Covid chaos descends again on Thailand’s foreign tourism sector amid cancellations and complaints

[webfact]

 

by Joseph O' Connor

 

Last Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced new restrictions on incoming tourists to Thailand in response to the reopening of the Chinese market.

 

This includes a requirement that all arrivals must be vaccinated. Over the weekend, it became clear that the new regime would be going into effect on Sunday concerning all incoming flights after Monday at 1 am with international airlines tasked with screening passengers when boarding flights and instructed to deny passage to unvaccinated passengers.

 

The situation has sent waves of chaos throughout the foreign tourism industry with travel agents in France, Germany, Scandinavia and Russia warning that confidence in Thailand as a tourist destination has been damaged as thousands of passengers stand to lose money with thousands of holiday night bookings already withdrawn in Phuket alone.

Travel agents in France have been forced to cancel contracts because of the sudden introduction of entry restrictions which have led operators to declare a ‘Force Majeure’ situation due to ‘political instability’ in Thailand while chartered flights to Phuket face cancellation, as it is reported that over half the Russian holidaymakers, were found to be unvaccinated. German travel firms have warned that the new rules will damage confidence in Thailand’s tourism industry and cited a figure of 20% of holidaymakers as not being vaccinated.

The President of a leading Thai tourism body has written to Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha asking him to intervene after the foreign tourism trade was thrown into chaos over the weekend with news that Thailand’s civil aviation authority was relying on international airlines to ban travellers to Thailand without a Covid vaccine after new regulations were drawn up by a meeting of key ministries on Thursday. Thaneth Tantipiriyakij of the Phuket Tourist Association has revealed that thousands of hotel nights have already been cancelled and that the fallout from the emergency has drawn an extremely negative reaction from travel businesses in European and Scandinavian countries who have warned that confidence in Thailand has been damaged by the sudden measures which came into effect on Sunday and apply to any flight landing from 1 am on Monday.

 

Thailand’s tourism chiefs raised the alarm on Sunday after it became clear that flights entering Thailand from that point were to be subjected to the new entry regime agreed upon at a meeting of officials from four ministries on Thursday last which reintroduced a requirement for proof of vaccination among incoming passengers.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/01/08/covid-chaos-descends-anew-on-foreign-tourism/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-01-09

 

- 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.

 

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[webfact]

Rules for air passengers arriving in Thailand between January 9th and 31st

 

 

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has issued a set of seven rules which will apply to all non-Thai arrivals between January 9th and 31st.

 

The rules are as follows:

• Non-Thai passengers who are 18 or older must present documentation confirming they have received two COVID-19 vaccine doses or a doctor’s certificate stating that they have recovered from a COVID-19 infection in the past 180 days. Those who are not vaccinated must show a doctor’s letter explaining why they are not vaccinated.

• Non-Thai passengers arriving from countries which refuse entry to infected people must have taken out COVID insurance, valid throughout their stay in Thailand plus seven days, before their departure for Thailand. Those who arrive in Thailand on business or air crew must have letters of guarantee from their employers.

• Thai passport holders are exempted from showing vaccination certification and health insurance coverage.

• Passengers on transit are also exempted from showing vaccination certification or health insurance coverage certification, but they are required to comply with the rules of their destination country.

• Airlines are required the check the aforementioned documents of their passengers. If any passenger cannot produce the required documents, the airline should not allow them to board the plane.

• Airlines are required to ensure that passengers wear face masks during their flights, except while eating or in emergency situations.

Passengers who develop COVID symptoms during their journey will be advised to take rapid antigen tests upon arrival at their destination.
The enforcement of the new rules coincides with the anticipated arrival of tourists from China, after the Chinese Government eased travel restrictions on its citizens, effective January 8th.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/rules-for-air-passengers-arriving-in-thailand-between-january-9th-and-31st/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-01-09

 

- 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.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

 

[webfact]

Update: Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority Tells Airlines Unvaccinated/Travelers Without Vaccine Documentation Can Fly But Must Test on Arrival

By Adam Judd

 

 

Bangkok, Thailand-Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority or CAAT sent an urgent notice tonight, January 8th, 2023, to airlines just hours before major changes to vaccine requirements to Thailand, clarifying that unvaccinated travelers or those without their documentation can fly but must take a test on arrival.

 

This followed this major change in regulations earlier this weekend that blindsided many travelers and has caused widespread confusion and anger online.

