reader

From Coconuts Bangkok Automated people movers designed in Canada and built in China will soon arrive to whisk passengers between commercial developments on the Chao Phraya River. The first of several Bombardier Innovia APM300s will arrive next month to service the Gold Line which will connect the BTS Silom Line to waterfront properties – namely the Iconsiam shopping mall, a city management firm announced yesterday. Though marketed as a monorail, the Gold Line will more resemble another retro-futurist Disney ride: the PeopleMover. Its three people movers, with two cars each, ride on wheels which follow a rubber track. Each train will hold about 140 passengers. When it launches in October, Thailand’s first operator-free train will run at a maximum 80kph. Manit Techaapichok of City Hall project management firm Krungthep Thanakom Co., said work completion was at a very specific “88%.” The cabinet approved the line in 2016 and expected it to be completed two years ago in time for the mall’s opening. Though criticized as a gift to developer Siam Piwat’s Iconsiam shopping mall outside the city’s master transportation plan, the developer underwrote its estimated THB3.8 billion cost. It will connect the existing BTS Krung Thon Buri to three new stations at Thonburi, Charoen Nakhon and Khlong San. A future expansion will close the loop by linking it up to the Purple Line.

One of the issues affecting foreigners seeking to get back to Thailand as soon as feasible is the "transit" status of connecting airports. Scanning through today's news came up with some information on Singapore and Hong Kong airports. However, the reports about both Singapore and Hong Kong are sketchy on details and it's uncertain if the new rules announced by Beijing will affect transit passenger traffic in Hong Kong. SINGAPORE From Reuters Singapore, a regional travel and tourism hub, will gradually allow travellers to transit through its Changi Airport from June 2, the city-state's aviation regulator said on Wednesday. Currently, foreign passengers may only transit through Singapore if they are on repatriation flights arranged by their governments. In March, visitors were banned from entering or transiting through the city-state to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. "This is part of Singapore's strategy to gradually re-open air transport to meet the needs of our economy and our people, whilst ensuring sufficient safeguards for safe travel," the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said. It said airlines should submit their proposals for transfer lanes, which will be evaluated taking into account aviation safety, public health considerations, as well as the health of passengers and air crew. Changi Airport, among the world's busiest last year, recorded 25,200 passenger movements in April, crashing 99.5% from the year ago. HONG KONG From South China Morning Post Transit through Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) to and from mainland China will not be allowed in the first phase of opening up transfer travel in the city from June 1 as coronavirus measures are eased. Cathay Pacificconfirmed the restrictions after two sources said transport officials in Hong Kong had instructed the firm and Hong Kong Airlines that they could not fly transit passengers to the mainland in a meeting with company representatives earlier this week. “In this first phase, transiting to and from destinations in mainland China is not available,” Cathay said on its website. According to a third source at the meeting, officials explained that they did not want to overwhelm transit facilities, citing the need to slowly build up the airport’s capability otherwise it could not cope. China currently has the highest demand for air travel anywhere in the world. The Hong Kong administration earlier announced that transiting would be allowed at the airport starting from June, a move to relax travel restrictions imposed to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. But no details had been unveiled. “Airlines have the utmost responsibilities in ensuring, at the point of check-in at the origin ports that the transit passengers will be accepted at the final destinations. It is the responsibility of the airlines to conduct all necessary verification at the origin ports,” the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) told carriers in a briefing on Friday. Airlines said they had been hit with a raft of other restrictions on transit passengers too. As part of HKIA opening up, any transit passengers with tickets sold before May 29 would not be accepted for travel, according to instructions from the AAHK, which runs the Asian megahub. Tickets could only be sold on the same booking by the same airline groups, such as Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon, but interline or code-share arrangements involving a foreign airline connecting onto a Cathay or Hong Kong Airlines service was not permitted. Also, passengers who have stopovers of more than eight hours in Hong Kong will not be permitted to travel, with the AAHK hoping to avoid the risk of contact and transmission of Covid-19 among passengers.

