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- Flights into Thailand – “It’s an indefinite ban”
A ban on international scheduled flights into Thailand remains in force “while the pandemic situation remains critical in many countries.” “It’s an indefinite ban.” This was further confirmation from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand yesterday in response to clarification of the country’s ban on allowing foreign tourists back into Thailand. CAAT director Chula Sukmanop and the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration say they are monitoring the “global situation” before deciding when commercial flights would resume back into Thailand. For their part, the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking has instructed the government that many foreigners have signalled their […]
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Flights into Thailand – “It’s an indefinite ban”World Health Organisation A ban on international scheduled flights into Thailand remains in force “while the pandemic situation remains critical in many countries.”
“It’s an indefinite ban.”
This was further confirmation from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand yesterday in response to clarification of the country’s ban on allowing foreign tourists back into Thailand. CAAT director Chula Sukmanop and the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration say they are monitoring the “global situation” before deciding when commercial flights would resume back into Thailand.
For their part, the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking has instructed the government that many foreigners have signalled their intention to visit Thailand on business but officials need to check if there are enough state quarantine facilities for the mandatory 14 day quarantine period, still an encumbrance under the current restrictions and limitations on travel.
Meanwhile more private quarantine providers were applying to become registered as state quarantine providers – up-scale 4 and 5 star hotels, usually at inflated prices associated with the security and quarantine issues. People using these facilities have to pay their quarantine expenses themselves whilst official government-provided quarantine facilities remain extremely limited as Thai citizens keep returning from overseas.
Additionally, they will need to notify Thai officials of their whereabouts whilst in the country.
Foreigners visiting Thailand under the exemptions for medical tourism will have to stay at a government-approved hospital for at least 14 days.
“As of now, no commercial airlines are permitted to operate flights into and out of Thailand and only a number of foreign businesspeople are allowed to enter the country for business purposes.”
At the moment the government is limiting arrivals of foreigners, and Thais, to 500 per day in line with the CSSA’s precautionary measures. This applies across the board to all types of visitors trying to get back into the country, creating a bureaucratic nightmare for embassies around the world.
All people intending to fly to Thailand, including Thais, are tested before they are allowed to get on the flights. But some have tested negative before getting on the flight only to test positive later during their quarantine period due to the delayed incubation pattern of Covid-19 symptoms in some people.
A deputy governor of the TAT candidly forecast that there will likely be no general tourism until at least the end of 2020, even up to Chinese New Year in February 2021. He made the comments at a Krabi seminar last week.
Whilst the global pandemic continues to fester in many countries around the world, causing economic havoc as government’s struggle to contain the virus with lockdowns, some small window of hope today with a flattening of the world new-case and death numbers.
And, of course, there is always the prospect of a viable and safe vaccine becoming available some time in the medium to long-term as some 165 different labs, commercial and government-funded, attempt to bring a Covid-19 vaccine to market.
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13 August 2020Coronavirus (Covid-19)https://thethaiger.com/?p=360316 - Priceless ivories stolen a second time, recovered in Myanmar
A pair of priceless, centuries old engraved ivory tusks was stolen from a local hermitage of the Ban Loy Tong Ku hill tribe village in the Umphang District Isaan’s Tak province last night. Locals residents reported the incident to the Border Patrol Police after they reportedly saw the 2 thieves riding a motorcycle and heading towards the Thai-Myanmar border. The same pair was stolen in June 2017, but was recovered. Border Patrol Police Patrol Platoon 3471 investigated the scene and asked officials across the border, including the Burmese authorities and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army for cooperation. The suspects, who […]
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Priceless ivories stolen a second time, recovered in MyanmarLegacy A pair of priceless, centuries old engraved ivory tusks was stolen from a local hermitage of the Ban Loy Tong Ku hill tribe village in the Umphang District Isaan’s Tak province last night. Locals residents reported the incident to the Border Patrol Police after they reportedly saw the 2 thieves riding a motorcycle and heading towards the Thai-Myanmar border. The same pair was stolen in June 2017, but was recovered.
Border Patrol Police Patrol Platoon 3471 investigated the scene and asked officials across the border, including the Burmese authorities and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army for cooperation.
