THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com Friday, September 4 – Thursday, September 10, 2020 Since 2011 / Volume X / No. 34 20 Baht WE TRAVEL TOGETHER BENEFITS EXPANDED TO BUSINESSES > PAGE 5 NEWS PAGE 3 Officials unveil ‘5T’ policy for PEOPLE safe tourism LIKE ME OPEN LETTER FROM PHUKET SPURS LIFE PAGE 6 Beach cleanups ACTION FROM do more good PRIME MINISTER than you know An open letter by German long-stay tourist in Phuket Bernhard Stoever has spurred action by the Prime Minister. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot The Phuket News Office and reports directly to the cies, the first wave of global contagion health. Nevertheless, I am extremely [email protected] Prime Minister, confirmed on Tuesday was combated in an exemplary man- endangered in Germany. Every year (Sept 1) that PM Prayut Chan-o-cha ner. For that, too, I and all “stranded” in autumn and winter, Germany and PAGE 11 he Prime Minister has ordered had read the open letter, penned by would like to thank you very much. Europe are attacked by a dangerous SPORT his assistants to investigate the German man Bernhard Stoever. And, of course, we would like to flu virus that makes millions of people Tcircumstances of a German In his open letter, published online especially thank the Thai people who seriously ill and kills tens of thousands, Phuket’s Allycia long-stay tourist in Phuket whose by The Phuket News on Aug 22, Mr have received us with such indescrib- mainly among the elderly. And the open letter was published by The Stoever urged the Thai government able hospitality. Thank you so much course of the disease becomes more wins Muay Thai Phuket News, appealing for him to be to consider the circumstances he and Thailand!” he wrote. severe from year to year. Unfortu- title in Bangkok allowed to stay in the country after many other long-stay tourists already “However, the expulsion on Sep- nately, I am very susceptible and get the ‘visa amnesty’ ends on Sept 26, staying in Thailand were facing. tember 26th hits us particularly hard. the flu every year. It was particularly instead of being forced to go back to “I am one of the many long-term I would like to use my example to bad three years ago and I almost died Germany where COVID-19 infections tourists who have been lucky enough show you what this change does in from it,” he explained. have recently skyrocketed. to be able to extend their stay in individual cases. The same applies to “So I decided to spend the winter An official working at the Prime Thailand since the outbreak of the many ‘stranded’ people,” he added. in Thailand, which I learned to love a Minister’s Delivery Unit, a research COVID-19 virus. I firmly believe “I am a writer, 68 years old, live in long time ago. Here I don’t get any flu and policy advisory division that that this saved many people’s lives! Hamburg and am currently in Phuket. and live healthy. But the COVID-19 operates under the Prime Minister’s “Thanks to the prudent Thai poli- Everything is fine with me in terms of virus changed a lot. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 @thephuketnews 2 PHUKET NEWS THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 [email protected] Hotels race to register News as ALSQs > p5 Expats’ stay status hit by COVID The Phuket News closed or running at minimal said that officers in Bangkok [email protected] cost, including salaries. Many were considering the problem employees on the island, both and might provide some form he Phuket Immigration Thai and foreign, have ac- of reprieve, and he asked Office is asking any cepted greatly reduced hours foreigners caught out by the Tforeigners staying on and salaries while the crisis income requirement to delay a non-immigrant B (Business) continues just to maintain filing their applications. visa who cannot satisfy the some form of income. “Please wait for an an- minimum income requirement Phuket Immigration Office nouncement after Sept 15, for a one-year permit-to-stay Deputy Chief Lt Col Udom because Immigration officials to delay filing their annual ap- Thongchin told The Phuket in Bangkok are talking about plication pending a “possible” News on Tuesday (Sept 1) this issue to figure out the temporary reprieve issued by that his office has no choice problem,” he said. officials in Bangkok. in the matter. “I think they will have The news comes only after “We can accept the ap- some solution before Sept the issue was brought to the plications, but they cannot be 26, which is the final date to attention of The Phuket News, approved. We do not approve apply for an extension. This whereby foreigners legally them here [in Phuket]. The is my understanding,” Lt Col living and working on the Officials at Phuket Immigration provide assistance to foreigners applications are sent to [the Udom added. island are no longer earning seeking guidance on their visa status. