Latest news with #Thienthong
7NEWS
04-08-2025
- 7NEWS
Amid border tensions and terror concerns, is it safe for Australians to visit South East Asia at the moment?
More than five million Australians visit South East Asia each year, but a series of deadly events across the region has created a mixed bag of travel advice and warnings from the Australian Government. In recent weeks, many were shocked to see the rapid escalation in violence at the border between Thailand and Cambodia, two countries popular with Australian travellers. A ceasefire declared on Monday appears to be holding and 260,000 people who evacuated homes in the region are returning. Exchanges of heavy fire left at least 38 people dead, with soldiers and civilians lost on both sides. Horrifying imagery of the conflict has flowed to the wider world — showing explosions, rockets, and destroyed homes, businesses, even a hospital. Along with thousands upon thousands of terrified and displaced people. For the Thai Government, these are sights difficult to reconcile with the image it promotes of a holiday paradise which attracted some 800-thousand Australian visitors last year. And the conflict is just the latest cause for tourist concern to pop up in the country, which relies on holidaymakers to generate 20 per cent of its gross domestic product. In June, explosives found outside Phuket International Airport and elsewhere prompted the Australian Government to update its terrorism advice for Thailand. The whole nation is covered by advice to exercise a high degree of caution, with a note that popular tourist areas including Phuket and Bangkok may be targeted. While do not travel warnings are in place following the border conflict for within 50km of anywhere along the Thai and Cambodia border. 7NEWS visited the capital, Bangkok, last week to look into the latest with the ceasefire and make sense of the current travel advice for Thailand and the broader region. Thailand's Tourism Minister Sarawong Thienthong told 7NEWS Australian visitors had been rising from January, but in July saw a dip of 2 per cent or about 3000 people. 'First of all, Thailand is very safe, very safe,' Thienthong said. 'Cambodia and Thailand are like brother to brother countries, but they hurt us,' 'It's happened, but we are neighbours, and I think everything is going to be well very soon.' The tourism trade remained busy, but international arrivals had taken a hit in recent days, Thienthong said. 'Yesterday, I checked and about 7000 had cancelled.' 'But mostly Australians do not go to that area anyway, the most popular locations that Australians go to are Bangkok and Phuket.' 'Only seven provinces on the border are affected out of more than 70 provinces in Thailand.' About 300km from the border is Bangkok which is home to more than 10 million people, and in charge of the metropolitan area is popular Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. Sittipunt often runs 10km or more each day, and we met with him in a Bangkok city park where he was jogging. 'Today I ran 12km, all the way from home at 4.30am, so Bangkok is safe,' he said. 'The border conflict is a sad event, we didn't want it to happen, but from Bangkok it is quite far away.' 'We support our soldiers and people at the front line, but if you come to visit Bangkok you won't see any effect from that.' The governor recently played a prominent public role in helping with the aftermath of the March earthquake, which saw an office tower under construction in Bangkok collapse, killing 92 people. 'Only one building collapsed and it had some problems with the construction and design, but we recovered quickly from that event,' Sittipunt said. 'And we have seen improvements, now we have alerts and warning systems if an earthquake hit again or some other emergency. 'And our regulations are prepared for nearly twice that magnitude, so most buildings had no effect.' The collapsed tower was to be the State Audits office, a government building. Since the collapse about 17 people have been arrested with investigators pointing to corners cut on the building's construction. Just a few hundred metres from the now empty site of the collapsed tower was the scene of Bangkok's latest deadly tragedy on Monday. On the same day the border cease fire was declared and Thais felt they finally had some good news to welcome, Bangkok was rocked by a mass shooting. A gunman opened fire at the Or Tor Kor Market in Chatuchak, killing five people and then himself. It has been reported the man's wife is a vendor at the market and he held a long-running grudge with security staff there following an incident five years ago when his car was scratched there. His victims included four security guards and another market vendor. 'That was a tragedy, but I think it was a random thing that happened,' Sittipunt said. 'But in Bangkok that's not common, very rare.' Bangkok was the world's most visited capital city in 2024 and Australian man, John Gamvrogiannis, who has lived there for eight years now said that is because for the most part the city is safe and welcoming. 'Thailand gets a bit of a bad rap for being a place that's dangerous,' he said. 'I've always got my mum on the phone to me after reading some article or hearing something in the news, worried beyond belief about me living in Thailand, when actually I find it to be a super safe place.' 