UNLIKELY FOR THAILAND TO REOPEN INTERNATIONAL BORDERS IN 2020
Sanctuary of Truth, Pataya, Thailand
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said it is unlikely to reopen its borders to international leisure visitors this year as the government has a ‘very, very cautious’ approach to reopening borders. Indeed it is not looking great for even the Chinese New Year in February. Discussions over creating travel bubbles have been halted following increased infection rates in regional nations. Some are allowed to enter the country including diplomats, UN officials, as well as business people and investors who have an agreement with the government to include film crews and exhibition personnel, but only applicable to visitors from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China and Hong Kong. Every arrival must spend 14 days in quarantine. Thailand will also open up to select countries for medical tourism. Ideas such as safe bubbles for leisure travel, would involve all visitors spending a minimum of 30 days in the country; in designated areas like islands, such as Koh Samui or Phuket. With such uncertainty Thai tourism operators are proposing a new inbound tourism plan ‘Safe and Sealed’ to replace travel bubbles and would help tourism businesses stay in business. The plan would allow tourists to enter Thailand in Q4 and only from cities with a record of zero infections for at least a 30-day window. They would be able to travel and stay in designated hotels and provinces. Other safety protocols will include a Covid-free certificate 72 hours before flights, as well as insurance and swab tests. The new inbound plan is expected to draw at least 500,000 tourists to Thailand.
BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA GLORIOSA DEI FRARI VENICE, ITALY After the Basilica of St. Mark's, the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is one of the largest churches in Venice, as well as being one of the most important Franciscan foundations in Italy.
Originally built between 1236 and 1338 by the Franciscan Conventual Friars, the structure was thoroughly re-modelled in the XIV century and given its present form of central nave, 2 side aisles and 7 apsidal chapels after the Franciscan-Gothic style.
