PHOTO: Post Today

 

By Nop Meechukhun

 

Bangkok – The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) believed that international tourism would be significantly revived after the government had scrapped the RT-PCR testing, and basically the entire Test and Go program, for international arrivals before entering the Kingdom.

 

TCC Chairman Sanan Angubolkul said after the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) ended the ‘Test&Go’ scheme and mandatory health testing yesterday, April 22nd, that he would like to thank the government for listening to the entrepreneurs’ outcry. He believed that the cancellation on May 1st would bring trading, investment, and tourism back to life.

 

Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

 

“Trading and service sectors would recover faster. Private sectors would also help support entrepreneurs to help comply with various measures to prevent the Covid-19 spread.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/04/23/international-tourism-will-be-significantly-revived-after-test-and-go-ends-thai-chamber-of-commerce-chairman-says/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-04-23

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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

Significantly revived, that is a stretch. Sure more will come, but then the unvaccinated have a few hoops to jump through.

It should get better than now but as long as there is registration, approval and Insurance scam stays, it won't be open to all. Take the last step Thailand....let Airlines verify vaccination and get rid of Insurance scam.

6 minutes ago, RandiRona said:

It should get better than now but as long as there is registration, approval and Insurance scam stays, it won't be open to all. Take the last step Thailand....let Airlines verify vaccination and get rid of Insurance scam.

LMAO at "let airlines verify".

 

They dont want any extra work paperwork.  US airlines even begged to drop mask mandates and celebrated once the GOAT state Florida shut it down.

I think it will be a huge help. I'm off to Sydney for work in June and it's a real weight off the shoulders to know I won't face a test and possible quarantine upon return.

 

This also confirms my plans to visit family in the UK in August. I can live with Thailand pass, it's a form on the internet. Unnecessary but not a deal breaker like the test on arrival was.

5 minutes ago, TooMuchTime said:

LMAO at "let airlines verify".

 

They dont want any extra work paperwork.  US airlines even begged to drop mask mandates and celebrated once the GOAT state Florida shut it down.

United verify vaccination status for Intenational travel. You van easily upload vaccination status to their website and you are good to travel. I am sure others does as well. This way you dont need to wait for approval from Thai govt and less aggravation.

The PM has himself admitted that the numbers of tourists who contracted Covid and needed hospitalisation is minuscule something like 0,49% so what's with insurance scam i'd like to know...

20 minutes ago, TooMuchTime said:

LMAO at "let airlines verify".

 

They dont want any extra work paperwork.  US airlines even begged to drop mask mandates and celebrated once the GOAT state Florida shut it down.

They are doing it as of now, checking vaccination status for those already coming to Thailand. Just let them keep doing it as well as checking the Thai pass before boarding.  Why upon entry do it if it was done prior to flying.

32 minutes ago, RandiRona said:

It should get better than now but as long as there is registration, approval and Insurance scam stays, it won't be open to all. Take the last step Thailand....let Airlines verify vaccination and get rid of Insurance scam.

So you think people should just turn up, and if they get sick expect someone else to pay?

Still not there.

NO restrictions and then be optimistic.

57 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Significantly revived, that is a stretch. Sure more will come, but then the unvaccinated have a few hoops to jump through.

A preflight pcr test is just 1 hoop extra over fully vaccinated travellers. I don't think these people mind that.

 

The biggest drawback of test&go was the uncertainty after arrival. That's gone now. Then again never can please everyone can you?

51 minutes ago, sungod said:

So you think people should just turn up, and if they get sick expect someone else to pay?

No...they need to self pay or carry their own insurance just like world did before. And that 10k of unusable covid insurance wont save you from Dengue, Malaria and thousands other hospitalization reasons so they still need to pay themselves. Also only one percent of incoming tourists are turned up positive , would you like to penalize 99% for 1 %?? 

Until they dump the insurance scam requirement - not much will change

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

The PM has himself admitted that the numbers of tourists who contracted Covid and needed hospitalisation is minuscule something like 0,49% so what's with insurance scam i'd like to know...

A friend arrived from the UK as a tourist, travelled in a van to the hotel with others, and got tested in a dirty parking lot by a guy that didn't change gloves between vans, or between testing other people. PCR tested not positive, not negative, but 'trace detected'. He was whisked away from his hotel, and spent 10 days locked up in COVID jail at a hospital, never once testing positive, along with many others in the same situation there.  He was then presented with a bill of hundreds of thousands upon release. His insurance would not pay as he did not have Covid. He didn't have the money and also refused to pay, and almost was taken back to the airport and blacklisted, but friends were there to record and document it all.

Some insurance companies have gone bankrupt with billions of these Covid claims. The system is set up to easily scam the insurance companies and travellers, with no recourse due to the powers of the emergency decree. This must be stopped.

