PHOTO: Thansettakij

 

Thailand has widened its door once again for international arrivals from all countries as it relaunched its “Test&Go” scheme and the registration of “Thailand Pass” today, February 1st.

 

However, due to the ongoing concern of the Omicron variant, the entry procedures and requirements of the scheme may be slightly complicated to prevent the domestic spread. Some critics in the tourism and hospitality sectors may not consider this reopening as a potential economy and tourism reviver.

 

On the contrary, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects some 200,000 arrivals per month after the reopening. They are expected to spend about 60,000 baht per person, according to TAT.

 

Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/02/01/thailand-welcomes-foreign-tourists-again-as-testgo-scheme-relaunched-today-under-new-requirements/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-02-01

 

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The no quarantine quarantine option!

Good luck with that TAT.

 

'Slightly complicated'? Lol. Just lol. 

Everything to do with immigration in this country is so unnecessarily difficult with many hurdles to do things that really doesn't need to be that complicated.

 

This is probably the only place in the world that lays out the welcome mat but doesn't want to let you come inside.

book hotel 2x nights for PCR testing on 1st and 5th day 

 

after the 1st test you are free to go out and mingle and get infected 

 

2nd test on 5th day test positive ................................ banged up your 3 week holiday ruined

 

anyone that agrees to this needs their head looked at 

 

there are now 200 positive tests in Phuket every day that are listed as  "from abroad" these are people who test positive within 7 days after arriving in Thailand - over 2000 per week   

Having a test on the 5th day after being free to roam the country and thus pick up the virus anywhere is complete insanity. I love the joint but a test on day 5 is surreal particularly in a country where testing positive basically is akin to incarceration 

I doubt any family is coming here for holidays with these requirements but may be that's not the target market anyways.

15 minutes ago, FalangKino said:

Everything to do with immigration in this country is so unnecessarily difficult with many hurdles to do things that really doesn't need to be that complicated.

I renewed my retirement extension and files a new 90-day report a week past Monday. Took about 20 minutes. The drive to and from immigration was longer.

 

YMMV

Someone should let the Thai embassy know, the UK embassy still has no link to application for test and go. We booked a flight on Dec 19th for the Mrs to fly out on Jan 10 only for them to cancel all applications from Dec 20th which stopped going as the confirmation didn't arrive before we could get hers in. That has cost me over £200 and now we have to pay for another test costing a further £100 so all in all at present I'm going to be  £300 down. No doubt the flights will be more expensive now too. I read all the time on here, people banging on about the tourists , what about the poor Thais trying to get home to see their families. Poor lass hasn't seen her ailing mum for 3 years  and unless they relax the entry restrictions then I may never see my mother in law again. If I go in April as originally planned I cant afford to stay in BKK for 6 days waiting on a 2nd test. There are no SHA+ hotels up in Isaan for me to check into on the 5th day , so 6 days in BKK puts £600+ on to my visit. I doubt the TAT realise that a hell of a lot of their tourists actually arn't  toutists but are spouses and when these spouses visit they spend more than most tourists as they generally  have a weeks holiday and then spend money treating their inlaws. I would guess between the Mrs and myself we spend over £3k in the month we are usually there but that will not happen if its costing us an extra £1k just to get into the place .

15 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

I renewed my retirement extension and files a new 90-day report a week past Monday. Took about 20 minutes. The drive to and from immigration was longer.

 

YMMV

Not everyone is on a retirement visa. 

Just now, FalangKino said:

15 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

I renewed my retirement extension and files a new 90-day report a week past Monday. Took about 20 minutes. The drive to and from immigration was longer.

 

YMMV

Not everyone is on a retirement visa. 

But you miss the point.

 

The claim by @FalangKino that "Everything to do with immigration in this country is so unnecessarily difficult" is false.

 

(my emphasis)

1 minute ago, NanLaew said:

But you miss the point.

 

The claim by @FalangKino that "Everything to do with immigration in this country is so unnecessarily difficult" is false.

 

(my emphasis)

Nothing at immigration here is easy.

4 hours ago, NanLaew said:

I renewed my retirement extension and files a new 90-day report a week past Monday. Took about 20 minutes. The drive to and from immigration was longer.

 

YMMV

As long as you don't have to put up 800K in the bank. To stay then good. I was there and on a retirement visa, and liked to travel. A total nightmare. And that is being kind. Thailand was the worst place I have ever traveled to if you enjoy traveling. I was in the south traveling and my 90 day report came up. Had to fly back to Chinag May to get it sorted out. The immigration in several cities would not do my 90 day. What a total clown show. 

I got my last retirement visa there and left  a month later. Not worth the hassle if traveling.

If occasionally traveling or sitting on your stoop in one spot then I see no problems. Retirement visa and 90 day for you guys would be something to look forward to.

