A passport to go to the bar? Intriguing possibility of "vaccine passport" to visit entertainment venues in Thailand

A passport to go to the bar? Intriguing possibility of "vaccine passport" to visit entertainment venues in Thailand

It may not be only international travel that is affected by plans being mulled and put into place in several countries for "vaccine passports".

They may have an impact on what people can do with ease domestically.

Thai news site The Standard rounded-up the latest situation regarding vaccine passports.
In their preamble they said that once you needed a visa to visit a country. But the pandemic changed much of that.

After Covid-19 took the world by surprise you needed a "Covid-19 free certificate" to travel.
Now it is increasingly looking like you might need proof of having been vaccinated before you can go abroad.

But as they pointed out the so-called vaccine passport is not just for international movement.
Such a document could be mandated to enter places where large numbers of people congregate in close proximity.
That would mean "the entertainment industry and sporting events" as The Standard pointed out.
So it might be necessary to hold a document to go to a pub, beer bar or disco in the future.
That would mean an even greater urgency to get vaccinated for people who enjoy a beverage or a night out.

The article did not say that this was yet being mulled in Thailand but it appears that all suggestions are currently on the table.

The Ministry of Public Health have already published infographics of the step by step process of how vaccination will work.

This includes online notifications of jabs and other protocols about receiving vaccinations. A step-by-step way forward has been announced.

The Standard noted that Israel has already issued a "Green Pass" that is a kind of vaccine passport (VP) that appears to be for internal use.

Source - ThaiVisa

The puzzle that opens the gate of Light

 

The puzzle that opens the gate of Light
The events in the past year have forced us to see, feel and understand the gates of control that create duality and seperation in humanity.
I would like to bring you back a few centuries before I can show you the connection between our loss of freedom, rights and the peace in our hearts, to the moment we are navigating right now.
The connection between the Covid smoke screen, the Biden movie and the Ascension of humanity.
The connection that has to errupt in the Event to open the gates and set us free.
Some puzzle questions to elude the thinking Mind, that has been so caught up with election fraude, that we forget to question why and where governments have become dirty with and with what?
Here we go:
What is the relation between royalty, elections, corona, the vatican, governments and energy?
Why was reincarnation removed from the bible centuries a go?
Why were we led to believe that there is a heaven and there is a hell?
Why are we all growing up with the conditioning of death as the end of excistence?
Why was humanity cut of from inate spirituality and separated in religion, race and politics?
Why do we believe God is an institution that can be found in a church?
Why do we believe that Love is something you need to deserve and find in someone else?
God is in you and in me, all around us, everywhere.
God is not out there, judging and ruling.
A long long time a go humanity was led a stray from our inate spiritual abilities and our connection through the earth grid ley lines to the Divine Source.
Deceived by a small group of people.
Separated from the God and Love we all are.
Seperated in the dark for centuries.
This small group is know as the Elite.
A dark force that benefits and literally feasts and thrives on the energy of fear and control.
This small group of so called elites, have continued over the course of centuries to control humanity by keeping them controlled under religious and government laws in fear and seperation in many, many ways.
Through religion, politics, banking, hollywood, pharmacy, education, media they have systematiclly rolled out their agenda of control throughout history.
Into the agenda of the year 2020/2021.
All under the covers of pandemic mind manipulation, frauding elections laws under the misuse of we the people,s trust.
Nothing is what is seemes.
Nothing.
They have build their churches on the earth Ley lines, to block and steel the energies for the purpose of dark control.
These leylines are the earth grid Wifi connected to the Universal ethers for the transmutation of frequencies of Unconditional Love for all.
This is our Life Force Energy!
Religion preaches separation meaning you’re separate from “Source”.
That is all an illusion.
Controlling the mass into believing that humans, this life, the Universe and even God is so much less than what is really our Truth.
Made to believe that we are completly dependend of external validation from God and from systems for our survival.
For centuries we have handed over our authority to land lords, royals and rulers.
We have grown blind and accustomed to these control systems.
We have been held into perceiving all this as “normal.
We have been living in a false illusion.
Due to incoming waves of Light and the incarnation of so many old wise autonomous souls over the past decades, times have changed.
We have gradually become more concious and able to see and hold the Light over the years to withstand and fight the darkness that is now about to fall.
Year by year, step by step we have come closer to the revalation of the Fall of the Elite.
The revelation from Dark to Light.
This is the Great Awakening.
A flood of Light will remove all darkness once the gates have been opened.
A storm will clear this planet for the heaven on earth that we can create together.
Together we can then build new ways of balance, of peace, of unconditional Love.
It is up to us to navigate this storm, to stay positive and remain in our hearts.
When we get through this storm we can start.
Start shinning our Light.
Start educating our childeren how to look after healing humanity and this planet with oneness conciousness and awarness of quantum spiritual and scientific universal laws.
Instead of learning how to lead a 9-5 job-mortgage-pension rat race life in fear and constant stress of failure, because of the illusion of separation and death.
Remember, darkness is just the absence of light. We will eventually become one with the Light.
We are the Light.
We are Love.
Were we go one we go all.
It is time.
Our souls are calling.
It is time for the Great Awakening 

Arthur - Danielle Stotijn

No national lockdown in Thailand

 

Prime minister Prayut said on Thursday there is no national lockdown order planned for Thailand, although the government will “intensify” measures following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Samut Sakhon. 

