uncle_tom

DO NOT WANT TOURISTS ANYMORE

Possibly - if they believe their own figures, they might think they can manage without..

..they'll soon find out they can't..

  8 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

* This just in * Quarantine Hotels to have no windows.

I had to read the next sentence to decide whether or not this was sarcasm, given the other tourism revival schemes that surface week after week.  (it was sarcasm, right? Right?)

A lot of the cheap hotels used by Thais don't have windows..

Quote

 

how about you  and the others  referencing the economic cost of the government policy, cost out your  position?

- How much will the increase in infections cost Thailand if the borders reopen?

- How would Thailand  handle/manage the  increased number of infected?

- How would  these tourists  who become ill be managed?

- What is the contingency plan when foreign countries impose a border closure?e 

 

OK, let's take a responsible and reasoned approach to these issues.

The cost to the Thai economy of keeping tourists out is immense. Thai national pride has resulted in official data being 'edited' when it comes down to the significance of tourism for the Thai economy. I know the reasoning behind this, but that's a distraction right now. The reality is that it's huge.

Tourism, in economic terms, is the difference between an economy that is on the global average for prosperity per capita and one that lags way behind that. Thailand is pretty useless when it comes to manufacturing efficiency or technological innovation - lovely people, but not hot on productivity and advancing new tech - there are no Thai Nobel prize winners! Tourism, and the trickle down from tourism, is it's economic bedrock.

So, against that, what will the cost be of the increased infections when the borders reopen? The treatment of Covid is well worked out now - people are not dying from it any more (that really needs to be shouted from the rooftops - the only deaths now are people already dying for other reasons) More importantly, unlike conditions like AIDS, treatment does not come at immense cost - it is very affordable. 

- So cost is not a serious issue.

Thailand is awash with hospitals, and anyone who has been to a Thai hospital knows they are never over-stretched. Compared to the UK's NHS, they are a wonder to behold.

- The ability of medical facilities to cope has been used as a ruse to justify oppressive lock down regimes in many countries. We should be wise to that one now.

The cost of Covid treatment is very low, if it is needed at all. Against the few tourists who get it badly enough to require medical assistance, insurances could be demanded. The insurers worried about Covid when it first appeared, but now they have the measure of it, should have no problem pricing the risk.

- Let insurers cover the financial hazard.

No country closes its borders to it's own citizens. They may impose quarantine restrictions, but they never refuse them entry.

- The return of tourists is therefore not an issue that should concern the Thai authorities. If Tourists find it expedient to stay longer in Thailand due to events at home, then that is something Thailand should view as an opportunity to further bolster their economy, rather than view as a problem.

2 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

5. Thais have been exposed to dirty Farang sex tourists for over 60 and have therefore built up a strong "herd immunity".

Most people who have looked in to std transmission in Thailand have concluded that the problem is careless Thai men - not tourists..

Don't look at the number of cases in France - that just reflects increased testing.

Look at the number of deaths - which is virtually zilch..

We can't eradicate this bug, but the treatment of the few who get it badly is well worked out now.

Thailand needs its tourist cash - it's status as a middle ranking economy absolutely depends on that..

I returned to the UK on March 23rd. My other half stayed back in Thailand for what was supposed to be a fortnight because a cousin was being invested as a monk - and she's been stuck there ever since..

It doesn't help that her family compare the Covid stats between the LoS and UK and worry she'll catch the bug here. It also doesn't help that virtually her entire family work or have worked for Thai Airways, and the idea of flying with anyone else is anathema. However, as Thai are still dysfunctional on the international front, I've talked her round to the idea of flying with another carrier, probably Lufthansa.

Her family are still being difficult however, and are picking up on every rumour going around.

There's a good recent thread here to counter the notion that once she's left Thailand, getting back will be really hard.

However, does anyone have a link to guidance on what hoops she has to jump through to fly out of the LoS now, that is bang up to date? There is so much stuff out there and so much has changed over the last few months, it's hard to know what is current. The UK end is simple - it's getting her onto a plane I need to be clear about..

I was given access to the Royal Orchid lounge. Good bar, but meagre food offerings. 

In the end the plane left an hour late yet arrived at LHR twenty minutes ahead of schedule. Checking the flight data as we crossed Europe I noticed that we had a small tail wind - unusual when flying west.

The A380 was about three quarters full, and mindful of how that can overload immigration, I put my best foot forward when leaving the plane and managed to not only be the first off the plane, but also the first passenger of the day at T2 immigration - I was also the first to reclaim their luggage.

There was no temperature screening at Heathrow, just a leaflet handed out. 

I reached the Heathrow underground station 26 minutes after touchdown. The Tube was almost deserted - barely 5% of normal passenger numbers.

As promised, here is the update of the situation within BKK

As of this evening, the airport is looking surprisingly normal. Most Asian passengers are wearing masks, most farangs are not. Everyone entering the building is having their temperature checked, otherwise there are no special measures. There is no hand sanitiser for passenger use anywhere, including the toilets, so bring your own.

Queues and general passenger numbers are not unusual. Despite the restaurant closure notices, all the airport facilities are operating normally, including the lounges.

My flight, TG910 is delayed 45 minutes which is a real pain, as public transport in London has been greatly scaled down. Unless the pilot tries to make up time, my planned connections at the other end will be missed.

If you're flying into London, do check your connections - about half of all trains are not running at the moment..

Ouch! You're a hard bitten lot!

OK a girlfriend or wife is obvious, but that entails the usual lies and bullshit - I like to keep in control (without telling lies) and I want to end this trip without moral obligation.

A separate maid and bedmate looks likely, but I was curious to know if there was a compromise culture.

I am too stingy to pay for both?

- yes if I don't have to!

Thanks guys!

Tom

As a writer planning to spend several months of next winter in Thailand to work on my next book, I'm planning to rent a modest apartment, probably in Hua Hin.

On previous, shorter visits to the kingdom, I've stayed in hotels and enjoyed the bar scene.

For this trip I will need a maid. My understanding is that maids are "good" girls, and out of reach from a carnal standpoint. I also reckon that trying to engage a bar girl as a maid with "extras" is likely to be unsatisfactory.

Is there a half way house that I could tap into? A live-in maid who is outwardly a "good" girl, but doesn't need a bed of her own...

My guess is that there must be plenty of girls who wouldn't drop to the level of working the bars, but would appreciate an enhanced income. Question is, how do I find one?

Any of you seasoned ex-pats got any practical suggestions??