Bangkok will postpone its reopening to visitors from abroad, scheduled for October 1st, to November 1st, as the authorities want at least 70% of the city’s population vaccinated first, which is expected to be by end-October, said Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said.

He explained that, after a discussion with Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang, the capital is ready to welcome foreign tourists, but it is waiting for more people to be fully vaccinated. Only about 37% of Bangkok’s population has received two doses to date.

The plan to reopen the provinces of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Chiang Mai and Chonburi on October 1st will, however, go ahead. Popular beach towns of Pattaya and Hua Hin are in Chonburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan respectively.

People in all of Bangkok’s districts are expected to receive both doses by early October, said Mr. Phiphat. So far, 2.8 million people in Bangkok have been fully inoculated. Therefore, at least 2.52 million more people in Bangkok need to be vaccinated to reach the target of 70% of the population aged 18 and over.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration spokesperson Pongsakorn Kwanmuang explained, during a live interview with “The Standard” late Wednesday, that it is expects the capital’s entire population to be fully vaccinated by October 25th, which resulted in the decision to delay the reopening.

A total of 41.64 million vaccine doses have been administered across Thailand to date, with about 13.72 million people, or about 19.6% of the population, having received two shots.

In mid-June, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha declared Thailand will fully reopen to overseas arrivals in 120 days or by mid-October. However, with a surge in infections in August, he admitted on September 1st in a parliamentary debate that it may not be possible, and that only some sectors may reopen by then.

Source: Thai PBS

‘Thailand Reopening’ continues with more destinations to reopen in October

Bangkok, 10 September, 2021 – The Royal Thai Government has announced plans to reopen Bangkok (November 1st), Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan from 1 October as part of the second phase of the country’s reopening timeline.  

In the official statement released yesterday (9 September, 2021), Government Spokesperson, Mr. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, said the plans reflected the policy outlined by Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, to gradually reopen the country in phases, following the first phase that reopened Phuket, followed by Surat Thani, then Krabi and Phang-Nga over the last two months.

“This October reopening will be launched alongside with the country’s newly adjusted ‘universal prevention’ guidelines against COVID-19, under which Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan are getting ready, including accelerating vaccination for the local population and formalising tourism campaigns; such as, Bangkok Sandbox, Hua Hin Recharge, and Charming Chiang Mai,” Mr. Thanakorn said.

From mid-October, another 21 destinations up and down the country will reopen. These include Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phrae, and Sukhothai in the North; Bueng Kan, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani in the Northeast; Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi in the West; Chanthaburi, Rayong, and Trat in the East; Ayutthaya in the Central Region, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, Satun, Songkhla, and Trang in the South.

Thailand is set to proceed with the fourth phase of reopening in January 2022, with 13 border provinces to reopen under travel bubbles with neighbouring countries.

All four phases will cover the reopening of 43 provinces across Thailand.

Mr. Thanakorn also confirmed the success of the Phuket Sandbox programme over the last two months, which generated 1,634 million Baht in tourism revenue from the average cost of the visitors’ vacation at 61,894 Baht.

Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Government is also planning to boost domestic tourism through two stimulus campaigns, Rao Thiao Duai Kan (We Travel Together) and Tour Thiao Thai. Registration is expected to open this month for the travel period from October, the start of the high season in Thailand.

The third-phase extension of the ‘We Travel Together’ campaign will subsidise 40% of hotel room rates or airfares, plus a daily e-voucher valued at 600 Baht. Meanwhile, for the Tour Thiao Thai stimulus, which is for packaged tours, the government will subsidise 40% of the payment, or up to 5,000 Baht per person.

Source: TAT News