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Thailand to reopen for some vaccinated visitors on 1 November

• Published 12 October 2021
• Coronavirus

Thailand plans to end Covid quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travellers from at least 10 low-risk nations from 1 November, officials say.

PM Prayuth Chan-ocha admitted that "this decision comes with some risk" - but it is seen as a key step to revive the country's collapsed tourism sector.

The 10 nations seen as low risk include the UK, China, Germany and the US.

The country has been recording more than 10,000 positive infections daily since July.

It has fully vaccinated around 33% of its almost 70 million people. Half the population has received one dose.

Mr Prayuth said Thailand would also allow entertainment venues to reopen on 1 December and permit alcohol sales.

He added that the authorities were planning to open Thailand for more countries on that date.

Mr Prayuth's comments came in a televised address on Monday.

Referring to visitors from 10 low-risk nations, he stressed that "when they arrive, they should present a [negative] Covid test... and test once again upon arrival".

If the second test is also negative, any visitor from those countries "can travel freely like Thais", the prime minister said.

But he warned that the government would act decisively if there were to be a spike in infections or an emergence of a highly contagious variant of Covid-19.

Covid threat looms over Thailand's plans to open

It is estimated that Thailand - popular for its sandy beaches and non-stop nightlife - lost about $50bn (£37bn) in tourism revenue in 2020.

The economy suffered its deepest contraction in more than two decades as a result of the pandemic.

Thailand was the first country outside China to record a Covid-19 case in January last year.

It took the drastic step of sealing its borders in April, effectively killing off a tourist industry accounting for perhaps 20% of GDP, but managed to cut new daily infections to just single figures, one of the best records anywhere.

This year though, with the arrival of the Delta variant, infections have soared, from a total of less than 7,000 at the end of 2020, to 1.7 million today. The argument for keeping out foreign visitors to contain Covid became much less persuasive, especially with tourist-related businesses pleading for restrictions to be eased.

The success in containing Covid last year had another unforeseen consequence; it led the Thai government to believe it need not rush to order vaccines. The result has been a tardy and at times confused vaccine programme, and a public outcry.

The need for some economic good news is in large part what has driven it to start reopening, well before reaching its own declared target of getting 70% of the population vaccinated.

It is proceeding cautiously though, with only 10 countries on the list until the end of the year. Like other countries in the region Thailand's health system has limited ICU capacity; in August ICU units in Bangkok were quickly overwhelmed by the number of serious Covid cases.

In any case, even with an end to the two week quarantine requirement, a recovery to the 40 million tourists who came in 2019 is unlikely next year, or even the year after.

Just over 70,000 visitors came into the country in the first eight months of this year, compared with 40 million in the whole of 2019.

Thailand has reported more than 1.7 million confirmed Covid cases since the pandemic began, with nearly 18,000 deaths, according to America's Johns Hopkins University.

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Thailand Reverses New COVID Vaccine Rules for Visitors

• By Tommy Walker

Thailand has withdrawn its decision to request COVID-19 vaccine proof from visitors — only days after announcing new rules for all international arrivals.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand on Saturday announced new rules for all international travelers since China dropped its mandatory quarantine requirements and reopened its borders following three years of a strict zero-COVID policy.

But Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand's health minister, said a panel of health experts agreed to withdraw the new rule because global immunization of the virus was sufficient and that checking for "proof of vaccination" would be "inconvenient," Reuters reported.

The now-scrapped rule had stated all international arrivals to Thailand would have to show proof of at least two COVID-19 vaccinations or a doctor's note of exemption from vaccination or evidence of a recent recovery. Adequate medical insurance, however, is still required if the passenger's next destination requires a pre-entry COVID test.

Reopening of tourism welcome

Thai government officials welcomed Chinese tourists who flew into Thailand from China at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport Monday, the first since Beijing relaxed its pandemic restrictions.

Thailand's economy relies heavily on tourism and returning tourists, especially from China, are a welcome sight for Thai businesses. In 2019, Thailand saw 40 million international arrivals — 11 million were from China alone.

