Thailand

Thailand eyes travel bubbles again with low-risk countries

Published

Tuesday, April 6, 2021 18:28

Stock photo via Flickr

Thailand is eyeing travel bubbles once again with low-risk countries like Singapore, Laos and Vietnam. Sports and Tourism minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, says officials from Thailand and Singapore are discussing forming travel bubbles, as Singapore already has experience forming green routes with other asian countries.

“We have acknowledged that Singapore has previously run the travel bubble with Australia and New Zealand. If Singapore agrees to run the scheme with Thailand as well, we would probably be able to receive tourists from Australia and New Zealand, in addition to Singaporeans.”

He says it would be easier for Thailand to form travel bubbles with Laos and Vietnam as they share a border. When Thailand reopens in October, as is the current proposal, travel bubbles are expected to commence around the same time. But the idea only seems to be popular with other ASEAN countries as Thailand’s leading source markets like China and Russia don’t seem to have travellers in a hurry to leave (even if they were allowed).

But, as before, Thailand’s travel bubble plans may be halted if any more massive outbreaks or a third wave appears. Talks with European nations have been stalled as infections increased. Last year, Thailand mulled such travel bubbles, but they never came to fruition as partnering countries along with Thailand dealt with second waves of the coronavirus.

Thailand is slowly reopening to vaccinated foreign visitors with a three step plan up to the end of the year. The quarantine period has been cut down to 7 days for vaccinated visitors arriving in Thailand. Phuket is set to reopen in July under the “sandbox” model where vaccinated visitors can travel to the island without undergoing quarantine (if the local population can reach a level of 70% vaccination in the next 2 months).

Meanwhile, the island nations of Taiwan and Palau are leading the race in creating Asia’s first travel bubble, allowing citizens of the 2 countries to fly back and forth without quarantine. Palau, the tiny Micronesian archipelago of 500 islands dotting the western Pacific Ocean, calls it a “sterile corridor” connecting the two countries. China Airlines, the Taiwanese carrier, flew the 4-hour journey between Taipei airport and Palau’s main airport yesterday afternoon.

SOURCE: Travel Daily Media

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7 Comments

Jason

Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 7:32 pm

It looks like Australia and New Zealand have beaten you too it! Any travel bubble is a sign of hope, not only for the countries in the bubble…but for the world :0

Reply
Dreqo

Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 9:29 pm

Just stfu already with this despotic bubble nonsense.

Reply
Bill

Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 9:47 pm

Agree with dreqo

Reply
J West

Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 10:29 am

Singapore Airlines was barred from flying into Hong Kong last week….even transit flights…because they had allowed Covid Positive passengers on board, many with faked documents. In the Canadian media it was reported that flights from Delhi, transitting many airports hubs had been the main source of fake docs. Any travel bubble must take this into account.

Reply
L-Dogg

Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 12:42 pm

I also agree with Dreqo

Reply
Roger Bruce

Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 8:34 pm

Yes Australia is looking at Singapore ONLY LOOKING has not previously run a travel bubble with Australia or New Zealand frog crap reporting
Singapore in bad books fake Doco,s, and Corvid onboard flights will stop any bubble for a long time
OHH but not with Thailand they will take anybody willing to come for the mighty Baht
Each day Thailand is looking worse and worse as a country to visit or live in
Good Luck Thailand

Reply
the man the myth the lengend

Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 2:47 am

yes it is a scheme

Reply

Ann Carter

Ann Carter is an award-winning journalist from the United States with over 12 years experience in print and broadcast news. Her work has been featured in America, China and Thailand as she has worked internationally at major news stations as a writer and producer. Carter graduated from the Walter Williams Missouri School of Journalism in the USA.

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