Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Thailand opens for visitors from 63 countries - Thailand Pass operational from 1st November

On his Facebook page Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha announced on 21 October, that Thailand opens the country for fully vaccinated visitors from 46 countries, who arrive by airplanes. The Ministry of Forein Affairs announced the 46 countries shortly after his announcement. On 30 October 17 more countries have been added. The countries, from where the residents can enter with Thailand Pass Test and Go system (exemption from quarantine):

Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

Children under the age of 18 who are not eligible for vaccination, and are travelling with parents, only need to do a RT-PCR test no more than 72 hours before departure. Also adult people have to do this test.
See from which countries you can enter Thailand without a Visa for tourism purposes here.



An article by Thaiger shows how Bangkok is preparing for the entry of fully vaccinated international tourists from first of November. On Thaiger we read, that the tourists, who have arrived at Bangkoks airports Suvarnabumi and Don Muang, will be tested outside of the airport in swab hubs. Approved limousines will bring these guests to SHA plus hotels, where they will have to stay in the hotel room until they get the negative test result. They will be tested at these hotels or in nearby test hubs. According to this report over 300 hotels are waiting to receive the SHA plus certificate. See list of SHA plus hotels in Bangkok. See Bangkok SHA plus Hotels Google Map

As Richard Barrow tweets, the arriving guests will have to book a SHA+ hotel for the first night within a two hour drive from the international airport. For example, if you land at Suvarnbhumi, you can go straight to Pattaya, but for Hua Hin, must stay in Bangkok.


How to get Thailand Pass and who still has to register for COE

The CCSA (Centre for Covid-19 situation administration) has announced that the new Thailand Pass system will be operational on 1st November. The process then can take 7 working days. Therefore Thailand Pass registration is for people who travel after 8 November. Until then travellers have to do the COE (Certificate of Entry) registration process at https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/ and COE registrations will be valid after 1st of November. But the mentioned 7 days of staying in a SHA plus hotel are not definite. At the immigration Public Health officers will that reduce to 1 day. From 1 November 2021, the Certificate of Entry (COE) registration website will be closed for new registrations. But it will allow travellers, whose application has been pre-approved, to continue their application process to obtain COE until 7 November 2021.

Travellers who are in the process of requesting a COE and travel before 12 November can submit a SHA plus hotel confirmation for only 1 night instead of 7.

Travellers, who will travel before 12 November must still request a COE around two weeks before travelling. You can submit a SHA plus hotel confirmation for only 1 night instead of 7.

The registration for Thailand Pass will be possible at thailandpass.go.th/ from 1st November. Thailand Pass will require travelers to upload a vaccine certificate. Travelers can then download the Thailand Pass QR Code immediately after receiving the approval.

By doing Thailand Pass registration, you may get an error at the end. If this happens, do, what thaiger.com recommends: Thailand Pass workaround for API error.



The Regulations for Entry in Thailand

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published formal regulations for entry to Thailand as follows:



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published the following FAQs. The Ministry says:
If your COE has been pre-approved, you will need to submit the rest of the required documents by 7 November 2021. Otherwise, your COE request will be automatically rejected, and you will need to register with the Thailand Pass system to travel to Thailand.

If your COE has not been pre-approved by 1 November 2021, your COE request will be automatically rejected, and you will need to register with the Thailand Pass system to travel to Thailand.

Exemption from Quarantine scheme: You can travel to any destinations in Thailand once the RT-PCR test upon arrival received is negative.


Entry to Thailand with Sandbox scheme

Travellers from any country of the world can use the Sandbox scheme: You can travel freely in the sandbox area for the duration of 7 days once the RT-PCR test upon arrival received is negative. Once you have completed your 7-day mandatory stay within the Sandbox area, you can travel freely to other parts of Thailand. There are 17 Blue Zone Sandbox destinations:

Bangkok, Krabi, Chon Buri (Banlamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Ko Si Chang, Sattahip - Na Jomtien, Bang Sarey), Chiang Mai (Mueang, Doi Tao, Mae Rim and Mae Taeng), Trat (Ko Chang), Buri Ram (Mueang), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin and Nong Kae), Phang Nga, Phetchaburi (Cha Am), Phuket, Ranong (Ko Phayam), Rayong (Ko Samet), Loei (Chiang Khan), Samut Prakan (Suvarnabhumi Airport), Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao), Nong Khai (Mueang, Sangkhom, Si Chiang Mai and Tha Bo), Udon Thani (Mueang, Ban, Dung, Kumphawapi, Na Yung, Nong Han and Prachaksinlapakham).

Read this checklist.


Updated informations about Thailand Pass can be found here.


