Tourism gloom won t improve
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published : 24 Dec 2020 at 05:00 Phiphat: Says there s no demand
There is little hope of attracting international arrivals during the first quarter of next year as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread in Thailand, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn says.
Mr Phiphat said on Wednesday there is no need for the country to tighten travel restrictions on foreign passengers from the UK or other countries because there s no demand from tourists to visit Thailand at this time.
The bid to lure international travellers by launching Special Tourist Visas (STVs) to attract long-stay tourists received a lukewarm feedback.
Thai immigration: Where do things stand?
published : 23 Dec 2020 at 15:43
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A topic on the mind of many expats in Thailand, aside from the COVID-19 pandemic, is the current state of immigration rules for the Kingdom. There are a number of foreign nationals still attempting to gain admission to Thailand. Meanwhile, those who have been able to gain access to Thailand, and who have business activities in the region, are trying to assess travel options moving forward.
Therefore, a brief synopsis of the state of play is in order:
Visa Exemption
The Thai visa exemption stamp (sometimes referred to colloquially as the 30 day visa stamp) is again a possibility for those seeking admission to Thailand. The exemption period is, as of the time of this writing, currently being extended to a total of 45 days for those arriving in Thailand from certain countries.
Economic fire continues to rage
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The struggles and successes amid the pandemic may be permanent.
published : 23 Dec 2020 at 04:02
10 The yak (giant) statue at Suvarnabhumi airport wears a face mask as part of the campaign to encourage mask wearing and the observation of social distancing to prevent infection. (Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
Fighting the pandemic and keeping the ailing economy going have been almost insurmountable tasks for Thailand this year. The Bank of Thailand has forecast a GDP contraction of 7.8% in 2020, crucially weighed down by the outbreak.
After wading through the first lockdown and fending off new local infections for months, a sudden spike in new infections this week is expected to drag businesses back towards the circling the drain, where many are likely to be gutted by the outbreak, and a lucky handful will manage to reap windfalls.