Off again, on again: Plan to reopen Bangkok gets date

Is Bangkok ready to get back to business? Its top unelected official thinks so.

Weeks of talk about reopening the capital city despite a still-rampant coronavirus outbreak have concluded that Bangkok will be ready to welcome international travelers starting Oct. 15.

That’s the date Bangkok Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang and tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan announced yesterday for reopening Bangkok 19 months after borders were closed in response to the pandemic.

The reopening date was postponed from its original Oct. 1 in hope of achieving full inoculation of 70% of the capital’s more than 9 million residents. 

As of today, only 37% of that population has been fully vaccinated, according to Pipat. But over 70% has received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

Although the conditions and requirements that will be imposed upon travelers from abroad are yet known,…