Best spot to be a digital nomad

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September 27, 2022

CHIANG RAI, 27 September 2022: I hope to catch my first sighting of a Digital Nomad here in my hometown of Chiang Rai, which traditionally relies on seasonal budget travellers from Europe to keep the travel business ticking.

The quest is complicated by the different descriptions of a traveller who stays more than 30 days in a single destination. They used to be lumped together as long-stay visits, but that loose definition needs refining. Are they workaholics who prefer to describe their miserable lives as a workation in progress, or should we go for the buzz phrase “digital nomads”?

Photo Credit: Expat Life — William Russell

A Google search suggests Digital nomads are people “who are location-independent and use technology to perform their job, living a nomadic lifestyle. Digital nomads work remotely, telecommuting rather than being physically present at a company’s headquarters or office.”

A study released last week by the UK insurance specialists William Russell attempts to identify the world’s top 10 destinations for a workation described in the study’s preamble as a place where you”do the same job, but with more sand and better coffee.”

It claims the global searches for ‘working holiday’ have soared by 82.66% since April 2021 to July 2022.

Surprise, William Russell’s top 10 destinations worldwide for a workation that could “extend several weeks or months” is none other than Pha Ngan Island, a close neighbour of Samui Island in South Thailand.

It’s definitely a surprise because Thailand’s swathe of visa options miss the category “Digital Nomad”, and if a traveller works in the country, technically, they will need a work permit. That drawback needs sorting out if Thailand’s tourism planers are to welcome digital nomads with open arms.

The only other Asian destination in the top 10 list is Canggu in Bali, Indonesia. It’s in the seventh slot with monthly rentals of USD1,411. Pha Ngan Island’s monthly rentals are lower at an average of USD1,051, and claims an internet speed of 24 Mbps which is bettered by most of the destinations listed in the top 10.

The team at William Russell sets out its stall with workation tips.

“Schedule it in advance and do your research properly to know what to expect. What are the risks? And how can you avoid or minimise them? Calculate your budget: living in another city or country can be unpredictable and expensive. Be prepared to save money for housing, coworking (if needed), food, insurance, and other options.

“Be aware of culture shock and cultural sensitivities to avoid finding yourself in tricky situations.

“Schedule your free time to explore the new country and stay productive.

“Have a safety net in case things go wrong – international health insurance will enable you to access private treatment if you’re injured or become ill.”

William Russell’s marketing director, William Cooper says: “Combining work and vacation time is a clever way to extend your stay in a destination that benefits both you and the local people. More places are setting up coworking spots, beefing up wifi, and changing legislation to attract remote workers.

“The workation trend emerged in 2012. Then large corporations introduced this option as one of the bonuses for their employees. However, the format of a workation was a little different: several teams travelled together out of town or to another country for a week to work, relax and unite.”

He claims the global searches for ‘working holiday’ have soared by 82.66% from April 2021 to July 2022.

Top 10 best workation destinations

Rank	City, Country	Monthly rental cost (USD)	Internet speed	Fun	Safety
1	Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand	$1,051	Fast: 24Mbps	Great	Great
2	Gran Canaria, Spain	$1,789	Fast: 35Mbps	Good	Great
3	Lisbon, Portugal	$2,429	Fast: 28Mbps	Great	Great
4	Austin, TX, USA	$3,797	Super Fast: 76Mbps	Great	Good
5	São Paulo, Brazil	$1,495	Good: 6Mbps	Great	Okay
6	Budapest, Hungary	$1,637	Fast: 30Mbps	Good	Good
7	Canggu, Bali, Indonesia	$1,411	Fast: 25Mbps	Good	Great
8	Belgrade, Serbia	$1,555	Fast: 27Mbps	Good	Good
9	Berlin, Germany	$3,465	Fast: 27Mbps	Good	Great
10	Buenos Aires, Argentina	$904	Good: 6Mbps	Good	Okay

Source: William Russell insurance specialists UK

For more information on the study visit https://www.william-russell.com/blog/best-workation-destinations-work-from/

But if you decide to head for Thailand claiming you are a digital nomad, be aware that Thailand does not currently have a digital nomad visa. It also has strict work permit rules.

For more details visit https://visaguide.world/digital-nomad-visa/thailand/

The website warns: “A quick online search will show many results for foreigners who have worked remotely or as freelancers while living in Thailand. However, working remotely as a foreigner in Thailand contravenes the labour law.”