4 hours ago, mickj88 said:

Someone should let the Thai embassy know, the UK embassy still has no link to application for test and go. We booked a flight on Dec 19th for the Mrs to fly out on Jan 10 only for them to cancel all applications from Dec 20th which stopped going as the confirmation didn't arrive before we could get hers in. That has cost me over £200 and now we have to pay for another test costing a further £100 so all in all at present I'm going to be  £300 down. No doubt the flights will be more expensive now too. I read all the time on here, people banging on about the tourists , what about the poor Thais trying to get home to see their families. Poor lass hasn't seen her ailing mum for 3 years  and unless they relax the entry restrictions then I may never see my mother in law again. If I go in April as originally planned I cant afford to stay in BKK for 6 days waiting on a 2nd test. There are no SHA+ hotels up in Isaan for me to check into on the 5th day , so 6 days in BKK puts £600+ on to my visit. I doubt the TAT realise that a hell of a lot of their tourists actually arn't  toutists but are spouses and when these spouses visit they spend more than most tourists as they generally  have a weeks holiday and then spend money treating their inlaws. I would guess between the Mrs and myself we spend over £3k in the month we are usually there but that will not happen if its costing us an extra £1k just to get into the place .

I think there are some hotels in Khon Kaen. I'll try to find where I saw them

5 hours ago, starky said:

Having a test on the 5th day after being free to roam the country and thus pick up the virus anywhere is complete insanity. I love the joint but a test on day 5 is surreal particularly in a country where testing positive basically is akin to incarceration 

Yes, it's a cluster F and is messing with people's lives. But you've got to admire it for what it is, from their angle. Let people in, get them infected locally and then conveniently parcel the numbers off as coming from abroad while banking loads of coin.

And don't forget, the utter tools that make the policy are uncaring, unsympathetic, apathetic, pathetic automatons.

Also have to admire how they have got away with some mainstream media saying it a model to the world no quarrantine open to all with the test and go as if it was normal.

Nothing about insurance or the dreaded positive 10 day incarsuration.

This is a money play for Insurance, pcr testing and hospitality charged at a premium above normal, controlled by big business fits perfectly with punket mafia taxi TIT

8 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Nothing at immigration here is easy.

add to that the DLT.

8 hours ago, NanLaew said:

I renewed my retirement extension and files a new 90-day report a week past Monday. Took about 20 minutes. The drive to and from immigration was longer.

 

YMMV

That’s probably because you were the only one there.

10 hours ago, Thailand said:

The no quarantine quarantine option!

x2

I miss Thailand

 

Hope they open soon.

 

Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam looking better all the time

10 hours ago, Thailand said:

The no quarantine quarantine option!

Maybe they should try to attract more Backpackers, than move on to the Rich and famous.

They won't come under these terms only if they have family here or a necessity to be here.

 

Tourists? Nope,   not in any large numbers, that's  for sure.

9 hours ago, NanLaew said:

I renewed my retirement extension and files a new 90-day report a week past Monday. Took about 20 minutes. The drive to and from immigration was longer.

 

YMMV

So why do you think there is a "need" for a 90 day report... plenty of other retirement destinations do not have this requirement - how do they manage ?

9 hours ago, FalangKino said:

Not everyone is on a retirement visa. 

Just those who spend more and help the Thai people/economy who really deserve it. And we are taken for granted. Almost like 2nd rate tourists.

With the "test and go and stop and test and go" program  they will be lucky if they hit 100k tourists mark. 

Have you noticed that TAT has already downgraded their projections. At one point it was 500k then 300k and now its at 200k?

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand has widened its door once again for international arrivals from all countries as it relaunched its “Test&Go” scheme and the registration of “Thailand Pass” today, February 1st.

The door maybe ajar but the safety chain is still attached.

Double vaxxed, PCR test before departure, one on arrival.

No more SHA+ rubbish.

Arrivals will be as protected if not more than anyone in Thailand.

10 hours ago, FalangKino said:

Everything to do with immigration in this country is so unnecessarily difficult with many hurdles to do things that really doesn't need to be that complicated.

 

This is probably the only place in the world that lays out the welcome mat but doesn't want to let you come inside.

Just post the money through the letter box, and go home.

9 hours ago, smedly said:

book hotel 2x nights for PCR testing on 1st and 5th day 

 

after the 1st test you are free to go out and mingle and get infected 

 

2nd test on 5th day test positive ................................ banged up your 3 week holiday ruined

 

anyone that agrees to this needs their head looked at 

Exactly correct... only idiots will take this chance.

9 hours ago, smedly said:

book hotel 2x nights for PCR testing on 1st and 5th day 

 

after the 1st test you are free to go out and mingle and get infected 

 

2nd test on 5th day test positive ................................ banged up your 3 week holiday ruined

 

anyone that agrees to this needs their head looked at 

 

there are now 200 positive tests in Phuket every day that are listed as  "from abroad" these are people who test positive within 7 days after arriving in Thailand - over 2000 per week   

Just wondering where they are putting most of these 2000?