From CNN How Vietnam managed to keep its coronavirus death toll at zero (CNN)When the world looked to Asia for successful examples in handling the novel coronavirus outbreak, much attention and plaudits were paid to South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. But there's one overlooked success story -- Vietnam. The country of 97 million people has not reported a single coronavirus-related death and on Saturday had just 328 confirmed cases, despite its long border with China and the millions of Chinese visitors it receives each year. This is all the more remarkable considering Vietnam is a low-middle income country with a much less-advanced healthcare system than others in the region. It only has 8 doctors for every 10,000 people, a third of the ratio in South Korea, according to the World Bank. After a three-week nationwide lockdown, Vietnam lifted social distancing rules in late April. It hasn't reported any local infections for more than 40 days. Businesses and schools have reopened, and life is gradually returning to normal. To skeptics, Vietnam's official numbers may seem too good to be true. But Guy Thwaites, an infectious disease doctor who works in one of the main hospitals designated by the Vietnamese government to treat Covid-19 patients, said the numbers matched the reality on the ground. "I go to the wards every day, I know the cases, I know there has been no death," said Thwaites, who also heads the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City. "If you had unreported or uncontrolled community transmission, then we'll be seeing cases in our hospital, people coming in with chest infections perhaps not diagnosed -- that has never happened," he said. So how has Vietnam seemingly bucked the global trend and largely escaped the scourge of the coronavirus? The answer, according to public health experts, lies in a combination of factors, from the government's swift, early response to prevent its spread, to rigorous contact-tracing and quarantining and effective public communication. Vietnam started preparing for a coronavirus outbreak weeks before its first case was detected. At the time, the Chinese authorities and the World Health Organization had both maintained that there was no "clear evidence'' for human-to-human transmission. But Vietnam was not taking any chances. "We were not only waiting for guidelines from WHO. We used the data we gathered from outside and inside (the country to) decide to take action early," said Pham Quang Thai, deputy head of the Infection Control Department at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi. By early January, temperature screening was already in place for passengers arriving from Wuhan at Hanoi's international airport. Travelers found with a fever were isolated and closely monitored, the country's national broadcaster reported at the time. By mid-January, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam was ordering government agencies to take "drastic measures" to prevent the disease from spreading into Vietnam, strengthening medical quarantine at border gates, airports and seaports. On January 23, Vietnam confirmed its first two coronavirus cases -- a Chinese national living in Vietnam and his father, who had traveled from Wuhan to visit his son. The next day, Vietnam's aviation authorities canceled all flights to and from Wuhan. As the country celebrated the Lunar New Year holiday, its Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc declared war on the coronavirus. "Fighting this epidemic is like fighting the enemy," he said at an urgent Communist Party meeting on January 27. Three days later, he set up a national steering committee on controlling the outbreak -- the same day the WHO declared the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern. On February 1, Vietnam declared a national epidemic -- with just six confirmed cases recorded across the country. All flights between Vietnam and China were halted, followed by the suspension of visas to Chinese citizens the next day. Over the course of the month, the travel restrictions, arrival quarantines and visa suspensions expanded in scope as the coronavirus spread beyond China to countries like South Korea, Iran and Italy. Vietnam eventually suspended entry to all foreigners in late March. Vietnam was also quick to take proactive lockdown measures. On February 12, it locked down an entire rural community of 10,000 people north of Hanoi for 20 days over seven coronavirus cases -- the first large-scale lockdown known outside China. Schools and universities, which had been scheduled to reopen in February after the Lunar New Year holiday, were ordered to remain closed, and only reopened in May. Thwaites, the infectious disease expert in Ho Chi Minh City, said the speed of Vietnam's response was the main reason behind its success. "Their actions in late January and early February were very much in advance of many other countries. And that was enormously helpful ... for them to be able to retain control," he said. The decisive early actions effectively curbed community transmission and kept Vietnam's confirmed cases at just 16 by February 13. For three weeks, there were no new infections -- until the second wave hit in March, brought by Vietnamese returning from abroad. "We have a very strong system: 63 provincial CDCs (centers for disease control), more than 700 district-level CDCs, and more than 11,000 commune health centers. All of them attribute to contact tracing," said doctor Pham with the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. A confirmed coronavirus patient has to give health authorities an exhaustive list of all the people he or she has met in the past 14 days. Announcements are placed in newspapers and aired on television to inform the public of where and when a coronavirus patient has been, calling on people to go to health authorities for testing if they have also been there at the same time, Pham said. As of May 1, about 70,000 people had been quarantined in Vietnam's government facilities, while about 140,000 had undergone isolation at home or in hotels, the study said. The study also found that of the country's first 270 Covid-19 patients, 43 percent were asymptomatic cases -- which it said highlighted the value of strict contact-tracing and quarantine. If authorities had not proactively sought out people with infection risks, the virus could have quietly spread in communities days before being detected. "The country understands that these things need to be taken seriously and complies with guidance from the government on how to prevent the infection from spreading." Continues with video https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/29/asia/coronavirus-vietnam-intl-hnk/index.html

From Khaosod English Otters Reconquer Thai Beach in Tourists’ Absence RANONG — Wiggling out from the water, rubbing their backs and bellies along the beach weren’t the usual crowd of tourists, but of rare sea otters. Residents of Koh Phayam in Ranong Friday spotted at least 10 smooth-coated otters playing on the beach, months after tourists left the island due to the coronavirus pandemic. “I’m so excited and happy to see them,” Jutharat Ladkaew, owner of a resort on Koh Phayam who posted photos of them online said. “Instead of sunbathing farangs and families vacationing, we have a new group of sunbathers.” Jutarat counted around 10 otters. They are believed to have swam from the mainland, around the wetland area near Kra Buri River which serves as a boundary between Thailand and Myanmar. “The otters are playing in the water, sunbathing in place of the farangs,” Sonchai Ui-tek-keng, president of the Tourism Council of Ranong said. “This shows that Ranong is so rich in biodiversity.”