(Source: William Russell Insurance specialist UK)

MTF tackles rebuilding task

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 27, 2022

QUANG NAM, Vietnam, 27 September 2022: Ministers and national tourism organisations from all the six member countries of the Greater Mekong Sub-region, including Myanmar, will address the Mekong Tourism Forum’s overarching theme “Rebuild Tourism, Rebound with Resilience.

Twenty-five speakers from six Greater Mekong Subregion countries (Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam) have been confirmed for the Mekong Tourism Forum scheduled for 12 to 13 October in Quang Nam, central Vietnam.

Mekong Tourism Forum 2022: Rebuild Tourism, Rebound with Resilience Quang Nam, Vietnam, 12 – 13 October 2022.

Panellists will recommend three focus areas: Social Enterprises, New Ways of Connecting Sustainable Tourism Suppliers and Buyers, and Technology.

Leading private sector panellists addressing those issues include Daniel Gelfer of Agoda, Willem Niemeijer of YAANA Ventures, Tean Ly of Seeva Capital, Jason Lusk of Clickable Impact, Mika Cui of JNE Group, Duangmala Phommavong of EXO Travel Lao, Mayur (Mac) Patel of OAG, Thuy Phuong Nguyen of Plan International/Travelife, and others.

There will also be contributions from leaders and senior executives of the Asian Development Bank, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, and the ASEAN Tourism Association.

The government sector contributions will be led by Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam.

The official media statement confirmed senior representatives from ministries and national tourism offices from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand will lead the forum’s overarching theme of “Rebuild Tourism, Rebound with Resilience.”

As Quang Nam province is the host destination, on 13 October, delegates will have the opportunity to join any of three local themed tours: Culture – a visit to two World Heritage sites: My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An ancient town; Nature – Cu Lao Cham Biosphere Reserve and Tra Que vegetable village; Green & Agritourism – the story of organic agriculture and the circular economy, using Tra Que vegetable village as an example.

The Mekong Tourism Forum will also host a Sustainable Tourism Exhibit comprising 18 tables showcasing sustainable tourism, community-based tourism and local community products. The exhibit will run from 10 to 12 October.

The Mekong Tourism Forum will take place in Hoiana Resort & Golf (Hoiana), on a beach setting just south of Hoi An, the UNESCO-listed heritage city. Danang international airport is 40 minutes from the conference venue.

The Mekong Tourism Forum is free to attend for genuine Greater Mekong Sub-region travel and tourism stakeholders.

Further information and registration: MekongTourismForum.org.

Quang Nam and green tourism are the focus of Visit Vietnam Year 2022.

PG picks up Skytrax awards

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 27, 2022

BANGKOK, 27 September 2022: Bangkok Airways wins a record 6^th consecutive – World’s Best Regional Airline and Best Regional Airline in Asia at the recent World Airline Awards 2022, but is it resting on its laurels?

Looking at the airline’s current international route network, its footprint suggests the awards could have been renamed ‘best in Southeast Asia’. The airline’s cover falls far short of Asia-wide aviation hubs. It flies to just six countries in the entire Asian region. In the post-Post Covid-19 era, it will need to quickly reinstate its network beyond neighbouring countries before the next round of votes takes place to determine the 2023 winners.

PG’s regional network as of 27 August 2022.

Giving the airline credit for its resilience over the last two years and quality of passenger services, it deserves six years of consecutive awards in the two categories – World’s Best Regional Airline and The Best Regional Airline in Asia. But from now on, it faces a real challenge to reinstate a network that supports those lofty accolades.

The awards were presented to the airline’s president Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth during the Skytrax annual awards in London.

Photo credit: Bangkok Airways. The president and his team celebrate.

Commenting on the awards, he said: “On behalf of the management and staff at Bangkok Airways, I am deeply honoured to receive these prestigious awards that show that Bangkok Airways has been striving to improve services both onboard and on the ground, providing a unique passenger journey across all touchpoints while ensuring the highest safety and hygiene standards.”

Priority Pass celebrates 30 today

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 27, 2022

HONG KONG, 27 September 2022: Asia is finally playing catch-up. After almost three years of tightly kept pandemic controls, some of Asia’s strictest economies are opening.

