No confirmation on when international tourists can return to Thailand: PM

[Pattaya46]

3 hours ago, connda said:

It's fascinating to watch the leadership of a country literally destroy that country's economy. //

Always easy to criticize the one who has to take decisions when yourself have no responsability if something goes wrong because of these decisions...

Rather than only criticize Thailand and its government, please tell me how it's different for nearby countries : Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, ...

My opinion (as a stranded abroad) is that nearly nothing will change for several months, but they will try to have tourists back before high season (December... 6 months... :( )

Only thing who could accelerate the process is if one of nearby countries decides to widely open to tourism again. In such case Thailand very probably would quickly follow the move.

Let's wait & see.

[Captain Monday]

19 minutes ago, wagsthedog said:

by lifting the restriction to allow tourists from bubble countries will mean the Thai government is saying its totally safe here. With the amount of what you can and cannot do including not going to the beach (Phuket) why would you want to come here. On holiday you want a bit of adventure, go for a swim go out at night and have a drink. This is not possible.

1. the government are suppressing the masses by keeping the restrictions on, so when lifted the proletariat will be so grateful,  OR....

2. the amount if infections recorded are falsely played down, i.e. there are more infections and deaths than is recorded and the government have to keep the restrictions in place.

3. the ordinary Thai person is busting to back to work and earn some cash, if Thai people cannot earn money there will be more crime as people get desperate.

 

Its not the same as it was even 5 years ago ( bars entertainment) now there are many chinese who charge anything they buy back to china, have you seen them in 7-11 or Tesco or family mart, there are many indian tourists but they dont spend any money. When the indians book a hotel room at an agreed price they always ask for more discount on arrival!!, I'm glad I sold my hotel 3 years ago, I couldn't stand the BS anymore  

Until covid I  hardly get the till at 7-11 for large groups of Chinese.

Any whilst present in smaller numbers they cut the queue!

[thailand49]

4 hours ago, Enzian said:

So I can not leave LOS and go to Europe and/or the US and then return to LOS after 2 to 5 weeks (my frequent pattern) sooner than October at best, which is what I've been expecting.

Sadly I'm kind of in the same boat, U.S. certainly will not be on the list until the end of the year if we are lucky!  The operable word is travel bubble?

[AndrewMciver]

17 minutes ago, AndrewMciver said:

 

It's very SIMPLE when you think outside the norms. I left Hong Kong a few weeks back, and at the airport they were testing every single passenger that arrived into Hong Kong. Yes it was a long process (mainly due to the security, and admin involved) but it could also have been streamlined. 

 

There are now quick instant tests available, being carried out in America (even in the White House), Japan, Hong Kong. You aren't going to see 30 million tourists a year, so the numbers are going to be down. A flight arrives, and you test each passenger before letting them leave. Any costs associated could be passed onto the passengers. 

 

Back in the day, asking passengers to wait hours for immigration would have seemed insane too. But it happens.

 

Testing at airports is a simple solutions, and about to be adopted in many european countries who are so reliant on tourism. Thailand is massively reliant on tourism when you look at their GDP. 

 

Those that rely on tourism for so much of their economy, have to lead the ways in innovations. Sadly, i don't think Thailand will adapt. 

 

Countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, UK, will take hits but a loss of tourism won't hurt them like it would hurt a Thailand, Italy, Maldives, Caribbean etc 

[Guderian]

It's a lot better plan than the confusion and chaos, not to mention blind panic in some quarters, going on in the UK. Some talking head on Sky News last night was rattling on about air bridges with countries with low rates of infection, but he didn't seem to realise that the UK has had one of the worst outbreaks in the world and is still regarded as a red zone. Why would Australia and New Zealand, or even Thailand, allow hordes of British visitors to enter without quarantine, at least until the UK has clearly got its own big problems under control, which is not the case at present?

[Bluetongue]

I think we're approaching the moment of truth for Thailand. How come Singapore is negotiating with Australia, China, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, for a "green lane" I guess a new name for a bubble. Thailand not mentioned as far as I can see. But here, we are told low case numbers, low deaths. (My wife swears there is a large outbreak in the Muslim south). Is it because they aren't as trusted as a more affluent nation. In any case even if Thailand does manage to get in on that it wont happen 1st of July. But hopefully as I've said before, they will open the airport and allow limited, quarantined entry to those who want and need to do that, and also easier exit for people like myself. A few flights will start up if thats the case. As we know many other countries including China still aren't allowing freedom of outbound travel. Down the line negotiations with different countries, airport testing etc may open things up further and even those pesky Covid free certificates and insurance may spring up on a commercial basis.

