Travel sector calls for endemic status, scrapping of Thailand Pass and full normality on entry

[webfact]

The permanent secretary at the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, in the last week made it clear that the country’s four-phase reopening plans which should see all current restrictions removed by July 1st including the unpopular Thailand Pass app, was dependent on incoming infection rates and approval from the World Health Organisation (WHO). This week, the boss of Emirates in Thailand, the Dubai based airline which flew 32% of all incoming passengers into the kingdom last year, described the abolition of Thailand Pass as a potential ‘golden moment’ for the travel industry and a lift-off point for the country’s tourism prospects.

 

by James Morris and Son Nguyen

 

Industry leaders from the Federation of Thai Industries to the Thai Chamber of Commerce have urged the government to expedite the plan to declare the COVID-19 virus as endemic with concerns that the country’s competitors in the foreign tourism industry have moved more decisively. There is also a view that the scrapping of the Thailand Pass application for incoming travellers will be the key move in the process, or as the country boss for Emirates, which brought 32% of all visitors to Thailand last year, described it this week, a potential ‘Golden Moment’ for the country’s foreign tourism sector.

 

The boss of Emirates Airline which flew a large proportion of all arrivals into Thailand in 2021 has expressed caution about the country’s stated plans to fully cast aside all travel restrictions from July 1st next in a four-phase plan which is now underway. It comes as the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, has said the timetable is dependent on both approval from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and controlling incoming infection levels at below 1%.

 

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Thailand’s tourism industry is entering into a critical period as the kingdom’s phased and careful reopening to foreign arrivals without restrictions targeted for July 1st next, finds itself challenged by moves from competitor destinations who have acted decisively to reopen their borders and attract visitors.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/03/23/calls-for-scrapping-of-thailand-pass-normal-entry/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-03-24

 

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[SheikYabodyline]

Scrapped by July 1st? Bang in the middle of swelter season in Thailand and of European and North American summer. What timing!

[daveAustin]

All for it but would be happy with enforced asymptomatic hospitalisation being covered by insurers at this point. Although they won’t scrap it due to army agendas, you could bet your bottom dollar that if they did they’d nevertheless still make entry exasperatingly confusing, just because they can. 

[eggzthaioz]

Why does Thailand have to follow WHO as other countries in the region have made changes and will benefit significantly from doing so.

I'm off to Cambodia. Thailand you don't deserve getting mine or anyone else's money.

Wake up and open up without all the ridiculous restrictions.

[blazes]

21 minutes ago, eggzthaioz said:

Why does Thailand have to follow WHO as other countries in the region have made changes and will benefit significantly from doing so.

I'm off to Cambodia. Thailand you don't deserve getting mine or anyone else's money.

Wake up and open up without all the ridiculous restrictions.

Exactly.  Why would you take orders from WHO (who are at the same time taking their orders from China?)

[TooMuchTime]

This should not happen at all.

 

I have said before to only open up 100% normal for all Asian countries and keep Thaipass in current state for all western countries.

 

Thailand is digging their own grave if they open for everyone.

[mrfill]

Ah yes, the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Chamber of Commerce, well known world experts in epidemiology.

 

[TheFishman1]

 Finally somebody that makes sense get rid of the Thai pass TIT

[Benmart]

43 minutes ago, mrfill said:

Ah yes, the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Chamber of Commerce, well known world experts in epidemiology.

 

Yes, much like the current milit..er, goverment.

[jacko45k]

Thailand is currently seeing its highest ever daily new infection numbers, so right now is not a good time to ease things. I hope by July we are well past that peak. 

[Scouse123]

6 hours ago, TooMuchTime said:

This should not happen at all.

 

I have said before to only open up 100% normal for all Asian countries and keep Thaipass in current state for all western countries.

 

Thailand is digging their own grave if they open for everyone.

And I have said before your posts on this topic...

 

They do not make sense and go against all common sense and the current data held regarding infection rates in Thailand and from where they are coming. And they are not coming from Western vaccinated tourists!

 

Why on Earth would they open up to Asian countries with inferior vaccines and poorer vaccine rates and not  Western countries?

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, SheikYabodyline said:

Scrapped by July 1st? Bang in the middle of swelter season in Thailand and of European and North American summer. What timing!

Think you may find that the European and American Summer timing makes no difference to any incoming tourists. Most tourist don't just 'book' a vacation to Thailand, they plan one month ahead. People booking want 100% guarantee when booking a holiday there will be no restriction, not a maybe, potentially or a might.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Industry leaders from the Federation of Thai Industries to the Thai Chamber of Commerce have urged the government to expedite the plan to declare the COVID-19 virus as endemic with concerns that the country’s competitors in the foreign tourism industry have moved more decisively

The knee jerk reaction to other countries will kick-in eventually.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, daveAustin said:

All for it but would be happy with enforced asymptomatic hospitalisation being covered by insurers at this point. Although they won’t scrap it due to army agendas, you could bet your bottom dollar that if they did they’d nevertheless still make entry exasperatingly confusing, just because they can. 

