News Forum - Four new measures adopted for all foreign tourists arriving in Thailand

[TedG]

18 hours ago, BBY said:

So who is going to check the new requirements.

I can’t honestly see the worlds airlines or struggling airports stepping back to checking every passenger meets the requirements before travelling and if it’s going to be done at the arrivals point in Thailand. The airport will just clog up. 

 

I had to show my COVID vax certificates before each international flight last year.  

[Mandy]

18 minutes ago, Samlee said:

If you have an annual marriage visa or retirement visa, what is the shortest period you need insurance for in order to get through Immigratuion? Does anyone know?

I've a non O visa that doesn't require insurance, if you go for a non O-A visa, insurance is compulsory 

[socal]

Here we go... I warned about it last week. Everyone was hyping up and dunking on China. Should have kept it quiet. Covid never fully went away. But we weren't hyping it in the media. So there was less impetus to "do something!" 

[Manu]

And the circus is back in town. 2023 is starting nicely with a taste of "deja vu". If not any virus, hysteria will spread along nicely. Soon "they" will find a "more transmissible" Chinese variant somewhere in the world, TV experts and professors that spend more time on TV and being interviewed by all sort of mainstream media outlets than in their labs or hospitals will tell us the "potential" damages that this new variant will do, epidemiologists full of conflicts of interests that no mainstream media ever checked will ILLEGALLY come up publicly with their mathematically calculated dramatic figures, the politics will take political decisions based on politic, the mainstream media will follow obediently the hysteria, and...and... well we all know what comes next.

Happy new year... or just: New Year!

[Damie1967]

12 hours ago, MrNovax said:

This is a real kick in the nuts.  Im due to arrive on Sunday so hope this doesnt kick in before then.  Had a group of 4 friends who were going to meet us in February and they will now be cancelling.  And these are the types of tourists Thailand wants, all well off and throw money around.  When will they learn to stop punching themselves in the face?

Majority of people will be totally fine with these new requirements... 2x CoVid tests, insurance and face mask on public transport.  NOT a big deal at all.

Your friends are not vaccinated I assume?  If not vaxxed, then they ARE NOT the type of people Thailand wants at the moment obviously... contrary to your comment above.

Please tell them to stay at home and throw their money around there.  Your friends seem like they would be the selfish type and not isolate or quarantine if they did happen to catch CoVid..  (assuming you would not quarantine either, bring in the changes 'Saturday').

Keeping the unvaxxed away is a good measure because CoVid will once again be rife in Thai once the Chinese are let back in and start to spread new variants of CoVid. 

[Damie1967]

43 minutes ago, Mandy said:

I've a non O visa that doesn't require insurance, if you go for a non O-A visa, insurance is compulsory 

Typical future GoFundMe candidate... of which I gladly donate zilch, zero every time I see them begging for money.  You can not teach stupidity!

[Vigo]

12 hours ago, MrNovax said:

This is a real kick in the nuts.  Im due to arrive on Sunday so hope this doesnt kick in before then.  Had a group of 4 friends who were going to meet us in February and they will now be cancelling.  And these are the types of tourists Thailand wants, all well off and throw money around.  When will they learn to stop punching themselves in the face?

Boohoo.The last thing Thailand needs is the arrival of disease carriers, and that's what the intentionally unvaccinated are. Thailand has an obligation to protect its citizens, not cater to the political whims of foreigners.

1 hour ago, socal said:

Here we go... I warned about it last week. Everyone was hyping up and dunking on China. Should have kept it quiet. Covid never fully went away. But we weren't hyping it in the media. So there was less impetus to "do something!" 

No.It is not hype that China is under siege of Covid with near collapse of health care system. The wave should subside in 2-3 weeks, after the largest group of unvaccinated die off.

42 minutes ago, Manu said:

And the circus is back in town. 2023 is starting nicely with a taste of "deja vu". If not any virus, hysteria will spread along nicely. Soon "they" will find a "more transmissible" Chinese variant somewhere in the world, TV experts and professors that spend more time on TV and being interviewed by all sort of mainstream media outlets than in their labs or hospitals will tell us the "potential" damages that this new variant will do, epidemiologists full of conflicts of interests that no mainstream media ever checked will ILLEGALLY come up publicly with their mathematically calculated dramatic figures, the politics will take political decisions based on politic, the mainstream media will follow obediently the hysteria, and...and... well we all know what comes next.

Happy new year... or just: New Year!

You have a bias as a bar owner. The duty of the government is to protect the interests of all, not the interests of hospitality sector. You make this small change something big. It is insignificant.