 

The notice was a NoTAM (Notice to Airmen) sent via CAAT to all airlines. As the notice was sent last minute, however, many details and questions remain. There is also the chance that those flying immediately may have issues and would need to address them with their airline.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/01/08/update-thailands-civil-aviation-authority-tells-airlines-unvaccinated-travelers-without-vaccine-documentation-can-fly-but-must-test-on-arrival/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-01-09

 

- 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.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

 

 

[soi3eddie]

Reap what you sow! Anutin & Thailand! Next up we'll see TAT announcing "tourist arrivals lower than expected" in 2023 due to new covid restrictions. Why surprised at this <deleted> show?

 

 

[ukrules]

There's no way anyone could have seen all this chaos coming, every last bit of it and more which will emerge over the next few days ????

 

Even a 'moron' should have been able to see this coming from a mile away ????

[RAZZELL]

Thai passport holders exempt ????

[StayinThailand2much]

47 minutes ago, ukrules said:

There's no way anyone could have seen all this chaos coming, every last bit of it and more which will emerge over the next few days ????

 

Even a 'moron' should have been able to see this coming from a mile away ????

Always expect such last-minute knee-jerk reactions in places like Thailand. Hope, that it's worth it, with 100s of millions of Chinese arrivals compensating for the long-term damage in other markets...

[StayinThailand2much]

23 minutes ago, RAZZELL said:

Thai passport holders exempt ????

But "no discrimination"... ????

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, soi3eddie said:

Reap what you sow! Anutin & Thailand! Next up we'll see TAT announcing "tourist arrivals lower than expected" in 2023 due to new covid restrictions. Why surprised at this <deleted> show?

 

 

I doubt TAT will announce lower numbers. Maybe they will instead compare arrival numbers with those from 2020 or 2021.

[milesinnz]

and tomorrow, TAT will issue their projections of increased arrivals in their millions....

[Mywayboy]

Thai passport holders exempt .

Germy dirty Farang discriminated against once again. 

So Thailand has Covid 19 under control ho ho ho.

Suggest TAT needs needs a mental health assessment prior to making their absurd decisions. 

[Guemlum]

“Non-Thai passengers arriving from countries which refuse entry to infected people must have taken out COVID insurance, valid throughout their stay in Thailand plus seven days, before their departure for Thailand.”

 

What exactly do they mean by this? The wife and I are going to Thailand on 8th March and will return to the UK on 5th April. Does our insurance now have to be valid until the 12th April?

[spidermike007]

The last time, it could be argued they were inexperienced. This time? And you could make a further argument that the entire bunch, especially Anutin, were incompetent.

 

But now? Don't people learn from experience? Isn't that just simple evolution? Incompetence is no longer an excuse. Stupidity, arrogance, and perhaps indifference, yes. Maybe these guys are simply too rich to care. 

 

They certainly are some of the greatest flip flippers around. Indecision, fear and stupidity are a lethal combination. 

[cheapcanuck]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Non-Thai passengers arriving from countries which refuse entry to infected people must have taken out COVID insurance, valid throughout their stay in Thailand plus seven days, before their departure for Thailand. Those who arrive in Thailand on business or air crew must have letters of guarantee from their employers.

Can someone please explain this poorly worded rule? 

Is it dependent on the travelers own country accepting covid infected people? What country would ever accept anyone infected with covid?

[allanos]

Couldn't have made it China-specific. which is really

the intention I believe, because the CCP would have

been highly miffed!

[jcmj]

In order to not upset China they are going to lose the rest of their visitors. Putting all their eggs in one basket again. Can they really be that stupid? Rhetorical question ????

[Bim Smith]

After three years of this nonsense I hope that the businesses affected finally rise up and confront the government. I think they have put up with enough all because the Thai government didn't stand up the pressure from the Chinese government. They discriminated against countries in Africa when omricon came about and are discriminating against all farrangs as Thai citizens are also exempt. And all in the middle of the high season. If the Chinese have to test before departure why any restrictions at all. 

[edogthong]

Congratulations Thailand! Just when you think those in charge couldn't get anymore stupid, they pull something like this.

 

So, let me get this straight. China ends its restrictions and opens its doors for outward travel and Thailand gets scared but they don't want to offend their big brother so instead of banning Chinese travellers from entering, they ban all unvaccinated international travellers instead. Even though the Chinese are all vaccinated and none of the vaccines do anything to stop transmission. The two shot requirement concerns outdated inoculations that didn't even work and weren't even tested for transmission reduction for the variant they were designed for which isn't even around anymore. They put a 6 month cap on the most effective protection which is natural Immunity but no cap on these ineffective and outdated shots. These new entry requirements get reported all over the world and immediately reap havoc on the recently revived tourism industry with thousands of travellers cancelling their bookings for flights and hotels. Airlines cancel planes, total chaos ensues. Those in charge realise their collosal mistake and attempt to backpedal to minimize damage. But once again, it's too late and enormous damage has already been done. If only those in charge would've stopped and reflected over the consequences for one minute before doing something insane like this.

