Covid restrictions

  • Tourism NewsChinese tourists trickling in after reopening

    Chinese tourists trickling in after reopening

    With a back and forth over Covid-19 restrictions, as China opens its doors for its citizens to travel outbound again, the wave of the coveted Chinese tourist demographic has been nothing more than a trickle. The first arrivals in three years on a direct flight from China to Thailand landed in Bangkok on January 8, with 200 enthusiastic travellers. After Covid…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid travel restrictions return tomorrow

    Covid travel restrictions return tomorrow

    It’s probably just a coincidence, but just as China is easing their travel blocks and allowing its citizens to travel abroad, Covid-19 travel restrictions are officially back. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has recently announced a set of rules that will apply to all non-Thai arrivals between January 9 and 31. These rules come as the country anticipates…

  • Tourism NewsThailand tourism may see a decline next year

    Thailand tourism may see a decline next year

    Despite conflicting optimistic predictions, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is warning that Thai tourism may take a sharp downturn next year. While international travellers are flocking to Thailand now, industry experts fear that it may be a flood of pent-up demand and, by next year, all those who waited through the whole pandemic to get to Thailand will have…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand officials still aiming for Covid-19 ‘endemic’ status in July

    Thailand officials still aiming for Covid-19 ‘endemic’ status in July

    Thailand’s officials say their goal remains to achieve endemic status for Covid-19 on July 1 if certain benchmarks continue to be met. Thailand’s deputy public health minister said in a speech that, if Covid-19 is declared an endemic, mask-wearing rules might ease depending on the Covid-19 situation in each area. In the plan for endemic status, the number of infections…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand’s venues to be allowed to ‘officially’ serve alcohol slightly later

    Thailand’s venues to be allowed to ‘officially’ serve alcohol slightly later

    Along with several back-peddles for the Thailand Pass, Thailand’s CCSA announced yesterday it also plans to ease another Covid-19 restriction- the alcohol curfew. Restaurants, and ‘restaurants’, will be able to serve alcohol until midnight, instead of 11pm. Like the Thailand Pass changes, the alcohol curfew change is set to start on May 1. Thailand’s 11pm alcohol curfew has given venue managers…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s Covid trend is ‘down’ as we wait for the fallout from Songkran travel

    Thailand’s Covid trend is ‘down’ as we wait for the fallout from Songkran travel

    The trend for Thailand’s daily new Covid infections is definitely heading down, for now. Despite the warnings of increased cases from some medical authorities in Thailand (up to 100,000 infections per day in one estimate), the trend over the past week has been down. The current surge hit its peak on April 1 with 28,029 new infections but has been…

  • Thailand video newsPlastic obsession & Southern insurgency in Thailand | Thaiger Bites

    Plastic obsession & Southern insurgency in Thailand | Thaiger Bites

    Jay and Tim go through your messages, comments and feedback from Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and the Thaiger Talk forum on the website.

  • Thailand video newsMonopoly Madness, Complicated Thailand & Dark humour | Thaiger Bites

    Monopoly Madness, Complicated Thailand & Dark humour | Thaiger Bites

    Jay and Tim go through your messages, comments and feedback from Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and the Thaiger Talk forum on the website.

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Songkran will go ahead…but with what restrictions?

    Thailand News Today | Songkran will go ahead…but with what restrictions?

    The Thai government says Covid ain’t stoppin’ this year’s Songkran celebrations but insists that disease prevention measures will need to be followed. What that means for the mass water fights that were emblematic of the pre-pandemic celebrations remains unclear for now. According to a, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has given the green light for interprovincial travel and “all related activities” over…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Thailand battles with easing restrictions

    Thailand News Today | Thailand battles with easing restrictions

    As infections continue to rise sharply across the country, the government has raised the Covid alert to Level 4 nationwide. The move comes as the number of severe cases and deaths also continues to rise, with most of the deaths reported in the elderly, the unvaccinated, and those with underlying health conditions. However, the CCSA has stated that lockdowns will…

  • Tourism NewsThailand’s long road back to ’normal’

    Thailand’s long road back to ’normal’

    OPINION Thailand is lagging behind the rest of the world with its turn tackling the Omicron variants of the coronavirus. The sudden surge, peaking, then dropping numbers of cases that define the waves of Omicron around the world have had their peaks at different times, in different countries. For the world, the peak was on January 21, for the US…