17 hours ago, Pilot said:

We have booked a months vacation in Thailand at the start of February. 4 of our group have not been vaccinated and so now will not be able to travel. They should have been a test certificate showing no covid as another method of entry. Also will airlines now have to check before boarding. All crazy as usual by Thai government in not thinking things through.

No. There is no excuse not to be vaccinated at this point. Thailand will still allow for bonafide medical dispensation. Travel is not a right, it is a privilege for the wealthy. Thiland must protect its population many of whom are poor. The verification of vaccination statust  by airline will be no different than verification for yellow fever. The airlines had the verification process simplified so not an issue.

12 hours ago, MrStretch said:

In the past, the government accepted a single Janssen vaccination as sufficient.

"With the exception of the Janssen vaccine by Johnson & Johnson that only requires 1 dose to be fully inoculated, travellers need to have 2 vaccine doses of a vaccine. Now Thailand will accept mix and match vaccine cocktails but has determined exactly how much time should elapse between the 2 doses. Any combination of vaccines must be completed at least 2 weeks before departing to travel to Thailand." The Thaiger - December 12, 2021

Janssen is subject to 1 plus booster now. 

[socal]

14 minutes ago, Vigo said:

Boohoo.The last thing Thailand needs is the arrival of disease carriers, and that's what the intentionally unvaccinated are. Thailand has an obligation to protect its citizens, not cater to the political whims of foreigners.

No.It is not hype that China is under siege of Covid with near collapse of health care system. The wave should subside in 2-3 weeks, after the largest group of unvaccinated die off.

You have a bias as a bar owner. The duty of the government is to protect the interests of all, not the interests of hospitality sector. You make this small change something big. It is insignificant.

No. There is no excuse not to be vaccinated at this point. Thailand will still allow for bonafide medical dispensation. Travel is not a right, it is a privilege for the wealthy. Thiland must protect its population many of whom are poor. The verification of vaccination statust  by airline will be no different than verification for yellow fever. The airlines had the verification process simplified so not an issue.

Janssen is subject to 1 plus booster now. 

Ah. So we are gonna do a rerun on literally all of the lies from 2020 again

[Buzzkill]

This has to be complete kee Kwai.  ANUTIN IS SMARTER THAN TO PLAN his Demise.

Don't be a traitor to your country you peice of keep told u to protect your people you choose money gin kee anutin

[socal]

13 hours ago, MrNovax said:

This is a real kick in the nuts.  Im due to arrive on Sunday so hope this doesnt kick in before then.  Had a group of 4 friends who were going to meet us in February and they will now be cancelling.  And these are the types of tourists Thailand wants, all well off and throw money around.  When will they learn to stop punching themselves in the face?

I was planning a trip for May/June to the Philippines and Thailand. I am vaccinated but probably won't go now. Its not worth all of the extra trouble. 

All the businesses that just got a little boost they needed will have the hammer come down on them. Airlines included of course. 

[Marvin]

So let me get this strait. “We all have to go thru difficulties because of China”. And than it’s said they won’t discriminate against any country so there imposing these new restrictions on everyone to save face from China. For what a few measles dollars. I just traveled to Thailand back in November because the Thai government finally dropped all this. Now I’m glad I haven’t booked my flight yet to go back in March. I guarantee I spend as much as the Chinese do when I’m there if not more. The word that comes to mind is “equality” - that’s missing from this article. When does the rest of us that’s paid our dues thru this whole mess get treated fairly. Yes I’ve had both my Pfizer shots. Yes I’ve had all 3 Pfizer boosters. For us that have been living in a worry free COVID world this is a kick in the teeth. By the way I’m going back in March regardless 🫵 just had vent

Thank You

Marvin

Edited January 7, 2023 by Marvin

[Manu]

34 minutes ago, Vigo said:

Boohoo.The last thing Thailand needs is the arrival of disease carriers, and that's what the intentionally unvaccinated are.

Now protecting who with that? For example, I have had my 2nd dose of AZ in Sept. 2021, a year and half ago. So you agree surely not having had any booster that I am not protected anymore whatsoever (0 protection!!). So theorically I can come in Thailand and then contract covid and be very ill and end up in hospital and being a hurdle for the health care system. I could also pass it on to unvaccinated, under-vaccinated and vaccinated Thai people, all 3 who could potentially end up in hospital if in bad health. So basically all the same than an unvaccinated person. And if that unvaccinated person had covid twice the past 7 months like me, most likely that person is at least as immuned if not better than another one who have received 2567 doses and can still transmit the virus to Thai people with the same result. How on earth in 2023 anyone can still think that a proof of 2 doses of covid vaccines is science-based and a rational requirement and will protect anyone???