From The Nation The long wait for handouts Some 1,000 locals in Chonburi province were queuing up from as early as 1am on Thursday (May 28) at Soi Thappaya 5 in Banglamung district to receive handouts of food and consumer products provided by the Norwegian Seamen's Church Pattaya. The church distributes 2,000 packs of the handouts at 9am every Thursday to people who have been affected by the Covid-19 situation in Pattaya, the famous tourist city that has been shut down to avoid the outbreak. At around 3am, police officers from Muang Pattaya Station came to disperse the crowd as 11pm to 4am are curfew hours imposed by the government. However, a news source said that the crowd dispersed only temporarily and queued up again once the police had gone.

From Bangkok Post State of emergency likely to end June 30 The government has set July 1 for the lift of all business and activity lockdowns ordered earlier to cope with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), said the National Security Council chief. These include interprovincial and international travel, as well as the end of emergency decree and curfew. NSC secretary-general Gen Somsak Rungsita said on Thursday that the lift of restrictions would be a complete reopening of the country. Officials would next month prepare measures for the reopening. "Authorities will have serious discussions because after the emergency decree ends, other laws will be used instead," he said. ========================================================================================================================== From The Nation Thai economy could take more than 2 years to recover Standard Chartered Bank today (May 28) said it remains conservative on Thailand’s economic outlook, even as positive signs emerge with the possibility of a further policy rate cut to below 0.25 per cent. The return to pre-Covid levels of economic activity could take more than two years on the back of improving business sentiment as the economy reopens, the bank assessed, adding the government has been disbursing cash handouts to pandemic-affected households since April. Standard Chartered forecast Thailand’s 2020 GDP to contract by 5 per cent, with a sharp contraction of 13 per cent in the second quarter, followed by a gradual recovery in the second half of the year. "We expect another 25bps rate cut in the third quarter, taking the policy rate to 0.25 per cent. We also do not rule out further policy rate cuts to below 0.25 per cent, however. Negative rates are unlikely but not off the table,” added Tim.

From Bangkok Post With its "fortune hanging in the balance", the chief of Thai AirAsia (TAA) says it may merge with another low-cost carrier (LCC) to clamp down on pricing wars once flights eventually resume in the country. If Thailand does not resume tourism activities by July, TAA's chairman said next year the company would begin laying off employees, downsizing the company and its fleet to keep its business alive. Local aviation has suffered considerably over the past few months because of the Covid-19 pandemic and government restrictions on international and domestic air travel, including the total shutdown of Phuket's airport. Some 40% of TAA's revenue had previously come from flights in southern Thailand passing through Phuket airport. "TAA is burning about 1.2 billion baht per month during the lockdown when the 60-aircraft fleet of TAA is left stranded at airports," said Tassapon Bijleveld, executive chairman of SET-listed Asia Aviation Plc (AAV). Mr Tassapon, a major shareholder with 40.52% of AAV, which is the owner of TAA, told the Bangkok Post he already had a conversation with other airlines about the possibility of a merger, but cannot disclose any details as there's not yet a concrete plan, and other conditions are needed to accelerate this decision. Thailand has seven LCCs, but in his opinion three operators are sufficient for the competition in this market. "A merger is possible if aviation in Thailand resumes with the same old fiery price wars, as now we have more limited revenue sources," said Mr Tassapon. He admitted AAV is anticipating unprecedented losses this year. Though domestic air services have taken off since May, the load factors have not been good, as only those required to travel did so, not leisure travellers. While international guests are expected to return in October, starting with an Asian wave, European guests will need another two years for a full recovery, said Mr Tassapon. He said the operation cost of each domestic flight has risen by 15-20%, mainly attributed to hygiene safety standards, but the average revenue decreased because of limited seat allocation to comply with physical distancing rules. To avoid losses for each flight, airfares should price their tickets at 1,200-1,400 baht, up 15-20% from the usual rate of about 1,000 baht, said Mr Tassapon.