 

Anyway what they do next, the relaxation or whatever from the 1st of July is going to be the defining moment of how things are going to unfold here from now on. I dont hold any great hope on things happening more quickly, for instance negotiating with foreign governments, would not be a particularly strong point here, only my perhaps flawed judgement. A delay of a further month to any substantive action would be a very bad sign. One things for sure, this Government couldn't give a rats <deleted> about lowly paid, low class tourism workers laid off. They are expected to be at Mums place up country with no money and only a slightly empty stomach. 

[tribalfusion001]

45 minutes ago, AndrewMciver said:

 

Don't get mistaken. The Chinese ordered their people not to travel. China will tell Thailand when they are going to arrive, not the other way round. 

Correct, there is no guarantee that mass tourism from the China will be allowed. Maybe the rich Chinese and CCP hangers on will b e allowed to travel, but I doubt the hordes of tour groups will be around this year.

[from the home of CC]

with 10,000 new cases a day in the UK and a few other countries I sure hope the wall is built high..

[AndrewMciver]

8 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

with 10,000 new cases a day in the UK and a few other countries I sure hope the wall is built high..

 

The UK has never had 10,000 cases a day. It had 1600 yesterday. Still horrendous, but it's nowhere near 10,00 and never has been.

 

Furthermore it is carrying out testing on mass than most other countries in the world so it's bound to find alot of cases. The UK has carried out nearly 5 million tests, and is now going to ramp it up to 200,000 a day. Thailand has carried out 400,000 tests in total.  Both the UK and Thailand have roughly the same population. 

 

However in saying all that, the UK have handled the epidemic terribly. 

Edited June 3, 2020 by AndrewMciver

[Rimmer]

Racist slur removed

[JCP108]

25 minutes ago, Bluetongue said:

 Is it because they aren't as trusted as a more affluent nation.

I don't think it's because of Thailand's development or economic status. I think people aren't trusting the numbers since there is no openness about the testing capacities and actual numbers of tests being performed at the two reference labs and how many tests are being performed overall (the ones that are counted, not the number they seem to pull out of thin air each day to add to the total tests number). If Thailand were more open, maybe other countries would trust the numbers. This is esp true given the remarkably low numbers being reported. 

[from the home of CC]

3 minutes ago, AndrewMciver said:

 

The UK has never had 10,000 cases a day. It had 1600 yesterday. Still horrendous, but it's nowhere near 10,00 and never has been.

 

Furthermore it is carrying out testing on mass than most other countries in the world so it's bound to find alot of cases. 

 

However in saying all that, they have handled the epidemic terribly. 

check out around 16:20, the UK has had higher daily totals many times, but you believe who you like..

 

[Traubert]

9 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Correct, there is no guarantee that mass tourism from the China will be allowed. Maybe the rich Chinese and CCP hangers on will b e allowed to travel, but I doubt the hordes of tour groups will be around this year.

The estimate is that 77% of Chinese tourists, on resumption, will be independent travellers.

 

That matches previous trends so it might be an idea to drop the 'tour groups' fascination. You're out of date.

 

CPC members aren't allowed foreign travel without special dispensation  either.

[Spellforce]

I know too many thai people in Pattaya who are starving now.

I start to have an unsafe feeling now. I hope they will at least allow 1st of jully the chinese tourists to come back.

Edited June 3, 2020 by Spellforce

[from the home of CC]

47 minutes ago, AndrewMciver said:

 

Those that rely on tourism for so much of their economy, have to lead the ways in innovations. Sadly, i don't think Thailand will adapt. 

 

Countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, UK, will take hits but a loss of tourism won't hurt them like it would hurt a Thailand, Italy, Maldives, Caribbean etc 

they'll adapt, and in the end be much happier..

[AndrewMciver]

1 minute ago, Traubert said:

The estimate is that 77% of Chinese tourists, on resumption, will be independent travellers.

