No masks, cannabis legal, bars open, is Thailand back to normal?

[webfact]

 

OPINION | by Michael Bridge

 

We have all been moaning for ages about the need to open Thailand now it seems the Covid pandemic is under control.

 

Now in the space of a just few days the penny (baht) seems to have dropped and new rules are being announced by the hour.

 

The Government has told us we no longer need to walk around wearing a mask.

 

They also said that nightlife can get back to normal trading hours so we can also drink in a bar later.

 

The restrictions to travel into Thailand will ease on July 1st with the ending of the Thailand Pass.

 

The TM6 immigration card is also suspended to help speed up arrivals at airports.

 

And to top it all we can roll a marijuana joint and smoke it at home too, without the need to visit the dreaded Bangkok Hilton! 

 

Seems like Christmas is here in June!

 

Masks or no masks???

 

It was becoming fairly obvious that masks will be ditched in the main tourist regions.

 

However, it will be interesting to see how this goes down in Bangkok where people were wearing masks before the pandemic due to the pollution.

 

It is likely that the habit of carrying a mask will continue and most will likely continue wearing a mask when in the company of other mask wearers, just to be polite.

 

Easier Entry Procedures

This means friends can now visit us by flying into the country without having to get a master’s degree in completing travel documents.

It also takes away the concerns on re-entry for many ex-pats who wanted to travel overseas. 

The CCSA approved the removal of the Thailand Pass registration program and the US$10,000 health insurance requirement for foreign visitors, effective July 1, 2022.

From July 1, 2022, foreigners and Thai nationals are only required to show proof of either a certificate of vaccination or a negative RT-PCR or professional ATK test result within 72 hours of travel. 

These can be in print or digital format. 

Random checks will be made on arrivals at Thailand’s international airports or land border checkpoints. 

Children who are unvaccinated may be required to have a negative COVID test. 

Unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated travelers who are randomly checked and who are unable to show proof of a pre-arrival negative test will be required to undergo a professional ATK test at the point of entry.

Travel Insurance will not be mandatory anymore however, it is highly recommended to have insurance when you travel to Thailand, especially during this time.

Recommended Travel Insurance for Thailand

The COVID travel insurance is no longer mandatory for incoming travelers starting July 1, 2022. 

However, foreigners are highly recommended to possess Travel Insurance when traveling to Thailand or Asia in general.

Perhaps the issue here is that for many older ex-pats, it is getting very expensive to obtain cover, and most policies ask you to pay the first THB40K and do not cover you for pre-conditions. 

Bye Bye TM6

Also, the Thai Government will temporarily suspend the TM6 immigration card for arriving passengers to help ease congestion, screening, and processing times at international airports. 

The proposal will be implemented within 7-10 days, but it is clearly stated that the change is only temporary while Thai Immigration assesses the flow-on effects.

The TM6 card is one of the major requirements for foreigners to apply for a visa extension at the immigration office, so if you have plans to extend your visa or change your visa, it is recommended that you fill out the TM6 card on arrival even if it is currently suspended.

Time for more changes perhaps

Perhaps while the Government is in the mood for a change, maybe we should suggest that they stop the 90 days reporting at Immigration and relax the rules on visit visas too.

It is clear the Tourism Authority of Thailand has put a lot of pressure on the Prime Minister to make it easier to encourage inbound travellers to visit Thailand.

Now they should start to make life a bit simpler for the many expats who want to call Thailand their home too. 

Although not classed as tourists, ex-pats still spend more money here than the packaged holidaymakers.

Still, the news that smoking weed is now legal will add to the appeal to Thailand, which can now officially be called THE LAND OF THE SMILES!!!!

 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-06-27

 

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[smedly]

there is a lot of confusion about opening hours, many places have no idea that they can stay open after 12.......................................what is normal ?

 

the police have rinced so many bar owners these last few months................when does it end ?

 

when does the corrupt end ?

[ukrules]

Make the most of it while you can, it won't last long.

[asiasurfer]

Hallelujah!!

 

Let's hope it lasts! 

[starky]

No!

[thaipo7]

What I can't get an answer to is am I required to be fully vaccinated to come to Thailand.  I have a home there and go for 5 - 6 months prior to COVID.  Do I need the 2 shots and the 2 boosters?  Can't get an answer to this at consulates in the US.

[jacko45k]

31 minutes ago, thaipo7 said:

What I can't get an answer to is am I required to be fully vaccinated to come to Thailand.  I have a home there and go for 5 - 6 months prior to COVID.  Do I need the 2 shots and the 2 boosters?  Can't get an answer to this at consulates in the US.

No... but you will be required to prove a negative Covid test or take one on arrival. I find the Royal Thai Embassy London has up to date information.

(And that ain't easy these days!).

 

[Tracyb]

22 minutes ago, thaipo7 said:

What I can't get an answer to is am I required to be fully vaccinated to come to Thailand.  I have a home there and go for 5 - 6 months prior to COVID.  Do I need the 2 shots and the 2 boosters?  Can't get an answer to this at consulates in the US.

Ya, good question.  What exactly does “fully vaccinated” mean?

 

[RickyJB]

3 hours ago, smedly said:

there is a lot of confusion about opening hours, many places have no idea that they can stay open after 12.......................................what is normal ?

 

the police have rinced so many bar owners these last few months................when does it end ?

 

when does the corrupt end ?

The police are another organisation of local fake gangsters, they pay their way to get to powerful positions. In my experience of being hounded by phuket police i threatened to bring them to court, sue them.local police are scared of their scams being known, cowboys. 

[ezzra]

IMHO, the Thai government itself is in a state of confusion whereby they try desperately to bring things to normal and just go about it willy ninny as it seems right now, and i would'd be surprised at any future move my the government forward or backwards...