Speculation had mounted in recent days that Thailand would be plunged into lockdown after more than 1,000 cases had been reported in the country since Saturday, the majority of which are linked to an outbreak amongst migrant workers in Samut Sakhon. 

However, speaking ahead of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration briefing, the PM said there were no plans to place the whole country in lockdown. 

Instead, a new category system will be implemented in order to declare areas of risk throughout the country. 

 Red [Highly controlled]: High infection rate and at more than 1 location. 

Orange [Controlled areas]: Located close to the red zone or more than 10 cases or growing rate of infections 

Yellow [Under high surveillance]: Less than 10 cases 

Green [Under surveillance]: No cases 

Provinces in Red zone [Highly controlled]: 

Samut Sakhon - requires urgent contact tracing, use of tracing apps, restriction of business opening times, close of non-essential business and cancellation of events and public gatherings. Check points remain in place.  

Provinces in Orange zone [Controlled areas]: 

Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom & Bangkok - No cross-provincial movement of migrant workers. Mass events are discouraged, but not banned,  

Provinces in Yellow zone [Under high surveillance]: 

Angthong Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao, Chainat, Chaiyaphum, Kamphaeng Phet, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan,Nonthaburi,Pathum Thani, Petchaburi, Phetchabun, Phichit, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phuket, Prachinburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Samut Prakan, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Surat Thani, Udon Thani, Uttaradit - Less restrictive than previous measures, people advised to work from home where possible but not mandatory. 

Provinces in Green zone [Under surveillance]:

All remaining provinces - Regular COVID-19 measures in place

At the time of posting there has been no announcement regarding restrictions on the sale of alcohol or the closing of bars, pubs or restaurants. Any restrictions of this kind are only likely if a province is determined to be a ‘red zone’. 

Meanwhile, it has also been announced that the CCSA will resume its English language briefings from today (24 Dec). 

** This is a developing story. This post will be updated without notice

Source - Thai visa  

Cambodian Travel Partner

 

The tourism sector has not just been hit hard, but suffered a massive hammer blow from the Covid19 crisis. In Cambodia, the borders have been completely closed to international tourists since the end of March. 

It is still uncertain when we will be able to receive tourists again. Unfortunately, this crisis has led to guides and drivers are out of work. Hotels, restaurants and companies that depend on the tourists are struggling daily, and sadly many have folded. Everyone is still unsure about exactly how long this will last. In Cambodia just over 300 people have been infected by the virus, no one in the ICU and thankfully there have been no fatalities to date. These are the official government figures which some still question, but the fact is that there is no overcrowding of the hospitals, or mass infections like we can see in many parts or Europe. We sometimes wonder if the side effects of the COVID measures taken may be times greater than the results of controlling the virus itself.
Whatever the final outcome of the Corona Virus is, and how long it will continue remains to be seen as, sadly, many places are still in its grip. What we do know, however, is that many thousands, tens of thousands of Cambodians have been thrown back into poverty. It is so distressing to see that many hard-working people with a bright future are struggling again and are at the mercy of government assistance. Many have been left behind with huge debts, no income and with all the consequences that entails.

Also our travel agency has also been hit hard. We paid our staff 100% for the first few months even though there was no work. Well, no new work, just cancelling bookings. After that we continued to pay half of the salaries and the staff only worked 2 days a week, mostly helping us with jobs in the garden. In August, sadly, with no more work to do, we were left with no choice but to lay off our staff. Luckily everyone found other work, and 1 staff member stayed with us because we can now also rent jeeps to Cambodians.

Despite all the misery, we are still positive about the future and we have been working hard to give our websites a new look.  New inspirations and ideas to create a dream holiday for people when the situation allows. We would love you to have a look and let us know what you think.
Please take a few minutes and explore:
cambodia-travelpartner.com and cambodiajeep.com

We firmly believe that there will come a time when it will be possible to travel again. Maybe in a different way, and perhaps being more aware of how people travel. For us, not much will change; it has been our motto from the very beginning to offer special, responsible, small scale tours in Cambodia. Individual trips in boutique hotels and, whenever possible, off the beaten track.