But amid the pandemic-fueled global economic downturn, the kingdom saw a 6% decline in its GDP in 2020.

In 2022, Thailand welcomed more than 11 million tourists, still way below pre-pandemic figures, but enough to contribute to a 2.4% year-on-year rise in Thailand's GDP in the first half of 2022.

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Tourism Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said, "we expect Chinese tourists to come to Thailand after Chinese New Year."

Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year is a major holiday in Asia that begins January 22 this year, and usually sees masses of Chinese tourists travel worldwide. However, Gary Bowerman, a tourism expert based in Kuala Lumpur, said that the resumption of China's outbound travel is expected to be "gradual."

"The primary factor is flights. Because China has heavily restricted its international airspace there are currently very few flights in and out of China, and ticket prices are therefore exceptionally high," Bowerman told VOA. "Airlines will be in discussions with the Civil Aviation of Administration to restore route access, but this may be a gradual process."

China tourism, Thailand forecast

Now that China's reopening has begun, it has prompted Thailand's tourism bureau to increase the forecast for overall arrivals to 25 million for this year. Tourism officials had predicted 18 million to 20 million visitors without the Chinese market but now estimate at least 5 million Chinese visitors are expected to arrive this year.

Bowerman predicts tourism-reliant countries like Thailand shouldn't hold their breath nor expect huge numbers of tourists during the holidays.

"So far, the only clarity of information provided by the Chinese government is related to travel with Hong Kong and Macao. China has said it wants outbound travel to commence in an 'orderly manner' and appears in no hurry to expedite new flight schedules," Bowerman said.

"It looks, at the moment, as if the government wants to optimize domestic travel over the Spring Festival period and evaluate the developing COVID-19 situation. Destinations expecting a surge of Chinese visitors for [Chinese New Year] are likely to be disappointed because it is very unlikely to happen."

Worldwide concerns

With the return of visitors from China, the Tourism Authority of Thailand called for all employees in tourism to get a COVID-19 booster shot.

Experts Weigh Risk of New COVID Mutations from China

The potential risk of fast-spreading COVID variants has pushed countries worldwide to impose new requirements for the entry of travelers from China.

The U.S., Australia, Japan, Canada, Britain, France, Italy, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, India and Malaysia have all imposed various new requirements for visitors, while Morocco has banned Chinese visitors altogether.

But one health expert doesn't see any reason the government should restrict Chinese tourists from visiting Thailand.

Dr. Anan Jongkaewwattana, a virologist and researcher at the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Thailand, says given the current data, new variants shouldn't be a concern.

"According to data provided by the Chinese authority, the viruses currently circulating in China are mainly BA.5 and its sublineages. Since Thailand experienced a large surge of BA.5 a few months ago, I would expect the Thai population to be mostly immune to this variant," he told VOA via email. "In my opinion, the immunity of the Thai population is high enough to prevent widespread transmission of the older variants from China."

But worries remain in Thailand over the potential of new variants from China with local politicians calling for further restrictions on Chinese tourists.

Chaturon Chaisang, a member of Pheu Thai Party, the main opposition to Thailand's ruling People's Power Party, urged the government to prepare for an influx of Chinese tourists.

"We should have some guards up … and tests should be administered to find out what kind of variants are coming in from China to find out if they are more severe than the variants that have been found in Thailand," The Thai Enquirer reported in December.

But Anan said that Thailand's current policy and available scientific evidence means tourists from China shouldn't be singled out.

"Since Thailand has adopted the policy of 'Living with COVID,' the restriction is not necessary for all tourists coming to the country. I can think of no valid scientific reason to restrict entry of [the] Chinese when there is no evidence that they harbor more harmful viruses than people from other countries," he said.

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Thailand Travel Updates

Push for Visa-Free Entry for Indian Visitors in Thailand

Thailand’s tourism officials have pushed the government to start talks about a long-term visa-free agreement between Thailand and India. 