From South China Morning Post Queer Malaysian singer Alextbh on embracing his sexuality, living in a conservative society and going global Living in conservative Malaysia has not stopped the proudly queer Alex Bong from making waves in the music industry. Going by the stage name Alextbh, he writes songs that deal with relationships and heartbreak, and are mostly inspired by experiences in the modern-day dating world. The Sarawak native got his first taste of music production when he was only 14. After his mother gave him an iPad, he started experimenting with the music software Garage Band. The first song he posted to YouTube received just four reactions. Ten years on, the 24-year-old has appeared at festivals across Asia, opened for international stars including US singer Khalid and British electronic band Clean Bandit, and toured with Australian soul/R&B sensation Jess Connelly. With a sound that straddles minimalist R&B and dream pop, Bong has notched up more than 400,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. The singer’s most played single, Stoop So Low, has so far been streamed more than 20 million times on the platform. Bong says Stoop So Low track represented a turning point in his career. Moving away from soundscapes inspired by electronic dance music (EDM), Stoop So Low became his first venture into R&B genre. “I started with EDM because a lot of YouTube tutorials revolved around very loud, ‘synthy’ soundscape designs,” he tells the Post. “Once I made Stoop So Low, I realised the beauty of minimalist R&B and putting [my] vocals centre stage. [My musical style] has settled on R&B and I’ve been sitting here comfortably since then.” Alex says that his recent tracks have pushed the envelope further, with lyrics that unapologetically embrace his sexuality. Between, released in April, is accompanied by an enigmatic lyric video, featuring close-up shots of male bodies and blossoming flowers. This is the first track in which he discusses sex, using words such as “guy” and “boy” to refer to his lover. Continues with three videos (recommended) https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3086290/queer-malaysian-singer-alextbh-embracing-his-sexuality

From Viet Nam News Việt Nam approves a list of countries applicable for e-visa HÀ NỘI — From the beginning of July, residents from a number of countries worldwide will be allowed to enter Việt Nam using e-visas. Government also revealed a list of border gates and airports that will accept electronic entry. Eighty countries that will benefit include Austria, Poland, Portugal, UAE, Germany, India, the Republic of Korea, Japan, US, Italy, Poland, France, China, Russia and the UK. Eight airports that will accept e-visas are Nội Bài, Tân Sơn Nhất, Cam Ranh, Đà Nẵng, Cát Bi, Cần Thơ, Phú Quốc and Phú Bài. Việt Nam started a two-year e-visa pilot programme for foreigners from 40 countries on February 1, 2017. The pilot scheme did not require foreigners to be sponsored or invited by organisations or individuals in Việt Nam to be applicable for the e-visas, as long as they have valid passports and are citizens of one of the 40 listed countries. Foreigners are not required to be present at representative agencies of Việt Nam in their countries, get interviewed or scan their fingers to apply for e-visas. They can go directly to the website https://immigration.gov.vn and apply for e-visas themselves. Applications are processed within three working days. Each applicant will be provided with a digital code, with which they can check the application progress and print their e-visas once they have been issued. They can also present the codes at border gates and airports for scanning of their e-visas. The e-visas are valid for 30 days. Each applicant must pay a non-refundable application fee of US$25 via bank transfer. https://vietnamnews.vn/society/717263/viet-nam-approves-a-list-of-countries-applicable-for-e-visa.html

From the BBC Elephants on 'great migration' to survive coronavirus starvation With the collapse of the tourism industry due to coronavirus, many of Thailand's captive elephants are now at risk of starvation. BBC Thai follows one group of elephant keepers journeying into the mountains to find food. Continues with video https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-52780258/thailand-elephants-on-great-migration-to-survive-coronavirus-starvation

Got that haircut today (first since leaving BKK) and I think the barber got more off my ears and eyebrows than he did off my scalp.

Hope "staff" doesn't include the guys on stage. How will we know if they're smiling at us. LOL. That's good news about barber shops in LOS. Just made an appointment here for my first haircut since February and was reminded that the both client and barber has to be masked. Go figure.

Since I left Bangkok in the second week of March, my thinking about this has evolved a lot. I wore a facemask for the first time during my taxi ride to the airport and on the flights home (more out of courtesy to the flight attendants than worries of contracting the virus). But fast forward about 10 days, I began to view things differently after seeing it ravage through Italy. And a few weeks later, when it began to explode in New York, the impending doom was obvious. I had intended to return to BKK in June but those flights have of course been cancelled. And although I still plan to make it back as soon as it’s feasible, this conversation has me thinking about my expectations. The biggest reason is to meet up with my regular guy who I’ve been with going on three years now. Everything else comes in a distant second. But I freely admit I’ve come to really enjoy the atmosphere of Patpong 2. The vibe is great and possibilities are endless. And when I return, whenever that might be, I hope to spend a lot of time there. But when I think about what it may be like I get a bit apprehensive. I have no problem wearing a mask on the street but if they’re required in the bars or massage shops, I’d be inclined to take a pass. The workers have every right to expect customers—particularly foreigners--to wear one because we pose the greatest threat to them. And with at least a third asymptomatic, there’s absolutely no way to know one’s status for sure unless they’ve had a diagnostic or antibody test. We have an obligation to respect the the well being of others and if that means I go without some of the finer experiences I've come to enjoy then it's the price I'm willing to pay, As others have mentioned, finding guys you’ve known from the past may turn out to be the prudent way to go. It doesn’t eliminate the risks for ether party; it simply diminishes the odds. Maybe a vaccine will set things back to normal (not the new normal), or as some predict maybe just time itself will resolve the matter. If someone said three months ago that we’d be discussing matters of ethics and moral philosophy here, few would have believed it. Back then the biggest item on the board was whether of not Babe would return to Moonlight. Those were the days.