What could be nicer to dream of your new holiday in the dark days in which we now live in? We would love to put together a nice program for you now, without any obligations, and when the travel is possible again, we will put everything into action to create your dream holiday.
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Here’s to creating new, happier memories in 2021!

Andre and Lily Ruys
 
Recommended by ASIAN TRAVEL NETWORK

Yogyakarta welcomes 1.7 million tourists in five months amid pandemic

Amid the still alarming pandemic, Yogyakarta reportedly welcomed 1.67 million tourists between July and November, according to data from two mobile apps published by the local administration: Visiting Jogja and Jogja Pass.

Based on the data, Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, who is also Yogyakarta’s governor, was certain that the province’s tourist industry would recover quickly.

Hamengkubuwono said during a virtual meeting with the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry on Thursday that the pandemic had impacted tourism and education in Yogyakarta, causing enormous economic losses.

He said the province’s economy was experiencing a contraction, dropping 0.16 percent year-on-year (yoy) in the first quarter of 2020 and 6.7 percent in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, in the third quarter, the contraction was 2.84 percent yoy.

“We hope Yogyakarta’s economy will not be negative at the end of this year,” said Hamengkubuwono, as quoted by tempo.co.

However, Hamengkubuwono admitted that it was not easy to restore tourism and economic activity in general during the pandemic, saying the local administration and community’s commitment to behavioral changes during the so-called new normal period was key to containing the spread of the coronavirus.

Hamengkubuwono said the local administration had urged Yogyakarta’s tourist stakeholders to issue their own protocols related to health and safety.

“The Yogyakarta administration has never issued a regulation to close tourist attractions, hotels or restaurants,” he said, adding that, as the governor, he only made one regulation about health and safety protocols. 

Yogyakarta is among numerous provinces that reopened tourism in mid-2020.

In July, the governor decided to partially reopen the province’s tourist sector and let tourist destinations operate with a limited number of visitors, as he feared a full reopening would be too risky for Yogyakarta.

With regard to a recovery in tourism, Hamengkubuwono said he did not want the community to suffer under local administration regulations.

“We encourage the associations to become the subject and regulate technical matters,” he said.

Tourism in Yogyakarta is going through a challenging time. In addition to the COVID-19 outbreak, Mount Merapi in Magelang, Central Java, has spewed lava in a sign of increased volcanic activity over the past week, according to the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG).

Western Region Mt. Merapi Tourism Jeep Association head Dardiri said Mt. Merapi’s alert status left tourism stakeholders with few options and tourist attractions in Sleman regency had experienced a decrease in visitors.

He went on to say that many jeep drivers had begun farming or breeding to make ends meet.

Moreover, the association’s members had also agreed to become disaster mitigation volunteers.

In September, tourism businesspeople in Yogyakarta had demanded that the government establish clear and consistent regulations regarding tourist visits to the area, as the pandemic had pushed down the number of visitors.

Sugihartono, who manages the province’s popular ecotourism destination Dolandeso Boro, told The Jakarta Post that working capital loans alone would not help his business survive if visitor turnout remained low.

Source - TheJakartaPost

Pfizer, BioNTech Vaccine Fueling Optimism for Thailand’s Tourism

 

The announcement from Pfizer and BioNTech’s progress of a corona-virus vaccine is fueling optimism for Thailand’s tourism industry. Spurring hopes that Thailand will soon reopen for mass tourism. Overseas investors are already piling into the country’s financial markets.

Inflows into Thai sovereign debt have climbed to the highest in 17 months in November, even though the month is less than half over. The baht has strengthened almost 3% since the end of October, making it the best-performing currency in Asia after the Indonesian rupiah.

The new Bank of Thailand governor, Sethaput Suthiwart-Narueput, will host his first Monetary Policy Committee meeting next week, though he is unlikely to do much to deter foreign funds.

“Foreigners have been mainly buying the front-end of the Thai debt curve for exposure to baht gains,” said Poon Panichpibool, a strategist at Krung Thai Bank. They were betting on Thai currency gains, and it looks like the baht would strengthen further over the next 12 months as a vaccine would be a major trigger for tourism arrivals, he said.
Pfizer and BioNTech’s Vaccine is Over 90% Effective

The favorable vaccine test results announced by Pfizer and BioNtech this week are particularly positive for the economy given that tourism contributes roughly 20% of the nation’s gross domestic product. They may help speed up the progress towards the reopening for tourism, which has already started through talks with China to establish a quarantine-free travel corridor by January.

Overseas investors have snapped up a net US$1.5 billion of Thai bonds this month through Thursday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The surge has trimmed net foreign sales this year to just $132 million, compared with a cumulative outflow of as much as $4 billion after the first five months of the year.

Mr Sethaput is set to keep interest rates on hold at the monetary policy meeting on Wednesday, according to all of the seven economists surveyed so far by Bloomberg.

