Officials Reveal Thailand Pass Could End by June

[webfact]

 

by Krajangwit Johjit

    

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Tourism and Sports Ministry has revealed that Thailand Pass registration could be canceled on June 1, with tourists still required to use their TM6 immigration form for vaccine declaration.

 

According to Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, after the Test and Go program is lifted on May 1, the Thailand Pass Scheme will likely be phased out, resulting in a more seamless travel experience and increased tourism to the country.

 

Officials said the scrapping of the Thailand Pass Scheme will reduce the workload associated with the approval of required documents for tourists among embassies and consulates personnel around the world.

 

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Phiphat, however, stated that the cancellation must be approved by the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration at a meeting before any further announcements can be made. In the meantime, tourists arriving in Thailand may still be required to complete their vaccination records on the TM6 immigration form.

 

As the government has set a target of 7-10 million foreign arrivals in 2022, the Tourism and Sports Minister said delegates from the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand will also visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May to discuss tourism plans with the country’s flag carrier and encourage more Saudis to visit Thailand.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-04-28

 

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[mtls2005]

Dropping the thaiPass and mandatory insurance is probably a reasonable move at this point.

 

Just want to some metrics/goals included.

 

June 1? Maybe. July 1, definitely.

 

 

 

 

[Laughing Gravy]

I will believe it when I see it. Thailand has consistently 'flip flopped' its decisions all through this pandemic and shows just how incompetent the people in charge are.

 

As use as a chocolate fireguard.

 

The words could, maybe, possible, might, potentially are always used.

 

I want to see, are, will, definitely and when it has happened before i get excited.

[aussiexpat]

If they are dropping Thai Pass 1 June why didn't they just drop it 1 May instead. Would save reconfiguring Thai Pass and training airline staff all over the World on changed rules

 

I still can't believe people book flights to Thailand around the 1st of the month. Every month new changes 

[Thailand]

Then too late to attract many long haul travellers.

As before, they will come- if pre Covid restrictions.But probably not this year.

[webfact]

Tourism minister suggests replacing ‘Thailand Pass’ with ‘Vaccine Passport’

 

FILE / International visitors await instructions from health officials inside the arrival terminal at Suvarnabhumi International Airport / AFP

 

Thai Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said yesterday (Wednesday) that he will ask the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) at its next meeting to consider replacing the “Thailand Pass” with a Vaccine Passport, to facilitate entry to Thailand by overseas tourists.

 

Without elaborating, Phiphat said that a Vaccine Passport would be used with the requirement for arriving tourists to fill up the Tor Mor 6 (TM6) immigration form.

 

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He claimed that he raised the idea of a Vaccine Passport with Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at their meeting yesterday and that Anutin agreed to it, adding that he hopes the proposed Vaccine Passport will become effective in June when, he said, COVID-19 Omicron variant infections are expected to drop.

 

Phiphat quoted Anutin as saying that, if the “Thailand Pass” is to be scrapped, tourists who are to visit Thailand must have received at least three doses of vaccine.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tourism-minister-suggests-replacing-thailand-pass-with-vaccine-passport/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-04-28

 

- 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

[Thaiwrath]

The tourism minister disclosed that about 2.1 million foreign tourists have applied for the “Thailand Pass, but only 1.5 million were granted. With over 600,000 being unable to visit Thailand, he said that, if it is possible to ease restrictions further, when COVID-19 situation has improved, many of these potential tourists would be able to visit Thailand.

 

I think he'll find out that most of there 600,000 tourists have gone to a more acceptable destination already, to enjoy a holiday with far fewer silly "Covid" restrictions, like early closing times in "restaurants" that are not restaurants, and an emergency decree !

Edited April 28, 2022 by Thaiwrath

[Geoffggi]

32 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said yesterday (Wednesday) that he will ask the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) at its next meeting to consider replacing the “Thailand Pass” with a Vaccine Passport, to facilitate entry to Thailand by overseas tourists.

No more hurdles, just stop the Thailand pass, end of story !!!!!

[kotsak]

Scrap this craρ and people will come back! ????

Edited April 28, 2022 by kotsak

[Guderian]

It makes some sense actually. Drop the Thailand pass and insurance requirements at the start of the northern summer when tourism to Thailand is anyway at a low ebb. It will probably still be more than sufficient to provide a big boost over the numbers coming in recent months, so that's one big objective met, while the numbers will still be limited enough that the authorities think they can handle any unexpected consequences. Based on what they learn then in the July to September period, they can continue to drop all restrictions through the next high season, or else tailor a new, limited set of rules.

[jacko45k]

Replace it with nothing, nada, zilch..... 

[Willy Wombat]

Rip the Band-Aid off you cowards

[4MyEgo]

So we are all now doing back strokes after swimming in deep waters for a long period of time, if it were me, I would have been on my back a long times ago.

[RichardColeman]

18 minutes ago, Guderian said:

It makes some sense actually. Drop the Thailand pass and insurance requirements at the start of the northern summer when tourism to Thailand is anyway at a low ebb.

Really ? They need to do it NOW for Northern summer bookings. Nobody really books holidays to Thailand on a whim in June. This years tourism boat has sailed due to incompetent regulations. They've booked elsewhere. Best thing they could do is depreciate the baht by say 10%-15% to attract tourists !

[Eleftheros]

2 hours ago, aussiexpat said:

If they are dropping Thai Pass 1 June why didn't they just drop it 1 May instead.

