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A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand
- Thread starter Leongsam
- Start date
Hope GIN knows your feelings.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tr...1&pub_date=20220316190000&seq_num=14&si=44594
Malaysia's AirAsia Ride to launch in Thailand next month
Capital A's latest business expansion comes as losses weigh on finances
Capital A controls budget airline AirAsia as well as e-hailing service AirAsia Ride, which is launching in Thailand in April. © Reuters
P PREM KUMAR, Nikkei staff writerMarch 16, 2022 17:53 JST
KUALA LUMPUR -- Capital A's e-hailing subsidiary AirAsia Ride announced on Wednesday that it will launch services in Thailand next month, as the parent holding company expands aggressively despite financial losses.
Ride-hailing will commence in the Thai capital Bangkok before expanding to other major cities, said Lim Chiew Shan, regional CEO of AirAsia Ride.
"We are starting the service with 5,000 taxis," Lim said at a news conference. adding it would expand to "private drivers after a few months."
AirAsia Ride, which began in Kuala Lumpur in August, currently covers all major cities in Malaysia with 30,000 registered drivers and monthly bookings in the six digits, Lim said.
He added that the e-hailing service's total rides increased an average of 63% month on month in 2021. It has recorded over 700,000 rides to date.
AirAsia Ride is part of Capital A, which launched in January and is co-owned by aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes, a founder of budget carrier AirAsia. Fernandes started focusing on the expansion of non-airline businesses after the coronavirus pandemic paralyzed air travel early in 2020.
From an initial step into cargo logistics and online travel agency businesses, Fernandes now owns a non-airline empire that spans sectors from food, groceries and restaurants to parcel delivery, insurance and microlending.
AirAsia's digital business division was valued at $1 billion as of July, and Fernandes has said he aspires for it to provide half of the group's total income in the medium term.
AirAsia in July announced that AirAsia Digital had acquired Indonesian company Gojek's operations in Thailand in an all-share deal worth $50 million and which included Gojek taking a 5% stake in AirAsia Digital.
Grab has been Malaysia's dominant e-hailing player since Uber's exit in 2018. The Singapore-based company commanded over 72% of the local market as of last year, according to the company's initial public offering documents.
AirAsia's net loss in 2020 ballooned to 5.1 billion ringgit ($1.2 billion) from 315.8 million ringgit in 2019. Revenue, meanwhile, was 3.1 billion ringgit in 2020, down from 11.9 billion ringgit in 2019, as the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel blockades hit the company.
The situation improved in 2021, with the airline reporting a net loss of 3.1 billion ringgit, on the back of 1.73 million ringgit in revenue.
The Bursa Malaysia stock exchange in January placed Capital A on watch, demanding that it conduct a financial restructuring within a year or face automatic delisting.
Last week, the Malaysian company was denied a much-anticipated government-backed loan of 500 million ringgit that it had been banking on to fund operations as Southeast Asia rapidly reopens borders for travel and tourism.
Malaysia's AirAsia Ride to launch in Thailand next month
Capital A's latest business expansion comes as losses weigh on finances
Capital A controls budget airline AirAsia as well as e-hailing service AirAsia Ride, which is launching in Thailand in April. © Reuters
P PREM KUMAR, Nikkei staff writerMarch 16, 2022 17:53 JST
KUALA LUMPUR -- Capital A's e-hailing subsidiary AirAsia Ride announced on Wednesday that it will launch services in Thailand next month, as the parent holding company expands aggressively despite financial losses.
Ride-hailing will commence in the Thai capital Bangkok before expanding to other major cities, said Lim Chiew Shan, regional CEO of AirAsia Ride.
"We are starting the service with 5,000 taxis," Lim said at a news conference. adding it would expand to "private drivers after a few months."
AirAsia Ride, which began in Kuala Lumpur in August, currently covers all major cities in Malaysia with 30,000 registered drivers and monthly bookings in the six digits, Lim said.
He added that the e-hailing service's total rides increased an average of 63% month on month in 2021. It has recorded over 700,000 rides to date.
AirAsia Ride is part of Capital A, which launched in January and is co-owned by aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes, a founder of budget carrier AirAsia. Fernandes started focusing on the expansion of non-airline businesses after the coronavirus pandemic paralyzed air travel early in 2020.
From an initial step into cargo logistics and online travel agency businesses, Fernandes now owns a non-airline empire that spans sectors from food, groceries and restaurants to parcel delivery, insurance and microlending.