As of February 18, visitors from India ranked fifth in terms of arrivals, totaling around 260,000 tourists. Somsong Sachaphimukh, vice-president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, believes that extending the visa waiver for an additional two years after its scheduled end on May 10, 2024, will keep this positive trend going. With India expected to overtake Germany’s economy by 2027, Thailand sees this as a prime chance to attract more premium tourists, and it is hoped that a long-term, mutual visa-free program between Thailand and India could be beneficial to boost tourism and trade for both countries. 

Currently, flights between Thailand and India are on the rise, despite being limited to just six major Indian cities. This agreement would convince airlines to increase their flight services to take advantage of the increased traffic, benefitting both the businesses and the country.

Travelers from India might spend between 60,000 and 100,000 baht for a seven-day trip in Thailand. This market also holds promise for business meetings, incentive trips, and wedding ceremonies, with each potentially costing between 50 and 100 million baht.

Sachaphimuk pointed out the Indian market’s vast potential, primarily from its large young workforce aged 25 to 40, representing about 40% of India’s total population.

Kazakhs’ Visa-Free Period Extended

The Prime Minister’s cabinet has decided to prolong the visa-free entry for Kazakh tourists by an additional six months. The visa exemption program for visitors from Kazakhstan will now continue from March 1 through August 31.

Launched last year, this policy aimed to boost tourism with a planned duration of September 25 to February 29. It was a success, attracting a record 172,000 visitors from Kazakhstan to Thailand.

Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, noted that each Kazakh visitor spends up to 75,000 baht on average, compared to the general visitor spending of about 45,000 baht. This spending trend highlights the significant economic impact Kazakh tourists have on Thailand and provides a clear justification for the extension.

Travel to Thailand in July 2022

Thailand has removed the requirement for Thailand Pass registration for all travelers.

Travelers, both Thais, and foreigners entering Thailand, will only be required to show Proof of Vaccination or COVID-19 test results.

For vaccinated adults and their children, proof of vaccination of the parent or guardian is required. Children are not required to complete a test.

For unvaccinated adults and their children, you will be required to show proof of a negative result of the RT PCR test or professional ATK test taken within 72 hours before traveling.

The Thai government recommends having comprehensive travel insurance for your travel to Thailand. AXA Thailand Insurance offers the best travel insurance and it is highly recommended.

Required Documents for Travel to Thailand July 2022

Please have the following documents ready.

• Visa (if required)
• Buy Thailand Travel Insurance
• Flight Itinerary
• Hotel Booking Confirmation or Thailand Address

Incorrect documents will delay the entry screening to Thailand.

Buy Your Insurance Now

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For American Expats in Thailand , you may participate in Tax Seminar and Consultations in Hua Hin. For more information, please check this Facebook page:

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Important Information You Need to Know Before Purchasing Thailand Pass Insurance

Siam Legal has received reports from potential clients that some hospitals are creating difficulties for them until full payment is made for their medical expenses. Also, foreigners have allegedly been threatened with lawsuits for not settling their medical bills before being discharged. Using out-of-country policies can be problematic. We firmly recommend using insurance carriers headquartered inside Thailand with proper coverage to avoid any undesirable outcomes.

Siam Legal International, a premier law firm in Thailand, strongly recommends purchasing the proper insurance and therefore endorses AXA Insurance for your travel to Thailand insurance needs.

HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT POINTS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE PURCHASING THAILAND PASS INSURANCE

• Please carefully review the details of any insurance before purchasing to understand if the policy has adequate coverage. Cheap policies with inadequate levels of cover can lead to significant personal liability and scenarios where policyholders incur hundreds of thousands of baht in out of pocket medical expenses are not uncommon. There are significant financial risks to being underinsured during your stay in Thailand.
• Those policies do not cover medical costs from accidents (like motorcycle accidents) or common unexpected illnesses (common fever or food poisoning). Simply pay a few baht more for the peace of mind that comes from having proper coverage.
• AXA covers medical expenses (outpatient and inpatient) due to accidents and illnesses, including COVID-19. Other insurance coverage might not.
• AXA also covers telemedicine and teleconsultation which may be required during the quarantine period of any traveler.

