International transit/transfer passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport must have travel insurance covering healthcare and treatment expenses for Covid-19, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).
The period of each transit/transfer operation shall not exceed 12 hours. The rule has been in effect since the beginning of this month.
The insurance coverage or any other guarantee should be at least US$100,000 (3 million baht).
Passengers also must also have a "fit to fly" health certificate that is a medical certificate with a laboratory result indicating that Covid-19 is not detected. The test must be done by RT-PCR technique and the result must be issued within 72 hours before travelling.
CAAT specifies an area of Concourse E for transit/transfer passengers. They must also proceed through the "sealed route", meaning disembarking via Gate E10, going through a security screening process and boarding the aircraft via Gate E9. An alternative is to get in a separated shuttle bus to board the aircraft at the remote parking stand.
If the demand exceeds the existing capacity, additional operations will be available at Gate E5, E7 and E8.
Each passenger and personnel should wear a mask at all times. Personnel working in the waiting areas for transit/transfer operations shall wear personal protective equipment. There shall be no Covid-19 screening or laboratory service at the transit/transfer area in the airport.
Visit caat.or.th.
Petition seeks tourism reopening
More than 10,000 people signed an e-petition asking the government to reopen Thailand from July 1 for vaccinated travellers without quarantine requirements.
The "Open Thailand Safely" campaign was initiated by leading travel and hospitality companies including Yaana Ventures, Minor Group and Asian Trails. It was launched on March 2 with the support of over 40 major hotels, travel agents and organisations including Cape & Kantary Hotels, Capella Hotels and Resorts and Skal International.
The petition will be submitted to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn and the Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn.
The target of the petition is 100,000 supporters.
Visit OpenThailandSafely.org.
Agoda says GoLocal
Agoda has launched GoLocal Tonight service offering last-minute booking deals.
Agoda collected search data in January this year. It found a growing demand for last-minute travel searches for same day and next-day overnight hotel stay.
Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are the top three Asia Pacific markets to embrace the impromptu travel experience. These markets are followed by travellers from Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, India, the Philippines, South Korea and Singapore. GoLocal Tonight offers up to 30% additional discount off last minute reservations.
Visit agoda.com.
AIRLINES UPDATE
- Emirates offers Economy Class passengers to purchase up to three empty adjoining seats on their flight.
Empty seats can be purchased at the airport check-in counter before flight departure. Costs range from US$55 (1,700 baht) to US$165 per empty seat, plus applicable taxes depending on the flight sector.
The service offers extra privacy and space including couples who wish to have the entire row to themselves (maximum of three seats in the same row) and parents travelling with in-lap infants.
Visit emirates.com.
HOTEL DEALS & UPDATES
- Centara Hotels & Resorts will open Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne in Vietnam.
It will be a Spanish Mediterranean-themed waterpark resort located in the beach resort town of Mui Ne, about 216km from Ho Chi Minh City. The resort will have 984 rooms, a restaurant, observatory tower cafe, playgrounds, Kids' Club, Cenvaree Spa and Spa Candy for children. The waterpark will feature a lazy river, water slides, splash pool, cliff jumping pool and kids' pool.
The resort is scheduled to open next month.
Visit centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cmv.
- Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok offers up to 75% discounts on rooms.
Available until March 31, the Summer of Happiness promotion offers prices for a night stay starting from 4,888 baht net. The promotion includes an early check-in at 9am and late check-out until 9pm (not applied to Pool Access and Themed Family Suites), complimentary daily breakfast, a 2,000-baht credit for redeeming hotel services and Executive Room and Suite privileges such as afternoon tea and evening cocktails.
Guests who book for stays from Monday to Thursday will receive an additional hotel credit of 500 baht net per room per night.
The period for stays is available until May 3 except during Songkran holidays on April 12-14.
Visit kempinski.com/en/bangkok/siam-hotel/special-offers/summer-of-happiness.
Email karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th if you have any comments to share.
