Berti

1 hour ago, new2here said:

What I’m somewhat dying to know is how much will be the change be for the forced quarantine be? as example, Korea is over $1K I recall for the 2-weeks.. part of me can easily see this has having the added “benefit” to local hotels as a means of income generation during the lockdown/no-tourist period.

Absolutely agree. Thailand had almost 40 million Tourists per year (I think business travelers not included). The capacities are huge.

It is hard to explain why the government does not facilitate "quarantine business". I think also tourists would go into a convenient hotel quarantine if they will stay 2-3 months.

Also hard to explain why this country can only handle 300 incoming Thais per day with so much experience and capacities in immigration and tourism.

On 5/20/2020 at 11:49 AM, BookShe said:

As a Samui resident and hotel owner one should say it's a "great idea" However, I would say <deleted> you TAT. The idea of bringing tourist to an island which can be sealed off, again and again if the virus shows up, it will create more losses and pain, than as it is right now. These morons should be playing with their own peanuts instead of desperately trying to get some money by risking a whole island. Taking China off the list of infected countries and allowing them to come here with direct flights is insane. Domestic tourism yes, international not so fast. So thank you, but NO thank you. 

A hotel owner does not want more tourists? Wow

1 hour ago, brucec64 said:

Why can't you stop them? The concept of a health passport has been thrown around. You maybe can't force someone to take a vaccine, but you sure don't have to let them into your country if they present an avoidable risk.

You guys underestimate herd-psychology. As soon as a vaccine is available mass media will lose interest in the corona theme.

Many people have the possibility to get the vaccine so they don't care if they meet someone not vaccinated. If someone dies on Corona he/she will be presented as an idiot because he refused to get vaccinated. Nobody cares if the vaccine is 100% effective as soon as the media loose interest.

All will be good.

Again an airline which resumes flights to BKK and HKG in July.

Just sayin'

And wondering.

https://www.airlive.net/finnair-to-resume-flights-to-40-destinations-from-july-1st/

Wow, so much negative energy in all the posts.

But I agree, a ridiculous campaign.

Even if Thailand would be able to change the image and attract only quality (high end?) tourists, the bahts made with tourism would drop significantly.

Didn't they aim 40 million tourists a short time ago because they need more money to raise the standard of living for the Thai people?

5 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

At the moment they are repatriating 300 Thai nationals each day, I read that all flights are fully booked for June 

I assume the number of 300 each day is due to limited availability of Goverement facilities for the 14 Day 14-day mandatory quarantine. Mu understanding is they initally tried 14 day self isolation but found that people lied about their previous travel and were going out meeting people during the 14 day self isolation period

Scenes from a Thai government Covid-19 quarantine facility: barracks living, but great Thai food

https://www.scmp.com/video/coronavirus/3080722/scenes-thai-government-covid-19-quarantine-facility-barracks-living-great

Not so bad. Reminds me of summer camps as a student. ????

Would be a new experience you never forget in a lifetime.

2 hours ago, JackThompson said:

Most definitely just my opinion.  Though I cannot fathom why they don't put those empty rooms to use, and let their countrymen come home tomorrow. 

As to the testing - have read the airlines are lining up to get the machines ASAP - which makes sense from their business-perspective.  Who wants to get on a plane with sick people?  The surest way to get sick, pre-covid, was always to take a plane-ride.

That should mostly solve the "arrivals with covid" concern fairly soon (vs the "wait for a vaccine" insanity), though a follow up test a few days later would be needed to ensure someone did not "just get it" before boarding the plane.

I could not agree more!!! Well said.

But I fear we will not see these more "Intelligent solutions" in Thailand soon.

28 minutes ago, reallyaffiliated said:

Guys I haven't seen my girlfriend since January. What do you guys think would be the earliest I would be able to travel to Bangkok or have her visit me in the Netherlands? I am more than willing to do 14 day quarantine. This situation really sucks. I've been doing amazing financially, but not I cannot even be with my loved one.

 

Have been checking the thaiger and the bangkok post 3 times a day for the last 2 months. 

 

Do you think it is going to be a possibility to travel to a country like South Korea in let's say July and then travel to Bangkok?

 

I read that they might open up to different asian countries in July.

 

Situation really sucks, hurts to read you guys with families not being able to visit your kids. Wishing everybody the best.

 

(EDIT) Also why would the board of tourism expect 16 million tourist this year? Is that purely based on Chinese wanting to visit after let's say July? Or do you guys think that they might open up for more countries that are doing well Corona infection wise.

It seems that we have to wait until 30. June at least.

Koreans also not allowed to enter until then.

Most people on this topic agree they would go into 14 days quarantine and pay for it. But no way right now (maybe unofficial ways).

There are rumors that the Thai government will first repatriate all citizens first and then make the next step with foreigners (or even worse, then start to think about the next step).

1 minute ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yep, Europe is pretty F***** Up. 

That's why Thailand is leading the way, they don't want Thailand to end up like Europe. 

 

Well done Thailand, keep up the good work. 

You don't read what I write. I will not continue to answer you.

31 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

This is a forum , it would be a very strange forum if you can only post on a subject if it directly affects you

Sorry I became angry because some people reply without reading what they reply to.

13 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

In response to the public health threat associated with the spread of coronavirus, Austria has suspended the entry of third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA/CH citizens) entering Austria by air from outside the Schengen area.

