Proposal to scrap Thailand Pass comes as moves to return to normal face a new hurdle: politics

[webfact]

Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha on his visit to Phuket on Monday where he spoke at Phuket International Airport and later at Phuttha Mongkol Nimit School in the city. Before the visit, Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn (inset centre) told reporters that he was going to ask that a proposal to abolish the Thailand Pass regime for foreign tourists be placed before the next meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) in a move designed to boost visitor numbers and the challenged Thai economy.

 

by Joseph O' Connor

 

Thailand’s economy is facing rising inflation and slowing export growth with fears of a GDP contraction in the second quarter. The scrapping of the Thailand Pass regime altogether is one of the last cards the government has to play to boost foreign tourist numbers along with later nightlife opening hours and the abolition of the outdoor face mask mandate.

 

With fears that Thailand’s economy in the second quarter may go into reverse with a GDP contraction and its highest rate of inflation for fourteen years in May, a proposal, on Monday, from Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn to table a proposal to rescind the Thailand Pass application for foreign tourists entering the kingdom may look like a no brainer but these are not ordinary times.

 

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The announcement by Mr Phiphat came in advance of a visit by the Prime Minister, Prayut Chan ocha, to Phuket which was had very much a feel of an election stop and comes at a time when his government is nearing its end and everything, including moves to free up the foreign tourism market, is taking on a political dimension.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/06/07/minister-wants-to-scrap-thailand-pass-app/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-06-07

 

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[webfact]

Thai Tourism Minister to propose Thailand Pass cancellation at the next Covid center meeting

By Adam Judd

 

 

Bangkok – The Thai Tourism and Sports Minister is preparing to propose the “Thailand Pass” cancellation for foreigners entering the country to the Thai Prime Minister in order to attract more tourists to Phuket and other leading tourist locations.

 

Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprikarn revealed today, June 6th, that after the country reopened under the Phuket Sandbox and Test&Go measures, tourists gradually arrived on the island despite strict regulations. About 20,000-30,000 people per month had traveled to Phuket under the Phuket Sandbox implementation and about 8,000-12,000 people per day under the Test&Go measures. When scrapping such measures, there are now more than 20,000 tourists daily roughly.

 

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The Minster aimed for the number to increase to 30,000 foreign tourists per day. So, the cancellation of the “Thailand Pass” will play an important role according to the Minister’s plan.

 

Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/06/06/thai-tourism-minister-to-propose-thailand-pass-cancellation-at-the-next-covid-center-meeting/

 

-- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-06-07

 

- 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.

 

Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

[Mac Mickmanus]

They are good proposals to attract tourists back to Thailand , buy they need to consider  giving away free plastic bags ay 7/11 as well

[richard_smith237]

Abolish everything covid related...    its time to move on.

Maintain vaccinations for those who want them.]

 

Thats it... anything such as Thailand Pass is going to put off a lot of tourists.

Insistence on insurance is going to put off tourists (they should just write insurance into the arrival / airport tax on flight tickets). 

 

Keep it simple, offer ease of access, offer tourists promotions.... welcome them. 

 

 

This underlying attitude that Thailand seems to have that tourists are a burden needs to be changed... 

 

Thailand clearly needs tourists as do many places - its time Thailand capitalised on that again. 

 

 

 

[RandiRona]

"There are persistent rumours that the Prime Minister and other key government officials are intent on preserving the Thailand Pass application as an essential entry control"

 

they arent rumors no more, This is just one more way Junta is teaching Thais who their daddy is....

[Captain Monday]

 

A website for travel authorization was launched by Korea (K-ETA) separate from covid already. Singapore has it. The US has had ESTA for years. The EU is rolling something out May 2023

 

Travel insurance is permanent to visit Thailand and so is some form of Thailand pass. The regime will just gloss it over  and call it something else. Who does not have a smartphone now really a non issue.

[steven100]

1 hour ago, RandiRona said:

"There are persistent rumours that the Prime Minister and other key government officials are intent on preserving the Thailand Pass application as an essential entry control"

 

they arent rumors no more, This is just one more way Junta is teaching Thais who their daddy is....

you need to put your glasses on when typing .... 

[Crossy]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch!