The suspects, who were not named, were arrested at Ban Jai Dung village in Myawaddy this morning, following the investigation by officers of the DKBA. The DKBA announced the stolen ivories were found at the suspects’ place of residence and were being reurned to Thailand.
SOURCES: The Pattaya News | today.line.me
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12 August 2020Crimehttps://thethaiger.com/?p=360287 - CCSA to allow sports gatherings, exempt Chinese fruit traders from travel ban
The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration announced on Monday that will allow fans to attend sports events, and allow Chinese traders to enter Thailand for fruit export. The CCSA said that as Thailand approaches 80 days without a local Covid-19 transmission, it’s believed to be safe for spectators to attend large sports gatherings, although measures will be tighter for events held indoors. Spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin also said the CCSA panel has also agreed to allow Chinese traders to return to Thailand, to buy Thai fruits for export, to help Thai farmers. “However, the Chinese travellers will be subject to […]
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CCSA to allow sports gatherings, exempt Chinese fruit traders from travel banCaixin Global The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration announced on Monday that will allow fans to attend sports events, and allow Chinese traders to enter Thailand for fruit export. The CCSA said that as Thailand approaches 80 days without a local Covid-19 transmission, it’s believed to be safe for spectators to attend large sports gatherings, although measures will be tighter for events held indoors.
Spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin also said the CCSA panel has also agreed to allow Chinese traders to return to Thailand, to buy Thai fruits for export, to help Thai farmers.
“However, the Chinese travellers will be subject to strict Covid-19 screening upon arrival and will have to go through 14 days mandatory quarantine at their own expense.”
Thailand’s exports of durian to the Chinese mainland accounted for 73% of the total export volume during the first 6 months this year, according to a senior government official yesterday. The director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department confirmed that Thai durian exported to China secured over a billion US dollars, or about 31.7 billion baht in sales, accounting for 73% of total export volume during the first half of the year. By contrast, durian exports to ASEAN markets has secured a combined 164 million US dollars in sales, marking just 12% of its total export volume during the corresponding period.
Taweesin also said the CCSA panel has decided to grant full resumption of class attendance in schools, but schools may still opt for online learning.
Restrictions on public transport services, on land and water, will be further eased by allowing buses and boats to operate at full capacity, but passengers must wear facemasks, and other measures will be imposed to ensure safety.
Taweesin says the panel will seek approval for these changes from the CCSA, chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, at a meeting scheduled for August 21.
SOURCES: Khaosod English | xinhuanet
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12 August 2020Businesshttps://thethaiger.com/?p=360281 - Korat man terrifies locals with “musical instrument”
Residents of Isaan’s Nakhon Ratchasima province were terrified when a man, dressed in a civil servant’s uniform, pulled out what looked like a heavy rifle to threaten someone who had jumped the queue at a local mechanic’s shop yesterday. Shop staff said the man argued with the person who had cut the queue for 10 minutes before heading to his car to pull out what appeared to be a combat weapon. This terrified people in the shop, who were afraid of a repeat of February’s shopping mall shooting, when an angry soldier went on a rampage, killing 29 and injuring […]
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Korat man terrifies locals with “musical instrument”Sanook Residents of Isaan’s Nakhon Ratchasima province were terrified when a man, dressed in a civil servant’s uniform, pulled out what looked like a heavy rifle to threaten someone who had jumped the queue at a local mechanic’s shop yesterday. Shop staff said the man argued with the person who had cut the queue for 10 minutes before heading to his car to pull out what appeared to be a combat weapon. This terrified people in the shop, who were afraid of a repeat of February’s shopping mall shooting, when an angry soldier went on a rampage, killing 29 and injuring 58.Police Station later said the “civil servant” is the deputy director of a school in the province’s Khon Buri district and that the “combat weapon” was a modified musical instrument. The teacher told reporters he was angered by the person cutting the queue and wanted to scare them. Although he has apologised, the other party insisted on filing a police complaint, which may lead to prosecution.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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12 August 2020Crimehttps://thethaiger.com/?p=360273 - Korat mother found with throat cut
A mother in the lower northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province was found dead at her home with her throat slit today, in what police believe is a murder stemming from an extramarital romantic affair. 29 year old Nattarika Shibahara lived with her 6 year old daughter, who was at school when the crime happened. Her Singaporean husband was also away. A forensics team said she had been dead for 3 hours before police discovered the body, which was sent to Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital for autopsy. Police found no sign of forced entry but there was evidence of a fight in […]
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Korat mother found with throat cutThairath A mother in the lower northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province was found dead at her home with her throat slit today, in what police believe is a murder stemming from an extramarital romantic affair. 29 year old Nattarika Shibahara lived with her 6 year old daughter, who was at school when the crime happened. Her Singaporean husband was also away.