[aussiexpat]

11 minutes ago, Tracyb said:

Ya, good question.  What exactly does “fully vaccinated” mean?

Who cares, "fully unvaccinated" only need an ATK result within 72 hours of flight, so not really an issue

[ikke1959]

THe biggest question in this article is .. is Thailad backt to normal?? But what is normal in Thailand??? When I cam in THailand it look very normal, but now a few coups later and totally incompetent Government of the past 7 years they ruined the country so much that it will take years to be the same as 20 years ago. It has lost a lot of its charm.. Last week, just an example we wanted to walk to a cave . Always could go with a car up to themountain, but now it should be parked at a tempe, but we were hiking so walked on the road to go up, but a guard cam and told us we had to buy a ticket and go with specal shuttle, but we told we are hiking have no intention to visit the cave, because there is nothing to see , but no impossible.. My Thai friend was very annoyed that the dared to ask money for nothing and now wondering why there are no visitors anymore... normal?? It Kao Luang in Phetchaburi

[2baht]

4 hours ago, smedly said:

when does the corrupt end ?

Ah, there's no light at the end of that tunnel. I would'nt be holding my breathe.

 

 

[garyk]

Be back next month for a visit... great news.

[billsmart]

Until I know the COVID-19 pandemic is truly over, I will continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Also, although it doesn't have anything to do with COVID-19, I won't ingest cannabis or go to bars whose primary purpose is to sell alcoholic beverages. So, I guess that's "normal" for me. 

[aussiexpat]

1 minute ago, billsmart said:

Until I know the COVID-19 pandemic is truly over, I will continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Also, although it doesn't have anything to do with COVID-19, I won't ingest cannabis or go to bars whose primary purpose is to sell alcoholic beverages. So, I guess that's "normal" for me. 

Wow, why are you even in Thailand....are you the real first person who only comes for the temples ????

[sandyf]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

It is likely that the habit of carrying a mask will continue and most will likely continue wearing a mask when in the company of other mask wearers, just to be polite.

I went to Global House in Chonburi yesterday and didn't see anyone not wearing a mask.

[jacko45k]

18 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

Wow, why are you even in Thailand....are you the real first person who only comes for the temples ????

Do you need to ask......?

I am from the UK, I hardly need explain!

Had to get away from the con-men!

Britain is £3bn fraud capital of the world

[2baht]

5 minutes ago, billsmart said:

I won't ingest cannabis or go to bars whose primary purpose is to sell alcoholic beverages.

You just say no, Bill. ????

[swm59nj]

Well I guess all this will make a lot of  people happy.  Booze, pot, no masks. 
I guess to some that is what life Is all about.

[billsmart]

2 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

Wow, why are you even in Thailand....are you the real first person who only comes for the temples ????

I first came to Thailand 20 years ago. I liked it here, so decided to retire here. Since then, I've married and live in the mountains in Phetchabun Province. I am not a Buddhist (or Christian, or any other religion), so I don't regularly go to Buddhist temples. 

I'm in Thailand because there are only a few Farangs here, most (but not all) of which come to Thailand to do things of which I don't approve. But, living in the mountains as I do, I don't run into them often, and don't have to put up with them every day like I would if I lived in my home country (USA).

[billsmart]

6 minutes ago, 2baht said:

You just say no, Bill. ????

I say "yes" to lots of things, but not these...

[sansaihashbars]

Are most of these policy moves (if not all) a sign of desperation?

[aussiexpat]

2 minutes ago, sansaihashbars said:

Are most of these policy moves (if not all) a sign of desperation?

Desperation or slackness, should have happened 3 months ago 

[WinterGael]

1 hour ago, thaipo7 said:

What I can't get an answer to is am I required to be fully vaccinated to come to Thailand.  I have a home there and go for 5 - 6 months prior to COVID.  Do I need the 2 shots and the 2 boosters?  Can't get an answer to this at consulates in the US.

Yes, from what I can tell, you either need up to date vaccinations and/or a negative test within 72 hours of travelling.

[heybuz]

4 hours ago, smedly said:

there is a lot of confusion about opening hours, many places have no idea that they can stay open after 12.......................................what is normal ?

 

the police have rinced so many bar owners these last few months................when does it end ?

 

when does the corrupt end ?

Thai mate has a big photo of a top cop where he is at that he displays on his premises which seems to keep the flies away.

[WinterGael]

23 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

Wow, why are you even in Thailand....are you the real first person who only comes for the temples ????

why do you assume everyone is here for sex, booze, and partying.  Some of us actually like Thauland without acting like "disgraceful farang."

1 hour ago, thaipo7 said:

What I can't get an answer to is am I required to be fully vaccinated to come to Thailand.  I have a home there and go for 5 - 6 months prior to COVID.  Do I need the 2 shots and the 2 boosters?  Can't get an answer to this at consulates in the US.

Yes, from what I can tell, you either need up to date vaccinations and/or a negative test within 72 hours of travelling.

[aussiexpat]

2 minutes ago, WinterGael said:

Yes, from what I can tell, you either need up to date vaccinations and/or a negative test within 72 hours of travelling.

You don't need "up to date vaccinations", whatever that is. You need two vaccinations (or one for J&J). My 2nd vax was over 12 months ago (no booster) and I'm accepted to enter Thailand as fully vaccinated

[StevieAus]

I arrived in Bangkok last Wednesday returning from an overseas trip and was required to complete an arrival card distributed by the airline.

I questioned the requirement for it to be completed and was advised by the airline employee and the Immigration officer that the suspension only applies to Thai citizens.

[LarrySR]

S-N-A-F-U