From Bangkok Post Fake Thai Chana websites phish for personal data The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has warned that fraudulent websites bearing the name of the government's Thai Chana platform are trying to steal personal information from shoppers. The government launched www.thaichana.com and the QR code for use when people enter and leave stores and shopping centres as some businesses were given the green light to reopen on May 17. Shops are encouraged to register with the website and customers are required to scan the displayed QR code with their mobile phone as they enter and leave the premises. It was created to monitor the density of people on the premises and alert people if a coronavirus patient is found in a place they visited. Several fake websites have been found, include thaichana.pro, thai-chana.asia and thaichaia-asia. They ask users to download their apps in order to steal their information, according to the CCSA. Some people have received SMS messages on their mobile phones asking them to go to their websites to download the fake app. Thai Chana has 11 million users and has enrolled 106,000 shops and other places.

Probably about the same as other western countries (i.e, France, Italy, UK and Spain). But I'm basing this primarily on what I experience in the Northeast. What do you think from experience in your neck of the woods?

From The Thaiger Thailand scores highest for mask-wearing in survey of ASEAN nations A survey carried out by internet-based market research firm YouGov reveals that Thais are the most likely to wear face masks and to use hand sanitiser. Khaosod English reports that the survey examined the habits of citizens from 6 ASEAN member-states and found that 95% of Thais always wear a face mask in public. Vietnamese citizens were a close second at 94%, followed by the Philippines (93%), Malaysia (89%), and Indonesia (87%). Singapore came in last with just 66% of people saying they always wear a face mask in public. Those surveyed were chosen based on age, income, education level and gender to ensure a wide representation for each country.

From Bangkok Post Demands reportedly made by people claiming they could ensure properties would be chosen as quarantine centres Pattaya hoteliers claim a group of people have demanded kickbacks from them if they want their facilities to be chosen as state quarantine centres. They have urged the government to look into the issue, but officials were quick to deny any involvement by legitimate state authorities. Government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat said on Saturday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had ordered an investigation into the claim. He vowed to take tough action against wrongdoers who were taking advantage of people and business operators during this difficult time, she said. The government pays participating hotels 1,000 baht per person per day for hosting people serving 14-day quarantine periods. To date, around 80,000 Thais who have returned home from abroad have been placed in quarantine facilities nationwide as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus disease. State agencies choose quarantine sites based on a set of criteria that include hotel licences, more than 200 non-carpeted rooms, and separate air-conditioners for each room. There are several hotels that meet the criteria in Pattaya, where about 10,000 rooms have been used for the purpose. Ekkasit Ngampichet, chairman of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association (PBTA), confirmed the kickback demand at rates between 30% and 40%.

From Bangkok Post Line app has come under criticism after its recent update includes a new feature that shows which Line Official Accounts (OA) users are following as well as users' followers for others to see. OA is commonly used by brands and businesses to stay connected with Line users. Dr Nawanan Theera-Ampornpunt, a newly appointed member of the Personal Data Protection Committee, told the Bangkok Post Line's latest update conflicts with the "privacy by design" principle. Line did not inform users of the app or update them about new features, he said, noting the app was updated several days ago. If this affects only small groups, that would not be a major issue, but Line has a massive user base, particularly in Thailand, where 45 million users have access and the app is commonly used for communication in daily life, said Dr Nawanan. "Whether to disclose that data should be the right of the user," he said. "This is not the developer's business." Line should turn off this feature by default to ensure privacy protection and let users decide whether they want to opt in, said Dr Nawanan. To manually turn off the feature, users are recommended to go to the app's settings, profile, and tick out the "Show follow info" box. Line Thailand issued a statement saying this feature would make it easier for users to check the number and OA names, along with other Line users that he or she follows. It lets others see users' followed accounts to "suggest these accounts to others with shared interests". "Only the number and names of the Line Official Accounts as well as names of other Line users followed by each user are shown, " said Line. Line apologised for the delayed communication and explanation for the "following" feature. "Line Thailand takes all the blame and aims to solve this matter as quickly as possible," it indicated.

