Phuket Reports

[Horatio]

I think Thailand is doing long term damage to itself as a vacation destination. If they are that cautious, maybe don't open. If they want tourist then have criteria that is reasonable and doesn't change every week. They look like they want tourists but don't care how tourists are treated. It's hard to find needed information. No one would be surprised to get to Phuket and have Phuket close down completely. It's just a shit show by the govt.

My apologizes, I mentioned two covid tests required while here but its actually three, on arrival after week one and again after week two and incidentally at your own expense. May not be new but personally hadn't come across it till this morning in the Post but it seems that in addition to having to download the Mor Chana app when you arrive you will also be fitted with a wrist bracelet both using GPS will track your whereabouts at all times, (a sort of belt and braces approach I suppose) and penalized if either shows you moving outside the permitted safe zone during your first two weeks. Reportedly facial recognition security cameras will also be in use. Now I totally understand the allure of visiting Thailand I do and in particular the beaches of Phuket but is all this testing and surveillance really necessary or even appropriate.

Other news, holders of non-immigrant visa's wishing to renew 12 month extensions will now require $100,000 insurance policies which includes covid cover. Not going to be straightforward for retirees in their seventies. Why am I beginning to wonder am I really welcome here.

[James Dean 2]

Hello to everyone, thanks in advance for your help.
Wonder and evaluating few weeks in Phuket in August if the sandbox works properly.
COE, the certificate of entry is obviously a mandatory document and it will be issues only to individuals coming or resident in low middle risk countries.
Does anyone has that list ot known where to find it.
Thanks again, stay safe and happy hunting.

This list has not been officially published yet. They just say "Safe and low risk countries" for now so that they can change anything, anytime. How they expect tourists to plan and book their holidays but not say who is eligible to come is just a perfectly regular day of logic here. Looking at how this from within the country and the news here on how this is being handled, it's a completely shitshow. I am not sure if anyone in their right minds would be rushing to get here.

[Franciscass]

Forgot to mention, need to wear masks and social distance at all times and oh after you book your flights, hotels, get COE from Embassy, negative test yada yad yada the local brain boxes can change their minds about when this begins. Was scheduled for July1st, then seemed to have been moved to later in July and now some reports say its going to August 1st. It's a moving target with variables such local vaccination levels, number of bookings, local infection rates, level of interest from hotels and other stakeholders and obviously conditions in countries of origin of prospective visitors. Lucking Thailand is still considered as relatively low risk as regards new suddenly introduced quarantine protocols when returning home but the only reality we can be sure of when it comes to this virus what will happen is not predictable.

My apologizes, I mentioned two covid tests required while here but its actually three, on arrival after week one and again after week two and incidentally at your own expense. May not be new but personally hadn't come across it till this morning in the Post but it seems that in addition to having to download the Mor Chana app when you arrive you will also be fitted with a wrist bracelet both using GPS will track your whereabouts at all times, (a sort of belt and braces approach I suppose) and penalized if either shows you moving outside the permitted safe zone during your first two weeks. Reportedly facial recognition security cameras will also be in use. Now I totally understand the allure of visiting Thailand I do and in particular the beaches of Phuket but is all this testing and surveillance really necessary or even appropriate.

Other news, holders of non-immigrant visa's wishing to renew 12 month extensions will now require $100,000 insurance policies which includes covid cover. Not going to be straightforward for retirees in their seventies. Why am I beginning to wonder am I really welcome here.

[White Shark]

Hello to everyone, thanks in advance for your help.

Wonder and evaluating few weeks in Phuket in August if the sandbox works properly.

COE, the certificate of entry is obviously a mandatory document and it will be issues only to individuals coming or resident in low middle risk countries.

Does anyone has that list ot known where to find it.

Thanks again, stay safe and happy hunting.

[SirWilliam4]

Thanks for the info, Danny.

Bit Siri.

What does Bit Siri mean?

[Danny Duck]

Navy sea men are invading Phuket in July.

Is Phuket going to operate for just a week or two to service these Fellas.

Are the old Haggard s from all over Thailand being called to duty.

This one I don't get.

[Berrys66]

In the UK 12 have died from the delta strain even though they had 2 jabs and the numbers are quite small so far, and are in the Manchester area. We wait to see how it pans out.

[Banana Boi]

Thanks for the info, Danny.

Bit Siri.

[Danny Duck]

Step 1 – Check your eligibility.

It is important to start your travel plans to Thailand by checking your eligibility. On this part, you must check if you fall in one of the eligible groups to enter Thailand. In a phrase, we can say that THAILAND IS OPEN FOR travelers but with special requirements. For a general traveler, you may opt to enter Thailand without a visa under the Visa Exemption program and you are able to secure a COE or certificate of entry. For those who are entering Thailand on a different purpose of stay, they need to obtain a Thai visa and COE prior to coming to Thailand. In the next step of the process, you may check the available visas for you.

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Step 2 – Apply for the Visa.

Thailand Elite Visa.

