(Photo: Sudpoth Sirirattanasakul / Shutterstock.com)
Domestic flights have started again in Thailand. Wonderful, you may think and you happily book a flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai for a short break. But then comes the hangover: whether you want to go into quarantine for 14 days. This is Thailand!
It's not in the fine print of the airlines that operate domestic routes in Thailand, nor do they seem to be in a hurry to explain to you that your flight may end with 14 days of quarantine. Quarantine regulations in Thailand, even when you disembark after a domestic flight, vary by province and airlines do not mention this.
Last Friday, the Center for Covid-19 Surveillance Administration clarified that domestic travelers arriving in Bangkok do not have to go out of quarantine for 14 days, but foreigners traveling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, for example, do.
Many provinces in northeastern Thailand, such as Phitsanulok, Buriram, Nakhon Phanom, and the southern provinces of Trang and Krabi all have strict 14-day quarantine regulations for all domestic airline passengers (foreigners and Thai). Mae Hong Son in the far northwest corner of Thailand about 400 km from Chiang Mai has even introduced a ban on foreigners. You can't go in there, creepy white nose.
The official CCSA statement on this subject is quite adamant; under Thailand's current state of emergency, which runs until May 31, only essential domestic travel is allowed. Bad luck for the tourism sector that had hoped that domestic flights would bring more tourists again. Travel providers, hoteliers and restaurant owners across the country may only be able to survive thanks to domestic tourism (mainly residents of Bangkok). The Thai Chamber of Commerce told the Bangkok Post last week that the number of unemployed in Thailand is expected to reach 10 million this year. The total number of jobs in Thailand is estimated at 38 million, many of which are in the tourism sector.
Airlines fly to all popular destinations in northern Thailand, but the provincial governors have not ended the 14-day quarantine rule, so say goodbye to your holiday.
For an account of what can happen when you book a domestic flight to Chiang Mai, read journalist Matt Hunt's report on the 'new normal' when you book a domestic flight: thisrupt.co/current-affairs/i-took-a -domestic-flight-so-that-you-dont-have-to/
I want to fly from Bangkok to Chang Mai at the end of June, but even that seems to be difficult. A foreign passport, even if you live in Thailand, can cause problems. Traveling from Europe to Thailand? I sometimes read here that people think they can do that again on June 1th. I fear the worst for them. As long as the internal borders in Europe do not open, the external borders will certainly not open. That could take until the end of August/September. The reaction of eg Thailand will be the same: we will not enter Europe, you will not enter Thailand. Priorities will also be set with who can enter and when. First the Thai, a few weeks later the economically / socially bound people, then carefully others and finally tourists in dribs and drabs. Before October I see few tourists entering Thailand, certainly not from Europe.
Have been dreaming for a while to go on holiday to Thailand. Had planned this for November, but for fear of closed catering, shops and tourist spots postponed this to February 2021. Fear, however, that even then there are still many restrictions. Would like to walk with a face mask and fly with it, but arriving in Bangkok and 14 days in quarantine is really a go if you only have 4 weeks of vacation. Hope that the Thai government will think again in the near future, if possible, to restart dti so that we can spend our money there again.
What do you do if you are on holiday in Thailand in February and there is a new outbreak in Europe (or the Netherlands) and the borders are closing?
That's a scary thought and honestly haven't even thought about it yet. You are right that this could just be possible and that the way back is less easy at that moment. Do you think I dare to take the risk, provided it is under control by then, to go on holiday. Otherwise, you will continue to resist until there is a possible vaccine. Don't think this could go on for years.
Oseon, a new wave next winter with us in Europe will be less bad. We are going to build much more immunity here than Thailand.
That vaccine is already available and is even being produced by Janssen Vaccine in Leiden.
We are waiting for the clinical test that should answer the question whether it REALLY works and is therefore allowed. You have to look for this news in vain on the sites where vaccine initiatives from China, Japan and the USA are mentioned. Perhaps because Janssen (part of Johnson & Johnson) has promised to make the vaccine available free of charge in due course.
