reopening

  • Tourism News

    Thailand reopening: 20,000 total entered, 50,000 Passes approved

    Following reports that 16,595 foreigners total have entered Thailand during the first 5 days of the grand reopening that began on November 1, here are the latest arrival stats for people coming to the Kingdom or at least attempting to come to the country: THAILAND PASS Many people have struggled to obtain their Thailand Pass to enter the country, but…

  • Tourism News

    Successes and failures in the Thailand Pass programme

    Now that the Thailand Pass has been open for about a week, some successes and failures of the revised system replacing the Certificate of Entry are noticeable. The government has issued a warning against a fake registration site, Hotmail accounts not working, and why you might not receive your confirmation, while at the same time applauding more than 50,000 Thailand…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand now equipped to perform 120,000 RT-PCR tests daily

    The Department of Medical Sciences has been ramping up their testing capabilities and have declared it can now perform 120,000 RT-PCR Covid-19 tests per day. They say it can complete the tests and offer results within 24 hours at any of their 443 active labs that are certified to conduct the tests. Anyone travelling to Thailand is already required to…

  • Tourism News

    Thailand reopening sees 13,000 travellers, 10 Covid-19 infections

    After the first 4 days of Thailand’s big reopening, over 13,000 people have arrived with just 10 of those travellers testing positive for Covid-19. According to the Director of Risk Communication and Health Behavior Development Bureau from the Ministry of Public Health Dr Sumanee Watcharasin, 13,229 people have entered Thailand in the last 4 days, and 10 international travellers –…

  • Thailand News

    Want to come to Thailand? Here’s the process and required documents – VIDEO

    Thailand has officially reopened to vaccinated travellers from overseas. Those travelling from countries considered by the Thai government to be at a low risk of Covid-19 are eligible for quarantine exemption, with just a minimal isolation period for visitors at their hotel as they wait for Covid-19 test results. Those from other countries can enter under a Sandbox programme or…

  • Tourism News

    TAT revises goal to 700,000 international travellers to Thailand in 2021

    Perhaps revising their previous goal of 1 million international tourists in the next 2 months, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is hoping to hit a total of 700,000 international travellers in 2021. Thailand has launched a number of schemes to bring in foreigners during the Covid-19 pandemic to various levels of success so far. The Phuket Sandbox has been the…

  • Travel

    Thailand’s reopening sees UK travellers chomping at the bit

    As this month marks the official reopening of Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand says UK travellers are chomping at the bit to visit. A spike in enquiries to travel to Thailand has pushed for more flight plans from British Airways and TUI. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn says the agency is now organising tourism operators’ joining with WTM London through…

  • Thailand video news

    Thailand Pass Issues, Thai Airways in trouble again | Good Morning Thailand LIVE | Ep. 124

    In today’s episode Jay and Tim talk about issues regarding the Thailand Pass and have a chat with Mike and his experience over in the UK. Thai Airways is in trouble again and a little look into the world of Thai politics.

  • Thailand News

    4,510 travellers arrived in 2 days of reopening, 6 with Covid-19

    According to data released today, in the 2 days since Thailand’s grand reopening, 4,510 international travellers arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Of those arrivals, only 6 tested positive for Covid-19, less than 1% of arriving passengers, according to the Hazard Communication Director of the Department of Disease Control. The top countries arriving in the first two days of the…

  • Phuket News

    Thailand’s reopening expect to boost Phuket’s tourism industry

    The reopening of Thailand on Monday is expected to boost Phuket’s hard-hit tourism industry. Yesterday, the President of the Phuket Tourism Association said that the island is expected to receive up to 10,000 visitors a day in December, and as many as 1 million arrivals in the first quarter of 2022. This comes after the recent Airports of Thailand announcement…

  • Thailand video news

    Re-opening Updates, Joe Ferrari Breaking News, Thai Airways | Good Morning Thailand LIVE | Ep. 123

    In today’s episode Jay and Tim talk about Thitisan Utthanaphon (Joe Ferrari) and his 6 other accomplices have been charged with malfeasance, abuse of power, torture causing death, and coercion. Covid hotspots in Thailand, New ad from the TAT – Visit Thailand Year 2020 and can Thai Airways survive? Burning question for the national airline.