Read more about COE registration:
How to use Phuket Sandbox: Now 7 Days on Phuket or in Phang Nga, Krabi or on Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao


Sunday, October 17, 2021

Follow Russell Crowe's Phuket Sandbox Experience and his Stay in Bangkok

Famous actor Russell Crowe travelled to Thailand for the new Vietnam War movie called “The Greatest Beer Run Ever”. He shared his Phuket Sandbox experience on Twitter.















Russel Crowe stayed at Amanpuri:


After 14 days in Phuket Sandbox Russel Crowe travelled to Bangkok, where he went to Bangkoks green lung, Bang Krachao, on Sunday 10 October and showed Baker's House Coffee and Bakery:



And then he recommended Phuket Sandbox:



There were a lot of reactions after this post. Read here.


With this Tweet a clarified how Phuket Sandbox works:



And some more of his stay in Bangkok: Wat Kanlayanamit and Lhong1919



On Instagram:




As Bangkok2tour reports, Russell Crowe and Zac Efron have visited The Smokin’ Pug for dinner and drinks Saturday 9 October.


Saturday, October 16, 2021

Thailand opens for fully vaccinated Tourists - but only from a few Countries

China, Germany, Singapore, the UK and USA - tourists from these countries can visit Thailand from 1st November without quarantine. This has been announced by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha. So it will happen. In his Television adress to Thai people he did not mention other countries, but said, the opening would start with a list of at least ten countries.

Who comes from China, Germany, Singapore, the UK and USA, will have to provide the certificate, that he is fully vaccinated, will have to make a test within 72 hours before the flight and make a test after arriving in Thailand and have to stay in a so called SHA plus hotel until the the negative test result arrives. Afther that he will be able to travel around in Thailand, but has to follow the provincial guidelines for entry, which are published by the domestic airlines. Read the speach of Prayut Chan-ochas here.

Who comes from other countries, has still to go for 7 night to a quarantine hotel or can avoid this by flying directly to Phuket or Koh Samui and take part in the Sandbox model. This means: Fully vaccinated, test before flying, test after arrival, stay one night in hotel until the test result arrives, then can move freely in Phuket or Koh Samui area. Read:
How to use Phuket Sandbox: Now 7 Days on Phuket or in Phang Nga, Krabi or on Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao
Samui Plus (สมุยพลัส): The Rules for International and Domestic Travellers visiting Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao - Changed on 1st October

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Will Thailand welcome International Tourists only in fourth Quarter of 2020?


Can international tourists visit Koh Samui's beaches from October?

Updated June 6:

As Thailand has stopped international flights due to the coronavirus outbreak everybody, who loves to travel to Thailand, asks the same question: When will Thailand allow the immigration of international tourists again?

One answer: "It is still dependent on the outbreak situation, but I think at the earliest, we may see the return of tourists could be the fourth quarter of this year," Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), tells CNN Travel.

Yuthasak adds there will likely be restrictions on who can visit and where they can go. Its quite sure, that Thailand will only open for tourists from countries, who have their coronavirus situation under control.

For the moment The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has banned all international commercial flights into the country until June 30, excluding repatriation flights. The Thais who do return on these flights are put into quarantine facilities for 14 days.

Thailand is now focused on reopening to domestic tourism in June, Yuthasak told CNN. So far malls, markets, museums have reopened. Bangkok's Chatuchak Weekend Market reopened on May 9. Bangkok's Grand Palace will do so June 4. Restaurants now allow dine-in customers but are not allowed to serve alcohol. Streetfood vendors - for example at Yaowarat road in Bangkoks Chinatown - are open. Boxing stadiums, Thai traditional massage parlours, spas and movie theatres are likely to reopen in June according to Bangkok Post. But pubs, bars and night entertainment venues will remain closed.



Hotels and resorts in Hua Hin have already been given permission to welcome Thai visitors, same for hotels in Nan Province.

Phuket International Airport remains closed until June 15. Phuket island had the highest coronavirus infection rate per capita out of all of Thailand's 77 provinces and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand does not want to take the risk to spread the infection to other parts of Thailand for the meoment, as Phuket News reported. But now the reopeing is announced for June 15. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai and Songkhla’s Hat Yai International Airports have reopened for domestic flights. In May four airlines – Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet Air – have resumed domestic flight operations from airports in Buri Ram, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Lampang, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phitsanulok, Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Surat Thani, Tak’s Mae Sot, Trang, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani, as Pattaya Mail noted. But Airports of Thailand warns domestic airline passengers to check provincial travel restrictions before they book flights. There are different rules for quarantine for arriving passengers in every province. Wo arrives in Chiang Mai has to qo for quarantine for 14 days at designated hotels, more informations here. Bangkok Airways has resumed its daily flights to Koh Samui. It performs body temperature checks on all passengers at the point of origin and destination.