It is possible policy makers may make some reference to baht strength being a negative for the economy. Nonetheless, The BoT may be restrained from overt actions to curb the currency’s gains for fear of being put on the watchlist by the United States, Mr Poon of KTB said.

Political protest hurting Thailand tourism

The recent political protests that have weighed on demand for Thai assets are also starting to look less of a deterrent — at least based on one metric. The implied yield of the offshore baht has dropped below that of the onshore currency this month, after being more than 100 basis points above it in early September. The spread is seen as a proxy for political risks.

At the same time, there’s no sign the protests are going to end in the near future. The political noise may persist for some time as the 2013-2014 demonstrations took more than six months to settle, said Tim Leelahaphan, an economist at Standard Chartered.

While there are always some negatives around, the overall outlook for Thai bonds due to the vaccine progress and resumption of tourism is looking better than it has for some time. The surge of inflows seen so far this month could well prove to be the rule rather than the exception as 2021 rolls around. – Bloomberg

Source - Chiang Rai Times

Everything you need to know about Thailand re-opening

 
 

Here are all the latest updates on Thailand reopening for tourism and everything you need to know on how to visit one of the most popular countries in the world.

Travelers Allowed To Visit Thailand

Long Stay Tourists: STV Visa (Special Tourist Visa)

Thailand announced a 90-day visa for long-stay tourists on September 15th, 2020. The visa is called the ‘Special Tourist Visa’ (STV).

Entry Requirements:

Proof of payment for 90 day accommodation booking

14 day ‘state quarantine’ upon arrival

Preference given to low-risk countries according to the Public Health Ministry regulations (countries are not defined)

Proof of travel and medical insurance that covers COVID-19 with at least $100,000 USD in coverage for the entire duration of your stay How to Apply:

Travelers must apply at a Thai Consulate/Embassy in your home country.

Once approved, the traveler must pay the 2,000 baht, provide proof of paid accommodation, provide proof of travel insurance and flight information.

Length of Stay and Renewals

The Special Tourist Visa will allow approved travelers to stay in Thailand for 90 days. It can be renewed twice, for 90 days each time.

Other Travelers Permitted To Enter Thailand

All travelers in the below categories will face a mandatory 14 day quarantine upon arrival in Thailand.

Medical Tourists: Travelers seeking medical and wellness services may enter Thailand upon receiving a ‘International Flight Permit’ from the Thai Embassy/Consulate in their home country. A letter from a Thai doctor must be presented when applying.

Non-Thai nationals who are a spouse, parents, or children of a Thai national

Non-Thai nationals who hold a valid certificate of residence, or permission to take up residence in the Kingdom

Foreign workers from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar for food and construction industries

Foreigners participating in trade fairs in Thailand

Non-Thai nationals who hold a valid work permit and their spouse or children

Travelers that fall into the above categories must also follow Thailand’s health protocols including:

Travel health insurance that also covers covid

A pre-screening health declaration card filled out before departure

The wearing of masks mandatory on in-bound flights and in the airport

Thermal scans and temperature checks upon arrival

Phuket Reopening For Tourism Plans

Phuket was originally scheduled to open for international tourism on October 1st, 2020 but the reopening has been delayed after Thailand confirmed its first case in 30 months of COVID-19 at the end of September.

The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Yuthasak Supasorn originally announced that Phuket reopening for international tourists would act as a pilot program for the rest of the country.

The purpose was to test if Thailand could successfully reopen without a resurgence in cases. Unfortunately due to a confirmed case within its own borders and a second wave of the virus happening worldwide, the Thai government delayed the decision.

Once Phuket does reopen for international tourists, it will have strict entry requirements and protocols in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

While many travelers are excited about the prospect of Phuket reopening, the process of getting in will not be easy.

Entry Requirements For Phuket When Pilot Project Begins:

A new date has not been set for the reopening of Phuket.

Tourists will be required to stay a minimum of 30 days

14 day quarantine at hotel including common areas of the hotel’s property, and in some cases beach access.

2 Negative PCR tests will be required to be released from quarantine

After 3 weeks in Phuket, travelers may take a third PCR test and if the result is still negative they may leave to explore other parts of Thailand.

Last year, Thailand recorded the highest number of tourists entering the country, nearly smashing the 40 million mark. The government is hopeful the Phuket pilot project will safety allow them to restart claiming some of those foreign arrivals.

To date, Thailand has been one of the most successful countries in the world at containing the virus with strict lockdown measures.

However, Thailand’s economy is extremely dependent on tourism, and they’ve experienced a devastating 12.2% shrink in the 2nd quarter, the worst hit in the last 22 years.

Thailand has confirmed 3759 cases of COVID-19 and 59 deaths since the pandemic began.

Source - Pattaya News