borders

  • Thailand NewsForeign affairs minister sails to settle seas of dispute in Koh Kood

    Foreign affairs minister sails to settle seas of dispute in Koh Kood

    Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa is set to visit Cambodia to negotiate an overlapping claims area (OCA) in Koh Kood, situated in Trat, a border province. This visit aims to bolster bilateral relations and address pressing issues, including the controversial Cambodian construction of a breakwater near the 73rd border demarcation post adjacent to the Klong Yai border checkpoint. The breakwater,…

  • World NewsUS-Mexico border braces for chaos as asylum rules change

    US-Mexico border braces for chaos as asylum rules change

    A surge of people is expected at the United States border with Mexico, as US President Joe Biden acknowledges the situation will be “chaotic for a while.” Title 42 pandemic-era rules, which made claiming asylum at the border nearly impossible, are set to expire in the coming days. This has led tens of thousands of people to gather at border…

  • World NewsMalaysia responds to China’s lifted Covid restrictions with plans to tighten borders

    Malaysia responds to China’s lifted Covid restrictions with plans to tighten borders

    Malaysia is responding to China’s recently lifted Covid-19 restrictions with plans to tighten its borders. The Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, announced the country’s plans as fears mount over another Covid wave due to China. According to the Straits Times, the Cabinet is choosing to prioritise health over the economy. “We will control and tighten (our borders) even more, including (travellers) from…

  • World NewsThailand gives Malaysians one month to collect stranded vehicles free of charge

    Thailand gives Malaysians one month to collect stranded vehicles free of charge

    Thailand is giving Malaysians one month to collect their stranded vehicles free of charge from June 1 – June 30. Hundreds of cars with Malaysian number plates got stranded in Thailand when the border closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, over two years ago. After June 30, Thailand will impose a fee to collect stranded vehicles. Vehicles can be brought…

  • World NewsIs Vietnam opening its borders to international visitors?

    Is Vietnam opening its borders to international visitors?

    Press Release Vietnam is one of the most visited countries in Southeast Asia. Before the pandemic shutting the international borders of countries around the world, Vietnam was regularly competing with Thailand for being the most popular destination in the entire region. Once the coronavirus proved to be here for the long haul, the government had to make the difficult decision…

  • World NewsUKRAINE UPDATES: Russia captures key port city, 1 million refugees have fled

    UKRAINE UPDATES: Russia captures key port city, 1 million refugees have fled

    This is the first of The Thaiger’s daily update briefs on, not only the ongoing battles across Ukraine, but the key milestones covering the rest of the international perspective relating to the story. These will be updated twice a day and also be part of a new daily program on The Thaiger YouTube channel. • As the Russian invasion of…

  • World NewsUkraine-Russia crisis, western leaders “convinced” Russia will invade

    Ukraine-Russia crisis, western leaders “convinced” Russia will invade

    The British PM Boris Johnson claims he has evidence that Russia is planning “the biggest war in Europe since 1945”. Speaking to the BBC, Mr. Jonhson said “all the signs are that the plan has already in some senses begun”. “People need to understand the sheer cost in human life that could entail. Asked if a Russian invasion is imminent, Mr…

  • World NewsIt’s official: Vietnam will reopen to tourists on March 15

    It’s official: Vietnam will reopen to tourists on March 15

    In a move made three months earlier than planned, Vietnam will completely reopen to tourists starting March 15. Visitors to the country will still have to quarantine for 24 hours, and test negative for Covid-19 before departure and upon arrival. The Vietnamese government said in a statement that the reopening is part of its new response to controlling Covid-19, which…

  • World NewsAustralia to finally open to tourists in March

    Australia to finally open to tourists in March

    Vaccinated international tourists will finally be allowed to enter Australia again in March. The country’s borders shut exactly two years before that in March 2020. Skilled migrants and international students were only allowed back in December 2021. But now that Covid-19 cases are down in all states except Western Australia, Australia’s home affairs minister says she’s making the opening a…

  • South Thailand NewsBurmese migrants trafficked through Thailand caught by Malaysian border

    Burmese migrants trafficked through Thailand caught by Malaysian border

    Last night, Thai soldiers caught 31 Burmese migrants on the Thailand-Malaysia border, illegally passing through Thailand and hoping to work in Malaysia. The migrants were found hiding in a ditch on a rubber plantation in Sadao, a district of Songkhla province. The group 25 men and six women had reportedly travelled from Myanmar’s Myawaddy township. After they crossed into Tak…

  • Covid-19 NewsUK and the EU brace for more Omicron-induced closures and restrictions