AirAsia's digital business division was valued at $1 billion as of July, and Fernandes has said he aspires for it to provide half of the group's total income in the medium term.
AirAsia in July announced that AirAsia Digital had acquired Indonesian company Gojek's operations in Thailand in an all-share deal worth $50 million and which included Gojek taking a 5% stake in AirAsia Digital.
Grab has been Malaysia's dominant e-hailing player since Uber's exit in 2018. The Singapore-based company commanded over 72% of the local market as of last year, according to the company's initial public offering documents.
AirAsia's net loss in 2020 ballooned to 5.1 billion ringgit ($1.2 billion) from 315.8 million ringgit in 2019. Revenue, meanwhile, was 3.1 billion ringgit in 2020, down from 11.9 billion ringgit in 2019, as the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel blockades hit the company.
The situation improved in 2021, with the airline reporting a net loss of 3.1 billion ringgit, on the back of 1.73 million ringgit in revenue.
The Bursa Malaysia stock exchange in January placed Capital A on watch, demanding that it conduct a financial restructuring within a year or face automatic delisting.
Last week, the Malaysian company was denied a much-anticipated government-backed loan of 500 million ringgit that it had been banking on to fund operations as Southeast Asia rapidly reopens borders for travel and tourism.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Au...&pub_date=20220317190000&seq_num=23&si=44594#
Thai used-car market heats up as foreign startups jump in
Online dealers hope to attract more consumers amid rising demand
According to Deloitte, 21% of Thai consumers would like at least part of their next vehicle purchase to be done online. (Screenshot from CAR24, Carro, and Carsome webstite)
APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT and DYLAN LOH, Nikkei staff writersMarch 17, 2022 12:20 JST
BANGKOK/SINGAPORE -- Used-car sales in Thailand are set to grow again this year after a stellar 2021 due to a shortage of new cars, with online dealers such as India's Cars24 and Malaysia's Carsome entering the market to capitalize on fresh demand.
On March 3, Carsome said it had partnered with PTT Oil and Retail Business -- a subsidiary of Thailand's energy conglomerate PTT -- in a move that analysts said would help the Malaysian company expand its used-car network and boost online vehicle purchases.
"It is a 'blue ocean' market," said Pinyo Tanawatcharaporn, president of the Association of Used Cars, referring to an industry where there is little competition. The association is expecting Thailand's secondhand car market to grow 10-15% this year.
The demand for cars has grown as commuters shy away from public transport to avoid crowds as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic's hit to the economy has weakened spending power, which has made buyers look for cheaper secondhand alternatives. Furthermore, the global chip shortage has constrained automakers' ability to produce new vehicles.
Thailand's used car sales grew 7.5% to around 140 billion baht ($4.2 billion) in 2021, with further growth expected this year, according to Kasikorn Research Center. Pinyo said 1.2 million used cars were sold last year.
Internet-based dealers have clocked on to Thailand's large consumer base as a means to fuel growth in Asia outside of their home markets. India's Cars24, for instance, launched its Southeast Asian foothold in the kingdom last November after its rivals -- Singapore's Carro and Malaysia's Carsome -- had already set up a Thai presence.
All three startups are interested in generating car sales from their Thai digital platforms. According to Deloitte's "2022 Global Automotive Consumer Study," 21% of consumers in Thailand will prefer fully or partially virtual transactions to buy their next vehicle, while only 12% in the Philippines and Indonesia chose to do so.
The report mentioned that consumers in Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam show a greater willingness to transact online.
Startups like Cars24 hope to shift buyers online, particularly given the acceleration of digital penetration in Southeast Asia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like its competitors Carro and Carsome, Cars24 is doing this with hefty funding from backers.
Last September, Cars24, which bills itself as India's largest online portal for used vehicles with an inventory of over 10,000 cars, announced the closing of a $450 million Series F equity round, which included investors like SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings.
Carro CEO Aaron Tan. The online car sales platform received investment from SoftBank Vision Fund 2 in June 2021. (Photo by Takashi Nakano)
In June, Carro announced that SoftBank Group had led its $360 million Series C funding round, which included Indonesia-based fund EV Growth, among other backers.
The same year, Carsome announced the closing of its $170 million Series D2 round, bringing the company's valuation to $1.3 billion and prompting the startup to claim that it was Malaysia's largest technology unicorn.