Do you want to stay in Thailand for 5, 10, or 20 years? You may consider the Thai Elite Visa program. It is an easy-to-apply and hassle-free visa application for your long-term stay in Thailand. For more information about the Thai Elite Membership and Visa application, you may check this page: https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand...hai-elite-visa.

Visa Exemption.

Nationalities under the Visa Exemption Program are allowed to enter Thailand without a visa by the Thai Embassy or Consulate. The traveler may directly apply for the COE or Certificate of Entry. Upon arriving in Thailand, the traveler will be allowed to stay for 45 days of which 15 days will be spent in quarantine at an accredited ASQ Hotel.

Tourist Visa and Special Tourist Visa (STV).

Foreigners may also apply for the Tourist Visa from the Thai embassy or consulate. There is the normal 60-day tourist visa that can be extended for additional 30 days and the 90-day special tourist visa which can be extended for two 90-day visa extensions at the local immigration office.

Non-Immigrant Visa.

Foreigners may also apply for a wide range of non-immigrant visas:

Non-immigrant be Visa- for conducting business or employment.

Non-immigrant O visa-for visiting Thai spouse and family.

Non-immigrant ED visa-for students of recognized institutions in Thailand as well as their Parents or Legal Guardians.

Non-immigrant O retirement visa-for those who wish to visit Thailand to spend their retirement.

Non-immigrant OA and OX visa-for those who wish to obtain a retirement visa long stay (it is different from type O visa).

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Step 3 – Book a Flight, ASQ Hotel and COVID-19 Insurance.

The main requirements for the Thai visa application and the COE application are the Thailand ASQ, COVID-19 Travel Insurance, and Semi-Commercial flight allowed to enter Thailand.

Flights to Thailand.

At present, certain airlines such as Qatar, Emirates, and other major airlines are permitted to operate semi-commercial flights to Thailand whether it is on a daily or weekly basis, and the list of airlines participating in the semi-commercial flights' program can be found here.

Before booking flights to Thailand with the listed airlines, travelers should ensure that they study the different categories of visas granted to foreign nationals at this time to determine the possibility of travel. Please note that having plane tickets does not guarantee entry to Thailand, non-Thai travelers must have all the required documents such as COE to enter Thailand.

How to Book an ASQ Hotel.

Update: Starting May 1, 2021 mandatory quarantine has reportedly been changed to 14 days.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Thai Ministry of Public Health has required that any Thai or foreign nationals traveling to Thailand must undergo a mandatory quarantine at any accredited Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) facilities.

The cost may vary depending on the ASQ hotel with a price range from 23,000 THB to 220,000 for the mandatory quarantine.

Normally, the ASQ package includes 3 meals per day, complimentary WiFi, a private car transfer from the airport to the ASQ hotel, a 24/7 on-call nurse, and a health checkup twice a day. The package also includes two COVID-19 testing kits that take place during your quarantine period.

All ASQ bookings are subject to specific terms and conditions of the hotel so make sure to read them carefully before making a booking.

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COVID-19 Travel Insurance for Foreigners.

You'll need to buy COVID-19 Insurance that meets the requirements of the Thai authorities. These include:

Coverage of up to THB 3. 5 million (equivalent to at least USD $100,000) for medical expenses due to injury or sickness including COVID-19.

The COVID-19 travel insurance policy must cover the length of your stay in Thailand. It can be 60 days, 90 days, 6 months or even 12 months.

A certificate will be provided to facilitate applications for the Thai visa and Certificate of Entry (COE), as well as to present to relevant authorities when departing / arriving for Thailand.

NOTE: Some embassies may reject your Visa and COE application if you do not have the correct format for Health Insurance. In order to have the correct insurance for the COE, it is advisable to purchase insurance from a reputable company such as AXA and LUMA with its easy online application and receive the insurance certificate within minutes.

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Step 4 – Apply for the COE or Certificate of Entry.

The foreigner must apply for the COE or certificate of entry from the local Thai Embassy or consulate at least 5 to 15 working days prior to the intended date of travel.

To apply for the COE, please visit https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/ and register by filling in your personal details, and upload supporting documents such as a copy of passport, copy of the valid visa, and COVID-19 travel insurance. The Embassy will screen and pre-approve the applicants who meet the requirements. Please check the status of your application after 1-3 working days.

The applicants can check their status online if they have been pre-approved. They will be contacted by email if the Embassy requires more documents. The applicants who received the pre-approval will upload a copy of the flight ticket and the ASQ hotel booking confirmation. Please check the status of your application after 1-3 working days.

When the COE has been approved, the applicants can check their status online and click to download their COE.

Step 5 – Obtain COVID-19 test and prepare the documents for your flight.

Once you have received your COE, you have to prepare the following documents for your trip to Thailand. You should present these documents to your airline before departure:

Certificate of Entry (COE).

Valid visa in your passport.

Declaration Form.

Medical Certificate with a laboratory result indicating that COVID -19 is not detected. The COVID test must be by the RT-PCR method, taken and conducted within 72 hours before departure. Some airlines do not accept home kit tests so please check specific requirements with the airlines you are traveling with.