You can imagine that with 8 billion people on this planet, it is commercially interesting (in a few months' time) to make a vaccine for which the consumer (whether or not forced by the employer, the airline or the government and checked by an app) ) may have to pay 5 to 10 Euro. Isn't it 40-80 Billion Euros. Nice to have the patent on it.
(Had a flu injection in Bangkok 6 weeks ago and had to pay 400 baht to Bangkok Hospital for it)
https://www.noordhollandsdagblad.nl/cnt/dmf20200330_67861739/janssen-vaccines-in-leiden-kiest-vaccin-kandidaat-tegen-covid-19-en-begint-alvast-met-productie?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic.
Nuance: a promising possible vaccine but not yet certain. All over the world people are working hard on a possible vaccine. A big race with the question of who will reach the finish line first and what it may cost. Came across a video yesterday on alternative media claiming that there has been a vaccine for a long time but is being held back because the patents have expired. Pure conspiracy thinking that 'big pharma' (not my friends, as a social democrat I don't like extreme capitalism) is behind this I'm cashing in big money, along with an evil Gates and Soros... *sigh* (the 'sources' are laughably sad and as if no doctor would hang this on the big clock ..).
I am curious who will be the first to come up with a proven, working vaccine, I assume that the elderly and other risk groups will then be offered it voluntarily and the latest restrictions such as the ban on concerts and major events will soon be lifted.
I'm tired of corona, tired of the measures (but still keep your distance and stuff) and tired of corina news and fake news.
My late father always said: when the sky falls, all the sparrows are dead.
The chance that you will be killed in Thailand is many times higher than that you will die from Corona.
I booked a 3 weeks holiday to Thailand at the beginning of August, also many domestic flights with different airlines (Bankok-Phuket-PhiPhi-Krabi-ChiangMai-Bankok). I'll wait it out for a while and keep the good courage in it. Flying with a face mask is indeed no problem, but 14 days of quarantine is a no go. If it doesn't happen, I hope I get my money back instead of 100 different vouchers, hotels I did through booking.com. We are all going to experience it, there is little we can do about it at the moment, wait and see and wait and see.
I wish you the best of luck, but I'm still worried for you. If you want to cancel for that reason, you have lost your money. We had planned a holiday at the end of January and booked 4 domestic flights. We were able to cancel for medical reasons, but didn't get a penny from the airlines. Insurance sorted it out.
So if I want to go from Pattaya to Chiang Mai, it is better to go by car? No quarantine in CM and not on return to Pattaya?
with the car also become a problem.
when the thai see a strange foreigher, the police are called and you can be quarantined for 14 days in a designated place.
Thai people are terrified of foreigners who might have the virus.
There is a special reporting obligation to keep control over travelers, this also includes Thai travelers who come from Phuket, Bangkok or Pattaya, for example.
Let them start with the people of the country where the virus originates, or better yet, where most of the viruses originate.
A little different.
With the car is not an immediate problem.
I live 40 km above uttaradit.
Last week my wife got a call from a friend. Just north of Phrea.
According to "many" in our area it would be impossible to travel to Phrae by car.
However, I still wanted to chat with my wife's German husband and so said,
We got into the car and drove to Phrea on Friday. Oj from us, I only have to get close to Den Chai on the 11 or AH13. Out of annoyance I once discovered a beautiful inner city through the mountains, Whether you drive in the Ardenen and hair-tight asphalt (still).
Had a nice day in Phrae, visited Big C and Home Pro for a while.
Had brought some Franziskaner for my acquaintance because unlike me he could buy that in Uttaradit (oh at a customer of mine, Don't tell anyone. Man has a family and also needs income).
Because there are also no problems in our area with the delivery of bananas and maphai to the wholesale market towards Phitsanulok and also not with the delivery of sugar cane from there to our "neighbor". Put on the “naughty” car shoes on Sunday and drove to Phitsanulok. I would also like to note that we did not drive over the 11 but via what must have been impossible sukhotai.