    UK and the EU brace for more Omicron-induced closures and restrictions

    The UK and EU are going into a mild travel panic as borders start to close again and restrictions re-imposed. Last night France imposed a ban on travel to and from the country, except for “travel for compelling reasons”. The only “compelling” exemptions are for French and European travellers returning to France, or UK passengers heading in the other direction. Back…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | More Dark red zones, ‘coup rumour’ quashed | August 2

    Thailand News Today | More Dark red zones, ‘coup rumour’ quashed | August 2

    You can donate to our “I Am Strong Campaign” here…. https://gogetfunding.com/the-thaigers-i-am-strong-campaign/ Starting off with an extended report on the new restrictions in Dark Red Zones, and exactly how the new zonings may affect you. Down south, and Phuket has been re-categorised, going from a “yellow” zone to an “orange” zone. Following a rumour that a military coup to remove PM…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Thai Airways decision, Covid Update, farmer hit by lightning | May 12

    Thailand News Today | Thai Airways decision, Covid Update, farmer hit by lightning | May 12

    34 Covid-related deaths reported today, today is a big day in the long-running Thai Airways saga, with 13,000 creditors voting on whether or not to accept the struggling airline’s rehabilitation plan, An unfortunate farmer has been struck and killed by lightning in his rice field in the Phon Sawan district of Nakhon Phanom, British activist Andy Hall has been finally…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand’s 4-phase reopening, starting today

    Thailand’s 4-phase reopening, starting today

    This is not an April fool’s joke. Thailand has set a tentative 4-phase plan starting April 1 for reopening the borders, lifting restrictions, and relaxing quarantine periods, allowing international travel to recommence in a safe manner. As always, this a currently a PLAN and has not been confirmed by the Thai government at this stage. The planned rollout has a…

  • Thailand News34.7% of Thai tourist businesses closed down

    34.7% of Thai tourist businesses closed down

    “When the tourists start coming back it will be a very different holiday experience for them. Will it ever get back to the numbers before Covid? Never.” A Tourism Authority of Thailand survey, conducted between January 10 – 12, indicates that more than a third of the country’s tourism-related businesses has already shut up shop and gone out of business.…

  • Tourism NewsThe world aviation industry suffers Annus Horribilis | VIDEO

    The world aviation industry suffers Annus Horribilis | VIDEO

    In the Asia-Pacific, where the affect of Covid-19 has been lower (at this stage), the passenger load was 30-40% down, compared to last year. Overall, international flights for the latter part of 2020 are down 75% year on year. The world’s aviation industry has been profoundly affected by the border closures and restrictions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic…

  • Tourism NewsThailand tourism is changed forever

    Thailand tourism is changed forever

    OPINION by Andrew J Wood Last week the Thai government Minister’s speech shows me that tourism will never be allowed to recover to previous levels. The writing is definitely on the wall, windows and front door, that there has been a major policy shift in government thinking by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s cabinet. In a deeply worrying development for Thailand’s massive…

  • Covid-19 NewsNo vaccine, no entry – the next Covid challenge

    No vaccine, no entry – the next Covid challenge

    OPINION UPDATE: Australia’s national airline Qantas has already said it will impose “proof of vaccine” on all inbound and outbound international flights, a situation that IATA says they will follow. Read more HERE. ORIGINAL POST: The approval of a reliable Covid-19 vaccine will be a game-changer. Over the past 2 weeks there has been several announcements, and a few bumps,…

  • Covid-19 NewsRe-opening Thailand to tourism will be vaccine dependent

    Re-opening Thailand to tourism will be vaccine dependent

    Bill Barnett from c9hotelworks.com continues to follow the difficult journey of the Thai hospitality industry. Traditionally, now would be the start of the country’s highly profitable high season for the tourism industry. But not this year. Thai hotels find themselves in the middle of an existential crisis – either still closed, only partly open, or one of the few converted…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Army deny Twitter spin, “Don’t Reopen”, English proficiency low | Nov 27

    Thailand News Today | Army deny Twitter spin, “Don’t Reopen”, English proficiency low | Nov 27

    Last day of the week. Thought we’d go outside. Bad idea! Welcome to Friday’s Thailand News Today. Royal Thai Army denies claims about Twitter campaign to spread pro-government propaganda Following a shutdown of 926 Twitter accounts linked to the Royal Thai Army, documents were leaked of what appears to be a contract between the Army and a private company supposedly…

  • Tourism NewsHigh season? What high season? Thai tourism has a gap year.