'You really have to be living in a particular way to find trouble here, it's a very cosmopolitan place, people are looking out for each other.' Gamvrogiannis, along with wife Arin, run one of Bangkok's famed rooftop venues Aesops. The restaurant was inspired by his father's Greek restaurants in Sydney of the same name in Double Bay and on Macquarie Street, with some added party atmosphere. Along with the skyline views, Green dancing and traditional plate smashing draw crowds. 'The idea is social dining, so fine dining is kind of done, and it's all about fun dining, so we want a space where people can interact,' Gamvrogiannis said. 'The tables are sturdy enough that you can get on, stand on the tables, smash plates, and party all night.' On Fridays and Saturdays, Aesops is usually a full house, with a mix of locals and tourists. But Gamvrogiannis fears tourists may be put off visiting Thailand by a perception that the border conflict is nationwide. 'It's such an odd thing when you live in a country like Thailand, which is so friendly and peaceful,' he said. 'So, it hit home, and it hit home for me, especially because my wife is from a border province.' 'You could see she was scared about what was happening and maybe impacting her family.' Gamvrogiannis asked her parents to evacuate to safety in Bangkok, but they stayed behind in Trat to help their neighbours. 'They're in good spirits,' she said. 'We're all just trying to get on with our lives, we don't want to be fighting with our neighbour.' Outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Brisbane tourists Emily Miller and Dani Aylward said they were feeling safe in the city. 'I guess we did have some concerns, but we were researching on the Smart Traveller website, and I spoke to a couple of people who said we would be fine just don't go to the border area,' Aylward said. Elsewhere in the region the Smart Traveller website warns of dangers of methanol poisoning from cocktails, after two Melbourne women died in 2024 after consuming tainted drinks in Laos. While terrorism advice is in place for Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Thailand. 'I think terrorism is a risk for every city, and we have to take precautions, but here there has been no incidents for a long time,' Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said. 'And I think Bangkok is quite an inclusive society, it is a city where we embrace everyone, so we don't have any conflict between religion, or gender, or anything.'
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Thailand's visa-free stay will soon be cut to 30 days. Here's what it means for tourists
Thailand has announced it will halve the number of days foreign tourists can stay in the country without a visa from 60 days to 30. The move comes as the Southeast Asian nation clamps down on travellers exploiting the waiver to carry out illegal business activities, tourism and sports minister Sorawong Thienthong said. Local travel and hospitality associations have also expressed concerns over visitors renting out accommodation without official authorisation. Since July 2024, passport holders from 93 countries have been allowed to stay in Thailand for tourism purposes for up to 60 days. By cutting the number of days to 30, the government says it hopes to curb misuse of the waiver period without damaging tourism. The Association of Thai Travel Agents has spoken out over concerns that an increasing number of foreigners are engaging in illicit jobs or business activities while claiming to be visiting for tourism purposes. The Thai Hotels Association raised another key issue that the 60-day stay was prompting a rise in the illegal letting of apartments to foreign visitors, the Bangkok Post reported. Thienthong said the measure has been agreed upon in principle by key ministries and an official date for the change will be announced soon. There will reportedly be possible exemptions or transitional measures for travellers who already have bookings in place. Thailand's 60-day stay has been a boon for many travellers wanting to undertake extended trips, including digital nomads and retirees. Around seven per cent of bookings to Thailand between January and February were for stays of over 22 nights, according to data from Forward Keys. Officials say the reduction in the number of visa-free days could see a small negative impact on inbound tourism demand. Related Where was The White Lotus season 3 filmed? Our pick of Thailand's must-visit filming locations How the rise of regenerative travel is changing Thailand's elephant tourism for the better Tourism is a vital driver of Thailand's economy, and other challenges are also facing the industry. 'The potential policy move adds to a growing list of factors weighing on the sector [...], along with Chinese tourists' security concerns and tighter travel budgets among North American and European travellers,' Bloomberg Intelligence analysts wrote in a report this week. Thai authorities are aiming for foreign tourist arrivals to exceed 40 million in 2025, which would break the country's 2019 record. Between January and mid-March, Thailand's visitor numbers were already up 3.9 per cent from 2024.
