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Post by nomadic on Aug 11, 2020 19:12:18 GMT 7
Just been told today that Thailand will continue its ban on all tourist arrivals until 2021. No other info at this stage but millions will be out of work as they are already. I cannot believe all this will not lead to another great depression. How can normally packed with tourist regions go to zero and survive with no welfare system at all? Very very sad for the locals who have no other income. I am told the only reason that Wall st hasn't crashed already is that the U.S. government are buying up all the shares to keep it up. Obviously not sustainable for long. Until their election, so Trump can look good says the cynic in me.
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Post by bear on Aug 12, 2020 7:06:14 GMT 7
Just been told today that Thailand will continue its ban on all tourist arrivals until 2021. No other info at this stage but millions will be out of work as they are already. I cannot believe all this will not lead to another great depression. How can normally packed with tourist regions go to zero and survive with no welfare system at all? Very very sad for the locals who have no other income. I am told the only reason that Wall st hasn't crashed already is that the U.S. government are buying up all the shares to keep it up. Obviously not sustainable for long. Until their election, so Trump can look good says the cynic in me. I don't doubt that it could possibly be so nomadic . It's not like you to post unverified reports though; so do you have a link? Nevermind........ Cheers bear. Thailand’s international borders not re-opening for tourists until 2021
Thailand is unlikely to reopen its borders to international tourists before the end of the year – the prediction from a deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Speaking at yet another webinar, this time hosted by Mekong Tourism and TravelMole, the deputy governor for international marketing at TAT, Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, noted that there has been “no talk of a timeline issued for reopening the country to inbound or outbound leisure travel during weekly Covid-19 national meetings”.He spoke of the Thai government’s “very, very cautious” approach to reopening borders and said he doesn’t expect Thailand to welcome tourists until at least 2021. “I see no signal from the government that the country will open this year. That’s putting lot of pressure on the tourism industry. The Christmas period, usually the high season, is in jeopardy and I’m looking horribly even to Chinese New Year in February, which is an iffy proposition at best now. Unfortunately, this is not a rosy picture.” Discussions about the creation of travel bubbles have also stalled. “Last month, there was talk about forming travel bubbles. That talk has not continued so far because of outbreaks in many of the countries we were hoping to get tourists from, including Vietnam.” Meanwhile the list of groups allowed back into Thailand, under strict health measures, has been expanded from diplomats and UN officials, to business people, investors who have an agreement with the government, film crews, some migrant workers, exhibition personnel and the holders of Thailand Elite visas. But there are also conditions set on these categories of people allowed back into the country, including their country of departure. Everyone must spend 14 days in state sanctioned quarantine. Thailand is also opening up to select countries for medical tourism. The TAT deputy governor also added that plans are being discussed safe bubbles that can be formed for leisure travel, with a proposal that all visitors spend a minimum of 30 days in Thailand. This would be in designated areas – probably islands, such as Koh Samui or Phuket. “Currently, this is not moving forward as the government is taking a wait-and-see attitude. They want to see how the current groups of foreigners, such as film crews and diplomats, do first. There is still a lot of nervousness.” With uncertainties surrounding the reopening of borders to international travel, Thai tourism operators are proposing a new inbound tourism plan, called “Safe and Sealed”, to replace travel bubbles. During a joint meeting of the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the private sector chaired by tourism and sports minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, tourism-related groups proposed letting tourists return to Thailand in Q4. As compared to the travel bubble scheme, the plan envisages safer, more flexible screening procedures for many countries. “Only visitors from cities with a record of zero infections for at least 30 days will be selected, and they will only be able to travel and stay in designated hotels and provinces. Other conditions include a Covid-free certificate 72 hours before flights, as well as insurance and swab tests. The tourism sector used to employ 4 million workers pre-Covid, but with businesses having zero revenue over the past 6 months, unemployment in the sector could soon exceed 2.5 million. Meanwhile, EVA Air has announced today that it is pushing back its re-introduction of flights to Phuket from next month until at least March next year. thethaiger.com/coronavirus/thailands-international-borders-not-re-opening-for-tourists-until-2021-tat |
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Post by twentypoints on Aug 12, 2020 15:18:41 GMT 7
Where is the official Thai immigration website. The reason inwant to know is because they listed " wellness services " as one of the reasons to be let in, link coming
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Post by twentypoints on Aug 12, 2020 17:33:55 GMT 7
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Post by bear on Aug 12, 2020 18:59:45 GMT 7
There really isn't any point in giving you any official Thai immigration site within Thailand twentypoints as Thai immigration don't issue visas. Visas can only be obtained from Embassies or Consulates within your country of residence or in specific circumstances for particular visas, in nearby SE Asian countries. Thirty day visa free entry; mostly incorrectly called "visa on arrival" or VOA are not an option at this time. My advice is to follow the advice in your link; see below: www.traveloffpath.com/thailand-to-allow-some-foreign-tourists-starting-july-1st/
"Entry Requirements for International Flight PermitOf course, all normal immigration and travel regulations will still apply like Visa requirements, duration of permitted stay, etc. If you are a non-Thai national looking to travel to Thailand, you should contact your consulate or embassy to check all of your entry requirements before you book your trip". ......and contact the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra; link supplied below. I imagine there will be plenty of hoops to jump through to get any type of visa at the present time; so good luck. For instance, people not seeking entry for medical & wellness purposes have to have a "certificate of entry", "fit to fly certificate", Covid insurance to the value of USD$100,000 and have had two Covid tests within certain time parameters. They must also have goverment approved quarantine booked and paid for before they are likely to be issued a visa. There may be even more requirements, I'm just not sure. For medical and wellness tourist visa maybe similar applies but from info on the embassy site and what I've seen on other forums, if you are granted one of these you will be picked up at the airport and escorted directly to the hospital. People on other types of visa are also collected and escorted to their quarantine accommodation. From the link below: "In case of a Tourist visa (MT), a letter from the hospital in Thailand, medical history, and medical certificate are required". canberra.thaiembassy.org/tourist-visa/ |
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Post by nomadic on Aug 12, 2020 19:06:19 GMT 7
It was posted by an Aussie ex-pat in Bali in a travel group I am a member of. So no, not substantiated as yet. Will ask him where he got it from. As far as I know, there are zero actual tourists allowed in for months already. Like Australia, there had been talk of travel bubbles with other countries with no COVID but heard nothing more because no Bangkok post anymore where I saw all the local news.