11 hours ago, RandiRona said:

No...they need to self pay or carry their own insurance just like world did before. And that 10k of unusable covid insurance wont save you from Dengue, Malaria and thousands other hospitalization reasons so they still need to pay themselves. Also only one percent of incoming tourists are turned up positive , would you like to penalize 99% for 1 %?? 

its peanuts. I just did a quote with roojai, 650 baht. If that the difference between coming or not I would suggest you cant afford to come in the first place.

 

and right, everyone used to turn up with their own insurance, thats why there was a go fund me everyday with a hard luck story

Now they need to drop the mask rule outside, and let bars open till 2am or whatever the law is

9 hours ago, sungod said:

Stop whining, its peanuts. I just did a quote with roojai, 650 baht. If that the difference between coming or not I would suggest you cant afford to come in the first place.

 

and right, everyone used to turn up with their own insurance, thats why there was a go fund me everyday with a hard luck story

its not about the cost. It's about paperwork, approvals, tracking ...all those things which make tourists start looking for other place. Whether for good or bad, tourism is running this country and that is the only fair play majority of Thais have in this country. So need to ensure that Tourism can grow without restrictions or red tape.

2 hours ago, RandiRona said:

No...they need to self pay or carry their own insurance just like world did before. And that 10k of unusable covid insurance wont save you from Dengue, Malaria and thousands other hospitalization reasons so they still need to pay themselves. Also only one percent of incoming tourists are turned up positive , would you like to penalize 99% for 1 %?? 

Let not forget if not already the extra 300-600 baht every arrival is paying than was said to be used for medical and tourist.  Based on their projections of visitor and the % that actually get sick or hurt we are talking lots of $$$$$$$$$$$$$ or baht. 

Forget about the changes because they still do not put Thailand on par with many other destinations. Look at the experience that tourist will have when they get here and it is not good. Bars forced to operate as restaurants and many restrictions on social distancing, dancing etc. Many businesses closed leaving ghost towns. And it's a long flight from the main markets in the Americas & Europe who have many better alternatives. And as for the new saviours India it remains to be seen if there is anything like a large volume wanting to visit. All in all this set of changes are really little more than tinkering at the margins.

 

2 hours ago, RandiRona said:

No...they need to self pay or carry their own insurance just like world did before.

One of the problems you see is that many tourists seem not to bother these days - look at all the Go Fund me stories.

Some form of mandatory insurance that covers everything and Covid for tourists would make a lot of sense.

Can an unvaccinated person load all the other info into Thailand Pass and then show up at the airport with the PCR test result?  Or must he wait until he gets the test result back before dealing with the Thailand Pass system?

Anyone have any idea how the insurance element works for those on a Thai extension of stay and a re-entry permit? Will the insurance have to cover until the extension of stay runs out?

I believe PCR before flying is necessary. Who wants to share a flight row with possibly infected tourists. It’s no big deal . 
why not make tourist travel insurance mandatory ? Certainly save a lot of pain of hospital bills. 
Quick look at check in, then on arrival in Thailand at immigration desk. Done.  
Also the long wait at Thai immigration is unnecessary. Get them to be more efficient ( don’t laugh) it’s a ridiculous loss of time and procedure . Makes me think of trying to get into North Korea. Or Russia.

So as a fully vaccinated person I still need to fill in a Thai pass?????

This works for me.  I am hoping that I can upload my vax status & my travel insurance to the TP website without having to book (and pay for) anything in advance, so if I get rejected I can just try again with no cost.  I have been avoiding Thailand because of the TP hassles and the risk of hospiprison, but now looking at flights to come back & spend some time with my friends whom I have not seen since 2019. 

4 hours ago, TooMuchTime said:

LMAO at "let airlines verify".

 

They dont want any extra work paperwork.  US airlines even begged to drop mask mandates and celebrated once the GOAT state Florida shut it down.

They check visas, it's no extra burden to check a vaccination certificate - especially in the EU with standardized readers.

...once the PCR testing stops we will have no idea of the mutating of Sars Covi-2.  This is a reckless move on the governments part.  The WHO have already commented on this, but its advice seems to be being ignored.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

“Trading and service sectors would recover faster. Private sectors would also help support entrepreneurs to help comply with various measures to prevent the Covid-19 spread.

Midnight closing for "restaurants, not bars/clubs/go-go's etc open?

What constitutes "Fully Vaccinated"? How many jabs and how long vaccinated before arriving in Thailand.

Is there an age limit for children? Surely they don't expect children to be fully vaccinated.

5 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I think it will be a huge help. I'm off to Sydney for work in June and it's a real weight off the shoulders to know I won't face a test and possible quarantine upon return.

 

This also confirms my plans to visit family in the UK in August. I can live with Thailand pass, it's a form on the internet. Unnecessary but not a deal breaker like the test on arrival was.

What about the "Covid insurance"... that needs to be dropped.