Note:- I've not verified that this is actually correct, please check before travelling.

 

https://milelion.com/2022/06/06/thailand-pass-entry-window-tightened-to-3-days-again/

 

[ikke1959]

Scrap the Tailand Pass now is  a bit too late.. In Europe and US the holiday period has almost started and most people have booked already for this summer.. Yes there are more months to come butbefore the Thailand Pass will be really scrapped and Thailand is back to normal it will be 2023.....

[ezzra]

There's an idea, scrap everything Thailand pass related and see how you go, if all's well that you made the right decision, if things will go side way, how long will it take to re introduce Thailand pass again? couple of days...

[sammieuk1]

Old friends like restrictive power are hard to relinquish for a very unpopular general masquerading as a PM ????

[starky]

2 hours ago, Crossy said:

Meanwhile, back at the ranch!

Note:- I've not verified that this is actually correct, please check before travelling.

 

https://milelion.com/2022/06/06/thailand-pass-entry-window-tightened-to-3-days-again/

 

Yep thats correct i just came back again 2 days ago. You have a 3 day window. Having said that you get your TP almost instaneously. Literally took less than 10 minutez for me to apply and recieve my TP.

  And they have basically given up at Suvarnabhumi barely even stopped to have it checked. Got a cursory glance and a sticker on my shirt gone are the days of sitting in the seats with a plane load of people with Thais flapping about in full surgical get up.

[redwood1]

5 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

They are good proposals to attract tourists back to Thailand , buy they need to consider  giving away free plastic bags ay 7/11 as well

You are correct FREE Plastic bags from 7-11  are critical to saving Thailand....We want 100% free plastic bags 100% of the time....

Edited June 7, 2022 by redwood1

[Spilornis]

Looking at it dispassionately there is now no justification for the additional covid related entry requirements imposed by many SE Asian countries.

All they are now doing is creating confusion and reluctance among would be travellers

[jonclark]

I think the situation in Thailand is more complex than scrapping Thai Pass.

 

1) The Chinese there biggest market is just not travelling outside of its borders due to the Chinese zero covid policy. That is 50% of the market gone off the bat. 

2) Inflation and price rises globally mean people have far less cash in their pockets to spend on holidays - extra 800 GBP per household on energy bills this year

3) The price of oil (linked to inflation) has made flights more expensive - a very quick one stop economy flight for a family of 4 comes in at 140'00 baht before hotels, insurance etc (i know you can get package deals cheaper - but its illustrative of the point) 

4) People just are not as confident and have less savings than pre covid due to the long layoffs / furlows. 

 

Until these underlying issues are resolved, it is unlikely that a major rebound in tourism will occur. And i feel most sorry for the small operators who have reached the bottom of the barrel. 

[John Drake]

Some people just like to fill out paperwork and then brag about doing so. 

[trainman34014]

44 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

You are correct FREE Plastic bags from 7-11  are critical to saving Thailand....We want 100% free plastic bags 100% of the time....

I bought about 8 items the other day; got to the Till and said 'Bag Please'.   Didn't happen; so i said  'Call Manager Please' and this scruffy looking Pleb came out of a back office and said 'Uh ?'.  I said 'Uh; no, i want a Bag for this many items, whereupon he told the Young Girl to give me a Bag !

[John Drake]

Quote

There are persistent rumours that the Prime Minister and other key government officials are intent on preserving the Thailand Pass application as an essential entry control.

Well, everyone at the army barracks needs a pass to enter and leave, right? So should every visitor to the country, then, yes? Thailand is just one big army barracks after all.

[RichardColeman]

5 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

Travel insurance is permanent to visit Thailand and so is some form of Thailand pass.

I seriously disagree with you - you think the Chinese are going to put up with billions of baht in insurance scams and doing thai passes to get in ? When China starts travel again the pass will melt away.

[smedly]

5 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

 

A website for travel authorization was launched by Korea (K-ETA) separate from covid already. Singapore has it. The US has had ESTA for years. The EU is rolling something out May 2023

 

Travel insurance is permanent to visit Thailand and so is some form of Thailand pass. The regime will just gloss it over  and call it something else. Who does not have a smartphone now really a non issue.