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot. regional immigration head- “Updates will be issued as the same income as before quarters in] Songkhla, but soon as possible. We want to the outbreak, and now face year permits-to-stay, leaving to be issued a one-year permit- Russia, South Africa, any they cannot approve them as help but we have to follow the having their usual application them exposed to being granted to-stay remained unchanged. country in South America or the conditions have not been ‘visa extension’ [sic] regula- for a one-year permit to stay only 90 days’ stay, or worse, The minimum income re- Central America, or Mexico, met,” he said. tions. Please wait for an update being refused. being asked to leave the coun- quired for foreigners from any the income required is B35,000 “We understand the situ- from Bangkok,” he repeated. The ‘visa amnesty’ issued try immediately after Sept 26. western European countries, per month. ation has affected the income Meanwhile, Lt Col by Cabinet approval allows Only in July did Phuket Australia, Canada, Japan, and The minimum income of businesses that hire foreign- Worapol Panpetch, Inspec- such foreigners to stay until Immigration Deputy Chief Col the United States of America required for nationals from ers. It has affected everyone’s tor at Phuket Immigration, Sept 26, yet the Immigration Nareuwat Putthawiro confirm is B50,000 per month. any country in Africa (other monthly income. The income confirmed that the amnesty for Bureau has urged foreign- that foreigners with multiple For applicants from South than South Africa), or from is not enough for foreigners’ filing 90-day reports expired ers to start filing their usual employers listed on their work Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos applications. This affects for- yesterday (Aug 31). applications early to avoid permits need to satisfy the Hong Kong, the income re- and Vietnam, the minimum eigners in Phuket, and in other “People can report them- a crush in the run-up to the minimum income from the quired is B45,000 per month. income required to be issued provinces, but there have been selves as usual, but any for- amnesty expiring. major employer only in order For foreigners from any a one-year permit to stay is no changes or updates to the eigners who are now late for That point now seems moot to qualify for a one-year exten- other countries in Asia [except B25,000 per month. regulations concerning exten- submitting a 90-day report as many foreigners can no sion to a permit to stay. Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos Yet, with international sions [to permits-to-stay],” he will be fined B2,000. We must longer satisfy the minimum However, the minimum and Vietnam], as well as for- tourism shut down, many busi- explained. follow the regulations, they income requirement for one- income requirements in order eigners from Eastern Europe, nesses on the island remain However, Lt Col Udom are the law,” he said. Open letter spurs action to help ‘stranded’ long-stay tourists Continued from page 1 if I have to return to Germany so that they can determine tourists such as himself to be “The second virus wave in September, I may never see the return flight themselves. able to stay in Thailand was is now looming in Europe Thailand again. For me, as “Or is it possible to make re- a win-win for both parties. and Germany and will be for many others, it is really patriations dependent on the “With long-stay tourists probably even worse than a matter of life or death,” he danger that exists in the home like myself, all my money the first. Together with the flu added. country. Nobody wants to die goes directly to the local com- virus and the high age of most Mr Stoever asked the Thai in a corona hotspot,” he said. munity. I stay at a place with returnees, this means a huge authorities whether it was pos- Speaking to The Phuket no kitchen, so I eat out all the risk for many people. And I sible to issue a provisional resi- News on Tuesday, Mr Stoever time, and even my laundry is too admit with discomfort that dence permit for the ‘stranded’, said that allowing long-stay done outside. Everything I do Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot contributes to all the small business around where I am facing the same predicament. to email a clear description of staying. This is the same with “We want to know more their situation. By arrange- any long-stay tourist,” he said.