Last Friday, Hong Kong announced it would abandon mandatory hotel quarantine for people coming to the city starting Monday, following a similar move by Taiwan. Japan confirmed it would drop its daily limit on arrivals and fully open its doors to tourists on 11 October.

Today, Priority Pass, a leading airport experiences programme owned and operated by Collinson, is celebrating its 30^th birthday. Priority Pass had come a long way since 1992 when it first launched with just 49 lounges globally and a handful of employees. Today it boasts 1,300 airport lounges and experiences worldwide across 650+ airports in 148 countries.

As the world emerges from a global shutdown and a busy summer, proving that travel is firmly back on the agenda, Collinson wants to reward Priority Pass Members and reignite their love for travel again in 2022 and beyond.

Designed exclusively for its 30^th birthday, the company is launching a Limited-Edition Priority Pass 30th Birthday Membership Card, which comes loaded with Priority Pass lounge access for 30 round trips (60 visits) for five years.

Priority Pass will give away only 30 of these limited-edition membership cards* worldwide to various travellers.

The first group is a selection of Priority Pass’s loyal and longstanding members, invited to be part of the celebrations to say thanks for their membership and ongoing love of travel.

A second group can win a limited-edition membership card by entering the Priority Pass #LiveLoveLounge Instagram competition. Travellers can show how much they appreciate the airport lounge and their return to travel by sharing a photo or video of what they love most in the lounge alongside the hashtag #LiveLoveLounge. Participants are asked to get as creative as possible with their entries, and Priority Pass will select the winners over the next two months.

The third set of winners comprises ‘Travel Heroes’ from around the world recognised for outstanding contributions to the world of travel, either assisting travellers or the industry during the pandemic or perhaps playing a critical role in helping it to return to the future safely.

In addition to revealing the exclusive card, Priority Pass is also launching a Spotify playlist, asking members to add their favourite songs, especially those that make them think of travelling or joyful celebrations. People can make their suggestions for the playlist on Priority Pass’s Instagram and are encouraged to follow the page for more details – and to find out which tunes have made the cut.

“Turning 30 is a landmark for us and something we’re proud of. We’ve spent the past 30 years helping to transform airport experiences and working to become one of the most loved, trusted travel companions. We know we’re nothing without our members, so it’s them that we wanted our birthday celebration to be all about,” said Collinson joint CEO David Evans.

Sarawak features in LVG learning modules

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 27, 2022

KUCHING, 27 September 2022: E-learning was the focus of a recent MOU signed by Seda Caylak, CEO of LVG Learning and Dr Scott Michael Smith from the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, MSME Business School, Assumption University, Thailand with a destination course featuring Sarawak in Malaysia.

Assumption University partnered with London-based LVG Learning to provide tourism students access to destination courses, business skill courses, soft skill courses and webinars from the leaders in the tourism industry as part of a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at addressing, through e-learning, the practical knowledge and skill gaps existing in the tourism industry today.

This partnership began with an introduction from Andrew J Wood, President, SKAL International Asian Area. Skål International is a professional organisation of tourism leaders worldwide, promoting global tourism and friendship.

Wood saw an opportunity for tourism students to use the LVG Learning platform to increase their knowledge and skill set.

“Modern learners, especially millennial and generation Z learners, tend to prefer learning customised to their needs, informal in style, and available on demand. E-learning affords tourism students and young professionals the freedom to fit education into their busy lives.”

The MOU will provide online courses to Assumption University undergraduate students and faculty related to hospitality and tourism studies.

It will also establish collaborative efforts with destination management organisations (DMO) and national tourism organisations (NTO) on projects to support students’ practical knowledge of destinations, destination marketing and destination management.

Expected outcomes

Students will meet companies and leaders in the tourism industry to explore various career options and gain practical on-the-job experience and potential job opportunities for their careers.

It will supply digital destination content with the sponsorship of regional promotion offices and support students in transforming destination marketing into digital tourism management.

It will support AU students through educational journeys to digital change in tourism.

Dr Smith found his students appreciated the learning experience this semester as the campus cautiously returned to on-site classes. He noted: “Students completed destination learning courses and business/soft skills courses outside class time, at their convenience and on their preferred devices.