Interprovincial bus services to Thailand’s North, Northeast and East have restarted from 18 May. interprovincial bus services to Thailand’s South have been suspended by The Transport Co. Ltd. until 30 June. Read guide to inter-provincial travel in Thailand by TAT. Find bus schedules and tickets here.

Meanwhile Thailands Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is planning to close all 157 national parks for at least two months every year to allow the ecosystem to take a break and rejuvenate, as Bangkok Post reports. The closure times will differ, due to different seasonal weather conditions from North to South and West to East in Thailand. The National Park authorities are planning to control the volume of visitors with ticket sytems. Popular Maya Bay near Koh Phi Phi - famous due to the movie "The beach" - has been overrun especially by Chinese tourist groups for some years and is permanently closed since 2018. Since then its ecology is gradually recovering and now the national park authority has created a new nature trail and vantage point so that tourists can admire views of the beach and the bay from far away. The entrance has moved to Loh Sama Bay at the back of the island.

Foreign nationals who are permanent residents in Thailand or hold work permits will soon be allowed to return to Thailand, a government official said on May 27 according to The Nation. Many foreign nationals who have Thai spouses had been complaining that the lockdown and flight ban is keeping them from their families.


Find more informations:
Thailand Tourism Updates by TAT
News by Richard Barrow
Quarantine rules in Thailands provinces in Thai


Saturday, December 5, 2015

Authorities downplay IS Terror Warning for Phuket and Thailand, but beef up Security

It has emerged that the Russian Intelligence Service FSB has warned Thailand, that terrorists could have arrived in Phuket and travelled on to other places in Thailand. According to FSB 10 Syrians connected to Islamic State (IS) entered the Kingdom in October with a possible plan to attack Russian interests, reports The Nation. Thaiöands security authorities boosted safety measures in the capital and many provinces. PM's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana said that Russia had exchanged information with Thailand and wanted the Thai side to check the accuracy of the information on whether the Syrians had entered Thailand. "Thai authorities looked into the information and as of yesterday, we found no clues on Russia's concerns," he said.

The Governor of Phuket, Jamleran Tipayapongtada, said that all military, police and other authorities were aware of the reports and had intensified security precautions, as phuletwan.com reports. "Everybody who lives on Phuket or is visiting Phuket can help," he said. '"Please let police know if you see something that is not quite right."
Targets for terrorists could be Phuket, Khao San Road in Bangkok and the walking street in Pattaya. But experts as Thammasat University Middle East specialist Jaran Maluleemsay say, that Thailand could also not be the target but a safe hub for terrorists, reports The Nation.

Also in Malaysia police have beefed up security, particularly around places associated with Russian and Western interests, which the reports indicated the militants were likely to target, writes Thai PBS.

Malaysia's police said on Saturday that it had arrested five people, including a European employed as a teacher, on suspicion of links with militant groups like the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, reports Reuters.


Saturday, November 15, 2014

China is to loan Thailand cash for three Railway Lines - serving as Connection with China

15.11.2014 China is to loan Thailand cash to construct three dual-track railways: The agreement was made at a meeting led by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The meeting followed bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Gen Prayut said at the Apec summit in Beijing that the project will cover three routes — Bangkok-Nong Khai, Bangkok-Map Ta Phut and Kaeng Khoi-Map Ta Phut, as Bangkok Post reports. Thailand will be able to repay the investment costs to China with rubber and rice.

Map by Bangkok Post


8.3.2014
The plans for highspeed railway lines in Thailand are back on track: Thailand military junta, National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), first put on hold the projects, when it took power in May. Now it has approved two high-speed train projects at a total cost of 741.4 billion baht according to Bangkok Post. The two routes will serve as a transport link between Thailand and southern China.

One route would travel 655km from the border town of Chiang Khong to Ban Phachi in Ayutthaya province in central Thailand. Another would see freight carried 737km from Nong Khai, across the Mekong River from Vientiane prefecture, to the Thai port and industrial estate of Map Ta Phut, as The Nation reports. The former project of the Shinawatra government included lines from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bangkok to Rayong, Bangkok to Nong Khai and Bangkok to Padang Besar.

The NCPO intends to bring down the costs of the projects from 500-600 million baht per km to a range of 350-400 million baht per km. Therefore the railways are planned for a maximum speed of 160 kilometres per hour instead of 200 kilometres per hour, announced permanent secretary for transport Soithip Traisuth according to Bangkok Post. This was to allow a possible shift to a higher speed train system in the future after more investment were put in,she said.

The construction of the two routes should begin in 2015 and be completed by 2021, said Soithip.

Also endorsed by the NCPO were six more metre gauge dual-track rail routes for a construction budget of 117.4 billion baht with construction to begin next year. These routes are from Chira junction to Khon Kaen (185 kms), from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Chumphon (167 kms), from Nakhon Pathom to Hua Hin (165 kms), from Mab Kabao to Nakhon Ratchasima (132 kms), from Lopburi to Pak Nam Pho (148 kms) and from Hua Hin to Prachuap Khiri Khan ( 90 kms ), as Thai PBS reports.


