Easing Covid restrictions

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Re: Easing Covid restrictions

Post by Jun »

I thought both the Penthouse AND Obsessions are closed, looking rather dilapidated and for sale ? I think it took covid to finish off The Penthouse, but Obsessions had gone before.

A friend stayed in The Penthouse for a few years, so I have been in there. The rooms used to have features like mirrors on the ceiling and chrome poles, so after offing a boy from Boyztown, there would usually be some pole dancing, or so I am told. He abandoned that hotel, due to noise from constant renovation in the mornings and Boyztown bars at night.

I never went in Obsessions, despite staying in hotels on the same street. Had they lasted a bit longer, I might have given it a try, just the once, even thought that's not my cup of tea.

The only lady boy I've ever known was originally a nice little Lao lad from Euro Boys gogo. After knowing him for a few years, eventually the tits got inserted. Not a change for the better.
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Re: Easing Covid restrictions

Post by Gaybutton »

I will be very surprised if during this year's high season Thailand gets anywhere near the tourist numbers the powers-that-be apparently think they're going to get. We will see.
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Clear entry edicts demanded now

Operators seek early resolution to avoid losing out on lucrative markets during high season

16 October 2021

Tourism operators urged the Thai government to issue clear and definitive entry regulations for foreigners as soon as possible or the country stands to lose out on lucrative markets in the high season.

The Russian government indicated it plans to lift the ban on international commercial flights with Thailand from Nov 9.

Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, acting president of the Chon Buri Tourism Council, said tour operators such as Pegas Touristik cannot sell packages to Russians nor operate charter flights here without clear regulations.

He said if the government plans to replace the certificate of entry (CoE) system with the Thailand Pass, tour operators need to know more details about the new system to prepare their operations in advance.

"If complete travel requirements are not announced soon, the country might lose the chance to welcome the Russian market this high season, as they will choose destinations with more convenient entry," Mr Thanet said.

Pongsakorn Ketprapakorn, president of the Tourism Council of Phangnga, said travel agents are ready to arrange charter flights to Khao Lak once hurdles from both countries are cleared, including the withdrawal of the CoE programme, as tourists don't want to deal with the cumbersome process.

He said Phangnga tourism is depending on this market from Phuket, as the island was accustomed to welcoming 800,000 Russians via charter flights per year prior to the pandemic, of which 80,000 visited Phangnga.

Since Phangnga has been allowed to receive tourists directly from Oct 1 without waiting for the seven-day mandatory quarantine in Phuket, around 5,000 room nights have been booked, surpassing the whole month of the 7+7 extension programme, which tallied only 3,000 room nights.

A wider reopening for low-risk origin countries, greater relaxation of requirements for the international market and domestic trips under the We Travel Together hotel subsidy campaign should raise the overall occupancy rate from 10% to 30-35% in the last quarter, said Mr Pongsakorn.

He said more hoteliers are planning to reopen on Nov 1, when the whole province is expected to open to international visitors, if the vaccination rate reaches 70% by the end of this month as predicted.

Lodging operators still have to monitor demand closely before making such a decision, said Mr Pongsakorn.

"The government has to implement clear regulations on its quarantine-free reopening plan on Nov 1, publishing them in the Royal Gazette soon to help tourists make decisions," said Danny Sukomol, deputy managing director at Santhiya Resorts and Spas.

Unclear guidelines encourage tourists to visit other countries with clearer, less stringent requirements such as Greece, the Maldives or the Caribbean for year-end holidays, said Mr Danny.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... manded-now
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CCSA okays reopening of 15 provinces to welcome back foreign tourists from Nov

by The Nation

October 14, 2021

A Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meeting on Thursday agreed to reopen 15 more provinces to foreign tourists between November 1 and 30, spokesman Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin announced.

CCSA okays reopening of 15 provinces to welcome back foreign tourists from Nov

However, certain measures for entering the kingdom may still strictly be in effect, such as requiring every tourist to be fully vaccinated and taking a RT-PCR test.

