Thailand’s Tourism Council reports ZERO bookings following coronavirus outbreak

[Traubert]

1 hour ago, Yadon Toploy said:

If, and it is a very big if, you believe the stats.

 

I have just been contacted by someone from a Thai Govt. dept. asking what our Coronavirus policy is.

 

There's genuine panic at the moment as the inept and inadequates in uniform struggle to get a handle on the crisis. 

 

Lucky for them I am proactive rather than reactive and have already had our HSE brief to all the staff and introduce preventative measures a week ago.

As I just replied to Mr Assurance, I'm as sceptical as anyone with the media. Possibly more. I cross check the date at the top against the calendar. However, the baying hrdes have their own use for them. Unequivocally accepted when the figures are bad, sceptically viewed when they're good. I agree we'll never be fully informed

 

Duly noted. We're a little further down the line here in China. We own two apartments rented out to tenants. Yesterday we were informed that we have to provide proof that our tenants are not from Wuhan or have recently travelled there. We have to report back within 24 hours. It would appear we're at the door-by-door stage.

[Assurancetourix]

7 minutes ago, trainman34014 said:

We live about the same distance away

The same for us;
the Sawang Daen Din  Lotus is 10 km from our village;
we went there this morning because in the morning there are never many people who shop.
For the rest we live in autarky;
minimum displacements.
As for me, I continue to use my MTBike , mainly on red dirt roads, where traffic is almost nonexistent ;

but the high pressures which put pollution almost at ground level worry me a little; my eyes don't like it at all.

[ftpjtm]

2 hours ago, sanuk711 said:

I don't think that is correct SteveK.....if your returning to your place of residence --(The one you stated you will reside at when you got your 1 yea visa) then you do not fill a TM30 in. But the Visa Mod will know for sure

2 years ago my flight was rescheduled due to an airline strike and I had to apply for a 30 day extension. While the wife was being lectured to about and fined over not having filed a recent TM30, the fine folks at Jomtiem entered my name into their computer and showed her a list of hotels I had visited over the course of my stay. They explicitly told her that she should have filed a TM30 upon return from each of those stays.

 

Of course TIT, so other IO have told others who've asked that it's not necessary. But if you are interested in following the letter of the law you must file a TM30 every time you spend a night in a new IO jurisdiction, either through a hotel or home owner.

 

That's why many resident farangs have reduced their domestic Thailand travel.

 

Edited February 6, 2020 by ftpjtm

[SteveK]

9 minutes ago, ftpjtm said:

That's why many resident farangs have reduced their travel.

If there was an office within a few km of our house, it wouldn't bother me so much, but it's about a 3 hour round trip for me. Hence haven't taken any trips at all since this <deleted> started, just not worth the hassle. Probably saved me a fortune on hotels, restaurants and entertainment, so not too bothered.

Edited February 6, 2020 by SteveK

[cyril sneer]

I quite like this virus

[Assurancetourix]

What I know and not what I heard ...

When you go down to a hotel "boom-boom" at 300 or 400 baht, it is very rare that the boss asks me for an identity document which means that he does not tell me to the police.
Do like me, sleep in roadside hotels or better in Wat, plus it's free! 
By cons must like to sleep on a mat 0.5 cm thick on concrete and take the shower with the bowl and cold water ...
The "monks" will not declare you either ...

 

I specify that I generally travel with my wife ;

when I write hotel " boom boom " it is because it is the easiest to find; it does not require a prior reservation; it's the best way for me to travel.

Edited February 6, 2020 by Assurancetourix

[SteveK]

5 minutes ago, cyril sneer said:

I quite like this virus

It's certainly come at a good time. Once tourism in Thailand really does hit rock bottom, maybe then we will see some backtracking on TM30, 90 day reporting, and very ill-conceived visa/immigration policies. But knowing Thailand, any backtracking will cause someone to lose face so they will probably just do nothing and plod on as usual, hoping for the best and publishing bogus figures.

Edited February 6, 2020 by SteveK

[Assurancetourix]

1 minute ago, SteveK said:

But knowing Thailand, any backtracking will cause someone to lose face so they will probably just do nothing and plod on as usual.

Pending the takeover by Thanakorn;
I am optimistic, it will certainly come.
One of his "lieutenant" is a law professor who studied in France, he speaks French fluently;
I hope one day to be able to meet him and discuss with him.

[rocket3rider]

Stating that tourism is down to zero is a great move.

 

When one tourist comes in they will announce that tourism numbers are up 100%.

