this week's top Thai news
Thailand's nightlife venues remain close until 2022
PayPal is cancelling personal accounts in Thailand starting next year
the total number of tourists landed in Thailand since the reopening to tourists
without quarantine and what happens to tourists who tested positive on arrival
Thailand's post-pandemic tourism comeback
will focus on attracting quality tourists and first-time visitors
the government is setting up efforts to attract these
visitors by offering long-term residency among other things
let us begin with the nightlife venues, which are set to reopen on January 16, 2022
pubs, bars in the restricted area or dark red zone and sandbox locations have until January 16
to make modifications and prepare to reopen
nightlife venues that pass the inspection will
be registered and must adhere to rigorous safety guidelines
the COVID-19 virus can quickly spread throughout the nightlife industry
there will be a shutdown of that business if COVID-19 infection is discovered
according to CCSA, all overseas arrivals will still be subjected
to an RT PCR test and an antigen test upon arrival
nevertheless, the tourism authority of Thailand's recommendation is to
move to sole antigen testing to save waiting time
a CCSA spokesman said, the center had not replaced
RT PCR tests with antigen tests for its screening process on visitors yet
the center was studying the possibility,
besides CCSA also approved the import of migrant workers and eight procedures for their import
as the labour ministry proposed
the center acknowledged that so many illegal migrants were sneaking in
while Thailand had a high demand for workers
PayPal is cancelling personal accounts in Thailand, starting next year
if you work online, as we do, you will have at least one PayPal account
if you have a personal PayPal account that has been set up in Thailand
you will no longer be able to receive payments or have a balance in that account
here's the announcement on PayPal's website
PayPal is preparing to relaunch services in Thailand
if your account was open prior to march 7th 2021
you will need to take some action to continue using your account in Thailand
there are two steps to take if you want to continue using your PayPal account in Thailand
and you need to do them by February 18, 2022
those who teach online, work as freelancers, digital nomads,
or even Thais who use PayPal to receive money from friends and relatives abroad
will have to find a new method of receiving payments
the government of Thailand has reformed the country's fintech regulations,
leading to the current PayPal development
for this reason,
Thailand has imposed new regulations on PayPal, so that it can function there
it has been speculated that Thailand is tightening down on money laundering as a result of this
there is an alternative to PayPal, if you are in Thailand
we use transferwise, now known as wise, click on our link in the description
and get up to $800 CAD dollars of free transfer
here are the total numbers of foreign tourists entering Thailand since November 1st
if you're flying from one of the 63 countries allowed to enter Thailand,
you won't have to quarantine yourself
if you can prove you've had two doses of an authorized COVID-19 vaccination for at
least 14 days and have a negative RT PCR test result done no more than 72 hours before flying
at 12,978 arrivals Suvarnabhumi airport is Thailand's busiest airport
followed by Phuket airport with 6,722 arrivals,
Samui airport with 309 arrivals and Chiang Mai airport with 83 arrivals
only 0.07% of all overseas visitors have tested positive for COVID-19 thus far
according to Richard Barrow, another vlogger, Richard posted a story about
a tourist who arrived in Thailand and was tested positive for COVID-19
the tourist named Kirovs said he came to Thailand in November
Kirovs was rushed to the hospital after arriving in Thailand and tested positive,
despite not having any symptoms
his wife and two kids were quarantined in a hotel and tested again on days three or four
if they test negative, they may go on vacation without him
if his insurance company doesn't cover the hospital and quarantine expenses
Kirov expects to pay 350,000 baht or about $10,000 US dollars,
he said "I knew I was taking a risk when I bought tickets to Thailand", as soon as the news came out
Richard Barrow also highlighted the story of James, a man who arrived in
Thailand and found himself in a similar circumstance
James shared a vehicle from the airport with someone who tested positive,
so he had to go to hotel quarantine
James stated, he was returning to Thailand to see his wife, he was visiting his friend's girlfriend
his pal had tested positive, James said
at 2:30 p.m we were both tested and transported to different rooms
while the odds of testing positive upon arrival in Thailand are slim, some travellers may not
want to take the risk since Thailand reopened to tourists on November 1st
over 25,000 have arrived, 26 travellers tested positive
a positive test on arrival can have severe consequences for visitors,
especially those travelling in groups families or with small children
a positive tested arrival might and should be publicly advertised on the Thailand Pass website
where foreigners must upload documentation before travelling, foreigners should also
check with their insurance providers to see if quarantine and other costs are covered
in the case of a positive test again, since November 1st, 0.07% tested positive
the other 99.93% who tested negative are off enjoying their trip
THUMBS UP if you are holding off your travel to Thailand for a little longer
Thailand's post-pandemic tourism comeback
will focus on attracting quality tourists and first-time visitors
they include wealthy Indians,
the head of the country's tourism authority of Thailand has stated that
tourists who spend a lot of money should be a priority for Thailand
with the help of the younger population of 600 million,
which includes Indian families who wish to be married abroad
Thailand is seeking to break into this market
Thailand has already become the most popular place for Indians to get married outside of India
Thailand's pre-pandemic Indian wedding industry generated around 30 billion baht in income
Thailand is also proposing the possibility of long-term residence for ex-pats
according to a government spokeswoman, there are still numerous advantages
and disadvantages to weigh before any formal announcement is made about long-term resident
other proposals include 10-year visas,
easing the rules regarding land and property ownership by foreigners
and easing the requirements for a work permit
these plans agreed by the Thai cabinet in September
are now being put into action in greater detail
to watch the largest-ever drug bust in East Asia, click on this video now
to watch other news about Thailand reopening to tourists, click this video
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