[ukrules]

5 minutes ago, Bim Smith said:

After three years of this nonsense I hope that the businesses affected finally rise up and confront the government. I think they have put up with enough all because the Thai government didn't stand up the pressure from the Chinese government. They discriminated against countries in Africa when omricon came about and are discriminating against all farrangs as Thai citizens are also exempt. And all in the middle of the high season. If the Chinese have to test before departure why any restrictions at all. 

They have covid in China, we have it here, it's in Europe and you can't stop it from spreading so they don't technically need to do anything.

Someone demanded this.

 

I wonder why they changed anything at all, after some period of time it will all return to normal like nothing happened - only in this case they've 'annoyed' every single country in the world except china.

 

[Samui Farid]

Why am I not disappointed ?  I expected nothing less from the favorite child of the WEF.  According to Klaus Schwab, by 2030 you will have nothing but be happy.  And everyone joins in...  I was so happy for Thailand to see it flourish again thanks to its people.  And now the 2020 repeat

[klauskunkel]

Quote

Covid chaos descends again

To be very clear: it's not Covid chaos, it's Government chaos descending again

[bbbbooboo]

Hmmm……stupid is what stupid does?

[DjSilver]

First thing, is that it is good with less tourists in Thailand. Also the Thais still needs a lesson in not scamming foreigners.

 

2nd, we all know this is only the start for the Thai dictatorship and soon there will be even more restrictions. And this is what you want, since you support the dictatorship. 

[geisha]

45 minutes ago, Guemlum said:

“Non-Thai passengers arriving from countries which refuse entry to infected people must have taken out COVID insurance, valid throughout their stay in Thailand plus seven days, before their departure for Thailand.”

 

What exactly do they mean by this? The wife and I are going to Thailand on 8th March and will return to the UK on 5th April. Does our insurance now have to be valid until the 12th April?

Hi, if , for example the UK asked for Covid test for entry into UK on your return from Thailand, then you must have Covid covered insurance. I don’t think UK do. Their explaining of this is, IF you caught Covid in Thailand , you would miss your flight/ or be hospitalized obliging you to stay longer in Thailand and costing you more money. Wow, I don’t think they have a brain between them !!! 
It will probably be printed properly in the next few days. 

[geisha]

I don’t think the airline industry bosses are going to be happy about being dictated to by a third world country that is run by idiots. 

[Elkski]

We all know they are floppers.   Just imagine howany hours travel agents wasted and now all this extra work to communicate and refund to their customers.  Many will not book customers to Thailand again.  It will be easy for them to point out the crime, deadly roads, dual price gouging to redirect their customers to a cleaner safer democratic travel destination.   Might as well rename this hole to chiland

[ikke1959]

The WHO will say again that Thaland was the best country to handle the Covid crisis... but  it should be the best in destroying their tourist industry

[Hakuna Matata]

1 hour ago, RickyJB said:

Anutin is in bed with the W.E.F and W.H.O.... as soon as Tedros demands, Anutin jumps.. i saw this coming after Tedros made a visit in November.. corrupt and all about control.. Thai's need to overthrow this corrupt government 

70% of Thais are happy with the current government

[edwinchester]

1 hour ago, Guemlum said:

“Non-Thai passengers arriving from countries which refuse entry to infected people must have taken out COVID insurance, valid throughout their stay in Thailand plus seven days, before their departure for Thailand.”

 

What exactly do they mean by this? The wife and I are going to Thailand on 8th March and will return to the UK on 5th April. Does our insurance now have to be valid until the 12th April?

UK doesn't require a covid test before you fly there so you shouldn't need insurance.

[bluejets]

Unvaccinated is pretty clear, however, just what level of vaccination will be the requirement..?

 

We've both had 4 shots, for me a mixture of Astra and Pfizer, wife all Pfizer but then she is Thai origin so no way she could spread any Covid (apparently).

Makes one wonder if the authorities are considering the "rights of Thai nationals". ????

 

Aus had no trouble introducing mandatory tests for China travellers into Aus, makes sense to me when one sees clips from China TV etc, medical personell all wrapped up head to foot in plastic bags (again) ......... Yeah they were offended (apparently)...how dare those flamin'Aussies