"I have been in the market for many years, but I've never seen such big investments from online used car platforms in the Thai market," said Pinyo from the Association of Used Cars. "That has forced us to switch to both online and offline outlets in order to survive, as we have realized that consumers' behaviors have changed."
He said some consumers were worried about the quality of used cars bought online. To assuage those fears, the association has formed a partnership with Japanese vehicle inspection specialist Goo to verify the cars.
"That has made it easier for Thai used-car sellers to adjust their businesses by moving online, and some of our members have already built their own webpages to meet changing consumer demands," Pinyo said.
Thai used-car market heats up as foreign startups jump in
Online dealers hope to attract more consumers amid rising demand
According to Deloitte, 21% of Thai consumers would like at least part of their next vehicle purchase to be done online. (Screenshot from CAR24, Carro, and Carsome webstite)
APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT and DYLAN LOH, Nikkei staff writersMarch 17, 2022 12:20 JST
BANGKOK/SINGAPORE -- Used-car sales in Thailand are set to grow again this year after a stellar 2021 due to a shortage of new cars, with online dealers such as India's Cars24 and Malaysia's Carsome entering the market to capitalize on fresh demand.
On March 3, Carsome said it had partnered with PTT Oil and Retail Business -- a subsidiary of Thailand's energy conglomerate PTT -- in a move that analysts said would help the Malaysian company expand its used-car network and boost online vehicle purchases.
"It is a 'blue ocean' market," said Pinyo Tanawatcharaporn, president of the Association of Used Cars, referring to an industry where there is little competition. The association is expecting Thailand's secondhand car market to grow 10-15% this year.
The demand for cars has grown as commuters shy away from public transport to avoid crowds as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic's hit to the economy has weakened spending power, which has made buyers look for cheaper secondhand alternatives. Furthermore, the global chip shortage has constrained automakers' ability to produce new vehicles.
Thailand's used car sales grew 7.5% to around 140 billion baht ($4.2 billion) in 2021, with further growth expected this year, according to Kasikorn Research Center. Pinyo said 1.2 million used cars were sold last year.
Internet-based dealers have clocked on to Thailand's large consumer base as a means to fuel growth in Asia outside of their home markets. India's Cars24, for instance, launched its Southeast Asian foothold in the kingdom last November after its rivals -- Singapore's Carro and Malaysia's Carsome -- had already set up a Thai presence.
All three startups are interested in generating car sales from their Thai digital platforms. According to Deloitte's "2022 Global Automotive Consumer Study," 21% of consumers in Thailand will prefer fully or partially virtual transactions to buy their next vehicle, while only 12% in the Philippines and Indonesia chose to do so.
The report mentioned that consumers in Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam show a greater willingness to transact online.
Startups like Cars24 hope to shift buyers online, particularly given the acceleration of digital penetration in Southeast Asia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like its competitors Carro and Carsome, Cars24 is doing this with hefty funding from backers.
Last September, Cars24, which bills itself as India's largest online portal for used vehicles with an inventory of over 10,000 cars, announced the closing of a $450 million Series F equity round, which included investors like SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings.
Carro CEO Aaron Tan. The online car sales platform received investment from SoftBank Vision Fund 2 in June 2021. (Photo by Takashi Nakano)
In June, Carro announced that SoftBank Group had led its $360 million Series C funding round, which included Indonesia-based fund EV Growth, among other backers.
The same year, Carsome announced the closing of its $170 million Series D2 round, bringing the company's valuation to $1.3 billion and prompting the startup to claim that it was Malaysia's largest technology unicorn.
"I have been in the market for many years, but I've never seen such big investments from online used car platforms in the Thai market," said Pinyo from the Association of Used Cars. "That has forced us to switch to both online and offline outlets in order to survive, as we have realized that consumers' behaviors have changed."
He said some consumers were worried about the quality of used cars bought online. To assuage those fears, the association has formed a partnership with Japanese vehicle inspection specialist Goo to verify the cars.
"That has made it easier for Thai used-car sellers to adjust their businesses by moving online, and some of our members have already built their own webpages to meet changing consumer demands," Pinyo said.
The food in this quarantine facility is not good so some meals I will order. As I missed my favourite Italian restaurant I order from Peppe on Wednesday.
