by Daryl Lum | Apr 7, 2021 | Bangkok Property Market Updates
Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul gave a Covid-19 statement on Monday. He described a situation reaching critical level with an almost 50% positivity rate in the nightclub clusters around Bangkok.
The Thai Health Ministry is planning to impose measures to stop the spread of Covid-19, after new clusters of infections were found at night-entertainment places. These measures may include closing clubs in areas that have reported new infections.
This is similar to the outbreaks that occurred last year, when many patrons and workers at bars and entertainment centres also tested positive for Covid-19. There were 194 reported cases on Monday, about a quarter cases happening in the capital.
Thailand has lifted most of the strictest measures. The latest clusters will force the government to reimpose some curbs, ahead of the peak travel period during the upcoming celebrations for Thai New Year holiday, the Songkran Festival. Tightening measures have also happened to other countries such as France, India and the Philippines.
The measures being proposed to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration subcommittee are that all restaurants, bars and nightclubs in Bangkok and four neighboring provinces to close by 9pm and no sales of alcoholic beverages. The duration will be for 2 weeks.
Yours sincerely,
The investment editorial team from Invest Bangkok Property.
by kevinyeo | Apr 5, 2021 | Bangkok Property Market Updates, Expat Living & Relocation
The government expects about two million foreign tourists, mostly Chinese and Europeans, to visit Phuket this year after the nation’s most popular resort island reopens to vaccinated visitors from July 1.
The holidaymakers may generate about 105 billion baht (USD 3.4 billion) in revenue in the second half, according to Vichit Prakobgosol, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand. It will be the first time in more than a year that the island allows visitors without the mandatory two-week quarantine.
Phuket’s plan to waive quarantine for inoculated visitors is part of a gradual reopening of the country’s borders. Tourism contributed to about one-fifth of its pre-pandemic economy; a successful reopening of Phuket to foreign visitors, who used to contribute almost 90% of the island’s tourism receipts, may pave way for other popular destinations to end movement restrictions.
China, Russia, the UK, Germany, France, Sweden and the US are likely to be the key origins for tourists to Phuket, Mr Vichit said. The Chinese, who were the biggest group of tourists to Thailand before the pandemic, are expected to return in July on chartered flights, while visitors from Europe will likely start arriving during the winter months, he said.
“It’s good that the majority of countries with high numbers of vaccinations are the main markets for Thai tourism,” Mr Vichit said on Monday. “The focus for the government should now be to finalise agreements and vaccine passports with various countries to allow visitors to return without having to quarantine.”
Phuket province has ramped up its capacity to administer as many as 12,000 doses of vaccine per day, from 400 previously, to reach its target of fully inoculating 70% of its residents before the reopening, said Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, vice president of the Phuket Tourist Association. The island will complete the rollout of 930,000 doses by June, he said.
by kevinyeo | Apr 4, 2021 | Bangkok Property Market Updates
The Department of Lands on Wednesday launched a smartphone application to allow people to place a booking for services and submit documents prior to visiting the department’s offices nationwide.
The app, e-QLands, is part of the Interior Ministry’s push to implement the government’s policy to digitalise its public administration work and introduce a “client-centric approach” to public services, said Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda.
The app will improve convenience for those who will have to visit a land office, as reserving a place in a queue can now be done with just a few taps on a smartphone screen, he said.
Each year more than 13 million requests for services are handled by land offices, said Deputy Interior Minister Niphon Bunyamanee.
Visitors will know what time they should arrive for their appointments, which will help the department manage crowds and minimise the risk of Covid infection, he said.
The app will also provide a new means for visitors to contact land office officials ahead of their visits to the office, said Nisit Jansomwong, director-general of the Department of Lands.
Visitors can electronically submit documents they would normally have to bring with them, he said.
