting through the terminal gates to leaving the airport would take no more than 25 minutes," Saksiam told reporters.

 

Thailand has recorded nearly 1.8 million cases and 18,486 fatalities since the outbreak began, the overwhelming majority of which have been in the past seven months.

 

(Reporting by Artorn Pookasook and Juarawee Kittisilpa in Bangkok; Editing by John Geddie and William Maclean)

 

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[JCP108]

So, if it takes 25 minutes per person to process them out, it would take total of 10,000 minutes, or 7 days, to process 400 people arriving on an international flight. If they have 14 processing stations running non-stop, then the people on that plane could be all on their way to baggage claim in only 12 hours. Of course, what about the people on other planes that arrive during that twelve hours?

[bunnydrops]

I don't think I have ever gotten through the terminal gates to leaving the airport in 25 minutes. I've waited longer than that just to get my luggage.

[RichardColeman]

49 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

So, if it takes 25 minutes per person to process them out, it would take total of 10,000 minutes, or 7 days, to process 400 people arriving on an international flight. If they have 14 processing stations running non-stop, then the people on that plane could be all on their way to baggage claim in only 12 hours. Of course, what about the people on other planes that arrive during that twelve hours?

Way I read it is 25 minutes from your plane to the taxi - probably the same 5 minutes at immigration.

 

I imagine they'll escort you at a brisk pace.

 

I'm still confused though where and when the test is done, if you book one night, and arrive after the days testing is done, are you stuck for an additional 24 hours ? 

 

Will the health pass allow just one day booking ? 

 

 

 

[JCP108]

14 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Way I read it is 25 minutes from your plane to the taxi - probably the same 5 minutes at immigration.

 

I imagine they'll escort you at a brisk pace.

 

I'm still confused though where and when the test is done, if you book one night, and arrive after the days testing is done, are you stuck for an additional 24 hours ? 

 

Will the health pass allow just one day booking ? 

 

 

 

But, still, if they do swab people at the airport (there has been talk of this) and it takes 10 minutes per person, a plane load of 400 people would take 4,000 total minutes to process with one station. If they had 10 stations running non-stop, that would take 400 minutes to process that one plane, or almost 7 hours to process. And, what if more planes land during that 7 hours?

[roo860]

13 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

But, still, if they do swab people at the airport (there has been talk of this) and it takes 10 minutes per person, a plane load of 400 people would take 4,000 total minutes to process with one station. If they had 10 stations running non-stop, that would take 400 minutes to process that one plane, or almost 7 hours to process. And, what if more planes land during that 7 hours?

Take a sleeping bag!

[Tramboy]

I'd hate to be one of the first.

This is going to be a calamity.

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, JCP108 said:

So, if it takes 25 minutes per person to process them out, it would take total of 10,000 minutes, or 7 days, to process 400 people arriving on an international flight. If they have 14 processing stations running non-stop, then the people on that plane could be all on their way to baggage claim in only 12 hours. Of course, what about the people on other planes that arrive during that twelve hours?

This is the issue with people looking for the worst when interpreting information in a fundamentally flawed manner. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 20, 2021 by richard_smith237

[david555]

Thailand opens ....

And same time in U.K. & Europe covid contagions are rising again to a 4 th wave ....so it shall be a temporary opening ....unless this time Thailand keep ordering vaccines and keep vaccinating .

 

The virus keep changing ....that is ehat virusses do

 

Final thought ...." here we go ...again " ...☹️

Edited October 20, 2021 by david555

[richard_smith237]

44 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

But, still, if they do swab people at the airport (there has been talk of this) and it takes 10 minutes per person, a plane load of 400 people would take 4,000 total minutes to process with one station. If they had 10 stations running non-stop, that would take 400 minutes to process that one plane, or almost 7 hours to process. And, what if more planes land during that 7 hours?

As with the Phuket Sandbox - it would likely take about 1-2 minutes per person. 

Additionally, each person has to get though immigration and collect their baggage - they do not all queue up at the PCR check point at the same time... they are ‘drip fed’ through based on their progress through immigration and the baggage hall. 

 

IF it takes immigration 1-2 mins per person, the additional PCR testing is only an additional few mins per person. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JCP108]

18 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

As with the Phuket Sandbox - it would likely take about 1-2 minutes per person. 

Additionally, each person has to get though immigration and collect their baggage - they do not all queue up at the PCR check point at the same time... they are ‘drip fed’ through based on their progress through immigration and the baggage hall. 

 

IF it takes immigration 1-2 mins per person, the additional PCR testing is only an additional few mins per person. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay. Nice that they were able to process people in 1-2 minutes per person. If that were the rate at Bangkok, then a plane of 400 would take 800 minutes, or 9 hours and 20 minutes. If they had 10 stations for such, it would still take an extra hour and 20 minutes just for that one plane. What if more planes land during that hour and a half? Looks to me like swabbing people at the airport would be a <deleted> show. 

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Way I read it is 25 minutes from your plane to the taxi - probably the same 5 minutes at immigration.

 

I imagine they'll escort you at a brisk pace.

 

I'm still confused though where and when the test is done, if you book one night, and arrive after the days testing is done, are you stuck for an additional 24 hours ? 

 

Will the health pass allow just one day booking ? 