Read older stories:
Chinas Railway for Laos: Waiting for Thailand
Chinese money brings big change: A railway from the North of Laos to Vientiane and Thailand


Sunday, June 1, 2014

Quiet Bangkok: Go jogging or cycling in Benjakiti Park

See the location on Benjakiti Park Google Map

Benjakiti park: Ratchadaphisek Road, between Rama IV and Sukhumvit Roads. This park has been built on the Tobacco Monopoly land, where there used to be factories and warehouses, and has been opened 2004. There’s a lake and people are jogging and cycling here on separate ways that stretch for two kilometres around the lake. "Bangkok’s prettiest green space" according to travelfish.org. Open daily from 5am till 20 pm. The main entrance is a 10-minute walk south of Asok BTS station. The back entrance is a two-minute walk from Queen Sirikit MRT station. A bike rental kiosk is not far from the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

Picture by 246-You

Picture by 246-You
Benjakiti Lake


Tuesday, April 15, 2014

99 Sois in Bangkok - are you going to help?

Picture by larryoien
Evening in Soi Rambutri

Picture by fernando leyder
Soi Lalai Sap

Picture by drburtoni
Sukhumvit Soi 11

Picture by drburtoni
Soi Cowboy

Picture by UweBKK
Ratchada Soi 10

Picture by jose.jhg
Sukhumvit Soi 38

Picture by Mark Fischer
Sukhumvit Soi 3

Picture by antwerpeneR
Around Washington Square, Soi 22

Picture by drburtoni
Sukhumvit Soi 11

Picture by Mark Fischer
Sukhumvit Soi 4

Picture by marhas
Soi Pratu Nokyung

Picture by alykat
Soi Wat Phai Tan

Picture by drburtoni
Soi Ari 1

Picture by jfantenb
Charoen Krung Soi 60

Picture by Ian Fuller
Sukhumvit Soi 5

Picture by chinnian
The Emporium, Sukhumvit Soi 24

Picture by UweBKK
Sukhumvit Soi 15

Picture by marhas
Soi Pansook

Picture by Ian Fuller
Sukhumvit Soi 23

Picture by euke_1974
Sukhumvit Soi 89

Picture by hewy
Sukhumvit Soi 19

Picture by tvenchus
Above Sukhumvit Soi 8

Picture by Ian Fuller
Soi Sala Daeng 2

Picture by antwerpeneR
Soi Wanit 2

Picture by hewy
Sukhumvit Soi 31

Picture by Michael LaPalme
Soi Arab

Picture by gerrypopplestone
Soi Sukhumvit 86

Picture by joshua alan davis
Sukhumvit Soi 6

Picture by CharlesFred
Soi Raja Kru

Picture by captain
Soi Chanasongkram

Picture by David McKelvey
Soi Kasemsan 2

Picture by jfantenb
Sathorn Soi 3

Picture by Urban Mixer
Soi Langsuan

Picture by marhas
Soi Pratoo Nok Yoong

Picture by Ian Fuller
Soi off Charoen Krung

Picture by Blemished Paradise
Sukhumvit Soi 33

Picture by Ian Fuller
Silom Road, between sois 9 and 11

Picture by steynard
Soi Long Tha Klong

Picture by jfantenb
Sukhumvit Soi 41


Picture by чãvìnkωhỉtз
Samsen Soi 3

Picture by moirabot
Soi Texas

Picture by jfantenm
Exercise in the park off Soi Rangnam

Picture by Earthworm
Soi Santi Sook

Picture by -AX-
Soi Lat Phrao 26

Picture by marhas
Soi Samphaeng

Picture by m-louis
Soi Saint-Louis 3

Picture by permanently scatterbrained
Silom Soi 20

Picture by jfantemb
Suan Plu Market at Sathorn Soi 3

Picture by norsez
A beggar in Soi Tonson

Picture by Miguel Navaza
Thong Lo Soi 9

Picture by Ian Fuller
Soi Chang Muang

Picture by Ian Fuller
Soi Convent

Picture by Ian Fuller
Cabbages & Condoms Restaurant, Sukhumvit Soi 12

Picture by Dan Lindberg
Charoen Krung Soi 34

Picture by Journey Jeff's Pix
Soi Abac 8

Picture by adaptorplug
Off Trok Sin - also known as Sin Alley, Soi Dinso. A muay thai fighter's home the day before his next bout.

56 sois until now - 56 faces of Bangkok. Here I would like to show 99 sois of Bangkok. Are you going to help? If you have pictures of sois, that are not yet shown, please send them to hasmartin (at) bluewin.ch. And allow to publish them here!