Travel insurance to be arranged for all tourist arrivals over holiday season : Srettha

[webfact]

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to arrange travel insurance to cover accidents and death for all foreign tourists arriving in Thailand during the New Year holiday period.

 

The prime minister’s order, issued at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, follows two incidents involving foreign tourists who died recently in Thailand. One incident concerned a Taiwanese tourist who was denied emergency treatment at a private hospital in the Pattanakarn area and died on his way to a second hospital about 10km away. The second case involved an Irish tourist who had been treated in the intensive care unit of a private hospital for dengue fever, but the hospital bill reached about 100,000 baht a day, forcing the patient’s family in Ireland to raise funds to get him back home for treatment.

 

It is reported that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports will seek about 50 million baht from the Central Fund to buy insurance coverage for tourists visiting Thailand over the New Year period.

 

The prime minister also instructed Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol to coordinate with Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam to promote regional tourism.

 

One of the regional tourism routes, which was proposed by Vietnam, is the world heritage route encompassing Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, Luang Prabang in Laos and Thailand’s Udon Thani province.

 

Source: Thai PBS 2023-12-20

 

- 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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[ezzra]

There must a huge panel of thinking heads somewhere in the recesses of some government's offices headed by this Srettha Thavisin who's sole tasks is how to bring more and more tourists to Thailand short of PAYING THEM to come...

[stoner]

so no more go fund me after busting your face on a good bender down bangla road ? 

[Liverpool Lou]

11 minutes ago, ezzra said:

There must a huge panel of thinking heads somewhere in the recesses of some government's offices headed by this Srettha Thavisin who's sole tasks is how to bring more and more tourists to Thailand short of PAYING THEM to come...

"...short of PAYING THEM to come..."

What? Did the best part of 25 million who have visited this year need any persuading?

[StayinThailand2much]

Wonder, what scheme they will come up with now to screw tourists for such an insurance. No way that the government will pay for that for an extended time.

[StayinThailand2much]

5 hours ago, ezzra said:

There must a huge panel of thinking heads somewhere in the recesses of some government's offices headed by this Srettha Thavisin who's sole tasks is how to bring more and more tourists to Thailand short of PAYING THEM to come...

 

They must be getting desperate, seeing that, even if all their 2023 figures are accurate, 2024 likely won't bring back 2019 tourist numbers...

[Wuvu2]

This is the second story about the Thai government pouring big money into new healthcare initiatives. Last week there was a story about free HiSo hospitals care for village folks.  There must be some fat kickbacks being paid by the bedpan mafia   

[Cabradelmar]

More Srettha give-a-ways... if he wants to give tourist free insurance, up to him. 

[StayinThailand2much]

3 minutes ago, Cabradelmar said:

More Srettha give-a-ways... if he wants to give tourist free insurance, up to him. 

 

Probably just a PR initiative to impress social media in China...

[Elkski]

So of a million tourists arrive over the holidays thats 50 baht each to cover them.  It doesn't compute.   Who would trust this and not purchase travel insurance that costs 3000 baht per month.  I seem to recall paying 350$ for both of is for 7 weeks last holiday.  I thought it was up a bunch from the 85$/mo I  used to pay.   And an additional thought since my wife is Thai would you buy her insurance or plan to use the 50 baht Thai system? 

The PM is going to piss off all these travel insurance companies.  I would guess he has buddies excited at the thought of starting a forced insurance on arrival company.  

[ikke1959]

It is the responsibility of the traveller/tourist to have a health insurance. Communicate that instead of offering free services...For a Schengen visa it is an obligation to have a travelinsurance 

[webfact]

Time for dithering on tourist insurance to stop as PM orders universal coverage for all visitors to Thailand
by Joseph O' Connor

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ordered Minister of Tourism and Sports Sudawan Wang-Suphakitkosol, on Tuesday at cabinet, to have her ministry introduce automatic insurance cover for all incoming tourists. The cabinet also approved a separate plan for life insurance cover for foreign tourists, provided through the Office of the Insurance Commission.

Thailand finally ditches the long-delayed tourist levy. The PM orders universal insurance for all foreign tourists and visitors to Thailand. Will it revive confidence or will the proposal again descend into a quagmire of indecision?

The Thai cabinet on Tuesday finally shelved the long-running plan for a foreign tourism levy. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, however, rejected a stop-gap measure to replace it. He ordered the introduction of automatic insurance cover for all foreign tourists to be provided through the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. How fast will this happen? We do not yet know. For the sake of Thailand’s tourism industry, let’s hope it is fast. The dithering on the issue must stop.

 

In a significant move, the Thai government is to finally seek a comprehensive insurance plan for all incoming tourists. The proposal replaces the long-pending tourism levy.

 

Full story: Thai Examiner.com 2023-12-21

 

- 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.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[webfact]

New Insurance Policy Proposed to Enhance Thai Tourism Safety
By Goongnang Suksawat

 

 

PRESS RELEASE:

 

The government is sidelining the 300-baht tourism fee and focusing on a comprehensive insurance plan for foreign tourists, addressing safety concerns. The plan, proposed by the Tourism and Sports Ministry, includes up to 500,000 baht coverage for injuries and 1 million baht for accidental deaths.