A forensics team said she had been dead for 3 hours before police discovered the body, which was sent to Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital for autopsy. Police found no sign of forced entry but there was evidence of a fight in a bedroom. The house had been ransacked.
Investigators are working on the theory that the motive for the murder involved a romantic affair, since the victim was “good looking and had several relationships in the past”.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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12 August 2020Crimehttps://thethaiger.com/?p=360266 - Allegedly drunk woman tries to run down Bangkok pedestrians
A 37 year old businesswoman tried to run over pedestrians with her car near Bangkok’s Khae Rai Intersection and Tao Poon MRT station, after learning her business was embezzled out of millions of baht. She was allegedly drunk at the time. Bang Sue police were notified of the incident in the early hours of this morning and tracked down the car, but the driver tried to flee to Or Tor Kor Market in Chatuchak district. It was reported that she tried unsuccessfully to ram pedestrians near Khae Rai Intersection in Nonthaburi province at 11:00 last night and then headed into […]
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Allegedly drunk woman tries to run down Bangkok pedestriansLegacy A 37 year old businesswoman tried to run over pedestrians with her car near Bangkok’s Khae Rai Intersection and Tao Poon MRT station, after learning her business was embezzled out of millions of baht. She was allegedly drunk at the time. Bang Sue police were notified of the incident in the early hours of this morning and tracked down the car, but the driver tried to flee to Or Tor Kor Market in Chatuchak district.
It was reported that she tried unsuccessfully to ram pedestrians near Khae Rai Intersection in Nonthaburi province at 11:00 last night and then headed into Bangkok.
Police tried to stop the car but failed, until it collided with another car, resulting in substantial damage to the 2 vehicles and 4 motorcycles. Several people were injured, including driver Wishuda Vittayasinthana, who was sent to hospital.
Wishuda’s father reportedly told police that she was stressed due to her business being embezzled out of millions of baht, and drank heavily before heading off.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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12 August 2020Bangkokhttps://thethaiger.com/?p=360254 - 3 Chinese men arrested in Chon Buri operating porn, gambling site
3 Chinese men have been arrested for illegal entry, living in Thailand without a visa and allegedly operating a pornography and gambling website. The Immigration Bureau began an investigation after a tip from locals that some Chinese men had illegally entered the country 8 months ago and were working illegally Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung District. The arrest was at their house on Monday. 3 suspects, identified only as Wang, Dong, and Si, were caught along with a computer reportedly used for running a pornographic website. 31 year old Wang reportedly admitted to being an administrator of the site. He claimed […]
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3 Chinese men arrested in Chon Buri operating porn, gambling siteThe Pattaya News 3 Chinese men have been arrested for illegal entry, living in Thailand without a visa and allegedly operating a pornography and gambling website. The Immigration Bureau began an investigation after a tip from locals that some Chinese men had illegally entered the country 8 months ago and were working illegally Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung District.
The arrest was at their house on Monday. 3 suspects, identified only as Wang, Dong, and Si, were caught along with a computer reportedly used for running a pornographic website.
31 year old Wang reportedly admitted to being an administrator of the site. He claimed he was hired for 6,000 yuan (about 26,000 baht) to create it by employers in China. The site contained “adult entertainment” and a link to a Chinese online gambling website.
The commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, told reporters yesterday that Wang’s coworkers, 39 year old Dong, and 45 year old Si, were also arrested since they did not hold legal permission to be in the country. He told the Associated Press:
“Dong didn’t have a permit to stay in Thailand, while his friend Si had one stamp on his passport as a tourist but it expired in 2015.”
The 3 are in custody awaiting legal proceedings. Initially, Wang was changed for working without a permit, while Dong was charged for entering and residing in the Kingdom without permission and Si for residing in the Kingdom with expired permission.
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
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12 August 2020Crimehttps://thethaiger.com/?p=360226 - No tourists until 2021 – Thailand shuns travel bubbles and general travel
Thailand is currently caught in a number of quandaries that will continue to threaten the economy and stability of the country. Meanwhile the borders remain largely sealed, with the prospect of general tourist travel being pushed forward until at least 2021. There have been a number of official comments to support the prediction that Thailand’s borders will remain closed to general traveller traffic for at least the rest of this year. From the Thai aviation authorities and a deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. At a webinar last week the deputy governor for international marketing at TAT, Chattan […]
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No tourists until 2021 – Thailand shuns travel bubbles and general travelThe Thaiger Thailand is currently caught in a number of quandaries that will continue to threaten the economy and stability of the country. Meanwhile the borders remain largely sealed, with the prospect of general tourist travel being pushed forward until at least 2021.
There have been a number of official comments to support the prediction that Thailand’s borders will remain closed to general traveller traffic for at least the rest of this year. From the Thai aviation authorities and a deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
At a webinar last week the deputy governor for international marketing at TAT, Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, said there was “no talk of a timeline issued for reopening the country to inbound or outbound leisure travel during weekly Covid-19 national meetings”.
He said he doesn’t expect Thailand to welcome tourists until at least 2021. He noted that discussions about potential re-openings had been very “risk averse”.
“The Christmas period, usually the high season, is in jeopardy and I’m looking horribly even to Chinese New Year in February, which is an iffy proposition at best now. Unfortunately, this is not a rosy picture.”
Earlier plans for travel bubbles, with similarly low-risk countries have also been shelved at the moment as some of the potential countries have had recent spikes, including Vietnam, Australia (mostly Melbourne), Japan, and just today, New Zealand.
Its first Covid-19 outbreak in 3 months Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is back on lockdown. The country went 102 days without a local transmission, until yesterday with the announcement of 4 new cases found in an Auckland home. A further 4 probable cases have been identified today.
New Zealand became the envy of the world after it was able to completely contain local transmission of Covid-19 with a strict nationwide lockdown in April and May. Today, businesses again close around Auckland and chances dwindle of the nation re-opening its borders.
Just yesterday, Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority says there will be no further re-opening of the Kingdom’s borders for the time being. Director-General Chula Sukmanop says that any decision to re-open to international air traffic needs to be taken in conjunction with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.
Meanwhile the list of groups allowed back into Thailand, under strict health measures, has been expanded at the start of August from just diplomats and UN officials, to business people, investors who have an agreement with the government, film crews, some migrant workers, medical tourists, exhibition personnel and the holders of Thailand Elite visas (although there are restrictions on the total numbers). All arrives, including Thais, must spend 14 days in state sanctioned quarantine.
Thai officials are also trying to manage growing unrest amongst activists and students whose protests are growing in size, and attracting undue attention from police. A number of arrests and charges have already been actioned but the government will be keen to settle the situation to avoid any further negative publicity about the country’s political situation.
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12 August 2020Coronavirus (Covid-19)https://thethaiger.com/?p=360218 - New Zealand surprised by 4 new confirmed Covid-19 local transmissions
Its first Covid-19 new cases in 3 months has New Zealand reeling and Auckland, its biggest city, back on lockdown. The country went 102 days without a local transmission, until late yesterday with the announcement that 4 new cases were found in an Auckland household. A further 4 probable cases were identified today. Authorities are trying to stop spread to avoid the fate of nations like Australia, Vietnam and Japan, which after early success in containing the virus are now battling its resurgence. New Zealand became the envy of the world after it eliminated local transmission of Covid-19 with a […]
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New Zealand surprised by 4 new confirmed Covid-19 local transmissionsBloomberg Its first Covid-19 new cases in 3 months has New Zealand reeling and Auckland, its biggest city, back on lockdown. The country went 102 days without a local transmission, until late yesterday with the announcement that 4 new cases were found in an Auckland household. A further 4 probable cases were identified today. Authorities are trying to stop spread to avoid the fate of nations like Australia, Vietnam and Japan, which after early success in containing the virus are now battling its resurgence.
