Thailand to drop mask rule, foreign tourist registration
Thailand said on June 17 that it would abandon its pre-registration process for foreign visitors and no longer require face masks to be worn in public places, responding to a slower COVID-19 spread. Thailand said on June 17 that it would abandon its pre-registration process for foreign visitors and no longer require face masks to be worn in public places, responding to a slower COVID-19 spread.
Foreign tourists visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: VNA)
Thailand (VNA) - Thailand said on June 17that it would abandon its pre-registration process for foreign visitors and nolonger require face masks to be worn in public places, responding to a slower COVID-19spread.
Tourism Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan said the"Thailand Pass" system, where foreign tourists must seek priorapproval from Thai authorities, will be halted from July 1, lifting one of thecountry's last remaining travel curbs.
In 2019, Thailand welcomed nearly 40 million tourists,but received less than 1 percent of that number last year, despite easing itsquarantine requirements.
Though tourism has picked up in recent months, the industryis far from recovering.
The same day, the coronavirus task force said theuse of face masks would from next month be voluntary, but advised people towear them if in crowded settings or if suffering from health conditions.
Thailand recorded more than 30,000 COVID-19 deathsoverall, but has largely contained its outbreaks, helped by a vaccination rateof more than 80 percent./.
Thailand will have to increase tourist arrivals in the fourth quarter of this year, the annual high season, to reach the goal of 7-10 million in 2022, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has said.
The Board of Investment (BOI) of Thailand on June 1 approve tax incentives for four major investment projects with combined investment value of 209.478 billion THB (around 6 billion USD).
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
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The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
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ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Foreign tourists visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: VNA) 