[metisdead]

A post containing unattributed content has been removed as well as a reply. Please include a link to your source of information when posting. 

[spermwhale]

3 hours ago, 3421abc said:

Good!! That's karma for treating westerners like <deleted>. 

I have lived here a long time and I don't recall an tour operator, hotel or other people in the industry treating me poorly here. Once I signed up for a boat trip in Phuket and unfortunately they catered primarily to Chinese and the dock was full of them. However, the staff and even the owners who I met all treated me really well. 

I'm curious what your experience has been to think that they are treating Chinese well but not westerners.

 

[Gweiloman]

5 minutes ago, spermwhale said:

I have lived here a long time and I don't recall an tour operator, hotel or other people in the industry treating me poorly here. Once I signed up for a boat trip in Phuket and unfortunately they catered primarily to Chinese and the dock was full of them. However, the staff and even the owners who I met all treated me really well. 

I'm curious what your experience has been to think that they are treating Chinese well but not westerners.

 

Everyone is treated the same. It’s just entitled farangs showing their poor education. 

[miamiman123]

Immigration 90 day check today...took 10 mins w 10 total people!

normally 4 hours and 300/400 people!

where have all the foreigners gone? Certainly not in immigration lines!

its just starting...gonna be a rough ride to come 

stay tuned! 

[happyinthailand]

3 hours ago, DannyCarlton said:

Thailand has received an extremely bad press over this in the West. Media constantly mentioning that Thailand is the highest risk country outside China. You can knock a big chunk of Western tourists off that 50% figure.

It receives the press it deserves. While, for the safety of their citizens, other neighboring countries are trying to limit the freeflow of visitors from China, Thailand continues to encourage Chinese Tourists to come.  Thank goodness China is being responsible by banning outbound tour groups. The Thailand approach is totally shortsighted. They have successfully killed the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Edited February 6, 2020 by happyinthailand

[SuwadeeS]

Sorry to say, that is the bill they get after all the rip off dual pricing etc.

Now they really have some time reconsider the treatment of foreigners. 

Even thought, they put put for overstay foreigners in a like KZ (Nazi concentration camp)

where they do not have enough food and water and the space is less them one sqm.

 

They deserve a zero booking.

[iaminwa]

I am an IHG Gold Member - Holiday Inn group.

 

I just logged in and checked out prices to stay at Holiday Inn on Beach Road Pattaya this weekend.

 

Cheapest room - 3000 Baht a night plus taxes!!! They have got to be kidding.

 

<deleted>

Edited February 6, 2020 by metisdead
Profane acronym removed.

[DannyCarlton]

1 hour ago, SteveK said:

I know for sure because I asked at my local immigration office and they told me quite clearly that I had to do it or get fined next time I need to do anything at immigration. I know some offices are not as strict but mine (Ubon) definitely is.

Do (don't do) mine at Jomtien. Always very laid back, probably because they know that they are dealing with a more honest, better class of expat in Pattaya.

[spidermike007]

Quantity over quality is never a good thing, unless you are selling one dollar items at a swap meet. It just lowers the quality of the experience for all. This is an emergency situation. It needs to be dealt with, and it needs a high degree of intelligence and competence. Not something Prayuth or Pipat possess. Someone else needs to handle this, and it needs to be handled yesterday!

 

The tourism industry is teetering on the edge of a tragic drop, and has already been devastated by this highly destructive administration. All it needs now is a spread of this virus. It could crush millions of families dependent on tourism. Why take a chance? Who can trust the Thai authorities, and what they say? Why trust them? What have they done to earn that trust?

 

You know what they say about putting all of your eggs in one basket? I have been warning of the dangers of becoming too dependent on China for years. Now, after you have made your bed, you get to sleep in it. You have alienated all tourists but Indians and Chinese. Westerners are not coming here anymore for a dozen very good reasons. You insulted us. You demeaned us. You accused us of being evil, and you accused us of being criminals. You mounted campaigns touting us as bad for the nation. You demonstrated deplorable amounts of racism and xenophobia, and fear of the outside world. Some of your officials even went as far as saying we prefer to have tourists that look more like us! And now you want us to come back? Really? How soon you forget. Sorry, but we have not forgotten what was done and said. What we have forgotten is the nation named Thailand. There are too many alternatives now, and they are not only trying harder, they actually have competent people in charge! Surprise!

[yogi100]

2 hours ago, sapson said:

So with immediate effect immigration officers have at all airports have been instructed to stop the interrogations of people who simply wish to be in Thailand and spend money and welcome everybody with open arms.