Actually I ordered on the pasta but ended up Peppe made me a feast
Salami and speck
Anchovy
Roast spring chicken
Salad
Pasta AOP
Actually I ordered on the pasta but ended up Peppe made me a feast
Salami and speck
Anchovy
Roast spring chicken
Salad
Pasta AOP
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/s...rival-pcr-test-for-travellers-may-be-scrapped
Thailand plans to scrap pre-arrival PCR test for travellers, gears up to treat Covid-19 as endemic
Thailand plans to start easing Covid-19 restrictions from the start of April 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS
Tan Tam Mei Thailand Correspondent Published 4 Hours Ago
BANGKOK - Thailand is looking to scrap pre-arrival polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for fully vaccinated travellers from April, as the kingdom gears up to celebrate Songkran.
The celebrations in April have always been a huge draw for tourists wanting to partake in the water-splashing festival for the Thai new year.
Thailand plans to start easing Covid-19 restrictions from the start of next month, said the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday (March 18).
Officials have outlined measures for the nation to transit into the post-pandemic era in the next four months, with the authorities hoping to see cases plateau by early May and decline thereafter.
Thailand's current seven-day moving average stands at about 25,000 new cases daily. The number of cases hit a new record of 27,071 on Friday. There were 80 deaths, the highest since the start of the year.
"From July 1, if all goes well and as planned, we hope that we will be transitioning into an endemic from a pandemic," said the CCSA spokesman, noting that booster shots should have been administered to at least 60 per cent of the population by then.
Currently, travellers to Thailand have to take a PCR test and show a negative result within 72 hours prior to travel. They have to take another PCR test upon arrival and a self-administered antigen test on the fifth day of their stay.
The need for a pre-arrival test could soon be scrapped from April 1, according to ongoing discussions in the CCSA. "It was discussed and will most likely (happen)," the spokesman told The Straits Times. There are also plans to scrap PCR tests entirely sometime in May, in favour of only an antigen test on arrival.
Also, starting from April, visitors who have to undergo quarantine when entering Thailand - for being unvaccinated, for instance - will only have to be in isolation for five days instead of a minimum of seven days.
The spokesman on Friday also reminded everyone to observe Covid-19 safety measures during the Songkran festival in mid-April.
While traditional rituals like water splashing will be allowed, foam parties and the consumption of alcohol in public venues will remain prohibited.
On Feb 1, Thailand reopened applications for its quarantine-free travel scheme after it was suspended in December due to the fast-spreading but less severe Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
The scheme allows vaccinated visitors to enter the kingdom albeit with some requirements, including Covid-19 tests on the first and fifth day of arrival and mandatory hotel stays.
Thailand's neighbours, such as Vietnam and Malaysia, are also easing entry requirements for tourists with some touting less stringent curbs, such as Cambodia which will be dropping all pre-arrival and on-arrival testing for visitors.
Thai hospitality operators and related sectors have been pressuring the government to further ease border curbs to restore the tourism industry and uplift the sluggish economy.
Thailand has set a target to welcome some 5.5 million foreign tourists in 2022.
Thailand plans to scrap pre-arrival PCR test for travellers, gears up to treat Covid-19 as endemic
Thailand plans to start easing Covid-19 restrictions from the start of April 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS
Tan Tam Mei Thailand Correspondent Published 4 Hours Ago
BANGKOK - Thailand is looking to scrap pre-arrival polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for fully vaccinated travellers from April, as the kingdom gears up to celebrate Songkran.
The celebrations in April have always been a huge draw for tourists wanting to partake in the water-splashing festival for the Thai new year.
Thailand plans to start easing Covid-19 restrictions from the start of next month, said the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday (March 18).
Officials have outlined measures for the nation to transit into the post-pandemic era in the next four months, with the authorities hoping to see cases plateau by early May and decline thereafter.
Thailand's current seven-day moving average stands at about 25,000 new cases daily. The number of cases hit a new record of 27,071 on Friday. There were 80 deaths, the highest since the start of the year.
"From July 1, if all goes well and as planned, we hope that we will be transitioning into an endemic from a pandemic," said the CCSA spokesman, noting that booster shots should have been administered to at least 60 per cent of the population by then.
Currently, travellers to Thailand have to take a PCR test and show a negative result within 72 hours prior to travel. They have to take another PCR test upon arrival and a self-administered antigen test on the fifth day of their stay.
The need for a pre-arrival test could soon be scrapped from April 1, according to ongoing discussions in the CCSA. "It was discussed and will most likely (happen)," the spokesman told The Straits Times. There are also plans to scrap PCR tests entirely sometime in May, in favour of only an antigen test on arrival.
