Reopening to foreigners ‘not risky’

Reopening to foreigners ‘not risky’

THAILAND: Reopening the country to foreign visitors will not raise the risks of local COVID-19 transmission from imported infections, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC).

CoronavirusCOVID-19healthSafetytourism
By Bangkok Post

Thursday 17 September 2020, 07:32AM

Foreign diplomats and followers arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province late last month. Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul.

Responding to the cabinet’s resolution to allow long-stay foreign tourists to enter Thailand, Tanarak Plipat, deputy director-general of the DDC, insisted the move would likely not bring in COVID-19 infections, since the visitors would be subject to a stay at state quarantine facilities for 14 days.

Regarding the case of a two-year-old Myanmar boy who tested positive after returning from Thailand, Dr Tanarak said Thailand was vigorously investigating this case. No special measures had been imposed in Ayutthaya province where the boy had stayed before returning to Myanmar, he said.

The deputy director-general urged businesses, particularly those based in the provinces adjacent to Myanmar, not to hire illegal migrant workers for now due to the spike in COVID-19 cases in Myanmar in recent weeks.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) deputy governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said tourists with a Special Tourist Visa (STV) recently authorised by the government must travel on chartered flights from overseas directly to their destinations in Thailand.

The TAT predicted that around 14,400 tourists will visit the country a year under the STV programme, generating revenue of about B12.36 billion per year.

Meanwhile, deputy police spokesman Pol Col Kissana Phathanacharoen said national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda has issued an order to police units connected to tourism to coordinate with other agencies in preparing for the arrival of foreign tourists under the STV programme.

The police chief’s order followed on the directive of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha after the STV programme was announced.

Foreign travellers who met the programme’s criteria and passed COVID-19 screening as required by the Thai authorities were eligible for entry under the STV programme, said the deputy spokesman.

The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (ART), meanwhile, reported a 9.8% increase in flights last month.

Kurt | 18 September 2020 - 08:32:33

Meanwhile, thai people arriving from abroad with a fit to fly paper test positive after arrival. Thai people flying to Japan with fit to fly paper arrive there infected. Is it not wise to have a quarantine period BEFORE flying?

Kurt | 17 September 2020 - 17:06:59

@LALALA, when that is correct , international airline administrations, like IATA, etc, should look into this . Al international airlines should have the same opportunities to fly again passengers to Thailand. Not only a bankrupt airline that sneaky wise thinks to be able operating this way. A dis-honest behavior. Guess all will be 'covered' by  that 'Charter' word.

CaptainJack69 | 17 September 2020 - 12:35:01

Obviously their's no more risk from letting foreigners in as there is from letting Thai's in, and they've been allowed in (almost) the entire time. If they're subject to the same quarantine conditions as Thai's then everyone should be allowed in. The only reason not to is politics in the face of blatant xenophobia. TIT.

CaptainJack69 | 17 September 2020 - 12:31:31

In order to generate 12.36 billion baht 14,400 people would have to spend over 858,000 baht each. Wow, those are some high spending tourists! Or does someone need to check their numbers?

LALALA | 17 September 2020 - 11:37:06

Sure Kurt...they are the only Airline which has received this dubious ,quarantaine certificate, ...but dont worry..this system will not work anyway...it will bring some retires back and people who have family in LOS...they are desperate to come back...all others will stay out.

Kurt | 17 September 2020 - 09:34:35

Chartered flights direct from abroad to Thai destination.
Eva Air, Lufthansa, etc doing direcht flights from European airports to BKK. Why it needs to be a charter flight? Do they mean a Thai Airways charter?  :-)