JD1905

If they can bring in something like this at 2 days notice then I can understand completely why it’d put people off travelling - and more relevantly why BA wouldn’t want to bring this routing back.

JD1905

That reads as though it pretty much is a blanket ban on Unvaccinated travellers with the exceptionally small number of those medically exempt?

If you chose not to get vaccinated against a Virus two years ago you now cannot enter Thailand.

Saladman

Is it vastly different from the USA who also have similar rules?

sammyg901

Report a positive test to NHS today and get a recovery letter in 10 days time for ~£30 . I imagine it's easy enough to find someone less reputable to produce a letter even sooner if imminently travelling. So not much of a barrier to travel anyway..

KARFA

no, but equally the US doesn’t seem to feel the need to change their rules 5 times a month.

lost_in_translation

I don't think that's fair - the last change in rules in Thailand was the beginning of October when the requirement to show a vaccine was dropped and this merely returns the requirements to that previous state.

As a frequent visitor to Thailand I'm fine with this requirement, I think bringing testing back would be different.

Tim Rowe

But that was not done when flights were heavily booked up in advance and with only two days notice given.
The policy may be the same of course, but how it was introduced that is the problem.

orbitmic

The problem with that sort of discussion on the merits/problems with the Thai decision is that I think it’s impossible to keep them OMNI free and they are therefore a bit of a repetitive waste of space.

Ultimately, those who are sceptical of strict positions on vaccination and “safety principle” will think the Thai government are just making a nonsense decision here as they will have been critical of restrictions imposed by various countries on travel from china, and those who think that vaccination is essential and the sacrifices many countries have made should not be compromised by allowing laxer countries to ruin reasonably stable situations will think the Thai decision or that of countries imposing tests to those travelling from china will think it’s sensible.

im fully vaccinated and pro-vaccine, and I think china (which is clearly the primary target of the thai restriction) is not a honest broker so I have no issue with the Thai decision. I’m sure that by the time you had read the first 7 words, any of you could guess the conclusion of the sentence and as you can imagine, so can any of us guess the conclusion of anyone who has consistently (and that’s perfectly within their right) shown more scepticism throughout recent months. It’s a bit like going back to the Djokovic Australian open saga a year ago where the two parties were essentially building arguments based on the conclusion they had already reached.

For what it’s worth, one thing I would say is that the focus on timing/lack of notice is a huge red herring (make it a red shark). You may think the decision is good or is stupid, but given the target is clearly Chinese travellers here, imposing vaccination but delaying implementation by 2 weeks or a month on the grounds of giving people notice would clearly negate the entire point of the decision and make it wholly absurd. Those who think the decision is stupid anyway won’t care, but by definition, you can only judge a policy decision based on the internal logic of what it aims to achieve, and from that point of view, immediacy is the only sensible way to conceive that particular decision. In that sense, the whole idea that there could have been a compromise of being tough but giving notice is, in my view, mistaken and neither here nor there.

Saladman

Well BA still don’t go to BKK (more’s the pity) so I don’t really see the relevance?

Tim Rowe

More a general point, not BA specific of course......but now BA are even less likely to restart the route....more's the pity I agree as a regular user myself pre pandemic....it may even have a knock on effect on them restarting KUL?

KeaneJohn

Do you even need to pay? I’ve got a Qr code recovery pass on my NHS records and have downloaded this to my iPhone wallet. That said I was in hospital having treatment when the Covid test was done.

KARFA

I think it is very fair tbh

Wonder what the rules will be next week?

https://www.turningleftforless.com/n...ilands-u-turn/

South London Bon Viveur

This reminds me of Grant Shapps and the travel corridors. Am I right in thinking that there is presently no testing and no vaccination requirement for BKK/Thailand? I am supposed to be going there in a few weeks, though a lot can change in that time I know.

SKT-DK

All such requirements are gone, except for people leaving for China and India being required health insurance in case they test positive pre-departure and cannot leave Thailand as a consequence of not being admitted to their destination.