Stopped at Nar Phrae on the way up just before the exit with the 101. Neat gentleman in uniform and cap. Saw us and the question was where are you from (car with Bangkok registration) answer Uttaradit, Where are you going. Answer: BiG C.
Have a nice day.
We drove past posts to Sukothai and further Phitsanulok, but I think it was either the food or the beer that could have been missed on both.
By the way, two or three weeks ago there was a fanatical check from 07.00 to 17 on 1 of the 3 access roads to our house and mueang. The others were just empty.
Driven in a circle out of anger. Out of the village via the post and back via route 3. Immediately drove to the post (15 minutes). There was some laughter.
By the way, the group was eating and drinking under a covered umbrella.
Since the food and drink budget has run out, there is no longer any control.
Oh my brother in law has driven from BKk to Jomtien on two occasions in the past month to view our condo. Not through the 7 but the 3 and the 34. also had no problems.
yes, collective madness, encouraged by a reactionary government
The air rules are the same as car rules. More difficult to control. But you may be stranded in the intermediate counties. Both there and back and the past few weeks have learned that it can change in 1 hour.
And again the ai farang is screwed. The only thing that is welcome from the farang is his money. Preferably dump on arrival and leave with the turning plane. Looking at the tourist opportunities, there could be a few very hard years ahead for the Thai tourism industry and everything that has to live from it again..
If that's the way of thinking, then it's a simple story, isn't it? No one is forced to come to Thailand and you are always free to leave if you don't like it.
The tourism industry has always been built on quicksand, with exceptions. It is selling air to escape from a dictated life.
Your own country can also be beautiful if you can and want to see the beauty of it.
In my village in Khon Kaen, the Thai also have to be quarantined for 14 days if they come from another province.
These measures are not specifically aimed at farang at all.
Thai will probably be able to evade the rule more easily.
what a terribly discriminatory and one-sided message. First, Thailand is entirely free to choose how they want to deal with Covid-19. Unlike Europe, the Thai government is doing an excellent job, check the latest reports.
Incidentally, this is what most of the farang have brought upon themselves, partly due to the fact that they do not follow the rules. e.g. to wear little or no face masks, to ignore distances at supermarkets or otherwise.
Stick to facts and don't write something that doesn't make sense.
Have you seen how Thai people now travel in the subway and how people just jostle each other to stock up on alcohol?
But does this mean that all Thai act like this? No of course not.
And because a number of farangs never follow the rules, suddenly all farangs are rascals.
I do not think so.
Do you have any sources that they do so well in Thailand? Think it's okay
“Uncertainty, the Thai trademark”, yesterday's posting is clearly underlined.
Well, it will take a long time before the crisis caused by the Chinese will be resolved (economically). But China is apparently already pushing to let their tourists back in.
Living in the neighboring province of Lamphun and also being a foreigner who has been staying here permanently for quite some time.
I cross the border to the province of Chiangmai on a weekly basis to visit the Big C in Hangdong and the Kad Farang shopping center that is also located there.
And that on the motorcycle and sometimes with the pickup.
And believe me I have never been arrested because of Corona, as usual here a white elephant is easier to spot than a police officer.
So 14 days of quarantine to be able to shop in Chiangmai seems very exaggerated to me.
Jan Beute.
My thoughts on this?
I had already read the original piece. Do not understand that the author dares to call himself a journalist.
Yes, domestic flights are possible again. However, it has been expressly pointed out that this is only for strictly necessary purposes. Traveling between provinces is not recommended. And a short holiday in Chiang Mai doesn't really seem necessary to me.
It is also known within Thailand that each province can introduce its own measures.
In addition, he goes on a long weekend in which many Thais travel home. This was also strongly discouraged for Thai people and they were threatened with 14 days of quarantine.
He either provoked this very deliberately, or he is a stupid person who is not worthy of the name of a journalist.
and when all the misery is over, they will need those foreigners again, because otherwise their economy will no longer run at all …