Thai hospital staff are familiar with AXA coverage which should prevent any inconvenience during hospital admission or medical treatment from your hotel room. AXA Thailand also offers 24/7 local support during your stay in Thailand.

You can purchase your COVID-19 Thailand Pass insurance today at the link below.

https://u.axa.co.th/Sawasdee_Siamlegal

COVID Visa Extension To Continue Until March 25

Foreigners will now have until March 25, 2022, to extend their special COVID extension stamp, as announced by the Bureau of Immigration.

The COVID extension was supposed to end on January 25 but has been extended. The visa relief or extension grants 60 days of stay to those who apply.

It has been reported that:

• If you have 15 days visa-on-arrival, you cannot have a COVID extension
• If you have a 60-day Tourist Visa, you can have a COVID extension if necessary
• If you have a 30 days Visa Exemption, you can have a COVID extension if necessary
• If you have a Non-immigrant B, ED, O (Volunteer), for example, you can no longer have a COVID extension

Please note that this extension of stay is not automatic, you must apply for this at your local immigration office and it will be at the discretion of the officer to approve the application.

Thailand Pass Update: Test and Go Reopens February 1, 2022

The Thailand Pass Test & Go application has reopened for 2022. Now foreign travelers may enter the country using the Test & Go program. Under this program, fully vaccinated travelers including unvaccinated children from low-risk countries will only need to stay for 1 night in a Quarantine or SHA Plus Hotel while they wait for the COVID test result that was taken upon arrival. The second COVID test will be taken at any of the government-approved test centers in Thailand.

Travelers are required to have documentation such as a copy of a passport, flight booking, vaccination certificate, hotel reservation, pre-paid COVID test, and COVID-19 travel insurance with a minimum coverage of 50,000 US dollars.

Travelers are also required to undergo an RT-PCR COVID test within 72 hours before traveling to Thailand.

To apply for the Thailand Pass Test & Go Program, travelers will have to:

1. Register at the official Thailand Pass website 2. Input personal details 3. Upload the required documents 4. Receive a confirmation email after registration 5. Wait for approval which normally takes 5 to 7 days.

Thailand Pass Test & Go is now open again for travel to Thailand.

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Phuket Sandbox and COVID Test FAQs

Who gets the “free” second covid testing.

Travelers approved before the Thailand Pass suspension and who arrive in the Kingdom from December 24 onwards must do a second RT-PCR test, shouldered by the government, on the 5th or 6th day at a government-approved medical facility.

The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) mentioned in the December 24 briefing that travelers will have to fill in a port health letter upon arrival at the airport, which will be signed by a border control officer and certified by the Department of Disease Control. The border control officer will then provide you with a copy and a QR code, stating the venue for your second RT-PCR COVID-19 test at no additional cost.

You will present the port health letter to your hotel, which will key your records onto the COVID-19 Surveillance Tracking and Evaluation platform, and arrange for your first COVID-19 test. On day 5 or 6, go to your designated laboratory center for your second RT-PCR COVID-19.

I already have a COVID test appointment for Phuket Sandbox, do I need to register again?

It depends on your COVID test provider. You can contact the hotel or the laboratory that you registered prior.

For those who are coming to Phuket who had already registered through www.thailandpsas.com for a single swab test before the announcement of the new guidelines, you can still add a second swab test by logging in to the account you used for registration:

• Choose your booking details and click the "Edit" icon.
• Click "Additional Swab Appointment".
• Pay the fee

Can I travel to other places in Thailand even if only the Phuket Sandbox is available?

You need to complete a 7-night stay in Phuket before being allowed to travel to other areas of Thailand. Once you receive your first negative test result in Phuket, you are able to travel freely around Thailand’s largest island. After you receive your second negative test result and have completed a 7-night stay in Phuket, you are able to travel to any other area of Thailand.

