In theory, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) authorized the entry of foreign nationals into the kingdom on Monday, including business travelers and tourists, to aid the country to rebound from the blows caused by the pandemic of Covid-19.
It also decided to prolong the state of emergency until Oct 31 for a full month as the global health issue was not addressed and Myanmar's virus epidemic was escalating.
On Monday, CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin said that the relaxing of travel restrictions were important to support several companies battle the economic downturn, and a plan to invite international tourists was supported by the CCSA conference, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
They are holders of non-immigrant visa forms who are business citizens without a work permit; long-term visitors with a new government-approved Special Tourist Visa (STV); holders of a low-risk Asia Pacific Economic Partnership Business Travel Card; and foreigners wanting to stay in Thailand for at least 60 days.
He reported that the plan also included a group of foreign athletes competing in the Thailand 2020 Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Cup Tour from Oct 6-16 and a group of 340 Thai Airways International pilots and crew on repatriation flights.
Before taking part in an interprovincial event from Samut Songkhram, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Ranong to Surat Thani, the international cyclists will be held in quarantine for 14 days at the Rattanakosin Hotel.
Every party will be expected to observe disease prevention initiatives, according to Dr Taweesilp, and certain groups may need to include a six-month bank statement demonstrating funds of at least 500,000 baht.
A new leg of the Badminton World Federation tour was also accepted by the CCSA to be conducted here in January next year.
The CCSA meeting on Monday debated reopening the country with a emphasis on business travelers and visitors while introducing steps to track international arrivals and reduce the possibility of infections, Gen Prayut said.
He reiterated that a concrete strategy for moving the economy will have to be implemented by the government within the next three months and encouraged the public to cooperate with the regulations.
"In the next three months, we have to get the economy moving. Things might get worse if we don't do something," he added.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul said the relaxation of travel restrictions had to begin on Monday and insisted that the public health community was well-equipped to respond.
Asked regarding the possible shortening of the quarantine time, he claimed that the problem is still being addressed by the parties involved, but he acknowledged that there could be no need for stringent precautions for those coming from very low-risk countries.
For countries where infections are incredibly limited, travel bubble plans could be suggested, he said.
Mr. Anutin said that there is no longer a "Phuket Model" when questioned if the government would continue to campaign for the "Phuket Model" to accept long-stay international visitors. There was resistance to the Phuket proposal and it created a lot of chaos, so officials agreed to abandon it.
Secretary-General Somsak Roongsita of the National Security Council said the one-month extension of the emergency declaration will be submitted today to the cabinet for approval and was strictly for public health purposes.
That will be the sixth expansion of this type after the original order in March. Without various permits by relevant departments, the emergency regulations enable the government to impose mandatory quarantines and streamline disease-control plans.
In the meantime, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said on Monday that the Ministry of the Interior would draft regulations relating to the granting of STVs and send them for examination to the Council of State.
Mr. Phiphat said he hopes that next month, as the first foreign visitors are anticipated, the rules that require the Prime Minister's signature to take effect will be in force. Among them is a party of 150 Guangzhou Chinese tourists expected to arrive in Phuket on a chartered flight on Oct. 8.
He said it was an alternative to shorten the quarantine time from 14 days to seven days, but it must be enforced phase by phase.
If the first two classes of 300 foreigners conclude their 14-day quarantine on Oct 15 and Oct 21 without a positive occurrence, the ministry has suggested halving the time to seven days in mid-November.
Tourism, which accounts for about one-fifth of GDP, is an essential part of the economy. A business that generated more than 3 trillion baht in revenue from around 40 million international tourists in 2019 has been ravaged by the pandemic.
Source Bangkok Post
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