  • Covid-19 News

    Thailand Covid zones update: Alcohol, curfews, dining, schools, getting together

    The CCSA has revised the colour-coded zones for Thailand ahead of today’s reopening. It reduces the dark red zone to just 7 remaining provinces, reinstates the yellow zone for provinces under observation but not restricted, and adding a tourist blue zone that appears less connected to actual Covid-19 stats than it is to economic potential to benefit the tourism sector.…

  • Tourism News

    Consular Deparment FAQ on Thailand Pass entry November 1

    A thorough infographic of the Thailand Pass process was released by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for people planning their travel after November 1. The white text on photo backgrounds might not be the easiest way to digest this complex process, so below is the transcribed text of the announcement with some key new information detailed.…

  • Tourism News

    17 more countries added to (almost) no quarantine list in Thailand

    Late last night, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced an amendment to the list of countries that can enter Thailand without quarantine starting tomorrow, adding 17 new countries to the list of 46 countries and territories. (But even fully vaccinated travellers will have to spend one night in an SHA+ or ASQ hotel as they wait for their test result).…

  • Covid-19 News

    New zone restrictions: Booze, curfew, dining, schools, gatherings updated

    So the CCSA has radically revised the colour-coded zone scheme for Thailand ahead of the reopening, reducing the dark red zone to just 7 remaining provinces, reinstating the yellow zone for provinces under observation but not restricted, and adding a tourist blue zone that is less connected to Covid-19 stats than it is to economic stats of how it can…

  • Thailand News

    Chiang Mai Central Prison uncovers Alpha Plus Covid-19 cases

    While 98% of Covid-19 in Thailand is now the Delta variant, with fears of some of the new Delta Plus strains creeping into the country, two inmates at Chiang Mai Central Prison have been diagnosed with infections of the Alpha Plus variant. The Covid-19 infection was originally detected in late September from genome sequencing and the Alpha variant discovery has…

  • Tourism News

    Reopening Monday: AoT ready for 30k at Suvarnabhumi Airport

    With the November 1 reopening just around the corner, Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is gearing up and expects to see 30,000 passenger arrivals on Monday for the first day of reopening. The Airports of Thailand say that they are ready at all 6 of their international airports for the arrival of international tourists again. Current Suvarnabhumi air traffic data shows a…

  • Tourism News

    Pattaya frustrated by exclusion from alcohol ban lift in restaurants

    While a great many people are thrilled with the plans to allow alcohol to be sold in the key tourism blue zones of Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga, there are some who are very angry about it: Pattaya business owners. Local tourism operators a not too pleased that Pattaya and its world-famous wild nightlife that draws millions of visitors…

  • Thailand News

    PM says cooperation needed as Thailand prepares for reopening

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has stressed the importance of public and business cooperation ahead of next week’s reopening of Thailand’s borders and the relaxing of quarantine requirements for international visitors. The Bangkok Post has reported Prayut has asked for strict compliance with disease controls, and that protesters do not damage the national image, paving the way for a successful reopening. Prayut,…

  • Thailand News

    Koh Chang on track for November 11 reopening with sandbox scheme

    Koh Chang is poised to welcome back foreign visitors amid plans to get a sandbox scheme underway from November 11. The island, in the eastern province of Trat, is gearing up for reopening under the “Koh Chang Sandbox” scheme, with Trat governor Chamnanwit Taerat ordering preparations be made in seeking to breathe life back into the local tourism sector. As…

  • Tourism News

    Tourism industry aims for improvement over Sandbox for reopening

    Thailand’s battered tourism industry is making final preparations for the big November 1 reopening with high hopes of welcoming back international travellers across Thailand. On November 1, the country will reopen with still somewhat convoluted 3 entry options and quarantine-free travel for arrivals from 46 low-risk countries. The Phuket Sandbox, with nearly 58,000 arrivals from July 1, has been viewed…

  • Tourism News

    November 1 re-opening of Thailand – The Fine Print

    And now for some of the fine print, answering questions you may have had about re-entry to Thailand from next Monday, November 1. Who can travel to Thailand? Travellers will be categorised into 3 groups… • The first are fully vaccinated visitors from 46 countries (www.thaiembassy.com). They must stay one night in either a SHA+ certified hotel or an ASQ…

  • Tourism News

    Phuket taxi drivers told to be fair, safe, friendly ahead of reopening

    Authorities are urging the taxi drivers of Phuket, along with other transportation providers, to be more professional as Thailand’s full reopening launches in 3 days. Ahead of the November 1 reopening to international tourism, a meeting at Phuket city hall yesterday included plans to hold taxi drivers to certain standards in order to make Thailand more welcoming. The Permanent Secretary of…

  • Bangkok News

    Khao San Road expects very slow recovery, even after reopening

    Though it’s technically a long, flat stretch, the recovery for Bangkok’s backpacker tourist hub of Khao San Road will be a steep uphill battle. While the government plans the November 1 reopening, entertainment venues, clubs and bars that are a mainstay on the previously vibrant, cacophony of a strip are unlikely to reopen then, and businesses along the infamous road…

  • Bangkok News

    “Test run” at Bangkok airport to prepare for next week’s reopening

    Staff at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport have been gearing up for Thailand’s much-anticipated reopening, conducting a test run of electronic screening measures rolled out ahead of the staged return of tourism to the country. Thailand is poised to open its doors to vaccinated visitors from eligible countries and territories from November 1, allowing quarantine-free entry subject to a number of conditions.…