So what exactly will the 300 baht per head cover..

we need that clarified.

[zzzzz]

1 hour ago, TooMuchTime said:

This should not happen at all.

 

I have said before to only open up 100% normal for all Asian countries and keep Thaipass in current state for all western countries.

 

Thailand is digging their own grave if they open for everyone.

why it is NOT arriving international WESTERN passengers' bringing in the virus, its the ones already here!!

OPEN fully ( as cambodia has) or accept the consequences. 

Edited March 24, 2022 by zzzzz

[ChrisY1]

Planning to go out for 2 weeks in April...still need ThaiPass....and what a crock that is!

It needs to be the first thing to get rid of....it serves little purpose at all!

[cardinalblue]

Why continue to penalize 97%+ of incoming tourists who are negative and wasting unnecessary dollars?

 

I wonder if it’s about fleecing a captive audience?

 

 

[TooMuchTime]

22 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

And I have said before your posts on this topic are complete nonsense.

 

They do not make sense and go against all common sense and the current data held regarding infection rates in Thailand and from where they are coming. And they are not coming from Western vaccinated tourists!

 

Why on Earth would they open up to Asian countries with inferior vaccines and poorer vaccine rates and not  Western countries?

They have less cases and deaths.  Next!

[jacko45k]

11 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

So what exactly will the 300 baht per head cover..

we need that clarified.

I suspect a free, red 'I LOVE THAILAND'  baseball cap for each tourist!

[Xonax]

3 hours ago, SheikYabodyline said:

Scrapped by July 1st? Bang in the middle of swelter season in Thailand and of European and North American summer. What timing!

Maybe they are deliberately opting for a soft opening.

[dogfish180]

46 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Thailand is currently seeing its highest ever daily new infection numbers, so right now is not a good time to ease things. I hope by July we are well past that peak. 

Yes, for the sake of the tourists, who'll be infected by unvaccinated Thais! Thanks Thailand for thinking about the health of the Falangs ????????

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, dogfish180 said:

Yes, for the sake of the tourists, who'll be infected by unvaccinated Thais! Thanks Thailand for thinking about the health of the Falangs ????????

I believe Thailand considers it's own people....

[Pedrogaz]

26 minutes ago, cardinalblue said:

Why continue to penalize 97%+ of incoming tourists who are negative and wasting unnecessary dollars?

 

I wonder if it’s about fleecing a captive audience?

 

 

I think the Thai government are overestimating the appeal of Thailand as a tourist destination and the willingness of tourists to be fleeced.

[Thujone]

38 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I suspect a free, red 'I LOVE THAILAND'  baseball cap for each tourist!

Perhaps Anutin could hand out free face masks at the airport.

Oh, maybe not such a good idea...

[jacko45k]

Just now, Thujone said:

Perhaps Anutin could hand out free face masks at the airport.

Oh, maybe not such a good idea...

Yes, sounds good.... but you know these Westerners, stomp their feet and cry when told to wear a mask!

[Excel]

Unfortunately common sense and economic nounce are something that all Thai generals, their supporters and this government are devoid of.  Ensuring continuance at the trough by attempting to control the nation by these farcical covid measures will take precedence.

[Pib]

A country does not have to get WHO's blessing.  This is just an excuse by the  Thai govt to delay reopening/drop restrictions....trying to blame their reasoning on an international organization.

[rainham]

I don't know,

Maybe I'm becoming a cynical old man. 

It just doesn't make any sense to me

The Thai government just seem to look at everything as a potential earner PCR test, pay for a registered hotel, hotel, linked to a private Hospital, $20,000 covid insurance requirement ( covid sickness cover not guaranteed ) 

It's a shame as the Thai people could really do with some income from tourism

Right now 

 

 

 

 

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Thailand is currently seeing its highest ever daily new infection numbers, so right now is not a good time to ease things. I hope by July we are well past that peak. 

The UK, with a similar size population, dropped  all restrictions and they have just reported over 100K new cases and nearly 17K in hospital.

Obviously those that are in favour of removing restrictions think that everyone is quite happy to risk being infected, odds are about 1 in 20.

Never been very lucky with gambling.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51768274

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Planning to go out for 2 weeks in April...still need ThaiPass....and what a crock that is!

It needs to be the first thing to get rid of....it serves little purpose at all!

Of course it has a purpose, it is a deterrent, and quite effective.

Only foreigners think the country cannot survive without them.