The next CCSA meeting will take a final decision and reveal the details.

The provinces that are expected to reopen to foreign tourists are:

- Bangkok

- Samut Prakan (Suvarnabhumi Airport)

- Krabi (the whole province)

- Phang-nga (the whole province)

- Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin, Nong Kae)

- Phetchaburi (Cha-am)

- Chonburi (Pattaya, Bang Lamung, Na Chom Thian, Bang Saray, Koh Si Chang, Si Racha)

- Ranong (Koh Phayam)

- Chiang Mai (Mueang district, Mae Rim, Mae Taeng, Doi Tao)

- Loei (Chiang Khan)

- Buriram (Mueang district)

- Nong Khai (Mueang, Si Chiang Mai, Tha Bo, Sangkom)

- Udon Thani (Mueang, Na Yung, Nong Han, Prajaksilpakom, Kumphawapi, Ban Dung)

- Rayong (Koh Samet)

- Trat (Koh Chang).

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40007518
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Re: Easing Covid restrictions

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The curfew, which I am having trouble understanding why it is still in effect in the first place, will end on October 31 in Pattaya, Bangkok, and other areas.

That's the good news. The bad news is they still won't allow the bars and entertainment venues to open. None of the articles I read, including this one, even mentions the alcohol ban, but it obviously will still be in effect. I suppose we can expect one more month of arrests of bars and venues that violate the rules. They have no legal right to violate the rules, but I can certainly why they are fed up and are willing to risk it.

I've seen plenty of news about owners and customers getting arrested, but I have seen nothing about what penalties were imposed. I have only seen articles outlining what the penalties could be. I don't intend to find out the hard way what the actual penalties are.
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Curfew to end in 17 tourist provinces

Prelude to reopening to vaccinated foreigners on Nov 1

22 October, 2021

The prime minister has ordered an end to the curfew in 17 provinces, including Bangkok, from Oct 31 to support the reopening of the country to fully vaccinated foreign tourists on Nov 1.

The order, signed by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, was published in the Royal Gazette late on Thursday night.

It said the Covid-19 situation in the country was improving with stable new caseloads and faster patient recovery, and it was necessary to revive the national economy.

The curfew will therefore end at 11pm on Oct 31 in the "Sandbox" provinces that were declared maximum and strict control zones but have tourism significance and are designated for reopening.

From Oct 16, the curfew has been from 11pm to 3am in maximum and strict control provinces.

The 17 provinces where the curfew will end are:

- Bangkok

- Krabi

- Chon Buri (only in Bang Lamung (which covers most of the Pattaya area. Technically, I live in Bang Lamung, not Pattaya), Pattaya, Si Racha, Koh Si Chang and tambon Na Jomtien and tambon Bang Sare of Sattahip district)

- Chiang Mai (in Muang, Doi Tao, Mae Rim and Mae Taeng districts)

- Trat (on Koh Chang only)

- Buri Ram (in Muang district only)

- Prachuap Khiri Khan (in tambon Hua Hin and tambon Nong Kae only)

- Phangnga

- Phetchaburi (in Cha-am municipality only)

- Phuket

- Ranong (on Koh Phayam only)

- Rayong (on Koh Samet only)

- Loei (in Chiang Khan district only)

- Samut Prakan (only at Suvarnabhumi airport)

- Surat Thani (on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and on Koh Tao only)

- Nong Khai (in Muang, Sangkhom, Sri Chiang Mai and Tha Bo districts)

- Udon Thani (in Muang, Ban Dung, Kumphawapi, Na Yoong, Nong Han and Prachak Silapakhom districts)

The number of people at public gatherings in the tourist reopening zones will be capped at 500.

Entertainment venues in the tourism reopening provinces will remain closed, including pubs, bars and karaoke shops, but operators and officials could begin preparing for their reopening, which would be permitted later.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -provinces
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