Sarawak features as one of the destination learning journey courses, alongside Budapest, Dubrovnik and Florence. Senior product professionals develop the Destination Learning Journeys in cooperation with national tourism organisations (NTO), destination management organisations (DMO) and convention and visitor bureaus (CVB) using the latest ed-tech instructional design strategies.

Tourism recoups 60% of pre-pandemic levels

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 27, 2022

SINGAPORE, 27 September 2022: International tourism continued to show strong signs of recovery, with arrivals reaching 57% of pre-pandemic levels in the first seven months of 2022, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

International tourist arrivals almost tripled in January to July 2022 (+172%) compared to the same period of 2021. That means the sector recovered almost 60% of pre-pandemic levels. The steady recovery reflects strong demand for international travel and the easing or lifting of travel restrictions to date (86 countries had no Covid-19 related restrictions as of 19 September 2022).

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism continues to recover steadily, yet several challenges remain, from geopolitical to economic. The sector is bringing back hope and opportunity for people everywhere. Now is also the time to rethink tourism, where it is going and how it impacts people and the planet.”

Time to rethink tourism

An estimated 474 million tourists travelled internationally, compared to the 175 million in the same months of 2021. An estimated 207 million international arrivals were recorded in June and July 2022 combined, over twice the numbers seen in the same two months last year. These months represent 44% of the total arrivals recorded in the first seven months of 2022. Europe welcomed 309 million of these arrivals, accounting for 65% of the total.

Leaders: Europe and the Middle East

Europe and the Middle East showed the fastest recovery in January-July 2022, with arrivals reaching 74% and 76% of 2019, respectively. Europe welcomed almost three times as many international arrivals as in the first seven months of 2021 (+190%), with results boosted by strong intra-regional demand and travel from the United States. The region saw robust performance in June (-21% over 2019) and July (-16%), reflecting a busy summer.

Arrivals climbed to about 85% of 2019 levels in July. The lifting of travel restrictions in many destinations also fuelled these results (44 countries in Europe had no Covid-19 related restrictions as of 19 September 2022).

The Middle East saw international arrivals grow almost four times year-on-year in January-July 2022 (+287%). Arrivals exceeded pre-pandemic levels in July (+3%), boosted by the extraordinary results posted by Saudi Arabia (+121%) following the Hajj pilgrimage.

The Americas (+103%) and Africa (+171%) also recorded strong growth in January-July 2022 compared to 2021, reaching 65% and 60% of 2019 levels, respectively.

Asia and the Pacific (+165%) saw arrivals more than double in the first seven months of 2022. They remained 86% below 2019 levels, as some borders remained closed to non-essential travel.

Subregions and destinations

Several subregions reached 70% to 85% of their pre-pandemic arrivals in January-July 2022. Southern Mediterranean Europe (-15% over 2019), the Caribbean (-18%) and Central America (-20%) showed the fastest recovery towards 2019 levels. Western Europe (-26%) and Northern Europe (-27%) also posted strong results. In July, arrivals came close to pre-pandemic levels in the Caribbean (-5%), Southern and Mediterranean Europe (-6%) and Central America (-8%).

Tourism Experts Cautiously Confident

On a scale of 0 to 200, the UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts rated the period May-August 2022 with a score of 125, matching the bullish expectations expressed by the Panel in the May survey for the same 4-month period (124).

Prospects for the remainder of the year are cautiously optimistic. Although above-average performance is expected, tourism experts rated the period September-December 2022 with a score of 111, below the 125 scores of the previous four months, showing a downgrade in confidence levels. Almost half of the experts (47%) see positive prospects for the period September-December 2022, while 24% expect no particular change, and 28% consider it could be worse. Experts also seem confident about 2023, as 65% see better tourism performance than in 2022.

The uncertain economic environment seems to have reversed prospects for a return to pre-pandemic levels in the near term. Some 61% of experts now see a potential return of international arrivals to 2019 levels in 2024 or later, while those indicating a return to pre-pandemic levels in 2023 have diminished (27%) compared to the May survey (48%).

According to experts, the economic environment continues to be the main factor weighing the recovery of international tourism. Rising inflation and the spike in oil prices result in higher transport and accommodation costs while putting consumer purchasing power and savings under pressure.

Indian travel agents explore Sabah

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 27, 2022

KOTA KINABALU, 27 September 2022: Thirty-two travel agents from India are visiting Sabah to explore the state’s potential as a new tourist destination catering to the Indian market.

