A sure sign that Thai authorities believe that Covid-19 has turned a corner and tourism recovery may be on the way is the reappearance of the Thetsakij on Bangkok's streets.

Absent for almost two years, these Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) inspectors fine people (mainly unwitting tourists) for littering. As a general rule, you don't need to litter to be accosted by these inspectors who will claim you dropped a cigarette butt and should pay a THB 2,000 fine. It is just another scam mainly targeting tourists, just dressed in official BMA uniforms.

While the Thetsakij's reappearance on Bangkok's streets may indicate some tourism optimism (and some tourists have returned), the reality is a little different.

In December 2021, Thailand suspended its Test & Go quarantine measures following the emergence of the Omicron variant. The suspension was lifted on 1 February, however, there is no guarantee that further suspensions will not occur.

The suspension highlighted the risk for travellers trying to navigate the rules for international travel. The risk of getting stranded in another country is high, particularly if you test positive for Covid-19 and are unable to travel until obtaining a negative test or a certificate of recovery (apparently not accepted by all airlines).

Test positive on arrival into Thailand or be a close contact of a case and you face quarantine in a hospital or hotel (hospitel). While Covid-19 insurance is mandatory for foreigners as part of the Thailand Pass entry requirement, this insurance may not cover all quarantine circumstances. It pays to read the fine print.

Restarting the travel sector is not as simple as flicking a switch. The sector in Thailand and across South East Asia remains in tatters. Many companies will not be revived, lacking the funding to rebuild their businesses, rent office premises and rehire employees, let alone deal with the debts remaining from pre-Covid times.

For those able to survive, there is an opportunity to build back a leaner, more efficient operation and adopt better and more flexible work practices. The survivors may also benefit from a lack of competition in certain areas as their former competitors are liquidated.

It is pleasing to see that Pandaw Cruises will likely survive. Having announced their permanent closure in November 2021, they have now secured funding to see them through to September 2022, when they anticipate restarting operations.

Pandaw Cruises - December 2021 Update

Back on Bangkok's Streets - The 'cigarette police' who target foreign litter bugs (2013)

Warning against traveling to Thailand

February 2022

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