Also, starting from April, visitors who have to undergo quarantine when entering Thailand - for being unvaccinated, for instance - will only have to be in isolation for five days instead of a minimum of seven days.
The spokesman on Friday also reminded everyone to observe Covid-19 safety measures during the Songkran festival in mid-April.
While traditional rituals like water splashing will be allowed, foam parties and the consumption of alcohol in public venues will remain prohibited.
On Feb 1, Thailand reopened applications for its quarantine-free travel scheme after it was suspended in December due to the fast-spreading but less severe Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
The scheme allows vaccinated visitors to enter the kingdom albeit with some requirements, including Covid-19 tests on the first and fifth day of arrival and mandatory hotel stays.
Thailand's neighbours, such as Vietnam and Malaysia, are also easing entry requirements for tourists with some touting less stringent curbs, such as Cambodia which will be dropping all pre-arrival and on-arrival testing for visitors.
Thai hospitality operators and related sectors have been pressuring the government to further ease border curbs to restore the tourism industry and uplift the sluggish economy.
Thailand has set a target to welcome some 5.5 million foreign tourists in 2022.
My 9th day of covid was craving for India food yesterday morning. So I saved my lunch and had Indian dinner last night:
Mutton biryani
Mutton is so tender, meat simply falls of the bone
Dinner
Fried tandoor chicken
Dosa which I had for breakfast this moring
Mutton biryani
Mutton is so tender, meat simply falls of the bone
Dinner
Fried tandoor chicken
Dosa which I had for breakfast this moring
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/C...1&pub_date=20220318190000&seq_num=20&si=44594
Thailand plans watered-down Songkran celebrations for April
Government aims to class COVID as 'endemic' by July, nightclubs kept shut for now
People play with water pistols during the Songkran water festival in Bangkok in April 2019. This year Thailand has decided to resume the celebrations for the first time in three years, but in limited form, with water-splashing in public areas not allowed. © Reuters
MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerMarch 18, 2022 18:54 JST
BANGKOK -- Thailand will celebrate its Songkran water-splashing festival for the first time in three years this April, but in a careful manner, as the kingdom wishes to move along its road map toward deeming COVID-19 as endemic in the country.
Songkran is one of the most important and boisterous holidays in Thailand. Many residents will celebrate a five-day break from April 13 this year.
The Buddhist festival -- which comes during Thailand's hottest time of the year -- is often known as the biggest water fight in the world, attracting many tourists from abroad as well as locals. The government prohibited the popular celebration for the past two years due to the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
This year, the Songkran festivities will still fall short of what they were before COVID. Traditional celebrations such as pouring water on Buddhist statues or over the hands of the elderly to show respect will be allowed. People will also be able to splash water on each other in managed environments that are considered COVID-free.
These settings must have enough space for social distancing norms to be maintained, with good air circulation and strict hygienic safety precautions. Participants are recommended to be vaccinated. They should also engage in preventive measures such as frequent hand-washing, testing their temperature, taking COVID tests, and wearing a mask.
However, water-splashing in public area such as on the streets will not be allowed. Other extended celebrations such as foam parties and drinking parties also remain banned. Meanwhile, nightlife venues such as nightclubs remain shut for the time being.
Behind the careful resumption of Songkran celebrations is Thailand's plan to shortly start to view the coronavirus as endemic in the country.
"We are at the crossroads of whether we can end the COVID pandemic by midyear. The factor is Songkran," Udom Kachintorn, adviser to the government's coronavirus-related policymaking body Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration, said on Friday. "Today the public health ministry officially proposed 'the endemic approach to COVID-19'" to the center, its spokesperson Taweesin Visanuyothin added.
The center has rolled out its own road map toward the virus being classed as endemic. Thailand will remain at the "combat stage" regarding the virus until the beginning of April. From mid-April to May will be the "plateau stage." It expects to see the "declining stage" from the end of May to the end of June. Lastly, the kingdom hopes to transition into the "post-pandemic stage" by July.
To successfully complete all the stages as expected, the government is encouraging people to receive a booster shot. As of Thursday, 31.7% of eligible residents in Thailand had had the booster. The center aims to raise the coverage to more than 60% before July.
The shift towards regarding the disease as endemic is part of the Thai government's aim to bring everyday life back to the streets. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's administration reopened the country to vaccinated international visitors, without the need to quarantine, from November last year.