  • China News

    Chinese travel to Thailand may resume late next year

    Chinese authorities may let their citizens travel to Thailand again in about one year, according to predictions from the Association of Thai Travel Agents. While China has made the elite list of 46 countries allowed to enter Thailand without quarantine in the Test & Go scheme starting November 1, harsh travel restrictions in China will prohibit Chinese tourists, an important…

  • Tourism News

    Alcohol ban predicted to damage Thailand’s reopening, reputation

    With Thailand’s November 1 reopening fast approaching, Thai businesses are calling on the government to quickly lift all the restrictions on alcohol sales in the country. They advise that the nightlife that millions flocked to Thailand for before the Covid-19 pandemic, is being destroyed by the long-term closures. Furthermore, they warn that reopening without any nightlife will discourage people from…

  • Thailand video news

    Thailand News Today | Dirty gloves probe, Bocelli & Lisa, ASEAN fallout | October 27

    An investigation into the grotty dirty gloves and PPE affair, PM urges all ASEAN nations to follow in the footsteps of Thailand for a swift reopening, and Andrea Bocelli is in, but Lisa from Black Pink hasn’t yet been officially invited for new year’s concerts in Phuket. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is stressing that Southeast Asian nations follow Thailand’s lead in…

  • Thailand News

    Travellers now exempt from quarantine advised to directly contact AQ hotels for refund

    With changes to entry requirements for international arrivals starting Monday, travellers who are exempt from quarantine, but have already booked a stay in advance are advised to directly contact hotels where their reservation was made. Starting November 1, travellers who are fully vaccinated and from 46 countries and territories classified by the Thai government as a “low risk” for Covid-19…

  • Property

    Chinese entrepreneurs betting on real estate ahead of reopening

    Thailand’s scheduled reopening is just around the corner, and Chinese entrepreneurs have already begun placing bets on prized real estate. Some are plowing money into acquiring hotels, land, and other properties with record-low prices, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. Nancy Chen, a Fujian native, joins the growing number of Chinese who have decided to take a chance and invest in…

  • Bangkok News

    Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport prepares for November reopening

    With the November 1 reopening approaching, Bangkok officials visited the Suvarnabhumi International Airport to review the procedures and Covid-19 preventative measures. Under the reopening plan, the quarantine period will be waived for travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, travelling from countries classified by the Thai government as a “low risk” for the coronavirus, and test negative for the virus.…

  • Thailand News

    November reopening concerns majority of Thais, Department of Health survey shows

    While many seem excited with the plan to reopen the country to vaccinated travellers on November 1, apparently the majority of Thais are concerned with how the Covid-19 situation will be with an influx of visitors from overseas. Thailand’s Department of Health conducted a survey from October 14 to 20 and found that 94% of participants are concerned with how…

  • World News

    Ho Chi Minh launches 3-stage reopening plan, international on January 1

    Shortly after announcing plans to restart tourism tentatively beginning with Phu Quoc Island, the Vietnamese government launched a road map to reopen Ho Chi Minh City to international travellers at the beginning of next year. The megacity and financial hub of Vietnam has a 3-stage plan for tourism recovery with strict Covid-19 safety measures in place. The plan is designed…

  • Tourism News

    Tourism calls for Russia and India to be added to safe list

    Now that the 46 countries that can enter Thailand on November 1 without quarantine have been announced, many in the tourism industry are calling for some notable absences to be added to the list. Tourism groups in major travel hubs are calling on the government to add Russia and India to the list of approved countries, believing it will massively…

  • Tourism News

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs sings praises of Thailand Pass

    The promotion engines are rolling as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a global charm offensive to win over travellers regarding the new Thailand Pass that will replace Certificates of Entry for international travellers to Thailand as the country reopens on November 1. The Thailand Pass, a collaboration between the Department of Consular Affairs and the Digital Government Development…

  • World News

    Vietnam to test reopening starting with Phu Quoc Island

    Vietnam was one of the earliest countries to lockdown due to Covid-19, a strategy that had done it well until a massive outbreak in April, just like Thailand. And now, also like Thailand, they are looking to relaunch their tourism industry after close to two years of closures. Vietnam is now looking to reopen in late November, starting with the…

  • Tourism News

    Thailand reopening roundup: What happens November 1

    Things are moving fast towards the November 1 reopening which in the last few days swelled from 10 countries being allowed entry to Thailand to 46 countries, 3 entry plans, replacing the Certificate of Entry, and even an attempt to reopen nightlife. Below is a round-up of the plans as they stand now. “TEST & GO”: COUNTRIES THAT CAN ENTER…