With the suspension, are there changes to the number of quarantine days?

Seven (7) days quarantine applies to travelers who have a certificate of vaccination to confirm that they have been fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine for at least 14 days before traveling to Thailand. 10 days quarantine applies to travelers who do not have a certificate of vaccination. 14 days quarantine applies to travelers from African countries other than the previously designated high-risk countries, which are constantly being reviewed.

Can we change our flight schedule?

Flight changes are permitted within 72 hours from the original flight time registered in the Thailand Pass without the need to apply for a new Thailand Pass QR Code, provided that all other required documents remain valid or updated.

How to Book COVID Test for Phuket Sandbox

Starting December 23, 2021, Thailand will now require two RT-PCR tests for those entering Phuket.

The first test will be conducted at Phuket International Airport while the second test on the 5th day will be conducted at the test centers around Phuket.

• Provide flight details and hotel information. You will be asked for your flight and accommodation details.
• Input your personal information like your gender, date of birth, country of origin, and Passport Number.
• Choose your swab test locations. Because the first swab test will be conducted at the Phuket International Airport, you can only choose the location for the second swab test. The swab test date will be automatically shown from the details you input in Step 1.
• Pay the fee . The fee for the RT PCR tests is 4200 THB.

Note: For those who have already registered for a single swab test before the announcement of the new guidelines, you can still add a second swab test by logging in to the account you used for registration:

• Choose your booking details and click the “Edit” icon.
• Click “Additional Swab Appointment”.
• Pay the fee.

New Entry Requirements for October 1

• Group 1: Vaccinated travelers from countries not eligible for the Sandbox program need to do a 7 days quarantine.
• Group 2: Vaccinated travelers from all countries arriving in Bangkok will be subject to a mandatory quarantine of 7 days.
• Group 3: Not vaccinated travelers arriving by air/sea must undergo mandatory quarantine for 10 days.
• Group 4: Not vaccinated travelers arriving by land must undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days.

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Thailand now ranked second in food tourism but still behind frontrunner Japan, according to international survey

Sunday, 14 Apr 2024

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Image from The Nation Thailand/ANN

BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Food is a source of pride for Thailand's tourism sector, jointly promoted by the government and the private sector.

Highlighting the strengths of Thai cuisine, renowned globally and a major attraction for tourists, it plays a vital role in attracting tourists.

However, Japan has surpassed Thailand in branding this aspect.

Nithee Seeprae, deputy director of marketing and communications, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), revealed the Thailand Culinary Image Assessment and Michelin Guide Thailand 2023 project, surveying opinions of foreign tourists (online 1,800 samples, interviews 1,200 samples) and Thai tourists (online 800 samples, interviews 400 samples), conducted by KenetiXs Consulting Co Ltd.

The survey found that Japan is the top destination for food tourism, with a score of 56% in 2023, up from 54% in 2022.

Thailand ranks second at 44%, up from 38%, followed by China at 30%, up from 24%. South Korea is fourth at 28%, slightly down from 29%, and Hong Kong is fifth at 27%, up from 25%.

Going deeper into the perception and effectiveness of the Michelin Guide Thailand project in 2023, the survey found that among foreign tourists, awareness of the Michelin Guide for restaurants and accommodations remained at 76%, the same as the previous year. However, awareness of the Michelin Guide Thailand increased to 18% from 16% the year before.

This guide also influenced travel destination choices, with 62% making decisions based on it, the same as the previous year.

Regarding the aspects of satisfaction, behavioural impact, and attitude of foreign tourists who dine at Michelin-rated restaurants, here are the scores from various perspectives:

- Overall satisfaction remained high at 95% in 2023, the same as 2022.

- 85% shared their dining experiences online, up from 83% in 2022.

- 92% expressed willingness to revisit Michelin-rated restaurants, slightly down from 93% in 2022.