 

 

 

...and it appears that they still haven't sorted out all the details and making them publicly available. 

Because of these facts and the strong hunch that they still don't know what they're doing, I believe the initial days and weeks into the new program are going to be complete chaos..........the word will get out and no one will show up until they logically get their act together.

[gim12]

the article states that testing can be done at the hotel and not the airport, looks like someone with common sense finally was involved in the planning

[zzaa09]

26 minutes ago, gim12 said:

the article states that testing can be done at the hotel and not the airport, looks like someone with common sense finally was involved in the planning

Yet, you're still "quarantined" for up to 24/36 hrs in wait for the results. 

Would be much more logical to administer rapid test - 5/10 min results. 

[vandeventer]

Now this would be a better greeting as we know the tourist will have such a great time.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHqrlHKUvEY

 

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Way I read it is 25 minutes from your plane to the taxi

Must be supplying golf carts.... it takes most of that to walk from the gate to immigration most times I have arrived. 

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, JCP108 said:

So, if it takes 25 minutes per person to process them out, it would take total of 10,000 minutes, or 7 days, to process 400 people arriving on an international flight. If they have 14 processing stations running non-stop, then the people on that plane could be all on their way to baggage claim in only 12 hours. Of course, what about the people on other planes that arrive during that twelve hours?

But I doubt they are meaning one by one, very likely many staff will be processing arrivals. People don't line up single file to get their passports stamped or various documents checked, and they don't line up one by one to claim their luggage.

 

But I do see other complications re swabs taken at hotels etc., etc. 

[scorecard]

27 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Yet, you're still "quarantined" for up to 24/36 hrs in wait for the results. 

Would be much more logical to administer rapid test - 5/10 min results. 

Which brings a valid question, arrivals go to their booked 1 night hotel and get swabbed at the hotel.

 

Is there any guarantee that they will get their test result by e.mail/SMS strictly by the next morning / within 24 hours?

 

This brings other questions; if the passengers needs to take take a domestic flight to get to their final destination, and if they do make such booking then the swab report is delayed, what happens now. Or does it mean the passenger shouldn't make the domestic booking until they have received their negative report?

 

 

Edited October 20, 2021 by scorecard

[jerrymahoney]

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

This is the issue with people looking for the worst when interpreting information in a fundamentally flawed manner. 

Sure but AN/TV offers a valuable service in always providing the worst-case-scenario be it regarding Immigration policies or a proclamation in support of Mother's Day.

Edited October 20, 2021 by jerrymahoney

[Benmart]

As will many things proven by past performance, changes will most likely be forthcoming.

[zzaa09]

14 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Which brings a valid question, arrivals go to their booked 1 night hotel and get swabbed at the hotel.

 

Is there any guarantee that they will get their test result by e.mail/SMS strictly by the next morning / within 24 hours?

 

This brings other questions; if the passengers needs to take take a domestic flight to get to their final destination, and if they do make such booking then the swab report is delayed, what happens now. Or does it mean the passenger shouldn't make the domestic booking until they have received their negative report?

 

 

Just another one of many things that they have never considered when designing this flawed program.

[zzaa09]

1 minute ago, Benmart said:

As will many things proven by past performance, changes will most likely be forthcoming.

Might take 'em a month or two to sort out the obvious - maybe.

[wtfracing]

1 hour ago, gim12 said:

the article states that testing can be done at the hotel and not the airport, looks like someone with common sense finally was involved in the planning

Whoever that person was that had the common sense should be given a pay rise as they are a rare commodity here.

[WEBBYB808]

You'll not get through baggage  claim in 25 min, not to mention immigration.   Once again, why is no one mentioning or stating though there may be no quarantine, (right) entering Thailand,  but there might be one when the tourist return to their home country!  If you build it, they won't come!

[ronster]

Suggest them immigration officers take a seat with them to work as the days are going to be very long waiting for the 10 or so getting of each plane ! 

[phetphet]

Anyone know what quarantine would be required for someone exiting Thailand for less than 14 days? e.g. A return  trip to UK for 10 days.

 

Would a 1 night quarantine be enough? or Required to do the full 14 days?

[kelboy]

I had to wait 2 minutes for my swab test in phuket Airport which I though was good, from landing to getting into my taxi was about 45 minutes.I think this is about the  normal time it takes me at BKK 

[bristolgeoff]

Before the shutdown with the virus,you get off the plane rush to beat the slower passengers.It  worked some what,then the waiting to pass immigration.I imagine by the time you  get your bags and head  out it is roughly 45 mins.With this new system and time it takes who knows how long it will take.my guess up to 2 hrs, from nov 1 maybe longer

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"Foreign tourists and investors from at least 10 countries which are in health-safe zones, as well as doing great financially, can come to visit and spend in the country."

They just couldn't resist slipping that one in there somewhere.

[EVENKEEL]

3 hours ago, JCP108 said:

But, still, if they do swab people at the airport (there has been talk of this) and it takes 10 minutes per person, a plane load of 400 people would take 4,000 total minutes to process with one station. If they had 10 stations running non-stop, that would take 400 minutes to process that one plane, or almost 7 hours to process. And, what if more planes land during that 7 hours?

delete

 

Edited October 21, 2021 by EVENKEEL