The group is among 543 members of the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) who recently attended the TAFI conference in Kuching, Sarawak.

Arriving last Friday, the group is led by Western India Chapter of TAFI chairman Jitul Mehta who booked the post-conference excursion to Sabah to become more familiar with the region and its product offerings.

Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment cum Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the group’s visit supports the Board’s continued goal of introducing Sabah to the Indian market as a new and hidden gem of Malaysia.

He stated there had been an upward tendency of Indian arrivals to Sabah before the Covid-19 pandemic, with 5,606 Indian visitors registered in 2018 and 6,548 recorded the following year.

“We have observed that Indian tourists love our beaches, islands, resorts, diving, wildlife, and cultures. Sabah was also quite a hit as a wedding venue for Indian couples pre-Covid,” he told the delegates during a dinner hosted by STB.

“We want this situation to return and to re-capture our potential Indian guests. In addition, we hope to welcome Indian filmmakers too as our destination is already well sought after for documentaries,” he added.

On aviation accessibility, Joniston said Indian tourists could travel to Sabah via Singapore with 14 flights weekly to Kota Kinabalu, and via Kuala Lumpur, with 230 weekly connecting flights to Kota Kinabalu.

“We at the Sabah Tourism Board want to work closely with tour agents and airlines to expand indirect passenger traffic to Sabah, and who knows, with enough Indian arrivals, we might be able to schedule direct flights from India one day,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mehta was hopeful that the group’s four-day tour to Sabah would be informative and enlightening for its members who had previously only heard or read about the state.

“We are optimistic that we could bring more Indian tourists to Sabah, and perhaps, by working together, we might make direct flights a reality,” he said.

For more information visit: www.sabahtourism.com.

(Your Stories: Sabah Tourism Board).

No China flights in TG’s winter schedule

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 26, 2022

BANGKOK, 26 September 2022: Thai Airways International confirmed that its winter flight schedule from 30 October 2022 to 25 March 2023 will offer flights to 34 destinations in Europe, Australia and Asia,

The number of destinations served is the same as the summer timetable from 27 March to 29 October 2022.

In Asia, the airline serves six destinations in Japan, including Narita and Haneda Tokyo. No flights are listed to mainland China based on the current travel restrictions in China regarding inbound international travel. In contrast, THAI will serve six destinations in India, matching the number of destinations it serves in Japan. All of the airline’s services to Mekong region cities in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam have been transferred to THAI Smile, which operates a fleet of A320s.

Intercontinental routes (return flights):

1. Bangkok-London: twice daily flights.

2. Bangkok-Paris: daily flight.

3. Bangkok-Zurich: daily flight.

4. Bangkok-Frankfurt: twice daily flights.

5. Bangkok-Munich: daily flight.

6. Bangkok-Copenhagen: daily flight.

7. Bangkok-Stockholm: 5 flights per week from Bangkok on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (*increased to daily from 1 December 2022).

8. Bangkok-Sydney: daily flight.

9. Bangkok-Melbourne: daily flight.

Regional routes (return flights):

1. Bangkok-Tokyo (Narita): twice daily flights.

2. Bangkok-Tokyo (Haneda): daily flight.

3. Bangkok-Nagoya: daily flight.

4. Bangkok-Osaka: daily flight.

5. Bangkok-Fukuoka: daily flight.

6. Bangkok-Sapporo: daily flight. (*starting 1 December 2022)

7. Bangkok-Manila: twice daily flights.

8. Bangkok-Seoul: triple daily flights.

9. Bangkok-Taipei: daily flights. (*increased to twice daily from 14 January 2023)

10. Bangkok-Hong Kong: twice daily flights.

11. Bangkok-Singapore: triple daily flights.

12. Bangkok-Jakarta: twice daily flights.

13. Bangkok-Denpasar: daily flight.

14. Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur: twice daily flights.