I call this nonsense - posted on Tuesday 

[smedly]

6 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Well, everyone at the army barracks needs a pass to enter and leave, right? So should every visitor to the country, then, yes? Thailand is just one big army barracks after all.

"passport"

 

am I missing something  ?

[John Drake]

12 minutes ago, smedly said:

"passport"

 

am I missing something  ?

passport = ID;  Thaipass = weekend pass, otherwise confined to barracks

[Captain Monday]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

I seriously disagree with you - you think the Chinese are going to put up with billions of baht in insurance scams and doing thai passes to get in ? When China starts travel again the pass will melt away.

It will be included in the cost of the zero baht tours - as will the kickbacks.

[tomacht8]

How the number of "tourists" is counted here has always been questionable. Without the Thai passport and compulsory insurance, day and weekend tourism with neighboring countries would certainly be significantly revived. With the abolition of the midnight curfew for bars, parties and discos, Thailand could re-establish itself as a party metropolis in SEA in the medium term.

 

With a modern and progressive tourism policy and a corresponding visa policy, Thailand could have significantly more tourists (long and short term). But with these small, fearful and hesitant micro-changes practiced by the current government, that won't happen.

[KhaoNiaw]

3 hours ago, starky said:

Yep thats correct i just came back again 2 days ago. You have a 3 day window. Having said that you get your TP almost instaneously. Literally took less than 10 minutez for me to apply and recieve my TP.

 

I've just done one for a land border crossing and the window is 5 days (valid from today until 12 June).  Had the same fast processing. 

[spidermike007]

If they scrapped the pass, it would be a good start. But, the clowns do not want to give up the control it gives them. Tourism here, as an industry, is pretty much finished. 1 to 5 million tourists annually, for the rest of our lives. They slaughtered the Golden Goose. 

 

The new motto. "Come visit the land of cowards, where there are masks as far as the eye can see". Even outdoors. Even on motorbikes! Masks, and more masks everywhere. A recipe for a great vacation. Masks and reduced nightlife. Come and have some fun! Thailand is unique. We are one of the few nations left that asks you to wear a mask everywhere you go, and grovel for permission to enter online. And though we already said masks would be scrapped in two weeks, we had a one day spike, and since we are neither courageous nor do we practice common sense, we will keep wearing them for a year or more.

 

Even outdoors. Even on the beach. Hopefully, we will see alot of civil disobedience.

[Eric Loh]

1 hour ago, Captain Monday said:

It will be included in the cost of the zero baht tours - as will the kickbacks.

For the umpteen times, zero baht tours have been clamped down by authorities in Thailand as well as China back in 2016. 

[jvs]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

If they scrapped the pass, it would be a good start. But, the clowns do not want to give up the control it gives them. Tourism here, as an industry, is pretty much finished. 1 to 5 million tourists annually, for the rest of our lives. They slaughtered the Golden Goose. 

 

The new motto. "Come visit the land of cowards, where there are masks as far as the eye can see". Even outdoors. Even on motorbikes! Masks, and more masks everywhere. A recipe for a great vacation. Masks and reduced nightlife. Come and have some fun! Thailand is unique. We are one of the few nations left that asks you to wear a mask everywhere you go, and grovel for permission to enter online. And though we already said masks would be scrapped in two weeks, we had a one day spike, and since we are neither courageous nor do we practice common sense, we will keep wearing them for a year or more.

 

Even outdoors. Even on the beach. Hopefully, we will see alot of civil disobedience.

Looking at the picture i would say masks are off again?

Talk about creation confusion but that is nothing new here.

We will see which way the wind blows tomorrow.

 

[tingtong]

7 hours ago, Crossy said:

Meanwhile, back at the ranch!

Note:- I've not verified that this is actually correct, please check before travelling.

 

https://milelion.com/2022/06/06/thailand-pass-entry-window-tightened-to-3-days-again/

 

Made Thai pass last night,

So I can verify to you: yes, it is 3 days now!

[WHansen]

6 hours ago, TooMuchTime said:

Thai Pass has already been removed for those that matter.

 

The farang will just have to deal with it.  No one cares if you feel "muh discrimination".

toomuchyabba