  • Thailand NewsChanges in Covid-19 laws impact house plant sales

    Changes in Covid-19 laws impact house plant sales

    Changes in Covid-19 have impacted house plant sales, and plant growers bear the brunt of this across the country. Growers say now that lockdown rules have lifted, people don’t have time to care for plants anymore, and their sales have gone down. One plant company owner told Thai PBS in an interview that his sales have dropped between 20-30% since…

  • ExpatsPopular “sexpat” blogger Stickboy leaves Thailand over dead nightlife, restrictions

    Popular “sexpat” blogger Stickboy leaves Thailand over dead nightlife, restrictions

    The popular redlight district blogger (and “sexpat”) Stickboy has left Thailand, apparently due to the lack of nightlife over the past two years. Stickboy, whose real name is Mike McKay, has been a long time expat in Thailand. He calls himself a “party animal with hollow legs” and is known for his posts of busty women mixed in with general…

  • Thailand NewsCCSA to review curfew hours and allowing more businesses and venues to reopen

    CCSA to review curfew hours and allowing more businesses and venues to reopen

    The nighttime curfew might be reduced by an hour and 11 types of business and venues might be able to resume service as the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration will review a proposal for such requests, today. If all goes well with the CCSA, the curfew would shrink back 1 hour to 10pm to 4am, compared to the now 9pm…

  • World NewsHanoi to ease Covid restrictions this week

    Hanoi to ease Covid restrictions this week

    Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is going to ease Covid restrictions currently in place as new cases decrease and most of the adult population is at least partially vaccinated, says the government of Vietnam. The restrictions will ease this week and the majority of construction projects will be able to start up again by Wednesday. More restrictions will be cut…

  • Thailand video newsMorning Top Stories | Thailand October 1 reopening, Police arrest 12 year old | September 15 |

    Morning Top Stories | Thailand October 1 reopening, Police arrest 12 year old | September 15 |

    Police in Bangkok arrest 12 year old for violating curfew. Cabinet approves measure to entice “high potential” foreigners. Thailand ready for October 1 reopening, despite Covid-19 rate. State of Emergency extended in Thailand’s Deep South.

  • Thailand NewsPhuket restrictions to stay in place until at least the end of the month, exemptions apply

    Phuket restrictions to stay in place until at least the end of the month, exemptions apply

    Phuket’s restrictions will stay in place until at least the end of the month. This includes closing off the island to visitors, with exceptions. This move is in response to the rising Covid cases in the region. The exception to the rule is Phuket residents and visitors associated with the “Sandbox” scheme. Also, people who have had 2 doses of…

  • Thailand NewsCCSA meets today to extend Covid measures, or ease restrictions

    CCSA meets today to extend Covid measures, or ease restrictions

    Today’s meeting of Thailand’s peak Covid organisations will decide the continuation, or the juggling, of restrictions as the CCSA and government departments grapple with country’s steady, but worrisome, increases in both new infections and deaths over the past month. Currently, 29 provinces are Dark Red Zones, classified as the maximum and strict controlled area designation. The CCSA will meet today…

  • Covid-19 News‘Dark red’ curfews, interprovincial public transport ban possibly until Aug 31 – CCSA

    ‘Dark red’ curfews, interprovincial public transport ban possibly until Aug 31 – CCSA

    Tight disease control measures including nightly curfews and a ban on interprovincial public transportation from “dark red” provinces are set until August 16, but the measures could be extended until the end of the month, according to a spokesperson during yesterday’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration press briefing. The overall Covid-19 situation and disease control measures are reviewed every two…

  • Thailand NewsPhuket adds and “clarifies” many restrictions, “no” booze

    Phuket adds and “clarifies” many restrictions, “no” booze

    Phuket officials announced yesterday that they’re going to kick restrictions up a notch. The Covid protection measures include a new order stipulating all domestic arrivals from anywhere in the country need to provide evidence that they have tested negative for Covid before they are allowed admittance into Phuket. The order came out after 9 pm last night. It will come…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok restrictions lifted on 8 categories, including swimming

