Thailand
Special Tourist Visa program leaves out those from high-risk Covid countries
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry is clarifying that the new Special Tourist Visa program will omit potential high-spend tourists from high-risk Covid countries from consideration. Tourism and Sports minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn says prospective tourists need to check with the Public Health Ministry (via their Thai embassies) to see if their home countries are permitted to visit Thailand under the program.
Phiphat also says that decreasing the mandatory quarantine for these tourists is too soon, as the ministry is waiting to evaluate the first batch of travellers under this new visa to determine whether they can move forward with the 14-7-6 formula in regards to decreased quarantine periods (14 days, 7 days and 6 hours).
“The most important factor is that nobody in local communities will be happy to let foreign tourists visit their towns without quarantine.”
But he says that the tourists being allowed in under the special tourist visa only pose “minor risks as they have to fly in on approved flights to pre-designated locations”. He says more emphasis should be put on illegal border crossings bringing in possible infections.
Despite delays in the first batch of tourists entering under the visa, the Sports and Tourism Tourism Ministry says they expect 1,200 tourists to enter this month. Such delays were attributed to entry procedures being muddled a bit as the special visa is relatively new, being announced officially in the Royal Gazette on September 29.
Each tourist admitted under the STV, can stay up to 90 days with the option to extend the visa 2 times for 90 days thereafter. The programme targets “rich” tourists as they are expected to stay long-term, or over 2 weeks, due to the mandatory quarantine regulations specifying 2 weeks in an alternative state quarantine hotel.
Each tourist has to provide proof of payment at an Alternative State Quarantine facility, post-quarantine accommodation, health insurance policy with at least a US$100,000 (3 million baht) Covid-19 coverage, as well as a Thai health and accident insurance policy with at least 40,000 baht outpatient and 400,000 baht inpatient coverage.
SOURCE: Chiang Rai Times
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The Songkran road safety campaign is off to a moderate start with a reported 25 deaths and 356 injuries across Thailand on Saturday. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department director-general reports that there were 348 road accidents in the country on the first day of the campaign.
Though the figures don’t sound like an achievement, they are actually a fair bit lower than the average road death toll each day in Thailand throughout the year. Officials say that the real rush back home for the annual holiday will probably be tomorrow.
About 83% of the accidents involved motorbikes, 7.5% involved pick-up trucks and 4% were with cars. The biggest percentage of incidents happened between 4 and 8 pm, with 28% of accidents occurring in the late afternoon and early evening. Around 20% of crashes were between 8 am and noon, and 17% between noon and 4 pm.
Speeding is the number one cause of traffic accidents, with 32% of incidents a result of people driving too fast. Sudden lane switches, regardless of speed, contributed to about 20% of crashes. Alcohol was another major contributing factor, with intoxicated drivers involved in 23% of accidents that were attributed to drink-driving.
Bangkok, Chon Buri and Chiang Mai saw 2 fatalities on the roads of each province, while Phatthalung province in Southern Thailand had 22 injuries from 20 traffic accidents, the most in any province in Thailand.
As part of the Songkran road safety campaign, 342,000 cars, trucks and motorbikes were stopped and inspected by over 60,000 officials across Thailand yesterday. There are 1.913 main road checkpoints set up throughout the entire country. More than 58,000 citations were handed out to drivers for many different infractions, notably over 16,000 drivers were caught without a license and nearly 15,000 people were violating Thailand’s helmet laws by riding without one.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Thailand is notorious for its road and driving conditions, and a disproportionate number of driving accidents. The World Health Organisation now reports that road accidents cost an estimated 500 billion baht in 2019 alone. The WHO report placed Thailand as the number one country in ASEAN with a 32.7 per cent death rate, the highest in Southeast Asia. The Road Accident Victims Protection Co explains that the WHO calculates the financial damages of driving deaths in different countries around the world. Thailand’s 500 billion baht loss amounts to about 3 per cent of the country’s entire 2019 gross domestic product of 16.87 trillion baht.