15. Bangkok-Kolkata: daily flight. (*starting 1 January 2023)

16. Bangkok-Chennai: daily flight.

17. Bangkok-Hyderabad: daily flight.

18. Bangkok-Bengaluru: daily flight.

19. Bangkok-New Delhi: every day, 22 flights per week (*Flight TG335 departs from Bangkok on Friday)

20. Bangkok-Mumbai: daily flight. (*increased to 11 flights per week from 1 January 2023)

21. Bangkok-Dhaka: every day, 10 flights per week (*Flight TG339 departs from Bangkok every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday)

22. Bangkok-Lahore: 5 flights per week from Bangkok on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

23. Bangkok-Islamabad: 4 flights per week from Bangkok on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

24. Bangkok-Karachi: daily flight.

25. Bangkok-Jeddah: 4 flights per week from Bangkok on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (*increased to daily from 1 January 2023)

Hong Kong scraps hotel quarantine

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 26, 2022

HONG KONG, 26 September 2022: Hong Kong’s travel industry welcomed last week’s announcement that ends its Covid-19 hotel quarantine policy starting today.

Under the revised rules, all international arrivals will be able to return home or to the accommodation of their choice but will have to self-monitor for three days after entering the Chinese special administrative territory, the government said on Friday.

“We are aiming in one single direction of allowing people to come with more convenience and they are allowed to go about their activities with maximum possibilities,” Chief Executive John Lee told the press briefing.

People will be allowed to go to work or school but will not be allowed to enter bars or restaurants for three days. A pre-flight PCR test required for travellers to Hong Kong 48 hours before flying will be replaced by a Rapid Antigen Test.

Business groups had slammed the city’s strict Covid-19 rules, saying they threatened Hong Kong’s competitiveness. International arrivals had to spend three days in a self-paid hotel followed by four days of self-monitoring, allowing them to move around the city.

In a statement released at the weekend, Cathay Pacific said it welcomed the Hong Kong SAR Government’s latest measures to facilitate travel to Hong Kong, especially the decision to remove the hotel quarantine arrangement for passengers arriving in Hong Kong effective 26 September 2022.

“These adjustments will help boost sentiment for travel, thereby facilitating the gradual resumption of travel activities and strengthening network connectivity to, from and through the Hong Kong aviation hub.

“We intend to add more than 200 pairs of passenger flights in October to both regional and long-haul destinations. Given Japan’s relaxation of travel restrictions for inbound visitors, Cathay Pacific will resume daily flights to Tokyo (Haneda) from 1 November and four-times-weekly flights to Sapporo from 1 December. We will also increase flight frequencies to Tokyo (Narita) to 43 pairs and Osaka to 50 pairs in October.”

Airport Authority Hong Kong commented: “AAHK looks forward to the continued air traffic recovery. We are working closely with the airport community to prepare for the expected increase in flights and passengers.”

Thailand scraps emergency decree

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 26, 2022

BANGKOK, 26 September 2022: Thailand will phase out its public health emergency decrees on 30 September as it downgrades the Covid-19 classification from “a dangerous communicable disease” to “a communicable disease under surveillance”.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the country renewed the emergency degree 19 times which gave Thailand’s Centre of Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) sweeping powers to battle the virus since March 2022.

Starting from 1 October 2022, international travellers to Thailand will no longer need to show proof of vaccination or ATK test results.

CCSA will be automatically dissolved, and all the regulations, announcements, and orders issued by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet under the decree be revoked.

Since the pandemic, Thailand has gradually reopened to international tourism starting in July 2021 with the Phuket Sandbox, Samui Plus, and 7+7 Extension programmes. This was followed by a four-phase reopening timeline from October 2021 to January 2022.

Thailand entered the stage of fully reopening from 1 July 2022, with the removal of the Thailand Pass registration scheme, and foreign nationals only be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative ATK test result within 72 hours of travel. Those two requirements will be lifted for travellers entering the country from 1 October onwards.

In addition, the cabinet recently approved extending the period of stay to 45 days (from 30 days) for tourists from countries eligible for visa exemption. Travellers eligible for a visa-on-arrival will get 30 days (up from 15 days). The concession runs from 1 October 2022 until 31 March 2023.

(Source: TAT Newsroom)

TAT Newsroom updates are released once the official directives have been announced in the Royal Gazette.

Best spot to be a digital nomad

MTF tackles rebuilding task

PG picks up Skytrax awards

Priority Pass celebrates 30 today

Sarawak features in LVG learning modules

Tourism recoups 60% of pre-pandemic levels

Indian travel agents explore Sabah

No China flights in TG’s winter schedule

Hong Kong scraps hotel quarantine

Thailand scraps emergency decree

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