Thailand tourism
- Thailand News
Insurance companies “hesitate” to give Covid-19 insurance to foreign tourists
After facing losses from Covid-19 claims from local cases, many Thai insurance companies are indicating that they are hesitant to provide Covid-19 insurance for foreign tourists entering Thailand under the current regulations. The deputy governor of marketing communications at the Tourism Authority of Thailand said only a few companies are now interested in joining the Test & Go programme, the…
- Thailand News
Too much monkey business in Petchaburi, now they’re getting sterilised
In Petchaburi, a central province, monkeys are breeding like rabbits. They might look cute at first, but the booming number of monkeys might threaten tourism since the monkeys often steal peoples’ belongings. Right now there are 1,000-1,500 per district, and this number is rising to 3,000 in Muang district. An adviser to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Update | Truckers threaten stronger protest measures if demands not met
Another CCTV angle and additional evidence has emerged in the gruesome hit job that ended the life of Indian-born drug criminal Jimi Sandhu. He was killed with a volley of 20 bullets in Rawai, at the southern end of Phuket last Friday night, just before 11 pm. The footage shows two barefoot men wearing white hoodies and shorts appearing from…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Update | What covid restrictions will be eased this week?
Whilst we get to wait a few more days to see if and how the current Covid restrictions will be modified or lifted, the public health minister has again stated that bars and nightlife will still need to remain closed. Speaking to the media yesterday, Minister Anutin Charnvirakul remarked that his “ministry will change the way it reports infection numbers”,…
- Thailand News
Thailand wins “most popular destination” and other awards from Chinese travel magazines
Many Chinese travel magazines are calling Thailand a top tourist destination, even if it’s very difficult for the Chinese to travel at this time. The Travel Weekly China Award called Thailand “The most anticipated destination- short haul.” WITrip Magazine called it “2021 most popular overseas travel destination.” Online Travel Agent Thong Cheng called it “the most popular destination.” The Tourism…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Thailand proposes travel bubble with neighbors
A number of patients who’ve recovered from Covid are now displaying signs of dementia, according to Thai health officials. According to a Nation Thailand report, the Department of Medical Services says the symptoms tend to develop between 1 and 6 months after contracting the virus. DMS boss สมศักดิ์ อรรฆศิลป์ says the risk appears to be higher in patients with pre-existing…
- Thailand News
Most Phuket tourists infected with Covid travelled from Russia and Kazakhstan
Most tourists who tested positive for Covid-19 when they arrived in Phuket travelled from Russia and Kazakhstan, but particularly Russia, the Phuket provincial governor told the Bangkok Post. The governor says there will be an investigation of why a significant number of infections involved travellers from those countries. Governor Narong Woonciew says that out of about 300 daily diagnoses in Phuket,…
- Phuket News
Phuket reports higher infection rate in second Covid tests for Test & Go travellers
With two RT-PCR tests now required for Test & Go travellers, one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations, Phuket, is reporting a higher infection rate for the second test. Following the emergence of the Omicron variant in Thailand, with many travellers testing positive for the mutated strain, the Thai government decided to require two RT-PCR tests instead of the initial…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Update | Thailand to target Saudi tourists to Pattaya
Around 2,500 travellers flew into Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday… the first day of the rebooted Test & Go program. The passengers arrived on 46 different flights. Just some quick maths suggests that’s around 54 people per flight… glad I’m not running those airlines.Most of the arrivals came from Malaysia and Singapore, and a few from European destinations as well.To be clear,…
- Thailand video news
Test & Go website crashes on 1st day I GMT
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed tourism businesses in Pattaya to prepare a travel roadshow, authorities have slapped the Phuket taxi driver, who is accused of overcharging a passenger, with a 2,000 baht fine and have ordered him to go through etiquette training, authorities are warning the public that Thailand’s face mask mandate is still in effect with a maximum fine…
- Thailand video news
- Thailand News
Domestic vacationers, not international, will be majority of Phuket hotel guests
A report by one real estate consultancy says domestic vacationers, not international tourists, will probably make up the majority of Phuket hotel guests in 2022. After a peak of 5.3 million arrivals at Phuket hotels in 2019, the arrivals dropped by 80% in 2020 to only 1.1 million. Constantly changing Covid-19 policies and confusion over them hinder travellers from booking…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | 4th vaccine booster dose now available for 10 provinces
Residents, both Thai and foreign, in 10 Thai provinces, will be offered a fourth Covid vaccine dose ahead of the return of the Test & Go entry scheme. The Public Health Ministry has confirmed that a fourth dose is being offered to provinces that are heavily reliant on tourism or where the infection rate is high.Both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Talks of insurance coverage for asymptomatic travellers
In today’s news, more talks on insurance coverage for asymptomatic travelers. Meanwhile, Thailand and Saudi Arabia trying to renew their relations after 3 decades of frostiness, and the latest talks on legalizing e-cigarettes in Thailand. All this is coming up in today’s program. You’re watching Thailand News Today, bringing you the top headlines in Thailand and beyond. And in today’s…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | New Test & Go program draws huge criticism!