By analyzing statistics and making projections about road deaths from 2021 to 2027, the estimates during the next 6 years that Thailand is facing an average of about 15,400 deaths per year in the best case, and looking a worst case scenario of over 18,600 deaths per year in traffic accidents. Adding an extra depressing edge to this gruesome statistic, the report shows that nearly 40% of those killed in traffic accidents are the heads of households. With the loss of the family head, an average of 2.43 people per death lose the support of their primary family earner, putting them in peril. The death of younger household leaders, and other untimely and unnatural deaths also may contribute in the longterm to a disparity in an aging population.
2020 saw a strong drop in road accidents and deaths, from 22,000 in 2019 to just under 18,000 fatalities, though this drop is mainly due to the national lockdown in April and general decrease in travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic. If Covid-19 improves in the coming month and the country springs back to life, the number of deaths are likely to spring back as well. Estimates show that road fatalities could return to 19,000-20,000 in all of 2021, which is about 1 death every 26 minutes. Worldwide about 317,000 people die in driving accidents every year, or about 1 every 23 seconds.
SOURCE: The Nation Thailand
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After the recent outbreak of Covid-19 across Thailand, in a large part due to entertainment activities, Thailand’s former capital city of Ayutthaya has now officially cancelled all Songkran festival activities for the upcoming holiday. All events previously planned to mark the Thai New Year’s holiday between April 13 and 15 have now been called off. An urgent declaration by the provincial governor today informed the public of the decision. Many people across the country are cancelling Songkran events or any observance of the holiday at all.
The decision by the province’s Songkran committee and the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Ayutthaya office was directed especially at tourists who may be planning to travel to the area for traditional festivities. Complex and ornate events had been planned, scheduled to be held on Si Sanphet road, with the sudden cancellation announcement abruptly ending the preparations for holiday merriment.
TAT and the local government agreed that the cancellation was necessary to prevent the possible spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in light of the current outbreak across Thailand. In Ayutthaya, 86 people have been infected with 21 new cases diagnosed yesterday. In an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19, the Ayutthaya Hospital issued a statement limiting visits for hospital patients. The hospital encourages people to do video calls with their relatives as the hospital will only allow one relative to spend time with each patient. This overall situation led to the official decision to call off all Songkran festivities.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Bangkok1 day agoTourism officials slash Songkran travel expectations by half
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Thailand2 days agoThai Airways cuts another 4,250 staff, offering them early retirement
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Crime3 days agoImmigration police arrest Frenchman on drug charges, 3 other foreigners for overstay
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)3 days agoPolice chief orders staff to work from home after 42 officers test positive
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Hot News11 hours agoCondolences from Thailand to UK on Prince Philip’s death
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Bangkok4 days agoBangkok prepares to open field hospital as officials warn of a rapid rise in infections
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Bangkok4 days agoThai Health Minister pictured without mask, sitting next to infected Transport Minister
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Bangkok3 days agoUPDATE: Thai PM orders closure of bars and clubs in 41 provinces
Issan John
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Interesting to know what those countries are …
… odd that they’re not listed openly …
peterpan
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 12:54 pm
yes true. i was just told by thai embassy in germany that germans are not allowed to enter. high risk country.what are these criterias? only who statistik. would be stupid.
Issan John
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 5:02 pm
AFAIK, it’s not the nationality but the country flown from.
The problem for all countries allowing those from “low-risk” countries to enter are those transiting via other countries to get around the rules, particularly those with dual nationality.
Australia found several overseas students playing the system, at a cost of up to AU$20,000 in flights, before tightening up the rules.
Toby Andrews
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 12:54 pm
Here in Cambodia a Frenchman has just returned, on a $600 Eva air flight from Paris, paid $2000 deposit, and is stopping in a quarantine hotel for three nights, supplying health checks, and food costing $440.
He has a business here, otherwise a tourist pays the same and deposits $3000.