 

No more ......you come too Thailand too much, here too long spending money, you stay in our cells for a few days and we make you pay to leave!!

 

Farcical tm30 rules will be totally relaxed along with other pedantic obstructive visa requirements.

 

The empty hotels nationwide will slash prices,offering promotions such as pay for one night get two free nights.

 

Thai Airways will promote huge discounts for both domestic and international travel.

 

Hospitals will offer free medical care for anyone with virus concerns.

 

etc etc etc.....  then i woke up.

 

 

In a few weeks this will all be history and regular falang visitors will still be getting accused of working in Thailand and being told they come too much.

 

The top dogs will still be running the show and the Indians and Chinese visitors will still be welcomed so they can again continue spending their 6,000 baht a day in the LOS.

 

It'll take more than a bit of a health threat to make the Thai elite accept a loss of face.

[RichardColeman]

I still feel the TAT will say they will use the expected 2020 figures this year rather than the real ones as it is a 'unusual one off' year and that it is acceptable in the circumstances

[sahibji]

4 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

You can use the gray carpet, the red one will be stowed away until our Chinese friends recovers.

dependency on limited  number of countries is a sign of poor planning. best to spread your net wider.

[sahibji]

it is not only thailand that has been impacted by this virus. take it with a smile and try to spread your network wider.

[DannyCarlton]

35 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

Pending the takeover by Thanakorn;
I am optimistic, it will certainly come.

555 Much higher chance of him serving a long prison sentence than becoming P.M.

[madmen]

3 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Quantity over quality is never a good thing, unless you are selling one dollar items at a swap meet. It just lowers the quality of the experience for all. This is an emergency situation. It needs to be dealt with, and it needs a high degree of intelligence and competence. Not something Prayuth or Pipat possess. Someone else needs to handle this, and it needs to be handled yesterday!

 

The tourism industry is teetering on the edge of a tragic drop, and has already been devastated by this highly destructive administration. All it needs now is a spread of this virus. It could crush millions of families dependent on tourism. Why take a chance? Who can trust the Thai authorities, and what they say? Why trust them? What have they done to earn that trust?

 

You know what they say about putting all of your eggs in one basket? I have been warning of the dangers of becoming too dependent on China for years. Now, after you have made your bed, you get to sleep in it. You have alienated all tourists but Indians and Chinese. Westerners are not coming here anymore for a dozen very good reasons. You insulted us. You demeaned us. You accused us of being evil, and you accused us of being criminals. You mounted campaigns touting us as bad for the nation. You demonstrated deplorable amounts of racism and xenophobia, and fear of the outside world. Some of your officials even went as far as saying we prefer to have tourists that look more like us! And now you want us to come back? Really? How soon you forget. Sorry, but we have not forgotten what was done and said. What we have forgotten is the nation named Thailand. There are too many alternatives now, and they are not only trying harder, they actually have competent people in charge! Surprise!

OMG how did you get to all those conclusions? 

[SteveK]

2 minutes ago, sahibji said:

dependency on limited  number of countries is a sign of poor planning. 

Why did you expect any kind of planning? Thai authorities only act reactively, never proactively. 

 

Still, I'm sure there's an untapped tourist market in Sierra Leone that they can pin their hopes on next.

[ChouDoufu]

simple solution to fix their problem.  why not institute a retirement program for foreigners?

 

given the cost of living in the west, especially the medical costs in the usa, i imagine millions of retirees would love to spend their twilight years in a modern tropical paradise.

 

 

 

[Matzzon]

Yes, it can not be much lower than zero. 

[orang37]

What an opportunity to think outside the box !

 

Now: The Big Corona Grand Promotion: if you get sick [1, 1a], we give you 14 extra days free stay, plus 20% off discount in-room food service [2] and PPV movies [3]; if you don't get sick, we give you ten free N95 face masks, ten pairs sterile latex gloves, 2 full-size bars of Protex soap, 20% off discount bungee jump, 30% off discount on extra charge for rental of room on floor with no Chinese [4].

 

[1] requires a minimum booking of ten days/nights at one of our sponsoring hotels.

 

[1a] contingent upon certified Corona virus diagnosis contracted in Thailand.

 

[2] exclusive of imported alcoholic beverages.

 

[3] exclusive of porn

 

[4] this surcharge may vary by hotel

 

~o:37;

[metisdead]

Some off topic posts and the replies have been removed.

[crabbie2020]

Hope the Thai economy really suffers. Servers them right for turning their backs on us falanag!!