Quote

 

The duty of the government is to protect the interests of all, not the interests of hospitality sector.

 

Maybe you think you are now a covid vaccine expert (no offense but you sound more like a fanatic to me), but politic does not seem to be up to scratch. Surely you should read the political message to China.

Quote

You make this small change something big. It is insignificant.

Well it is not for unvaccinated. So they will not have the freedom to come to Thailand anymore. I find it very sad when some people loose their freedom of movement, any at all, most especially when it is based on non sense.

Quote

You have a bias as a bar owner

Just for your information, I got a bar to give work to my partner (and a couple of other Thai people at the same time), I certainly do not need that to live so if Thailand sealed off again I will be just as fine as the first 2 years of covid here...unfortunately I would not like at all to experience the same misery around me as I have seen during that time - but I would not call that a "bias", it is my strong opinion that it is a non sense, that's it. And also I love bar's life and meeting (and have a good time at the same time) people from all over the world. Inevitably for the last few months, they always start asking about what happened during the covid time here, and I have met so many unvacinated people of all sorts, and also 2 doses vaccinated like me, mostly young and under 50, who were somehow forced back in 2021 and do not believe they need another one (or needed one in the first one), the vast majority having had covid 1, 2 or 3 times like me and are all just fine. Far more of these rational people than covid vaccines fanatics, which is to me a suprising but lovely relief.

Anyway my comment was a worlwide scenario that I fear to see coming, with restrictions here and there and then everywhere escalating further, back to the worst ones. Read again. Cheers Vigo.

[HolyCowCm]

3 hours ago, Paulw said:

Regarding Chinese tourists I am speaking about the majority here and not the 1 or 2% that stay in high end resorts and frequent luxury boutiques. 

Yes, CM is becoming seriously distraught and taken aback at the news of having these (many) will be infected acting substandard in manners of obnoxious huge groups of Chinese oversaturating every area here in CM once again. Disheartening and nothing anyone can do because the gov is inept and out of touch with the public. With this will bring new covid infections, way too many vans and busses everywhere massively poluting the air and creating a lot of unwanted traffic. There are still many very nice well mannered Chinese staying as living here and ones who have their kids in international schools, but these are not the ones that are undesirables, and they are not in over the top numbers. Just not a fan at all and they have had years to prove otherwise and have just gotten worse.

The answer is simple, don't let any of them back in until their country that created the virus has real true data showing that their virus has subsided and will not bring any new oncoming wave to this planet. There truly actually should be a limit imposed on how many can come into this country at one time as nothing as from what has been seen, nothing good comes from it. 

[Chazz76]

2 hours ago, socal said:

Ah. So we are gonna do a rerun on literally all of the lies from 2020 again

Even the Phizer executive said the vaccines were useless, I've never had a Flu Shot in my life, won't be getting one either. I also wouldn't have got these useless vaccines and booster either, but was blackmailed into getting them like millions of others or risk losing my job and not being able to come to Thailand to be with my partner, so I didn't want to leaver her high and dry. And any news from China is as useless as the vaccines as we all know China have lied from day one about the origins and scale of the virus in China. They deliberately released onto the world before and will do so again, because that's what Xi and his Military want, a weaken world so they can rule it. 

[Khunmark]

31 minutes ago, Chazz76 said:

Even the Phizer executive said the vaccines were useless, I've never had a Flu Shot in my life, won't be getting one either. I also wouldn't have got these useless vaccines and booster either, but was blackmailed into getting them like millions of others or risk losing my job and not being able to come to Thailand to be with my partner, so I didn't want to leaver her high and dry. And any news from China is as useless as the vaccines as we all know China have lied from day one about the origins and scale of the virus in China. They deliberately released onto the world before and will do so again, because that's what Xi and his Military want, a weaken world so they can rule it. 

If your immune system is a robust as you’re telling us it is (no vaccine for you) you shouldn’t be giving two shits about the origins, scale of the virus or freedom of movement of anyone, healthy or otherwise. After all the virus isn’t so severe to warrant protection from, right?

[Khunmark]

On 1/6/2023 at 2:11 PM, Bubble said:

This is very f*dup. They are doing it only because expecting chinese tourist rush, but everybody should suffer, so nobodies so called feelings get Hurt huh. Extremely illogical and super disrespectful to the rest of the foreign tourist. They need to rethink it. If you afraid of Chinese make this rules applicable only for chinese, why in the world for everyine else??

xbb.1.5, look it up. 