The insurance for 21 days is $80.
I talked to his son.
I just thought readers would like to know how the Cambodians are dealing with matters.
Marc
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 1:14 pm
Thanks.I live in Thailand and i want to come to Cambodia.
J
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 1:35 pm
Thanks for sharing, looks like much better option for winter break
Don R
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 2:01 pm
Sounds risky. $150/night to stay in a hotel could be catastrophic if they decide to keep you in the hotel for 14 days or moer…
Issan John
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 4:41 pm
His son seems to have overlooked rather a lot:
“Further note that, in the event one or more travelers test positive for COVID-19, all accompanying passengers will be subject to a 14-day quarantine at a location designated by Cambodian authorities. If all travelers test negative, health authorities will ask travelers to self-isolate for 14-days at their home under supervision of local authorities and health officials. Health authorities will then oversee another COVID-19 test on the 14th day of self-isolation.”
DARIUSZ Franciszek NOWACKI
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 1:38 pm
is Australia welcome?
Issan John
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 4:48 pm
… and he also seems unaware that “Cambodian Embassies are not issuing tourist visas at this time.
The only applications being accepted are for diplomatic, official, and “sponsored” business-linked visas at this time.”
I just thought readers might like to know how Cambodians are ACTUALLY dealing with matters …..
Lance
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 7:19 pm
Just because I am from the US does not mean I have COVD! I have not seen my GF for over 7 months! If someone can prove they dont have COVID that should only matter! Test me every day if you want …
Love Is Not Tourism!
James
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 7:57 pm
I don’t think any of the low-risk countries have large populations or people with money.
Perhaps they could let beggers in and let them come free because all of the wealthy countries should not be on the low-risk list.
Unless of course, they have a cheat-list of countries which will mean once the tourists arrive Thailand will perhaps once again after having many cases of the virus say they have very few.
Why does Thailand not do the same as the rest of us and admit it is not possible to have millions of tourists visit their country until a vaccine is found?
The UK normally has 39 million tourists per year but now knows that is not possible at the current time.
Magic can not happen, we know Thailand needs tourists for 20% of the economy but they just admit the facts at the moment.
sandfeldt
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 8:40 pm
Thaiger:
We need link to high and low risk countries is it possble to find that ??
Thomas
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 8:42 pm
That leaves only the Vatican & North Korea, unless I got a different news channel. According to the WHO there is Covid everywhere, except Thailand of course. With 2 tests, insurance and 14 days quarantine where is the problem? I start to believe they just don’t trust their own systems. Can’t blame them.
Mike Frenchie
Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 11:39 pm
Hot air… Chinese tourists are not allowed to travel abroad.
Million of people are going to loose their job by year end… for a disease that kills just a bit more than the regular flu and for which no vaccine will provide a solution in the coming years (vaccine against virus are not effective – i.e. flu – HIV…).
AJ
Monday, October 5, 2020 at 1:31 am
There is not a country on earth that has not had Covid infections. Meaning, any person could have it so restricting people from certain countries seems ridiculous. If someone can pass the required covid tests, and is willing to do the 14 day quarantine, why limit access to certain countries?
Another thing is that this article states that there is a health insurance policy with at least a US$100,000 (3 million baht) Covid-19 coverage required which is incorrect. It was reduced to B40k outpatient, B400k inpatient last week.
James Harden
Monday, October 5, 2020 at 9:23 am
Just forget about Thailand. They really don’t want anyone but Chinese there. They have become China’s Mexico. Such a shame.
RG
Monday, October 5, 2020 at 10:40 am
Should show a picture of empty beaches. The “tourist” from China don’t visit the beaches, mostly only where the tour buses take them.
Niklas
Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 6:11 pm
“health insurance policy with at least a US$100,000 (3 million baht) Covid-19 coverage, as well as a Thai health and accident insurance policy with at least 40,000 baht outpatient and 400,000 baht inpatient coverage.”
so I need 3 insurances??? I don’t get it