Although this policy was suspended for six weeks due to outbreaks of the highly transmissible omicron variant, the resumption of tourism has already had supportive effects on the economy. By labeling COVID-19 as endemic, the country can promote inbound travel more widely.
To encourage more visitors to come, Thailand will drop the requirement for visitors to take a PCR test prior to travel to the country, effective April 1. From May 1, they will only be required to take an antigen test instead of a PCR test upon arrival.
However, the road map does not ensure the country will reach its destination.
Daily cases in the kingdom remained elevated at 27,071 on Friday, with 80 fatalities reported. Mishandling of the ongoing omicron outbreak and the potential importing or emergence of new virulent variants could hinder Thailand's path. Easing back on testing requirements could make the country more vulnerable to new outbreaks.
Thailand plans watered-down Songkran celebrations for April
Government aims to class COVID as 'endemic' by July, nightclubs kept shut for now
People play with water pistols during the Songkran water festival in Bangkok in April 2019. This year Thailand has decided to resume the celebrations for the first time in three years, but in limited form, with water-splashing in public areas not allowed. © Reuters
MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerMarch 18, 2022 18:54 JST
BANGKOK -- Thailand will celebrate its Songkran water-splashing festival for the first time in three years this April, but in a careful manner, as the kingdom wishes to move along its road map toward deeming COVID-19 as endemic in the country.
Songkran is one of the most important and boisterous holidays in Thailand. Many residents will celebrate a five-day break from April 13 this year.
The Buddhist festival -- which comes during Thailand's hottest time of the year -- is often known as the biggest water fight in the world, attracting many tourists from abroad as well as locals. The government prohibited the popular celebration for the past two years due to the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
This year, the Songkran festivities will still fall short of what they were before COVID. Traditional celebrations such as pouring water on Buddhist statues or over the hands of the elderly to show respect will be allowed. People will also be able to splash water on each other in managed environments that are considered COVID-free.
These settings must have enough space for social distancing norms to be maintained, with good air circulation and strict hygienic safety precautions. Participants are recommended to be vaccinated. They should also engage in preventive measures such as frequent hand-washing, testing their temperature, taking COVID tests, and wearing a mask.
However, water-splashing in public area such as on the streets will not be allowed. Other extended celebrations such as foam parties and drinking parties also remain banned. Meanwhile, nightlife venues such as nightclubs remain shut for the time being.
Behind the careful resumption of Songkran celebrations is Thailand's plan to shortly start to view the coronavirus as endemic in the country.
"We are at the crossroads of whether we can end the COVID pandemic by midyear. The factor is Songkran," Udom Kachintorn, adviser to the government's coronavirus-related policymaking body Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration, said on Friday. "Today the public health ministry officially proposed 'the endemic approach to COVID-19'" to the center, its spokesperson Taweesin Visanuyothin added.
The center has rolled out its own road map toward the virus being classed as endemic. Thailand will remain at the "combat stage" regarding the virus until the beginning of April. From mid-April to May will be the "plateau stage." It expects to see the "declining stage" from the end of May to the end of June. Lastly, the kingdom hopes to transition into the "post-pandemic stage" by July.
To successfully complete all the stages as expected, the government is encouraging people to receive a booster shot. As of Thursday, 31.7% of eligible residents in Thailand had had the booster. The center aims to raise the coverage to more than 60% before July.
The shift towards regarding the disease as endemic is part of the Thai government's aim to bring everyday life back to the streets. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's administration reopened the country to vaccinated international visitors, without the need to quarantine, from November last year.
Although this policy was suspended for six weeks due to outbreaks of the highly transmissible omicron variant, the resumption of tourism has already had supportive effects on the economy. By labeling COVID-19 as endemic, the country can promote inbound travel more widely.
To encourage more visitors to come, Thailand will drop the requirement for visitors to take a PCR test prior to travel to the country, effective April 1. From May 1, they will only be required to take an antigen test instead of a PCR test upon arrival.
However, the road map does not ensure the country will reach its destination.
Daily cases in the kingdom remained elevated at 27,071 on Friday, with 80 fatalities reported. Mishandling of the ongoing omicron outbreak and the potential importing or emergence of new virulent variants could hinder Thailand's path. Easing back on testing requirements could make the country more vulnerable to new outbreaks.
Bangkok Motor Show underway
https://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/news/2283330/bangkok-motor-show-underway
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