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has instructed the ministry to create an insurance policy covering all tourists aimed at reinforcing Thailand’s reputation as a safe travel destination.

 

The government’s new approach replaces the earlier fee proposal and is expected to involve a larger budget than the initially suggested 50 million baht.

 

Full story: THE PHUKET EXPRESS 2023-12-21

 

- 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.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[ezzra]

17 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"...short of PAYING THEM to come..."

What? Did the best part of 25 million who have visited this year need any persuading?

From an observations of people who lives in Pattaya is that right now the place is not buzzing like it used to be, and if tomorrow

all the expats in Pattaya will get and leave, Pattaya will look very empty and this is why the PM is in a panic...

[jacko45k]

We need the details but I was a little bemused by the cover for death..... would this be money for the hospital that failed, or to repatriate mortal remains, or a family cash benefit. The requirement is surely more for the living, those involved in accidents or health issue while in Thailand. 

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, ezzra said:

There must a huge panel of thinking heads somewhere in the recesses of some government's offices headed by this Srettha Thavisin who's sole tasks is how to bring more and more tourists to Thailand short of PAYING THEM to come...

The way it's going they should be paying us Ex-pats to stay.

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"...short of PAYING THEM to come..."

What? Did the best part of 25 million who have visited this year need any persuading?

To come back next year... possibly.

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, Cabradelmar said:

More Srettha give-a-ways... if he wants to give tourist free insurance, up to him. 

The first thing I learnt in Thailand is.. "nothing is free"

[4MyEgo]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

One incident concerned a Taiwanese tourist who was denied emergency treatment at a private hospital in the Pattanakarn area and died on his way to a second hospital about 10km away.

 

Welcome to the LOS, where a life is worthless.

 

The sooner governments around the world make travel insurance mandatory, the better off a lot of people will be, that said, it would take someone with balls to enforce it, and we know that there are not many people around with big Kahuna's to do it, as they would fear losing out on tourism.

 

It just goes to show how cheap life is.

 

RIP

[Isee]

A two limb approach would be to pass a law that hospital/emergency services can't charge different rates for the same service/medication etc.While at it, might as well just create a new piece of legislation that does away with dual pricing across the board in the Kingdom. 

[Colabamumbai]

Thai Government should provide insurance. Look at all the suicides they wont pay out for. 

[Tequila makes me happy]

Maybe also look into hospitals price gouging farangs in disress.

[flexomike]

18 hours ago, ezzra said:

There must a huge panel of thinking heads somewhere in the recesses of some government's offices headed by this Srettha Thavisin who's sole tasks is how to bring more and more tourists to Thailand short of PAYING THEM to come...

I think it should be the talking heads

[Iron Tongue]

I wonder if this foreign traveler insurance will cover STDs?

There's still that nasty case of antibiotic-resistant Super Gonorrhea that hasn't been addressed.

[Bangkok Barry]

13 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

No way that the government will pay for that for an extended time.

 

They won't. It's for a few days.

It is reported that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports will seek about 50 million baht from the Central Fund to buy insurance coverage for tourists visiting Thailand over the New Year period.

[Mike Lister]

6 minutes ago, Tequila makes me happy said:

Maybe also look into hospitals price gouging farangs in disress.

If you go to a government hospital you wont get gouged, you'll just get treated. But you wont get the 42 inch flat screen, the private room, the en-suite, the Western food, lots of English speaking staff, the marble fountain in the foyer, the choice of doctor, pizza and fried chicken delivered to your room from the shops downstairs.....it's your call.

[Bangkok Barry]

13 minutes ago, Isee said:

A two limb approach would be to pass a law that hospital/emergency services can't charge different rates for the same service/medication etc.While at it, might as well just create a new piece of legislation that does away with dual pricing across the board in the Kingdom. 

 

Dual pricing is led by the government by instituting the policy at national parks, so there is zero chance they will prevent others doing it.

[Bangkok Barry]

34 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

We need the details but I was a little bemused by the cover for death..... would this be money for the hospital that failed, or to repatriate mortal remains, or a family cash benefit. The requirement is surely more for the living, those involved in accidents or health issue while in Thailand. 

The Thai Examiner link gives far more info than the original post - as it always does. Seems to be the only decent source for Thai news that is properly written. All other sources often leave a lot to be desired.

[PETERTHEEATER]

9 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

They won't. It's for a few days.

It is reported that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports will seek about 50 million baht from the Central Fund to buy insurance coverage for tourists visiting Thailand over the New Year period.

That might just cover 50 tourists.

[nobodysfriend]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

he intensive care unit of a private hospital for dengue fever, but the hospital bill reached about 100,000 baht a day

 

Good idea from the PM .

EVERY tourist should have enough coverage in case an accident or sickness ( Dengue ) , happens .

Just to avoid being ripped off by some greedy hospital .

Make the insurance affordable and reliable .

Thailand is a dangerous country , the insurance is to protect the tourists themselves .

Paying some money for peace of mind is quite worth it .