BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is proposing to provide free Covid-19 booster shots to tourists as well as making preparations for the return of Chinese tourists in 2023.

 

According to Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the ministry will hold a meeting with the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Transport on January 5 to discuss the lifting of Beijing’s “zero-Covid” policy.

 

One of the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s proposals is for the Public Health Ministry to provide free Covid-19 booster shots to tourists from all countries that wish to receive Covid vaccination in Thailand.

 

Given that each tourist is expected to spend 40,000 baht in Thailand per trip, Phiphat believes that providing free covid vaccine to these visitors is financially viable for the country’s tourism industry as well as the overall healthcare situation.

 

The tourism minister will also recommend that the Public Health Ministry use the remaining Covid vaccines in stock to provide booster shots to tourism personnel, while also accelerating its public relations campaign to encourage workers to receive booster shots before the surge in tourist arrivals in 2023.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221230135710707

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-12-30

 

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I get a little confused when I read this in another OP:

 

 

"Officials in Thailand have also discussed a plan to offer AstraZeneca vaccines to Chinese tourists for a small fee and on a voluntary basis."

 

Then read this: in this OP

 

6 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

One of the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s proposals is for the Public Health Ministry to provide free Covid-19 booster shots to tourists from all countries that wish to receive Covid vaccination in Thailand.

 

Given that each tourist is expected to spend 40,000 baht in Thailand per trip, Phiphat believes that providing free covid vaccine to these visitors is financially viable for the country’s tourism industry as well as the overall healthcare situation.

Looks like they need to get on the same page in their daily meetings.  I am sure the new India Regulations for traveling Thai's hit a nerve somewhere.

good PR move and way of getting rid of expiring stocks of vax.

 

But at the same time encouraging tourists who are not vaccinated and without boosters, who are more likely to bring virus.

As well as getting sick and hospitalised in thailand. If they are poor and don't have insurance and money to pay for treatment, they will burden hospital resources. Consulates and embassies usually refuse their citizens medical financial support, with exception of helping children. 

In effect healthy and wealthy tourists will skip thailand until covid situation is clear 

 

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

on January 5 to discuss the lifting of Beijing’s “zero-Covid” policy.

Sounds like they are starting to worry that the Chinese are going to infect Thailand with Covid 19, hence the free jabs.....LOL

8 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Sounds like they are starting to worry that the Chinese are going to infect Thailand with Covid 19, hence the free jabs.....LOL

COVID vaccines are for protecting you from getting seriously sick when infected.  Not preventing you from spreading the virus.  The Thai government is trying to kill two birds with one stone.  Making money from Chinese tourists by offering covid vaccines and attracting them to come to Thailand for holidays.

8 minutes ago, sometime said:

not related to this topic.

 

looks like indian broadcast.

They would try to attack chinese for anything, they are in an open war.

I find all arguments in this broadcast exagerated 

Edited December 30, 20223 yr by internationalism

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

One of the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s proposals is for the Public Health Ministry to provide free Covid-19 booster shots to tourists from all countries that wish to receive Covid vaccination in Thailand.

Ah, so the tourists will be free to say no thank you?

I can get vacines for free in my home country and I'd assume it is the same for most tourists. Why would anyone wait to go to Thailand, then go through the rigmarole of trying to get a vaccine during their holidays.

3 minutes ago, Joe Farang said:

I can get vacines for free in my home country and I'd assume it is the same for most tourists. Why would anyone wait to go to Thailand, then go through the rigmarole of trying to get a vaccine during their holidays.

not all vax are available in some countries.

That move is towards chinese tourists who have limited access to mrna vaxxes.

Thailand is making astra zeneca and probably by now has a large surplus. I think china hasn't contracted that one as well.

some countries started to charge for boosters. As I recall the moderna will start charging for mrna for over $100 from January, if the government won't cover that cost, so each patient will have to pay.

There aren't vaccines available according to Hospitals and clinics. 

 

"many Thai hospitals are reporting that they do not have stocks of vaccines to offer anybody."

 

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/confusion-reigns-over-health-rules-for-chinese-arrivals-in-thailand-420523

3 hours ago, Kopitiam said:

COVID vaccines are for protecting you from getting seriously sick when infected.  Not preventing you from spreading the virus.  The Thai government is trying to kill two birds with one stone.  Making money from Chinese tourists by offering covid vaccines and attracting them to come to Thailand for holidays.

for the 100th time, vaccines reduce transmission of the virus.

47 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

for the 100th time, vaccines reduce transmission of the virus.

Why do we still have waves and waves of transmission when so many have already been vaccinated?  Many have also re-infection even with multiple booster shots?

7 hours ago, internationalism said:

In effect healthy and wealthy tourists will skip thailand until covid situation is clear

Outside of a handful of countries in Asia, and excepting the latest news on China, Covid is barely a thing in most of the world's lives now.

 

It's not reported on widely, doesn't make the news in most countries (Latest reports on China ending Covid Zero clearly are an exception to this)

 

Covid isn't a consideration at all for the vast majority of travellers around the world, so won't be for the "healthy and wealthy" tourists. 

The hospitals are already reporting that they haven't got enough vaccine for its own population,  never mind offering Tourists...

10 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

There aren't vaccines available according to Hospitals and clinics. 

 

"many Thai hospitals are reporting that they do not have stocks of vaccines to offer anybody."

 

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/confusion-reigns-over-health-rules-for-chinese-arrivals-in-thailand-420523

 

4 hours ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

The hospitals are already reporting that they haven't got enough vaccine for its own population,  never mind offering Tourists...

BINGO, here in Korat wifey contacted our hospital network government and private to arrange for us to pay for a booster jab, they don't have any !!!

 

The only place you can get is Central shopping mall where you have to queue up with the masses for a few hours, something i am not prepared to do. How can a city with a very large population only have one venue for jabs, just ridiculous.......and now they're proposing to give free jabs to tourists, just a bunch of incompetent clowns...... 

2 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

Central shopping mall

I had to get mine there also. 

It was quite orderly.  

 

I'm surprised they still have some on offer. Nothing available in Sakon Nakhon. 

 

 

17 hours ago, Kopitiam said:

Why do we still have waves and waves of transmission when so many have already been vaccinated?  Many have also re-infection even with multiple booster shots?

The virus will continue to spread as long as R0 > 1.

 

In other words, as long as there are low information types who refuse to get vaccinated.

 

The vaccine reduces infection, but does not eliminate them. Similarly, getting Covid reduces the risk of a subsequent infection, but does not eliminate the risk.