New Zealand became the envy of the world after it eliminated local transmission of Covid-19 with a strict nationwide lockdown in April and May, and its economy came back strongly once restrictions were lifted. Now, that recovery may be at risk as businesses close in Auckland and chances dwindle of the nation re-opening its borders any time soon.
PM Jacinda Ardern today put Auckland, a city of 1.6 million, into lockdown for an initial period of 3 days as officials try to trace the origin of the infections. Social distancing rules and limits on gatherings have been reimposed on the rest of the country. A strategist at Bank of New Zealand in Wellington said:
“From an economic perspective, the news is a blow. The economy had rebounded much quicker than expected. The news overnight reinforces the still-fragile nature of the recovery.”
At noon today, Auckland moved to level 3 on New Zealand’s Covid alert system, meaning people should stay at home if possible and avoid social contact. Schools are closed for most pupils, as are bars, restaurants and customer-fronting businesses. Travel into and out of the city is restricted.
The rest of the country has gone to level 2 restrictions, which means social distancing and limiting the size of gatherings to 100. In addition, all aged-care facilities around New Zealand have been placed into lockdown. Scientists have warned that more cases are likely, raising the likelihood that restrictions will have to remain in place for more than 3 days.
The 4 who tested positive are now in isolation and the government is racing to find all of their close contacts. Before testing positive, 2 of them people travelled to the North Island city of Rotorua last weekend and visited tourist attractions. 1 of the infected people worked at a cold storage firm, and an avenue of investigation is whether the source of the infection was imported freight, according to Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield.
The outbreak comes only weeks before the September 19 general election, with Ardern’s Labour Party riding high in the polls, due largely to her successful management of the pandemic. The leader of the main opposition National Party called for the vote to be delayed until late November or pushed into next year.
“New Zealanders deserve better than to wonder whether or not they can even vote on election day.”
Ardern today delayed the dissolution of parliament until at least Monday and says she expects to make a decision on the election by then.
SOURCE: Bloomberg
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12 August 2020Coronavirus (Covid-19)https://thethaiger.com/?p=360204 - Malaysia returning vehicles left behind by Thais
Malaysia is returning vehicles left behind by Thais who left when Kuala Lumpur imposed a lockdown to combat the spread of Covid-19. The first batch was returned yesterday via the Sungai Kolok immigration checkpoint. They were handed over to Thai authorities about 5pm. The chief of Sungai Kolok district in the southern border province of Narathiwat said Thais living in Malaysia, most of them in Kelantan State, have gradually returned to Thailand, often leaving behind their vehicles. Once back home, they were without the use of their vehicles, which many needed to make a living. They asked the provincial Damrongtham […]
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Malaysia returning vehicles left behind by ThaisThe Thaiger Malaysia is returning vehicles left behind by Thais who left when Kuala Lumpur imposed a lockdown to combat the spread of Covid-19. The first batch was returned yesterday via the Sungai Kolok immigration checkpoint. They were handed over to Thai authorities about 5pm.
The chief of Sungai Kolok district in the southern border province of Narathiwat said Thais living in Malaysia, most of them in Kelantan State, have gradually returned to Thailand, often leaving behind their vehicles. Once back home, they were without the use of their vehicles, which many needed to make a living. They asked the provincial Damrongtham Centre to make arrangements with Malaysian authorities for their return. After talks between local officials of Narathiwat and Kelantan, an agreement was reached.
The returned cars and trucks were sprayed with disinfectant and will be left in the sun for 3 days before being handed back to their owners.
Territorial defence volunteers assigned to go to Malaysia to drive back the vehicles will spend 14 days in quarantine.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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12 August 2020Economyhttps://thethaiger.com/?p=360195