- 97% recommended these restaurants to others, slightly down from 98% in 2022.

- 95% tried dining at other Michelin-rated restaurants in Thailand, up from 94% in 2022.

- 97% recommended Thailand as a culinary tourism destination, the same as in 2022.

For an estimate of the number of foreign tourists who are aware of and have experienced the Michelin Guide Thailand project in 2023, the survey found that 40% were aware of the project, and it influenced 11% in their decision to visit Thailand, which translates to about 1.86 million people.

This estimation is based on the target number of tourists from 23 countries who travelled to Thailand from January to September 2022 and had dined at Michelin award-winning restaurants, accounting for 8%, or about 1.33 million people.

Although the awareness level of the Michelin Guide Thailand project in 2023 is close to the 39% in 2022, and its impact on the decision to visit Thailand remains the same at 11%, the estimated number is 940,000 people in 2022.

Regarding the question of having dined at Michelin award-winning restaurants, the rate remains at 8%, but the estimated number is about 690,000 people in 2022.

"The additional revenue from food expenditure by foreign tourists resulting from the implementation of the Michelin Guide Thailand project was approximately 262.99 million baht in 2023, an increase from 223.34 million baht in 2022,” Nithee said.

In the Thai tourists segment, a survey showed that awareness of the Michelin Guide decreased to 58% from 78% compared with the previous year. However, awareness of the Michelin Guide Thailand decreased to 46% from 61%. Nevertheless, the Michelin Guide Thailand significantly stimulated the desire for domestic travel, increasing to 96% from 89%.

"In terms of satisfaction among Thai tourists who dine at Michelin-starred restaurants, overall satisfaction score in 2023 increased slightly to 92% from 91% in 2022," Nithee said. - The Nation Thailand/ANN

Tags / Keywords: Thailand , Food Tourism , Big Favourite

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Thailand, New Zealand Agree to Resume Direct Flights

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(Bloomberg) -- Thailand and New Zealand have agreed to resume direct flights after the pandemic shut air connectivity as leaders of the two countries vowed to triple bilateral trade in the next two decades.

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The two countries will also prioritize visa facilitation to achieve the goals of having 100,000 New Zealanders visit Thailand and 40,000 Thai tourists travel to New Zealand by next year, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said at a joint press conference with his counterpart Christopher Luxon in Bangkok on Wednesday.

The two prime ministers agreed to expand economic cooperation and increase two-way trade and investment in areas of mutual expertise and interest, according to a joint statement. The leaders are looking forward to seeing tariff-free entry for all Thai and New Zealand imports from Jan. 1 and noted that bilateral trade has more than tripled in the 20 years since the countries signed an economic partnership pact.

Srettha and Luxon agreed to elevate diplomatic ties between the two nations to a Strategic Partnership “in 2026 or sooner”, according to the Thai leader. The two leaders also agreed to deepen cooperation to tackle organized crimes including human and drug trafficking.

(Corrects name of New Zealand prime minister in second paragraph in story published on Wednesday.)

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The 10 Best Countries for Expats, According to Expats

Posted: April 16, 2024 | Last updated: April 18, 2024

There’s a lot to consider before moving abroad : how the transfer will change your daily life and influence your family; whether the healthcare will meet your needs; and what it means for your emotional well-being and bank account (for starters). Luckily, you don’t have to make that decision all by yourself. InterNations—an expat networking community with more than 5 million members—is here to help.

The organization has released its 10th annual Expat Insider survey, an in-depth report on the best places for living and working abroad. More than 12,000 expats based in 172 countries and territories were interviewed for the most recent survey; they were asked to assign ratings to 50+ aspects of expat life, ranging from the cost of living and healthcare quality to the friendliness of the local population .

This year, Southeast Asia and Central America dominated the rankings, with a couple of European and Middle Eastern spots scattered throughout. Counting down from ten, here are the best countries for expats to live in right now.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

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10. Portugal

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6. Thailand

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