Nightlife Venues Reopen in Thailand Despite Foreign Tourists Ban

Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 09:18 am

All nightlife venues in Thailand, bars and entertainment venues, including wet massage parlous, will open their doors again on Wednesday. While some foreigners will be allowed into Thailand, but not tourists. The reopening of nightlife venues comes as virus lockdown restrictions are further eased in Thailand.

According to the media,  the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday gave the green light for all remaining entertainment facilities to reopen from Wednesday. They include pubs and bars, karaoke bars, and bath-sauna-massage establishments. Health measures and monitoring will be required. “It was widely debated,” CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin said after the meeting. All reopening premises will be required to use the Thai Chana platform. Created to alert businesses and customers to any Covid-19 outbreak.

Investors and highly skilled workers from Japan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore will be allowed entry into Thailand. Above all on condition they enter a self-sponsored quarantine program at private facilities arranged by the government. Short-term business visitors will be exempt from the requirement. Foreigners who have family in Thailand, and those who have homes in the kingdom, will also be allowed to return, according to the spokesman. Allowing in tourists from countries matched up with Thailand through a “travel bubble” did not get the full approval of board members of the CCSA, which is chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said health safety measures still have to be ironed out. Above all for Thai tourists going to other countries, and foreign tourists arriving here. The Disease Control Department and Foreign Ministry were still working on guidelines. Ones which were also acceptable to partner countries, which have different health requirements, said Mr Anutin, whose Bhumjaithai Party guides health and tourism policies. Foreigners coming to Thailand for medical treatment will be permitted in from Wednesday. But they must be accompanied by their partner, and enter quarantine at the hospital they go to. “Only some medical tourism programs, not all of them, will be permitted,” Dr Taweesilp said.

The decision to open up more businesses, and some travel, was made after more than a month without any new local infections being recorded in Thailand. The meeting also agreed to extend use of the emergency decree until the end of July. Restrictions were earlier lifted on restaurants, schools, malls and many sports activities. With enforcement of social distancing and body temperature checks.