From The Nation Wealthy returnees are being given the choice of a luxury upgrade for their mandatory quarantine, the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) revealed on Thursday (May 21). State officials have been providing the alternative state quarantine for people “who need more options” during the 14-day quarantine period, said CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin. Currently, returnees are either sent to local quarantine (provided by provincial authorities) or state quarantine (government facilities provided for people who arrive on planes). However, a third option is available for people who are willing to pay more for a luxury, high-end service. The government calls it “alternate state quarantine”, and is collaborating with luxury hotel operators and hospitals to provide the special privilege. Among those who can take advantage of the option are foreign returnees with Thai work permits – mostly businesspeople and diplomats. Many are willing to pay more for the quarantine upgrade. Dr Taweesin added that the government may not be able to continue providing free state quarantine once the state of emergency was lifted and more people began arriving from other countries. However, travellers would be able to choose paid accommodation at hotels that had partnered with hospitals to provide healthcare services. The standard of hotels would range from two-star to luxury. He also invited interested hotels and hospitals to join the programme by contacting the CCSA with details of the preparations they have made. Meanwhile, foreign students and others have asked the government to lift the travel ban against low-risk countries when the third phase of lockdown easing is implemented. They point out that the government has a tracking system that can call people up for testing, so it might be possible for foreigners to visit Thailand for purposes other than business, including students who attend international schools in Bangkok, which are scheduled to open on June 1.

From Khmer Times The government announced the lifting of the travel ban for people from six countries but they need health certificates issued by their individual country to confirm they are free of coronavirus. To prevent imported cases from entering Cambodia, the government in March temporarily barred people from six countries from entering the Kingdom, such as the United States, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Iran. A statement signed by Health Minister Mam Bun Heng, who is also head of the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Combating COVID-19, said that Prime Minister Hun Sen approved a request made by Health and Foreign Affairs Ministries to lift the travel bans. “[We] lift the ban for foreigners from Iran, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and the United States, which has been listed in the Ministry of Heath’s announcement on March 14 and 15, 2020,” the statement said. However, Mr Bun Heng said both Cambodian and foreigners who enter the Kingdom need health certificates which are issued no longer than 72 hours to confirm that they contract no COVID-19. He said that foreigners need health insurance with $50,000 during their stays in Cambodia. “For all passengers, both Cambodian and foreigners who enter Cambodia must be sent to waiting centres to have their specimens tested for COVID-19 and wait for the test results from the Pasteur Institute,” he added. He said in case one passenger is found positive, the rests who travelled with him will be placed under 14-day quarantine. ========================================================================================================================================= From Phnom Penh Post. Kingdom wants direct flights to US Cambodia welcomes any US airline that wishes to operate direct flights to the Kingdom and promote trade, tourism and investment with the world’s largest economy, said Minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) Mao Havanall. Havannall was speaking at a meeting with US Ambassador to Cambodia W Patrick Murphy at the SSCA office on Monday. SSCA spokesman Sin Chansereyvutha told The Post on Tuesday that Murphy had proposed allowing US-produced Boeing Co aircraft to operate in Cambodian airspace and expediting work on an air service agreement between the two countries – under discussion since 2014. “In regard to a Cambodia-US air service agreement, only two issues remain – first is technical terminology, which we may interpret differently but we can still open up to negotiation. “Secondly, US companies want to conduct aircraft ground handling procedures themselves – this poses a bit of a challenge,” said Chansereyvutha, adding that the government has authorised private companies to do so. He said US airlines want US companies to service their aircrafts while on the ground, due to security concerns.

From Reuters Thailand Says It Expects Coronavirus Vaccine Next Year After Tests in Mice BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand expects to have a vaccine for the novel coronavirus ready next year, a senior official said on Wednesday, after finding positive trial results in mice. Thailand will begin testing the mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccine in monkeys next week after successful trials in mice, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, spokesman for the government's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration. "The Thai vaccine is expected to be used next year,” he said. More than 100 potential vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, are being developed, including several in clinical trials, but the World Health Organization in April had warned that a vaccine would take at least 12 months. The Thai vaccine is being developed by the National Vaccine Institute, the Department of Medical Science and Chulalongkorn University’s vaccine research centre. Messenger RNA prompts body cells to produce so-called antigens, molecules on the surface of viruses, that spur the immune system into action. Thailand was ranked fifth globally, just ahead of South Korea, for rapid response to and mitigation of the spread of an epidemic in the Johns Hopkins Global Health Security Index report in 2019. U.S. drugmaker Moderna Inc's experimental COVID-19 vaccine, the first to be tested in the United States, produced protective antibodies in a small group of healthy volunteers, according to very early data released by the company on Monday. Drugmakers such as Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer Inc, which is working with Germany's BioNTech SE, are also working to develop vaccines for the novel coronavirus.

From Bangkok Post BoT cuts key rate to 0.50% The Bank of Thailand cut its policy rate by 25 basis points to a record low of 0.50% on Wednesday, to help soften the economic impact of the pandemic and social distancing measures. The central bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 4-3 at Wednesday's meeting to lower the one-day repurchase rate, with the three dissenters preferring a steady rate. It was the fifth cut since August last year. The MPC had kept the rate steady at its last meeting after a 25-basis-point cut at an emergency meeting on March 20. "The Thai economy is likely to contract at a deeper pace than previously predicted and the committee considered that the right relief measures, launched in a timely manner, will help cushion some impacts," MPC secretary Titanun Mallikamas said. The economy is heading for recession after shrinking 1.8% year-on-year in the first quarter, the deepest contraction since the flood-hit fourth quarter of 2011.

