TCEB Situation Update Travel Advisory: COVID-19 Virus on 4 March 2021 Regulations, Procedures, Measures and Relaxation for MICE Industry

TCEB Situation Update

Travel Advisory: COVID-19 Virus on 4 March 2021

Regulations, Procedures, Measures and Relaxation for MICE Industry

The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) of the Thai government has lowered the COVID-19 situation status of a number of major cities, declaring Bangkok “a controlled area” from the previous “a maximum controlled area”. Chonburi and Songkhla, a controlled area, have now become a high surveillance area, while Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Phuket have been shifted to surveillance area status. In this connection, Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) has issued an Announcement No. 20, dated 23 February 2021, regarding the temporary closure of certain establishments, some measures of which are directly related to MICE industry as well as regulations for MICE entrepreneurs to follow. The summary is as follows:  

Before organising activities posing infection risk, such as meetings, seminars, banquets, performances for over 300 attendees, the organisers must submit the execution plan and disease control measures to the district office where the events will take place. The organisers must use Thai Chana and Mor Chana applications before and after the events. The exception is made for activities undertaken by government agencies.

Exhibition centres, convention centres or trade show venues can operate normally but must execute the following measures:

1. 1. Clean all frequently touched surfaces both before and after the service and dispose waste on a daily basis
2. 
   
3. 2. Business owners, staff members, clients and visitors must always wear surgical masks or fabric face masks.
4. 
   
5. 3. Set up hand-washing stations with soap, alcohol gel or disinfectant
6. 
   
7. 4. Keep a distance of at least one meter between seating spots and between standing spots
8. 
   
9. 5. Control the number of trade show attendees to avoid overcrowding. Shift schedule should be executed for participation in activities held inside the booth or in public area.
10. 
    
11. 6. Venue owners or renters or business owners or organisers must register to confirm the compliance with the established COVID-19 prevention measures.
12. 
    
13. 7. Exercise control over entrance and exit, execute queuing system according to each turn of activities or events and activate registration system for pre-entry and exit of the venues. Consider employing technology to accommodate trade shows, online exhibitions and use government’s applications, such as Mor Chana and Thai Chana
14. 
    
15. 8. Implement screening system for respiratory symptoms and fever among business owners, staff members, clients and visitors before entering the venues. Provide visible symbols for those who pass the screening. Provide separate room for those with symptoms and install or use data tracking system to track all attendees and report to the authorities in case PUI - Patient Under Investigation - is detected.
16. 
    

1. 9. Install ventilation system in indoor areas, including restrooms. Frequently clean up and disinfect air conditioning system
2. 
   
3. 10. Refrain from any activities that might create crowd or disorder
4. 
   
5. 11. Consider staggered hours system for opening and closing trade shows, exhibitions or provide shuttle service for participants to avoid overcrowding in public transport
6. 
   
7. 12. Keep a distance of at least one meter between seating spots and between standing spots in waiting and queuing areas
8. 
   
9. 13. Provide advice for participants. Supervise, monitor and control the services and activities to prevent close gathering in order to be strictly in line with the established measures
10. 
    
11. 14. Utilise innovation such as, advance registration scheme and online booking system so that such innovative systems can be put into long-term practice

Hotel’s meeting rooms and convention centres must limit the number of attendees to 300 at a maximum and execute the following measures:

1. 1. Clean all frequently touched surfaces before and after the service and dispose waste on a daily basis
2. 
   
3. 2. Staff, clients and attendees must always wear surgical masks or fabric face masks throughout the event.
4. 
   
5. 3. Set up hand-washing stations with soap, alcohol gel or disinfectant
6. 
   
7. 4. Keep a distance of at least 1.5 metres between table, between seating and between walking spots. No extra seating or standing spots when reaching the maximum cap
8. 
   
9. 5. Control the number of participants to avoid overcrowding, be it at waiting areas, registration desk, parking stamp stations, information centre, and catering stations
10. 
    

6. 6. Conduct the registration before entering and exiting the venues and use government applications such as Thai Chana, Mor Chana or exercise control by recording and reporting the data in certain areas
7. 
   