    High season? What high season? Thai tourism has a gap year.

    OPINION High season. What’s happening to Thailand’s traditional tourist high season this year? (Sounds of crickets and tumbleweed rolling down the streets) Just as last year’s high season was wrapping up, the Covid-19 pandemic became real and much of the world closed its borders in March. Thailand hoteliers, tour operators and airlines had to endure a very quiet low season,…

  • Visa InformationGetting Back to Thailand, the latest information about ASQs and STVs | VIDEO

    Getting Back to Thailand, the latest information about ASQs and STVs | VIDEO

    Whilst some restrictions have been eased, there has been a doubling down on other restrictions for travel back to Thailand at this stage. Here’s all the latest information about the Social Tourist Visa (STV), ASQ (Alternative State Quarantine), golf courses. And then there’s the Thai baht which is causing problems as well. The situation is very fluid but we do…

  • Tourism NewsFrom tourist heroes to zero – how the world’s former tourist magnets are coping

    From tourist heroes to zero – how the world’s former tourist magnets are coping

    If over-tourism became the buzzword in the travel industry in 2019, the opposite applies in 2020 when most of the world’s most popular tourist magnets are now facing a genuine economic crisis, forced on them by government closures and a risk-averse travel public, most of whom are prevented from travel beyond their own borders. We visit Dubrovnik, Santorini, Ibiza, Barcelona,…

  • Covid-19 NewsComplete Thailand Travel Guide (October 2020)

    Complete Thailand Travel Guide (October 2020)

    Latest update – October 21. If you are overseas and wish to come to Thailand your FIRST port of call must be the Royal Thai Embassy in your country before you make any bookings. Thailand Longstay is also a valuable resource of information at this time. First ‘tourists’ arrive in Thailand under the Special Tourist Visa In 2019, almost 40 million tourists…

  • Visa InformationSo, how’s Thailand doing with Covid-19? – OPINION

    So, how’s Thailand doing with Covid-19? – OPINION

    OPINION by “Issan John” According to some, Thailand’s a leading success story, with minimal deaths and an equally minimal effect on daily life. According to others, it’s fudging the figures and on the brink of economic collapse, and the only solution is to “open the borders”, take a risk with Covid-19, and welcome back the tourists it allegedly relies on…

  • Thailand News4 Burmese men arrested after crossing Moei River to Thailand

    4 Burmese men arrested after crossing Moei River to Thailand

    Tak border patrols have arrested 4 Burmese men who allegedly waded across the Moei River, crossing the natural border into Thailand illegally. Border officials have tightened their patrol since Myanmar reported a second wave of Covid-19 cases in August, and even more after this past weekend when 3 Burmese truck drivers tested positive for Covid-19 after entering Thailand through the…

  • Economy NewsMinor International Chairman calls for major overhaul of Thailand’s ASQ

    Minor International Chairman calls for major overhaul of Thailand’s ASQ

    Minor International’s outspoken Chairman, Bill Heinecke, has penned an open letter to Thailand’s Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul. The thrust of the letter is that the current ASQ and general quarantine requirements and restrictions, is making any recovery of the country’s tourism and hospitality industry. Minor hotels have already serviced 2,500 guest as part of the Thai government’s Alternative State…

  • Covid-19 NewsIs it time for Thailand to restart its tourist industry? – SURVEY

    Is it time for Thailand to restart its tourist industry? – SURVEY

    It’s been 10 months since the first murmurings of a novel coronavirus emerged in China. Since then there’s been an unprecedented effort to control or contain the disease by governments around the world – some more successful in their efforts than others. Covid-19 has also had more words written about it, more conspiracy theories and more debate than any other…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Poll-Keep borders closed, quarantine exemption, heavy rain | October 7

    Thailand News Today | Poll-Keep borders closed, quarantine exemption, heavy rain | October 7

    Today’s Thailand News Today with Tim Newton… Zoos to be investigated for possible involvement in black market animal trade Zoos across Thailand will be investigated for possible involvement in the black market wildlife trade. The probe follows a case where 2 rare albino barking deer went missing at Songkhla Zoo and a top zoo official investigating the disappearance was shot and…

  • Visa InformationHard truths about travelling to Thailand, right now

    Hard truths about travelling to Thailand, right now

    OPINION Just a year ago, you could book a flight, booked a hotel, and in many cases, just arrived to receive a visa-on-arrival stamp in your passport. A few hours later you were sitting on a beach sipping colourful drinks out of tall glasses. Just one year later and being a tourist in Thailand is very difficult, if not impossible…