In today’s news, again, new entry requirements are criticized for being too expensive and not making much sense. Meanwhile, Pattaya walking street wants to shape itself up for the kids, and over a hundred police officers failed to catch a handful of drug suspects…for the fourth time. All this is coming up in today’s program. You’re watching Thailand News Today,…
- Travel
“Special Sealed Route” transit flights from Bangkok to Phuket start February 1
Coinciding with the resumption of the Test & Go entry scheme, starting February 1, Bangkok Airways will begin two “Special Sealed Route” flights from Bangkok to Phuket per day for tourists arriving under the Phuket Sandbox scheme. Passengers must follow the guidelines set by the Centre for Covid-19 Administration pertaining to required documents. Along with a Thailand Pass QR code,…
- Tourism News
Tourism operators want cost of PCR tests reduced when Test & Go resumes
Following the CCSA’s decision yesterday to resume Test & Go from February 1 (with some changes) tourism operators are urging the government to make PCR testing more affordable. The revamped Test & Go entry scheme now requires overseas arrivals to book a hotel on day 1 and again on day 5 of their stay – and to take a PCR…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Update | Tweaks for the revised Test & Go announced today!
Tweaks for the revised Test & Go will be debated by the CCSA and hopefully announced today. A few leaks indicate that the Test & Go program will, indeed, be re-introduced but there will be tightening of aspects of the program. If the rumours are true, arrivals will undergo two PCR tests during their initial seven days, the first when…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Thailand Offering Long Term Visas up to 10 years
Measures aimed at attracting wealthy long-stay foreigners to Thailand have been approved in principle by Cabinet. Seems to be a bit of deja vu, but the government says it’s targeting foreign investors, highly-skilled professionals and wealthy retirees in a bid to develop the Covid-battered economy. Long-term residence visas of up to 10 years are on offer, along with work permits for…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Update | Legalising cannabis & 8 mil tourist to Thailand in 2022
Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry has dusted off its calculator this morning and is predicting there will be at least 8 million tourists coming to Thailand this year. A few weeks ago they were predicting 10 – 5 million arrivals for 2022. Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn made the random prediction at the same time he told Thai media he…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Possible easing of restrictions in Thailand
Thailand’s Public Health Minister says he’s backing the restoration of the Test & Go entry scheme as concerns about the Omicron variant subside. Test & Go was suspended around 4 weeks ago as the highly-contagious variant spread around the globe. Now, Anutin Charnvirakul says he’ll ask the CCSA to consider bringing it back, as well as easing a number of…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Update | Health Ministry to propose re-opening Test & Go
The Public Health Ministry says they’ll make a proposal to reopen registration for the Test & Go quarantine exemption scheme at this week’s CCSA meeting. The next CCSA general meeting, which is chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, is scheduled for Thursday.Registration for entry under the Test & Go program was closed following local fears over the Omicron variant in Thailand…
- Thailand video news
Restoring test & go program as omicron fears ease | GMT
The deputy prime minster and health minster is going to propose to bring back the Test & Go programme to win back tourists to Thailand. The tonga under water volcanic eruption has left devastation in its path, Thailands first virtual monk and demands for crocodile meat double! Thats all coming up in todays Good Morning Thailand with Jay and Tim.
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | 400+ Bars Apply To Re-open as Restaurants
The president of the Airlines Association of Thailand says the government must allow the Test & Go entry scheme to resume as soon as possible. The scheme was suspended on December 21 as the Omicron Covid variant was just starting to spread rapidly across the globe. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, who is also the boss of Bangkok Airways, says the scheme was working…
- Thailand video news
- Tourism News
Thai airlines pin their hopes on government resuming Test & Go
The president of the Airlines Association of Thailand says the government must allow the Test & Go entry scheme to resume as soon as possible. The scheme was recently suspended as the Omicron Covid-19 variant spread rapidly across the globe. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, who is also the boss of Bangkok Airways, says the scheme was working well, attracting more foreign visitors…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Update | Rising pork prices leads Thais to eat crocodile instead!
Thailand’s Deputy PM, and loyal political sidekick to the PM Prayut, Prawit Wongsuwan, has met with China’s new ambassador to discuss continued cooperation between China and Thailand. The new Ambassador of China Han Zhiqiang visited the Thai Deputy Prime Minister in a staged courtesy call where the pair discussed a variety of topics.The 2 discussed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that was…
- Thailand video news
Government news re-tweets explicit selfie & crocodile meat demand | GMT
A government news agency has re-tweeted explicit selfie of a man and his private part on twitter without censor. Since the prices of pork has spiked, people have moved to other substitutes such as eating crocodile. A man finds his way home after being lost in the forest for 3 weeks and the deputy prime minister has a strong message…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Update | Bad timing for new tourist tax in Thailand?
At precisely the same time the Thai government are trying to lure even a few travellers to come back to the Kingdom, the government will start collecting a 300 baht entry fee from foreign tourists starting on April 1. The fee is included in the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s “Amazing Thailand New Chapter” plan and the money will be for the…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | High demand for sandbox entry into Thailand
In today’s news, Phuket is proving popular with foreign tourists, social media uncovers the aftermath of the Full Moon party, and a survey reveals the pandemic is taking a big toll on mental health. All this is coming up in today’s program. You’re watching Thailand News Today, bringing you the latest headlines in Thailand and beyond. And in today’s news. …