8. 7. Maximum number of participants in each venue is 300.
9. 
   
10. 8. Implement screening system for respiratory symptoms and fever among staff, clients and attendees before entering the venues. Provide separate room for those with symptoms and report to local authorities in case PUI - Patient Under Investigation - is detected.
11. 
    
12. 9. Provide recording system that enables the contact with all attendees if infection case or PUI - Patient Under Investigation - is detected.
13. 
    
14. 10. No self-service food and beverage stations. Service staff must always wear face masks during service.
15. 
    
16. 11. Install ventilation system in the venues, meeting rooms and restrooms
17. 
    
18. 12. Consider providing transportation or shuttle service for participants to reduce risk of infection when using public transportation
19. 
    

13. 13. Keep a distance of at least one meter between seating spots and between standing spots in waiting and queuing areas
14. 
    
15. 14. Provide advice for participants. Supervise, monitor and control the services and meetings to reduce close gathering in order to be strictly in line with the established measures
16. 
    
17. 15. Consider using online registration system, including other technological systems to accommodate online meetings

Banquet service establishments, banquet halls and similar establishments must limit the number of

attendees to 300 at a maximum and execute the following measures:

1. 1. Clean all frequently touched surfaces, including restrooms, before and after the service and dispose waste on a daily basis
2. 
   
3. 2. Business owners, staff members, clients and participants must always wear surgical masks or fabric face masks.
4. 
   
5. 3. Set up sufficient hand-washing stations with soap, or alcohol gel or disinfectant
6. 
   
7. 4. Keep a distance of at least one meter between seating spots and between standing spots
8. 
   
9. 5. Control the number of participants to avoid overcrowding, consider increasing the walkways. Refrain from activities that may cause crowd gathering or disorder
10. 
    
11. 6. Venue owners or renters or entrepreneurs or organisers must register to confirm the compliance with the established disease prevention measures.
12. 
    
13. 7. Exercise control over entrance and exit, execute queuing system for each turn of events or activities, activate registration system for pre-entry and exit from the venue. Consider employing technology to  accommodate exhibitions and use government’s applications, such as Mor Chana and Thai Chana
14. 
    
15. 8. Implement screening system for respiratory symptoms and fever among business owners, staff members, and clients before entering the venues. Provide separate room for those with symptoms and install or use data tracking system to track all visitors and report to the authorities in case PUI - Patient Under Investigation - is detected.
16. 
    
17. 9. Install ventilation system in indoor areas, including restrooms. Frequently clean up and disinfect air conditioning system
18. 
    
19. 10. In case of good ventilation, consider setting up floor plan with one empty seat between every two seats
20. 
    
21. 11. Keep a distance of at least one meter between seating spots and between standing spots in waiting areas and queuing areas and a clear sign must be installed. Maintain order before entry and exit to avoid overcrowding and disorder
22. 
    
23. 12. Consider staggered hours system for catering services or other activities. Provide shuttle service for participants to reduce congestion when using public transportation
24. 
    
25. 13. Provide advice for participants. Supervise, monitor and control the services and activities to reduce close gathering in order to be strictly in line with the established measures
26. 
    
27. 14. Consider developing such innovation as advance registration scheme or online queuing system to avoid overcrowding so that such new mode of services can be put into long-term practice
28. 
    
29. 15. Adjust banquet service practice. Avoid sharing utensils or self-serving buffet.

Cinemas, theatres and performance venues must comply with the following measures:

1. 1. Clean all frequently touched surfaces, including restrooms, before and after the service and dispose waste on a daily basis
2. 
   
3. 2. Business owners, staff members, clients and visitors must always wear surgical masks or fabric face masks.
4. 
   
5. 3. Set up sufficient hand-washing stations with soap, alcohol gel or disinfectant
6. 
   
7. 4. Keep a distance of least one meter between each seat or arrange one empty seat between every seat. Audience coming together is exempted from such seating arrangement.
8. 
   
9. 5. Control the number of audience to avoid overcrowding. Refrain from activities or any operation that may create crowd and disorder
10. 
    