Judging by the gussy upped old scheme authorities rolled out today--one that seems doomed to fail because it ignores the obvious, Thailand again wants to prove that it can perform a grand makeover and revive tourism by catering to the well heeled who come the country to enjoy the beautiful seaside and culture. Consider these excerpts from today's Post: Thailand plans to rebrand tourism in the post-coronavirus era to "Amazing Trusted Thailand", aimed at selective markets and destinations in the country that can guarantee health and safety standards for both tourists and locals. "Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha suggested we use this opportunity to rebrand Thai tourism as a quality destination where we care more about trust than carrying capacity." With Thailand looking to exit lockdown this month, TAT is preparing a strategy for the second stage -- matching foreign tourists from countries that were removed from the list of "Disease-Infected Zones for Covid-19" with select provinces that never reported infections, or provinces that have not had a new case in the past 28 days. Islands such as Phuket or Samui may be the first batch of destinations to welcome international tourists as their geography allows authorities to more easily control and keep track of tourists. Thailand is looking at high spenders within the region, such as Singapore, China and Vietnam, to visit designated areas in Thailand under a quota. These tourists can visit selected destinations without being subjected to 14-day quarantine measures, but they have to provide health certification, fit-to-fly certificates and buy health insurance before visiting Thailand, while rapid testing will be available upon arrival. It's built partially on the assumption that tourists from these countries have no place else to go so they'll obviously pour into Thailand. That's based on the highly unlikely assumption that other nations--also seeking to revive tourism--will sit on their hands while everyone with money packs off to the LOS. It also assumes that this will put a sizeable dent in lost tourism income. Readers who've been coming to Thailand for more than a few years know that those aren't the tourists who fill the hotels, buy the street food and patronize the traditional entertainment areas. Those tourists come from far and wide and without them the ecosystem of bars, restaurants, clubs and other venues that they support will disappear. The idea that Thailand can somehow alter a formula that has created an industry responsible for 20% of its GDP is a wet dream a minority of hi-so planners keep returning to whenever they see an new opportunity presenting itself. But neglecting the livelihood of thousands of day-to-day earners has never proven a plan--in any nation--that's conducive to good public order and preventing political unrest. Tourism rather will be revived when people believe that the Thailand they know from the past will still be there when they arrive.

Extracted from Bloomberg News Emirates Considers Cutting 30,000 Jobs, Retire A380s Faster Emirates Group is considering slashing about 30,000 jobs, the deepest cuts yet in a global airline industry that’s been forced into near-hibernation by the coronavirus pandemic. The world’s biggest long-haul carrier could shrink a payroll that stood at 105,000 in March by as much as 30% as it reduces costs and realigns its operation to cope with a travel downturn expected to last for years, according to people familiar with the matter. The state-owned group raised $1.2 billion in new financing in the first quarter and is seeking aid from Dubai. Emirates is also considering accelerating the retirement of its fleet of A380s, the massive double-decker jets that can seat more than 500 passengers, some of the people said, asking not to be identified because the information hasn’t been made public. Emirates, the biggest operator of the Airbus SE super-jumbo aircraft, said it is reviewing “costs and resourcing” levels against projections as it prepares to resume service after an almost two-month grounding. The early retirement of some A380s -- the linchpin of a strategy that made Dubai the leading hub for flights around the globe -- could potentially speed the end-game for the biggest-ever commercial jetliner. Airbus was forced to end the program last year after failing to agree with Emirates on terms, though it still has eight more to deliver. State-owned Emirates, the biggest customer for the A380, dropped it from its long-term plans, ordered smaller wide-body aircraft and reviewed its route network, while increasing cooperation with regional discount carrier Flydubai -- also state-owned. Emirates plans to mostly rely on its Boeing Co. 777 wide-body jets during the recuperation period, said one of the people. The airline has 155 of the smaller U.S. planes in its fleet, compared with 115 of A380s.