[Manu]

4 hours ago, Damie1967 said:

Majority of people will be totally fine with these new requirements... 2x CoVid tests, insurance and face mask on public transport.  NOT a big deal at all.

Your friends are not vaccinated I assume?  If not vaxxed, then they ARE NOT the type of people Thailand wants at the moment obviously... contrary to your comment above.

Please tell them to stay at home and throw their money around there.  Your friends seem like they would be the selfish type and not isolate or quarantine if they did happen to catch CoVid..  (assuming you would not quarantine either, bring in the changes 'Saturday').

Keeping the unvaxxed away is a good measure because CoVid will once again be rife in Thai once the Chinese are let back in and start to spread new variants of CoVid. 

Jesus!!!

Firstly one of the requirements is not 2 covid tests (which somehow would make more sense in the non sense area), it is the proof of 2 doses of vaccines.

Secondly... but how many times the covid vaccines fanatics (for some reason) will need to be told: vaccinated or not, you can catch and transmit the virus all the same. So how in any bloody rational mind the proof of 2 vaccines doses as a requirement makes any sense at all???

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-risk-of-vaccinated-covid-transmission-is-not-low/

 

 

[Cg66]

23 hours ago, Pilot said:

We have booked a months vacation in Thailand at the start of February. 4 of our group have not been vaccinated and so now will not be able to travel. They should have been a test certificate showing no covid as another method of entry. Also will airlines now have to check before boarding. All crazy as usual by Thai government in not thinking things through.

I have a TUI flight arriving in Phuket on the 13th of January. I’ve had no vaccines, why would I?  I caught Covid on the way back from Thailand in January 2020. Do I cancel my holiday now? Claim off the insurance? I deliberately left booking these flights very late because I was worried about this type of scenario. If I don’t make it on this trip I will never go to Thailand again

[KaptainRob]

19 minutes ago, Cg66 said:

I have a TUI flight arriving in Phuket on the 13th of January. I’ve had no vaccines, why would I?  I caught Covid on the way back from Thailand in January 2020. Do I cancel my holiday now? Claim off the insurance? I deliberately left booking these flights very late because I was worried about this type of scenario. If I don’t make it on this trip I will never go to Thailand again

AFAIK the new entry rules have yet to be confirmed and a start date nominated.  If in doubt consult your airline as they must remain up to date with requirements or you would be denied boarding.

[Rookie]

Seems like the Airlines have been told to start checking from January 8th.

[KaptainRob]

25 minutes ago, Rookie said:

Seems like the Airlines have been told to start checking from January 8th.

Please provide links/URL's to the original orders.

AFAIK no such advice has been made official.

[oldschooler]

8 hours ago, Mandy said:

I've a non O visa that doesn't require insurance, if you go for a non O-A visa, insurance is compulsory 

Have my Thai accident insurance card … that will have to do … Immy can barely read English let alone “evaluate” insurance policies

[MrStretch]

7 hours ago, Vigo said:

Janssen is subject to 1 plus booster now. 

Really?  And where do you know this from?  Link and source, please. 

I see that you can get a booster after Janssen but it's not required to be "fully vaccinated".

[GMS]

https://thepattayanews.com/2023/01/07/breaking-thailand-ministry-of-transport-and-civil-aviation-authority-releases-to-airlines-new-entry-requirements-effective-from-january-9th/

Johnson+Johnson only 1 dose as per attached.

[Chatogaster]

3 hours ago, Manu said:

Jesus!!!

Firstly one of the requirements is not 2 covid tests (which somehow would make more sense in the non sense area), it is the proof of 2 doses of vaccines.

Secondly... but how many times the covid vaccines fanatics (for some reason) will need to be told: vaccinated or not, you can catch and transmit the virus all the same. So how in any bloody rational mind the proof of 2 vaccines doses as a requirement makes any sense at all???

 

Perhaps Thailand is worried about tourists getting hospitalized/dying in Thailand (vaccines do reduce that risk, although I don't assume that the reduction is still significant if the last shot was over a year ago). That worry wouldn't be because of humanitarian sympathy, not because of hospital availability, not because of the associated financial compensation,  but because it would be bad PR.

Or perhaps it's just a traditional case of coming up with some rules over lunch, and postpone thinking about their actual worth & consequences (until pressure by unforeseen albeit foreseeable problems cannot be ignored any longer). I expect rules to be added, refined dropped and reinstated over the coming weeks/months.