11. 6. Venue owners or entrepreneurs must register to confirm the compliance with the established disease prevention measures.
12. 
    
13. 7. Control entrance and exit, execute queuing system for each round of performance, use advance registration for entry and exit and use government’s applications, such as Thai Chana, Mor Chana or exercise control by using reportable recording system
14. 
    
15. 8. Implement screening system for respiratory symptoms and fever among business owners, staff members and clients before the entry into the venues. Provide separate room for those with symptoms and install or use data tracking system to track all clients and report to the authorities in case PUI - Patient Under Investigation - is detected.
16. 
    
17. 9. Install ventilation system in indoor areas, including restrooms. Frequently clean up and disinfect air conditioning system
18. 
    
19. 10. Keep a distance of at least one meter between seating spots and between standing spots and install clear indicative sign. Maintain order before the entry and exit to avoid overcrowding and disorder
20. 
    
21. 11. Provide advice for clients. Supervise, monitor and control the services and activities to reduce close gathering
22. 
    
23. 12. Consider developing such innovation as advance registration scheme, controlled system for entrance and exit to reduce density and online booking so that such new mode of services can be put into long-term practice.

Performances, music, concerts and similar events can take place only with seated audience to avoid density and disorder. The following measures must be executed.

1. 1. Comply with the established measures of the venues
2. 
   
3. 2. Clean all frequently touched surfaces both before and after the service, including restrooms
4. 
   
5. 3. Business owners, staff members, clients and visitors must always wear surgical masks or fabric face masks.
6. 
   
7. 4. Set up sufficient hand-washing stations with soap, alcohol gel or disinfectant.
8. 
   
9. 5. Keep a distance of at least one meter between each seat and between audience
10. 
    
11. 6. Control the number of audience to avoid overcrowding, be they at waiting areas, screening points, registration points, information centre, food and beverage stations. Consider dividing the activity into each round. Avoid promotion activities or any other activities that may cause density and disorder. Avoid close contact, for example, audience singing together with the performers on stage, and dancing. The exception is the dances performed on stage by singers or performers.
12. 
    
13. 7. Venue owners or renters or business owners or organisers must register to confirm the compliance with the established disease prevention measures.
14. 
    
15. 8. Exercise control over entrance and exit, execute queuing system according to each turn of activities or events and activate registration system for pre-entry and exit. Use government’s applications, such as Mor Chana and Thai Chana. Exercise control by using recording system that is reportable in certain areas.
16. 
    
17. 9. Implement screening system for respiratory symptoms and fever among staff members and visitors before entering the venues. Provide separate room for those with symptoms and report to the authorities in case PUI - Patient Under Investigation - is detected.
18. 
    
19. 10. Install or use data tracking system to track all visitors and report to the authorities in case PUI - Patient Under Investigation - is detected.
20. 
    
21. 11. Keep a distance of at least one meter between seating spots and between standing spots in waiting  areas and queuing areas
22. 
    
23. 12. Provide advice for audience and visitors. Supervise, monitor and control the situation to reduce close gathering in order to be strictly in line with the established measures
24. 
    
25. 13. Utilise online registration scheme, and other technological systems that can accommodate participation of audience

MICE operators can refer to the full version of BMA Announcement, No. 20 at

http://www.prbangkok.com/th/post/view/MDY1cDBzNnM0NHIyb3Ezc3E2NnEyNDk0cDRyOTQzcjQ3MzIyMg

Reference          http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2564/E/041/T_0071.PDF (Thai Version)

                        https://www.facebook.com/thailandprd/posts/4011313585558692

                        https://www.facebook.com/thailandprd/posts/4029316400425077

                        http://www.prbangkok.com/th/post/view/MDY1cDBzNnM0NHIyb3Ezc3E2NnEyNDk0cDRyOTQzcjQ3MzIyMg

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Further information about COVID-19 outbreak from WHO

https://www.who.int/thailand/emergencies/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports

Department of Disease Control Contact Centre (Call 1422 24/7)

https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/news.php

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) (Call +66 (0) 2694 6000)

https://www.businesseventsthailand.com/en/situation-update-coronavirus-covid-19 or info@tceb.or.th