    Bangkok restrictions lifted on 8 categories, including swimming

    Break out your footballs, reading glasses, and – yes, finally – swimsuit! The governor of Bangkok has just approved the reopening of 8 categories of businesses and locations, with previous Covid-19 safety restrictions being lifted. And you’ve only got to wait a few hours for the ban to be lifted as the order goes into effect Monday. This afternoon, Bangkok…

  • Phuket News12 Covid-19 violators busted drinking on Patong Beach

    12 Covid-19 violators busted drinking on Patong Beach

    12 violators of Covid-19 restrictions, of Thai and foreign origin, have been arrested and taken into custody by police for gathering and drinking in public on Patong Beach. The Covid-19 measures currently in place in Phuket ban all get-togethers involving alcohol, limiting the number that can drink together to just 2 people. The group were arrested for violating this order…

  • Covid-19 NewsUPDATE: Phuket restrictions and bans extended, new ‘party’ clause added

    UPDATE: Phuket restrictions and bans extended, new ‘party’ clause added

    UPDATE: Including a new clause… “5.2 Participating in eating or drinking of alcohol, in the family home or in any other place of residence, must not be attended by outsiders. In addition, gathering together or the organising of any other activities is prohibited. If the person who violates or commits this offence is a foreigner, the permission to remain living…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket restrictions and bans to stay in place until end of May

    Phuket restrictions and bans to stay in place until end of May

    Phuket’s list of current ‘Covid’ restrictions have been extended until at least May 31. All the current levels of restrictions will remain until the end of the month after the Phuket Governor announced the continuation of restrictions this afternoon. Daily new infection numbers continue to add to the island’s total of 556 since the start of April. The island’s latest…

  • Pattaya NewsChon Buri hotels and tourism businesses ordered to close

    Chon Buri hotels and tourism businesses ordered to close

    Hotels and tourist attractions in Chonburi must close, according to an official order from the province’s communicable disease committee. Hotel and other businesses related to the tourism industry, who struggled due to the provincial travel restrictions, actually requested the order so employees could get unemployment benefits. With the official closure order, the employees can receive 3 month compensations from the…

  • Thailand News111 people arrested at Koh Pha Ngan party for allegedly violating Covid-19 restrictions

    111 people arrested at Koh Pha Ngan party for allegedly violating Covid-19 restrictions

    Police raided a party in Koh Pha Ngan and arrested 111 on charges of violating Covid-19 disease control measures under the Emergency Decree. Immigration police and tourist police raided the event at Three Sixty Bar, a venue on a hilltop near Mae Haad Beach on the island known for its 360 degree view. Out of the 111 people arrested, 89…

  • Thailand NewsPhuket eases restrictions, bars back to late-night hours

    Phuket eases restrictions, bars back to late-night hours

    Things are getting back to normal in Phuket. The provincial government eased disease control restrictions, allowing restaurants, bars and entertainment venues to go back to their normal operating hours – no more midnight closure order – and lifting the late-night alcohol ban. While bars can now stay open late and serve alcohol after midnight, dancing is prohibited and venues cannot…

  • Thailand NewsMassage workers in Pattaya call for reopening of spas and massages shops

    Massage workers in Pattaya call for reopening of spas and massages shops

    A group of about 50 workers from Pattaya massage shops and spas gathered together to call for the reopening of their businesses after being closed for the past month due to Covid-19 restrictions. The group called themselves the “Pattaya Health Massage” presented a letter signed by 60 massage shops, spas and gyms to Bang Lamung District Sheriff this morning. Chon…

  • Bangkok NewsEating out until 11pm in Bangkok is waiting for approval

    Eating out until 11pm in Bangkok is waiting for approval

    Bangkok restaurants may soon be allowed to stay open a little later. Health officials are considering easing up Covid-19 prevention measures by extending restaurant dine-in closing times to 11pm. If the proposal by the Thai Restaurant Association is given a green light, it may lead to the lifting ban of alcohol drinking. After the order of shutting entertainment venues and…

  • Covid-19 NewsChiang Mai night markets reopening tomorrow

    Chiang Mai night markets reopening tomorrow

    Night markets in Chiang Mai will be reopened tomorrow after the province went 6 consecutive days with no new Covid-19 cases. According to Chiang Mai Governor, Charoenrit Sanguansat, the province and the provincial disease control committee agreed to ease up restrictions on social and business activities after the number of infections continually dropped and no new infections were reported during…