To show that they are still in "control" of the pandemic.

[Guderian]

5 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Best thing they could do is depreciate the baht by say 10%-15% to attract tourists !

...and offer free rides on their flying pigs!

[welshguy]

Just got back yesterday from another 2 weeks in the Canary Islands (Spain........I also went there in Jan/Feb this year for a month).

 

No restrictions to enter the country. no "covid insurance" needed, no visa needed, shops bars restaurants etc. more than happy to take have your service. (with a smile too!) hell. I didn't even need to wear a mask on the plane if I didn't want to!

 

Compare this to what Thailand offers?  No contest ! IF, they do lift the Thai pass and covid insurance etc, I shall return in October, I'm lucky, in that I'm retired, so can literally go "at the drop of a hat!" The vast majority of the tourists Thailand is missing, I assume aren't in the same boat as me, so need to book time off from work, book flights etc etc etc. so the sooner Thailand opens properly, the more people will come! Surely to god, they. ( TAT that is) can see that?!! 

 

Ok ! I know stupid question! lol!

 

Im "hoping", Thailand is open "properly" soon...I even FINALLY! has an e-mail answered  ( only took two years!!!) from Thai airways, saying that I could "rebook" the flight which I booked and paid for in 2020, for a September 2020 flight!  The flight was of course cancelled..As I say I had an e-mail from them recently saying I could re-book another flight, *must be used by the end of this year!" though.

 

SO please! Come on Thailand! Pull your finger out and open up properly!! 

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

According to Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, after the Test and Go program is lifted on May 1, the Thailand Pass Scheme will likely be phased out, resulting in a more seamless travel experience and increased tourism to the country.

 

2 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

No more hurdles, just stop the Thailand pass, end of story !!!!!

What's Thailand without hurdles and paperwork?

[khunjeff]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

In the meantime, tourists arriving in Thailand may still be required to complete their vaccination records on the TM6 immigration form.

So they're going to completely redesign and distribute a new version of the TM6 in a month? I don't think so, and obviously neither Phiphat nor Anutin has the authority to make changes to Immigration forms.

 

2 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

The tourism minister disclosed that about 2.1 million foreign tourists have applied for the “Thailand Pass, but only 1.5 million were granted. With over 600,000 being unable to visit Thailand, he said that, if it is possible to ease restrictions further, when COVID-19 situation has improved, many of these potential tourists would be able to visit Thailand.

 

I think he'll find out that most of there 600,000 tourists have gone to a more acceptable destination already, to enjoy a holiday with far fewer silly "Covid" restrictions, like early closing times in "restaurants" that are not restaurants, and an emergency decree !

I think he'll actually find that virtually all of those 600,000 were duplicate applications from people who were in fact eventually approved - even anecdotally, I've heard of almost no one who wasn't ultimately able to get a TP approval by submitting a new application.

 

Edited April 28, 2022 by khunjeff

[hotchilli]

25 minutes ago, Eleftheros said:

To show that they are still in "control" of the pandemic.

REPLACE Thailand pass with a vaccine passport.. possibly June

keep the emergency decree in place to keep bars closed and streets clear of opposition voices.

No alcohol sales after midnight... 

sounds very enticing... NOT

[JPiper]

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/04/27/mask-mandate-mysejahtera-and-more-visual-guide-to-dos-and-don039ts

 

This was announced in Malaysia by the Health Ministry, 27 April 2022.

From 1st of May, “ TRAVEL INSURANCE NO LONGER REQUIRED FOR TOURISTS”.

 

Please, if anyone out there able to translate to Thai and forward the link to TAT or the tourism minister.

First to be rid off the dreaded insurance in Asean countries  is Singapore, then Cambodia, now Malaysia.

The race is on.

 

Thanks

JPiper

 

[Dionigi]

3 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

I will believe it when I see it. Thailand has consistently 'flip flopped' its decisions all through this pandemic and shows just how incompetent the people in charge are.

 

As use as a chocolate fireguard.

 

The words could, maybe, possible, might, potentially are always used.

 

I want to see, are, will, definitely and when it has happened before i get excited.

Chocolate fireguard delicious

[Letseng]

2 hours ago, islandor said:

I think we covered this yesterday with Anutin's proclamation on the issue... Just another lackey spouting the same thing... hoping for an easier way to control the masses while trying to divide us.

 

Am I the only one sick of mandates and governments' trying to control us? 

Yes. ????

[Harveyboy]

44 minutes ago, Eleftheros said:

To show that they are still in "control" of the pandemic.

Control Control Control.. just saying

[Mike KIWI]

Could, or could not. 100% chance of either happening.

[wombat]

all this palaver will end after the election when ''endemic'' is gazetted.

[ed strong]

There is no end to in the insanity of those in charge, to be fair if you are going to live or try to holiday in a 3rd world corrupt country you kinda have to expect ridiculous rules and dramatic changes that will and always seem to occur.

 

Nothing really surprises me here, however my urge to return to Thailand is rapidly diminishing.

[robert888d]

About bloody time.

Better late than never.

[metisdead]

A post with a trolling meme has been removed.

[cardinalblue]

3 shots? Why not 4? Initial 2 doses should suffice for entry…there will be time restraints as well which will complicated things…

 

the Thai pass amounts to 2 doses and insurance coverage…just drop insurance and still use TP rather than create some document…