Euronews
18-03-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Thailand plans to cut visa-free stays for foreign tourists to 30 days
Thailand has announced it will halve the number of days foreign tourists can stay in the country without a visa from 60 days to 30. The move comes as the Southeast Asian nation clamps down on travellers exploiting the waiver to carry out illegal business activities, tourism and sports minister Sorawong Thienthong said. Local travel and hospitality associations have also expressed concerns over visitors renting out accommodation without official authorisation. Since July 2024, passport holders from 93 countries have been allowed to stay in Thailand for tourism purposes for up to 60 days. By cutting the number of days to 30, the government says it hopes to curb misuse of the waiver period without damaging tourism. The Association of Thai Travel Agents has spoken out over concerns that an increasing number of foreigners are engaging in illicit jobs or business activities while claiming to be visiting for tourism purposes. The Thai Hotels Association raised another key issue that the 60-day stay was prompting a rise in the illegal letting of apartments to foreign visitors, the Bangkok Post reported. Thienthong said the measure has been agreed upon in principle by key ministries and an official date for the change will be announced soon. There will reportedly be possible exemptions or transitional measures for travellers who already have bookings in place. Thailand's 60-day stay has been a boon for many travellers wanting to undertake extended trips, including digital nomads and retirees. Around seven per cent of bookings to Thailand between January and February were for stays of over 22 nights, according to data from Forward Keys. Officials say the reduction in the number of visa-free days could see a small negative impact on inbound tourism demand. Tourism is a vital driver of Thailand's economy, and other challenges are also facing the industry. 'The potential policy move adds to a growing list of factors weighing on the sector [...], along with Chinese tourists' security concerns and tighter travel budgets among North American and European travellers,' Bloomberg Intelligence analysts wrote in a report this week. Thai authorities are aiming for foreign tourist arrivals to exceed 40 million in 2025, which would break the country's 2019 record. Between January and mid-March, Thailand's visitor numbers were already up 3.9 per cent from 2024. The EU's long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) is scheduled to finally come into force in 2025. Officials say Europe's new digital border system for non-EU nationals will be rolled out beginning in October this year. The exact date will be announced "several months prior to its launch", according to Foreign Office guidance. The system is being introduced to bolster border security and identify travellers who overstay their permitted time in the Schengen Area (90 days within a 180-day period). The new system requires Europe's border crossings to have dedicated infrastructure installed. The UK government has reportedly provided Eurostar, Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover with £3.5 million (€4.1 million) each to spend on registration kiosks. Eurostar will have 50 kiosks at three locations in stations while Eurotunnel will have over 100 kiosks and says EES checks will only add around five minutes to journey times. The Port of Dover will have 24 kiosks for coach passengers and will register car passengers using staff members and tablets. However, it's expected that as little as 10 per cent of Europe's border crossings will have this infrastructure installed when EES launches, so concerns are growing over how it will affect wait times at border crossings. The EES will be a registration system for UK, US and other non-EU travellers. It will only apply to those who don't require a visa to enter the EU. Travellers will need to scan their passports or other travel documents at a self-service kiosk each time they cross an EU external border. It will not apply to legal EU citizens or residents or those with long-stay visas. The system will register the traveller's name, biometric data, and the date and place of entry and exit. Facial scans and fingerprint data will be taken every three years and are valid for multiple trips within that period. The system means that new barriers have to be installed at all international land, maritime and air borders in the Schengen Area. These are said to be heavy, with some airports saying they have had to reinforce their floors to support them. This is just one of the myriad reasons for the system's nearly nine-year delay. The EES's scanning requirements have forced European train company Eurostar to change its check-in system at the UK border. The rail operator has scrapped a service that lets selected passengers skip the double passport control at London's St Pancras train station. From February, Eurostar stopped its SmartCheck option for Premium, Carte Blanche, and Etoile Club members. The service allowed passengers who register their details on the identification app to take advantage of facial recognition technology at St Pancras. This let them bypass the manual passport check by a UK immigration officer and go directly to French passport control. However, the system has been removed ahead of the introduction of the EES to prepare for the facial scanning and fingerprinting requirement for Brits upon entering the EU for the first time. There are concerns that the new system will lengthen passenger processing times at St Pancras, though Eurostar says they will increase control kiosks to minimise disruption. 'We're removing SmartCheck as we continue to make some changes at the station in preparation for the launch of the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES),' Eurostar said in a statement. 'As part of these preparations, we're improving our border control area with new ePassport gates and extra passport control booths. 'This will help us ensure the border control process is as smooth as possible for passengers travelling in the coming months and after EES has launched.' French authorities will also operate EES border checks at the UK's Port of Dover. They are currently working with the UK government to minimise the system's impact on border flows and traffic, but express concern about potential waiting times. Government agencies and representatives for the tourism industry have said that the EES will likely cause long queues for ferry traffic sailing from Dover to Calais. Guy Opperman, a minister in the UK's transport department, has since explained the scheme will have a 'six-month soft launch' to make the process more simple. 'If one got to a situation where there were a certain amount of queues or delays, then the provisions of the precautionary flexibility measures allow for much greater freedom of passage of vehicles, coaches, HGVs and cars,' he said. 'That takes care of so much of the queuing, so many of the complications.' Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, has also now confirmed that the system will not be introduced until November 2025. Other countries are still working on EES implementation plans, too. The European Commission (EC) is allowing a six-month phased implementation of the system to reduce the likelihood of long waiting times at borders. This approach will give the participating nations more flexibility to fine-tune their technology and navigate unexpected issues. The goal, according to the EC, is to have the new system working at 10 per cent of border crossings in every member state on day one. During this soft launch period, travellers' passports will continue to be stamped, as well as electronically recorded.
