Saksith Saiyasombut 7/1/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 7/1/21

Phuket reopens to foreign travellers for first time in over a year

Thailand's resort island of Phuket has welcomed international travellers for the first time in more than a year. Hundreds have arrived under a quarantine-free programme for vaccinated visitors. The Phuket Sandbox is seen as a trial for Thailand to begin reopening its borders later this year. Thailand is grappling with its worst COVID-19 outbreak, but Phuket has remained relatively unscathed. Thailand lost some $50 billion in tourism revenue in 2020, and the government is expecting some 100,000 foreigners to visit Phuket in 3Q2021.

Saksith Saiyasombut 6/30/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 6/30/21

Phuket to go ahead with reopening plans despite surge in COVID-19 cases

Thailand has reported a record 53 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. The daily COVID-19 death toll has been steadily increasing since the third wave of the coronavirus hit in April. Despite coronavirus numbers rising again, the tourism-dependent kingdom is still forging ahead with plans to open up. Phuket is going to trial a model that could allow fully vaccinated tourists to come back without quarantine.

Saksith Saiyasombut 6/16/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 6/16/21

Thailand plans to reopen to foreign visitors in 120 days: PM Prayut

Thailand wants to reopen its borders within 120 days -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced the goal in a national address. The target would put the country's reopening sometime by mid-October. Fully vaccinated travellers will not have to quarantine.

Saksith Saiyasombut 6/8/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 6/8/21

Thailand begins mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19

Thailand launched its COVID-19 mass vaccination drive on June 7. AstraZeneca and Sinovac jabs are being administered. 1.8 million AstraZeneca doses -- the first of six million due this month -- have arrived in the country. The aim is to ensure there are enough shots to go around, particularly in the smaller provinces. The government has been criticised for its slow rollout and over-reliance on local vaccine production. Only 6% of Thailand's population have received at least one dose since late February.

Saksith Saiyasombut 5/21/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 5/21/21

COVID-19: Travel agents in Thailand offer vaccine tours amid slow rollout in country

The Thai government has been criticised for the sluggish COVID-19 vaccination rollout. Instead of waiting, some wealthier Thais are going the distance to get the inoculation.

Saksith Saiyasombut 5/13/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 5/13/21

Thai prisons "prepared" after it finds almost 3,000 #COVID19 among inmates

Thailand has logged 4,887 new COVID-19 infections. The new daily record comes as nearly 2,835 inmates in two Bangkok prisons, test positive for the coronavirus.

Saksith Saiyasombut 4/16/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 4/16/21

COVID-19: Thailand tightens virus restrictions to stem fresh outbreak

Thailand has tightened virus restrictions as it tries to stem a fresh wave of infections. But authorities have said a full lockdown is not needed.

Saksith Saiyasombut 4/9/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 4/9/21

Thailand shuts nightlife in 41 provinces ahead of Songkran festival

Thailand is tightening COVID-19 curbs in a bid to fend off a new wave of COVID-19 infections ahead of the Songkran New Year festival. Bars and clubs in Bangkok 40 other provinces have been ordered to shut. The new measures will kick in from April 10 and last for at least two weeks. The government is also in the process of allowing private hospitals to give out vaccines.

Saksith Saiyasombut 4/7/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 4/7/21

COVID-19: Thailand finds UK virus variant among new cases

Thailand is raising the alarm over a possible third wave of COVID-19 infections as the more contagious UK strain has been found in some new cases. At the same time, a Cabinet minister has tested positive and several of his colleagues have been placed in isolation.

Saksith Saiyasombut 3/31/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 3/31/21

Thailand denies turning away refugees fleeing air attacks in eastern Myanmar

Thailand denies that it is turning away refugees fleeing from Buremese military attacks on ethnic armed groups in Karen state, saying that a majority has already returned voluntarily. Almost 3,000 have reportedly crossed the border into Thailand since the weekend. A handful of injured people are being treated in Thailand.

Saksith Saiyasombut 3/27/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 3/27/21

Can "vaccine passports" reopen Thailand's borders?

Countries whose economies are heavily dependent on tourism - like Thailand - are eager to welcome tourists again. So-called "vaccine passports" could be the key here. But how can Thailand ensure that foreign tourists arrive and leave safely?

Saksith Saiyasombut 3/26/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 3/26/21

Phuket reopening to visitors who have been vaccinated against COVID-19

Thailand is reopening its resort island of Phuket to visitors who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. From Jul 1, they will not need to serve quarantine if they have taken their jabs. It is a key step for the tourism-reliant nation.

Saksith Saiyasombut 3/19/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 3/19/21

COVID-19: Thailand to reduce mandatory quarantine period for foreign travellers

Thailand will reduce the mandatory quarantine period for foreign travellers from next month. It will shorten the quarantine from two weeks to 10 days.

Saksith Saiyasombut 3/15/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 3/15/21

COVID-19: Thailand to start administering AstraZeneca vaccine

Thailand will start administering the AstraZeneca jab on Mar 16 after a brief delay over concerns of side effects in Europe.

Saksith Saiyasombut 3/11/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 3/11/21

Thai court rules referendum must be held before parliament can rewrite constitution

Thailand's Constitutional Court has allowed the process of charter change in the country to continue. The court ruled it is the parliament's duty and authority to write a new constitution, but a referendum must first be held.

Saksith Saiyasombut 3/8/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 3/8/21

3 more protest leaders in Thailand charged with lese majeste, denied bail

Three Thai protest leaders have been denied bail and detained after being charged with insulting the monarchy. Together with 15 others, they also face trial for sedition and breaching a ban on public gatherings when they took part in a rally in Bangkok last September. Four other activists are already in jail awaiting trial over the same protests.

Saksith Saiyasombut 3/1/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 3/1/21

Thailand starts COVID-19 vaccination rollout

Thailand continues its COVID-19 vaccine rollout for a second day after the first jabs was given to the country’s Public Health Minister and medical frontline workers. 13 provinces will be part of the initial inoculation plan. Thailand has received doses from Sinovac and AstraZeneca, but for now only the only from China will be used.

Saksith Saiyasombut 2/24/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 2/24/21

Thai court ousts three Cabinet ministers found guilty of sedition

Three Cabinet ministers in Thailand have lost their jobs. They were among 40 people found guilty of taking part in anti-government protests several years ago. The demonstrations were aimed at changing the government of then-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The political chaos paved the way for the military coup of 2014.

Saksith Saiyasombut 2/24/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 2/24/21

First COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Thailand with rollout starting soon

The first 200,000 doses COVID-19 vaccines by Sinovac from China have arrived in Thailand on Wednesday morning. Another 117,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines are also scheduled to arrive on the same day. Thailand has faced much criticism over its vaccine policy.

Saksith Saiyasombut 2/20/21 Saksith Saiyasombut 2/20/21

Anti-govt protesters gather at parliament after Thai govt survives no-confidence vote

Thai anti-govt protesters gathered for the second evening in a row as the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha survived a no-confidence vote.