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Post by bear on Aug 12, 2020 19:11:59 GMT 7
It was posted by an Aussie ex-pat in Bali in a travel group I am a member of. So no, not substantiated as yet. Will ask him where he got it from. As far as I know, there are zero actual tourists allowed in for months already. Like Australia, there had been talk of travel bubbles with other countries with no COVID but heard nothing more because no Bangkok post anymore where I saw all the local news. His info is fine nomadic other than being a month old. What he says is correct, and if you are from a particular group and can meet the requirements, you'll more than likely get a visa to enter the country. |
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Post by nomadic on Aug 12, 2020 19:33:30 GMT 7
But no actual tourists as usual until 2021?
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Post by bear on Aug 12, 2020 19:50:34 GMT 7
But no actual tourists as usual until 2021? At least I'd say, going on this. Though I think they may be overestimating the number of 10 million for this year, given the state of play at present. Cheers bear "It will take time to get the tourism sector humming again. World Bank economist Arvind Nair said the economy will need at least two years to recover, owing substantially to the "gradual normalization of tourism over the course of 2021." The Travel Authority of Thailand is expecting to finish 2020 with 10 million foreign tourists at most, about a quarter of last year's total. Numbers like that are setting the industry back some 10 to 20 years, said Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, a vice president of the Thai Hotels Association, "so I think we're bracing for a very slow recovery." www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/thailand-still-tepid-tourists-virus-fears-linger |
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Post by twentypoints on Aug 13, 2020 14:17:01 GMT 7
The words I want to say start with F syllables
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Post by twentypoints on Aug 13, 2020 14:17:50 GMT 7
syllable
/ˈsɪləb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants, forming the whole or a part of a word; for example, there are two syllables in water and three in inferno.
verb
pronounce (a word or phrase) clearly, syllable by syllable.
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Post by nomadic on Aug 13, 2020 20:03:25 GMT 7
Lots of people saying lots of things. Australia may not be open again for 2 years. A vaccine may never be found. Was told today by an immigration official that another visa amnesty is unlikely. Said I may have to fly to China as they want those tourists back asap as COVID is now under control there and if I went there I could return, unlike from most other countries. But he said to wait until September for news on it all. But I think this is not going away any time soon.
P.S. bear they say 40 million arrivals but that is from those white cards we fill in on arrival. Doctored to make them look good as I fill in at least 4 every year. So actual people as tourists is probably less than 33%. of 40 million. They just count every white card as a tourist which is obviously false. And been zero since march. So 10 million before then seems like lies again.
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Post by ann on Aug 14, 2020 1:46:52 GMT 7
There will never ever be travel insurance for the virus and that means a tremendous amount of people just won’t travel at all, they won’t take the risk. I know many travel without insurance but I reckon this virus is a total game changer for tourism. If a person got the virus while on holiday they are often prevented from leaving the country until all hospital bills are paid. There goes the house!!!!!! I just can’t imagine millions taking that risk. This is the list of countries with a reciprocal health agreement with Australia. I would never visit a country not on this list. To dodgey for me. Can’t lose the house as I don’t own one but don’t want the drama if I got the virus. I reckon this is now the new normal travel thinking. Most people I know travel extensively and not one, not one says they will travel overseas without a vaccine or to one of the following countries. They don’t want to lose their house. Can’t blame them. It’s a whole new travel world it seems from where I stand. How sad. Countries we have an agreement with We have agreements with: Belgium Finland Italy Malta the Netherlands New Zealand Norway the Republic of Ireland Slovenia Sweden the United Kingdom. www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/reciprocal-health-care-agreements/when-australians-go-overseas/about-reciprocal-health-care-agreements |
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Post by bear on Aug 14, 2020 6:52:48 GMT 7
Perhaps that's how it is in Australia ann , however there are plenty of options to buy travel insurance that covers Covid-19 over here. I personally think the insurance industry see it as a great opportunity to increase business and therefore profits, given the statistics and the likelihood of actually catching the virus, if you follow recommendations. Here are a couple of examples. Covid insurance is a must for anyone wanting to enter Thailand, and I bought a "Covid only" policy in May for some peace of mind. "All plan and destination include medical coverage for COVID-19". www.axa.co.th/en/travel-accident-protection"Travel insurance plans designed to meet the health insurance requirements for visitors wanting to enter Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic". blog.lumahealth.com/coronavirus-insurance-in-thailand |
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Post by nomadic on Aug 14, 2020 7:04:48 GMT 7
These are historical times not unlike the great depression and WW2 almost 100 years ago. COVID is the war and depression ahead. How can we avoid one? The 1930's one was caused by the collapse of Wall st and I'm told the only reason this hasn't happened now is that the government is buying up everything to stop one. So the economy looks good until the election for Trump. But obviously not sustainable after November and while an American is currently dying of COVID every 80 seconds. And nothing being done to stop it. How can this possibly not end in a total disaster? If Trump wins I don't believe we will travel again for years as a real war may replace the COVID one. 1930 to 1945 seems to be repeating because of this American virus and Trump, Morrison etc.
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