Yes Exceptions for as well as for family members of Austrian (and EU/EEA/CH) citizens living in the same household, and holders of a D visa or residence permit issued by Austria.

https://www.austria.org/coronavirus

And restrictions are still in place for everyone else so not totally open 

Who said totally open in Austria?

Who said Thailand should totally open the borders?

I wonder why you are on this topic when you agree that Thailand should continue to block the borders for all foreigners. It seems you are not stuck outside Thailand.

22 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

Yes every EU country has it own regulations but on 17th March the EU proposed a ban which was accepted by all of the EU member states

https://www.politico.eu/article/the-eu-european-union-coronavirus-covid19-travel-ban-explained/

If you care to list the countries where you feel this isn't the case please proceed

e.g. in Austria you can enter the country even if you are not a citizien if you have a residence permit or a visa D (up to 6 months stay). So no total block of foreigners outside EU.

24 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

There you go, not reading the full comment and replying.

 

I said 

Most countries who have safety for their citizens. 

 

Thailand is doing a great job protecting their people.

 

Well done Thailand. 

The main message in this thread is about ways foreigners can enter Thailand without risk for the Thai people.

I think it is not well done if you just block everyone.

Entry with 14 days quarantine would not harm anyone in Thailand.

10 minutes ago, Berti said:

Indonesia makes a first step.

Foreigners are now allowed to come in with a test and 14 day (self?)-quarantine.

 

"Foreigners are required to enter a mandatory 14-day quarantine at their own cost. They were previously banned from visiting the country, but that rule has now been eased."

https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2020/05/indonesia-asks-for-health-certificates/

 

Thumbs up!

 

Does anyone have the private email address of the Thai PM ? We could send him the link. LOL !!

4 hours ago, JackThompson said:

On foreigners - test on arrival as testing-systems become available.  Allow as many in as can be tested, first allowing all Thais to come home tomorrow (put up in the empty hotels until tested).  Re-test after 7-days if tourists stay that long.

Is this your opinion or did you get this information from somewhere?

Indonesia makes a first step.

Foreigners are now allowed to come in with a test and 14 day (self?)-quarantine.

"Foreigners are required to enter a mandatory 14-day quarantine at their own cost. They were previously banned from visiting the country, but that rule has now been eased."

https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2020/05/indonesia-asks-for-health-certificates/

Thumbs up!

29 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

Makes perfect sense, see how these countries do in June, if they suddenly need to go in lockdown again because numbers are increasing then travel ban is likely to be extended, however if the numbers remain the same and these countries don't have to revert back to lockdown mode then it likely that International travel to Thailand will be open for certain countries, I don't think they will resume travel for all countries

I think it makes no sense to switch between total lockdown and open everything without rules.

I hope governments and people have enough logic and common sense to obey the rules which will prevent higher infection rates, even with tourism.

Test capacities are already very high, this will help. If health offices do a good job and people follow the rules it should work.

37 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

What about when you return to your country. The UK are requiring 14 day’s isolation and will be for the foreseeable future 

Ridiculous measures all over the world.

In January: You can't close the borders to China.

Now: You must close the border to all countries even with much much lower infection rates than in your own country.

So much insanity in all countries.

31 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Will nations be rated, depending on the number of cases, the number of deaths, how recent the curve flattened, etc? If so, it will be quite difficult to get in from the US (the most radioactive people in the world in terms of tourism in the near future) Spain, Russia, UK, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Turkey, Iran, India, Canada, and quite possibly China. The world leaders. In Covid. 

This list is arbitrarily. How can you compare Russia with Germany at the moment? Totally different developments. Germany was late with measures, but much earlier than Russia.

Germany just is not so stupid to kill the whole economy, so they opened up after they saw that the infection rate is under control.

3 hours ago, Mr Natural said:

 

First,  all of the testing is very suspect for accuracy,  particularly the fast ones that could be done at airports.  And there have been more than a few cases that have lasted much longer than 14 days so quarantine isn't a guarantee either.  In any event it would be a logistical nightmare to quarantine huge numbers of travelers.

The standard PCR test is expensive but very accurate. Problem: It needs about 2-3 days until you find the virus RNA after you get infected. So a second test is needed. Upon departure and after arrival would be ok.

14 days is very seldom and nobody could prove it this virus is still infectious. Don't forget that the PCR test only sees the virus RNA even if the virus is already dead.

Quote

Fast tracking a vaccine will be dangerous, there are good reasons why all of the testing normally takes so long. In addition to potential unforeseen problems,  there are already a lot of people leery about vaccines.  Cutting corners on safety and efficacy will mean even fewer willing to take them.  And reliable testing for antibodies will be anything but soon, it isn't even known yet if people will have real immunity or not.

It needs so long because you have to wait until the tested persons get infected in normal life. You could infect them intentionally (voluntarily). But the WHO seems to have a problem with this. This refers to vaccine development

2 hours ago, Canuck1966 said:

How can you exterminate a virus which has no vaccine?

They will have to allow people to enter the country at some point in the future

I wanted to say with my post that there are two groups of countries which are not compatible now:

1.) Thailand, HK, NZ, ....: Extermination of the virus. Only possible with closed doors for at least one more year or longer. Will totally destroy international travel and tourism.

2.) Countries which want to keep the virus under control: European countries and the US.

Travel between these two groups will need extraordinary good leaders to facilitate it or someone who is responsible finally finds out how much money is lost. See Thailand.