Foreigners seeking to enter Thailand require a document from their local Thai embassy called a Certificate Of Entry. The onerous process of obtaining this document now requires them to download and install an invasive snooping app called ThailandPlus
prior to their arrival. The app uses GPS to track movements and a Bluetooth proximity algorithm to detect contacts with covid carriers.
The whereabouts of all tourists with the app installed will be known throughout their stay and allow
authorities to immediately round them up and no doubt incarcerate should they come in contact with a covid case. No doubt the facility will also be used for locating visa overstayers and the like.
Update: On at all times...even short times?
25th February 2021. See
Government instructions from tatnews.org
After downloading the
ThailandPlus application from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, travellers are required to enable the GPS and accept the privacy policy. After that, a recent (not more than one month old) profile photo needs to be uploaded before inputting the
COE number and reference ID obtained from the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General. Once all data is verified as correct, the system will direct travellers to the QR code page where they can begin using @the application.
Travellers will need to keep the ThailandPlus application on all the time, as they move to different locations around the country. Businesses throughout Thailand prominently display QR codes that are required for check-in and check-out scanning. This includes all types of accommodation, restaurants, shopping centres, and tourism attractions, to mention just a few examples.
In the event that travellers are in close contact with any confirmed COVID-19 cases, they will be notified and offered 'recommendations'.
Update: Thailand salivates over using apps to control
people's movements
1st March 2021. See article
from forum.thaivisa.com
The Thai government is inevitably keen on mandating vaccine passports for entry into Thailand but why stop there? Thai news site, The Standard is debating whether such a document could be mandated to enter places where large numbers of people
congregate in close proximity, (or no doubt where a couple of people congregate in very close proximity).
That would mean the entertainment industry and sporting events as The Standard pointed out. So it might be necessary to hold a
document to go to a pub, beer bar or disco in the future.
The article did not say that this was yet being mulled in Thailand but it appears that all suggestions are currently on the table. The Standard noted that Israel has already issued a Green
Pass that is a kind of vaccine passport (VP) that appears to be for internal use.