Please print the COVID 19 travel insurance certificate and all pages of the terms and conditions on the COVID-19 coverage and medical benefits. You may be refused to board the flight if you could not show that the insurance meets this requirement.

Copy of confirmed ASQ Hotel booking.

Copy of confirmed flight reservation.

COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (if applicable).

T8 Health Form.

You must download the "Thailand Plus" Application on your mobile phone.

For our SPECIAL friend who really needs to go to PHUKET. LOL.

[Member #4753]

95% could be optimistic.

As for the Girly scene I think it's even worse than I intimated before.

Even the Haggards went Home to ride out the Storm.

I tend to agree, 95% is optimistic. I stayed in Patong just after Christmas it was like a total wasteland with everything shuttered up, difficult to find anything open at all. We ate at the hotel most nights.

The other side of the island near Phuket city, where most locals live, was unaffected though. However it is kind of boring over the other side, not much to do. Certainly would not want to spend 2 weeks there.

This is what the Thai government just doesn't get. The tourist market is very competitive, especially at the moment.

Tourists are not going to want to visit Phuket where all the attractions are boarded up, be forced to spend 2 weeks on the island as a quarantine facility and have to put up with a pile of ever changing rules.

It is simply not worth it and most sane people will take their tourist dollars else where.

[Member #4698]

She: Just read a report that we can visit Thailand without quarantine.
He: Let's go.She: There are a few conditions.

He: OK what? She Need to show proof of vaccination.He: We can.

She: Need a negative PCR covid test within 72 hours of departure. He: I guess we can manage that.

She: Need certificate of entry from Thai Embassy. He: No visa on arrival, umm ok I'll contact the embassy.

She: Need $100,000 covid cover. He: But we're vaccinated why do we need insurance.

She: Need to show proof of adequate funds. He: OK..

Bingo, you nailed it. Unless you have specific girls you want to / need to see, the Kingdom, IMHO, will remain in condition WAIT for some time to come.

Personally, I am in no hurry to return until I hear that at least 50% to 60% of the Go Go's, bars, nightclubs in BKK & Pat are back up and running at pre-Covid levels. The shutdown has devastated the entertainment industry. I feel very sorry for the bar owners and the girls. But with all due respect they are not my problem, although I have been sending monthly rent money to Mini, my long time girl, since April 2020.

I am also aware that there are alternatives to brick and mortar establishments like SW's and internet sites, but the fun of LOS was in the going out barhopping, nightclubbing and finding girls girls girls until 3 or 4 in the morning. Hopefully the nightlife scene will be resurrected at some future date, but until it is I will continue to travel and monger in more functioning and more fun destinations like Brazil.

[Franciscass]

LOL, very funny Franciscass!

There is one more important condition: international travellers "must be from countries / regions with a low to medium risk of SAR-CoV-2 virus as announced and constantly updated by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH)."

https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket...ning-80321.php
https://www.tatnews.org/2021/06/init...huket-sandbox/

Forgot to mention, need to wear masks and social distance at all times and oh after you book your flights, hotels, get COE from Embassy, negative test yada yad yada the local brain boxes can change their minds about when this begins. Was scheduled for July1st, then seemed to have been moved to later in July and now some reports say its going to August 1st. It's a moving target with variables such local vaccination levels, number of bookings, local infection rates, level of interest from hotels and other stakeholders and obviously conditions in countries of origin of prospective visitors. Lucking Thailand is still considered as relatively low risk as regards new suddenly introduced quarantine protocols when returning home but the only reality we can be sure of when it comes to this virus what will happen is not predictable.

[Mogwai]

She: Pubs on the island might be closed.
He: I'm not going.

LOL, very funny Franciscass!

There is one more important condition: international travellers "must be from countries / regions with a low to medium risk of SAR-CoV-2 virus as announced and constantly updated by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH)."

https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket...ning-80321.php
https://www.tatnews.org/2021/06/init...huket-sandbox/

[HorseTrader]

It seems Thailand is purposefully shitting on tourists by changing the rules every other week.

Your rant is how I sometimes feel, but I'm sure it isn't purposeful. When we get frustrated we need to remember that the Thai government is concerned with keeping the Thai people alive without the excessive hospital networks available in western countries. They are also going to be far behind western countries in availability and distribution of vaccines. Terrible economy, but very few deaths.

If we think we are frustrated, imagine how the whole Thai hospitality industry feels. My favorite resort owner was forced to sell, likely at a discount. My favorite Phuket Suzy Wong girl is living with family in Isaan listening to daily shit from her father because she hasn't provided enough money to family in a year. We are the lucky ones compared to the Thai people.

I respect the difficult decisions made by the Thai government.

Rant over.

[Horatio]

It seems Thailand is purposefully shitting on tourists by changing the rules every other week. People with vaccine are low risk to spread covid. Why try to plan on coming back if you can't trust any of the plans Thailand okays? Maybe it's time for me to find a new vacation spot.

Is it different groups there changing the rules or is it the same group that constantly changes the rules? And is it all about covid or are some using covid fear to change Thailand?

Mostly this is just a rant. I'm sick of covid ruling the world.