by Daryl Lum | Apr 7, 2021 | News
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 | News
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 ($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.
source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/2091559/chinese-seen-leading-tourist-arrivals-in-phuket-after-reopening
by kevinyeo | Apr 4, 2021 | News
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.
by Daryl Lum | Nov 24, 2020 | News
Thailand will open up a 2-year window for foreign buyers looking to purchase a property in Thailand to obtain its Easy Access Visa for free or at a discount. The Thai government approved the new package in early November.
Foreign buyers who purchase one or several condominium units worth at least THB 10 million will receive a 5-year residence visa worth THB 500,000 for free or at a discounted rate.
The Easy Access Visa will entitle members to perks like VIP guide at the airport, fast track immigration and passport control, free limousine transport from the airport to a hotel or place of residence 24 times a year.
Somchai Soongswang, president of Thailand Privilege Card, mentioned that the program should be launched by the 1st quarter of 2021. The program will run for 2 years and the property purchased must be ready to move in and not under construction.
Yours sincerely,
The editorial team at Invest Bangkok Property
by Daryl Lum | Oct 1, 2020 | News
In a bid to draw foreign tourists, Thailand has approved a new Special Tourist Visa. This Special Tourist Visa will allow foreigners to stay in Thailand for 90 days and to extend the visa twice at a cost of 2,000 baht each time. This Special Tourist Visa will become available from October 2020 to September 30 2021.
The Special Tourist Visa was approved in principle by the Thai cabinet on the 15th of September as part of plans to rejuvenate the economy and tourism sector which have been decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tourists on this Special Tourist Visa will need to receive permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) operation centres and must travel by charter plane. Before travelling to Thailand, foreign visitors will need to take a Covid-19 test before departing for Thailand. They must also buy Covid-19 health insurance and sign a letter of consent agreeing to comply with the Thai government’s Covid-19 measures. They will still need to be quarantined for 14-days upon arrival although there are discussions to reduce this to 7-days.
About 1,200 Special Tourist Visas are expected to enter Thailand every month bringing in more than 1.03 billion baht. In the one year, this number is likely to reach 14,400, generating about 12.4 billion baht for the Thai economy.
Yours Sincerely,
The Invest Bangkok Property editorial team
by Daryl Lum | Sep 12, 2020 | News
Thailand is planning to reopen its borders to long term foreign visitors by the end of October in a bid to revive its tourism sector and save millions of jobs.
According to Thosaporn Sirisumphand, Thailand’s secretary of the Center for Economic Situation Administration, a plan is to be submitted to the government for approval and it includes allowing foreign visitors to come through Thailand’s international airports provided they do a mandatory 14-day quarantine at the port of entry before they are allowed to travel freely.
Thailand relies heavily on tourism and its economy is facing one of its worst economic contractions as it is expected to shrink by about 8.5% this year. Thailand’s hospitality and tourism sectors are relying on the return of international tourists, which made up about two-thirds of tourist dollars before the pandemic, to help alleviate the situation.
Recently a plan to open up Phuket to foreign tourists was delayed. There is hope that this latest effort will come through.
Yours sincerely,
The editorial team at Invest Bangkok Property