Extracted from The Financial Times Thailand’s travel industry readies for relaunch At Bangkok’s flower-garlanded Erawan shrine, right downstairs from my FT office, the female dancers who have figured in decades’ worth of tourist snaps are back in action. They are wearing the same spired, bejewelled, gold hats but their faces are masked behind plastic shields. Just down the block, staff at the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel are being trained in the deep cleaning of a hotel room, using hospital-grade disinfectants, in preparation for reopening. In the reception, plexiglass shields have been erected at the counter, chairs and tables carefully spaced, and discreet red Xs taped on the floor to mark the spots where guests will wait to check in. Thailand was the first country after China to report coronavirus cases and is among the first to be exiting lockdown. Bangkok is the world’s most visited city, according to Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index, and it is also home to international hospitality groups such as Minor Hotels (whose brands include Anantara, Tivoli, Avani and NH) and Sansiri, owner of The Standard Hotels, known for its flagship property straddling New York’s High Line and its recently opened St Pancras hotel. As such, what happens in Thailand can perhaps be seen as a bellwether of global things to come. “Before this hit, tourism was booming; it was a heaven for all nationalities — Europeans, Americans, Chinese, Indians, they all love Thailand,” says Srettha Thavisin, Sansiri’s president and Standard Hotels’ chairman. “When this thing is over . . . my guess is people will feel safe to come here again, maybe in the third quarter, when flights return to normal.” Thailand earned a name and a global niche for itself with exotic, tactile experiences, from beach raves to Chinatown street meals, Thai boxing matches, jungle treks and traditional massages. As the industry prepares to reopen, the question is whether the masks, temperature checks and abundant hand sanitiser won’t be the ultimate mood killer. Thailand hosted a record 39m visitors last year, but the Tourism Authority of Thailand expects just 16m to come in 2020, and many in the industry think it will be lucky to get 10m. Hoteliers and restaurateurs insist that returning guests can still expect the familiar pleasures, albeit with some new additions. Contactless technology — cards, touch-free buttons, even facial recognition — will increasingly be used at check-in, to operate lifts and open doors or rubbish bins. Hotels’ public spaces will be reconfigured or redesigned to let more ventilation and sunlight in. Breakfast buffets will mostly be replaced by table service; servers will have their smiles hidden behind masks, and will be wearing gloves when they serve you your som tam (spicy papaya salad). For long-haul visitors, extended stays in one place will be more common than multi-destination jaunts around Thailand and south-east Asia. Private villas promising socially distanced seclusion will command a bigger premium than before over high-rise hotel rooms. And hospital-quality levels of hygiene and cleanliness, and minimised but bespoke human contact, will become not just a feature but an integral part of the product, especially at the high end. “The same level of personalisation will be there, but we will minimise the number of staff guests meet,” says Thomas Harlander, managing director of the luxury group Rosewood’s Bangkok hotel. Like Anantara, the hotel is promising a “seamless” experience for guests from their arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport. Vehicles carrying guests will be disinfected, and a note put in the car saying it was professionally cleaned. “It’s going to be even more seamless, and fewer people, fewer touchpoints, less intrusive,” Harlander says. Anantara is planning to offer gym services, but on an individual basis, with equipment carefully sanitised and private training sessions booked in advance. Room service will continue, but servers will roll the trolleys up to guests’ rooms without entering themselves. “You don’t want a stranger in your room,” says Thomas Meier, the group’s senior vice-president for Asia. “We will help you push it in, and then you will set it up yourself.” Now, after two months of lockdown, Thai beaches are their cleanest in years and are being visited by otherwise seldom seen wildlife such as hornbills, pink dolphins and dugongs. In a recent call with journalists, Bill Heinecke, Minor’s chief executive, marvelled at the corals now visible off Thai beaches and water clarity “like I’ve never seen before”. “I think we’re going through a reset,” he said. Thai authorities are now also speaking of easing international travel, starting with Asian countries such as China and South Korea that have brought their coronavirus caseloads under control. Hotel groups expect that the Chinese in particular, newly freed from lockdown, will be keen to come back. “If they are looking to travel again, one of their first destinations will be Thailand,” says Suphajee Suthumpun, chief executive of Dusit International. Dusit has nine hotels in China and, as such, a preview of the group psychology of tourists recently freed from home quarantines. “When they lifted lockdown situations, people got excited and began to travel,” Suthumpun says. “Then they realised they shouldn’t do it so much, and became more rational.” For its 12 Thai hotels, Dusit is preparing a “comeback campaign”. Alongside the shampoo and soap offered in guest rooms, there will be a “personal protection pack” that includes hand sanitiser, a mask and gloves. At its Hua Hin and other properties, the chain will be offering guests the option of getting local food, handicrafts or other “must-try” items in their rooms via concierge service. Gyms will be moved outdoors. Sansiri is doing “minor to major renovations” of its two Thai hotels, opening them up to sunlight and the gardens more, and enlarging communal areas. Similar design features are being incorporated into Standard’s planned properties in Hua Hin, Ko Samui, Pattaya and Phuket. “The feeling of being too close together won’t be desirable,” says Thavisin. On entering hotels, guests may be given something to disinfect the soles of their feet, or an ultraviolet light that “cleanses you”, he says. Hoteliers are resisting the urge to discount at a time when they face lower occupancy and higher health-and-safety related costs, but are adding some extra inducements to come. In Ayutthaya, the Unesco World Heritage site a 90-minute drive outside Bangkok, the boutique Iudia hotel is maintaining room rates but offering free dinners, in part because many restaurants remain closed. The ruined city’s monumental plazas, stupas and temples — ordinarily swamped by day-trippers from Bangkok — are now being enjoyed by a handful of Thai tourists, and that is unlikely to change until airlines restore more long-haul flights.