 

That matches previous trends so it might be an idea to drop the 'tour groups' fascination. You're out of date.

 

CPC members aren't allowed foreign travel without special dispensation  either.

 

It's not the individual choice. The likelyhood, China will not want returning tourists with infections, hence they will keep a lockdown on mass movement for the time being. They have said as much. 

[Hardy99]

6 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Sounds like they are thinking smartly and trying to do the right thing here.

Yeah the right Thing.. let millions suffer of unemployment and no food or shelter .. you must be over 70 to agree, but better woiuld be let all the Young out and old guys stay home! (Would include many of those make the current rules as well …) 

[AndrewMciver]

4 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

check out around 16:20, the UK has had higher daily totals many times, but you believe who you like..

 

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/uk/

 

Like i said, they had 1600 cases yesterday. That is a stark difference to your claim they had 10,000 - which is false. They have never had anywhere 10,000 infections a day, which is a gross exaggerated lie. 

 

As i said the UK has carried out nearly 5 million tests on the population, with them now ramping up to 200,000 a day. Antibody tests rolling out next week. Thailand meanwhile has only carried out 400,000 tests in total, and zero antibody tests. Both similar populations sizes.

 

The UK rate is also high because of the problems they have had in care homes for the elderly. 

 

That's why no one can really be sure how many people in Thailand actually had the disease. But it's fair to say it's has not succumbed to the pandemic like many European countries. Be it luck, climate, health of the population (namely weight issues), density of the cities they have done well. 

 

 

[LukKrueng]

6 hours ago, ezzra said:

Meaning that the Thai tourism industry will continue to be in the crapper and millions who depends on it for their survival will continue to suffer and lose their life's works and investments witch will take years to recover from, way to go PM...

Even if they open the country today, with no restrictions at all - who could come?  

Australia and New Zealand have also discussed plans to resume travel between the two countries, potentially starting from September.

So Aussies and kiwis won't be able to leave Australia and NZ without government approval before then. 

Other countries plan putting similar restrictions in place as well. 

On the other hand, many countries are talking about opening up with conditions such as allowing tourists from only covid 19 clean countries, restricting tourists to some locations only and so on. 

 

 

[from the home of CC]

1 minute ago, AndrewMciver said:

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/uk/

 

Like i said, they had 1600 cases yesterday. That is a stark difference to your claim they had 10,000 - which is false. They have never had anywhere 10,000 infections a day, which is a gross exaggerated lie. 

 

As i said the UK has carried out nearly 5 million tests on the population, with them now ramping up to 200,000 a day. Antibody tests rolling out next week. Thailand meanwhile has only carried out 400,000 tests in total, and zero antibody tests. Both similar populations sizes.

 

The UK rate is also high because of the problems they have had in care homes for the elderly. 

 

That's why no one can really be sure how many people in Thailand actually had the disease. But it's fair to say it's has not succumbed to the pandemic like many European countries. Be it luck, climate, health of the population (namely weight issues), density of the cities they have done well. 

 

 

choose to believe what you want if it makes you feel better..

[tribalfusion001]

The new slogan "Amazing Trusted Thailand" is the key to selling the country as a covid-19 free place. First of all it was the dirty foreigners bringing the virus in and now it's Thai's returning from abroad. The narrative has been clear from the start, scare the Thai people, impose controls and then only admit foreigners from countries they like.

 

The problem is no western countries have mentioned their success story and the PRC have their own problems. You either bite the bullet and let people back in or suffer the drop in GDP.

[ThailandGuy]

But they are planning for Songkran to be held in july? What would happen if massive amounts of (drunk) people would flock together ? Do they expect it will not breakout again?

 

[robbioff]

6 hours ago, uli65 said:

the covid panicker need more lockdowns, shutdown the country and close the borders forever,

 

Welcome to the panicdemic. Thailand is leading the way. #fake pandemic 

[Bluetongue]

9 minutes ago, ThailandGuy said:

But they are planning for Songkran to be held in july? What would happen if massive amounts of (drunk) people would flock together ? Do they expect it will not breakout again?

 

That is only the Culture Ministry so far. Anywhere else a senior leader would have stamped that out already or the announcement would not have been cleared by the higher office. We wait to see what happens there, clearly lunacy in my opinion.

Edited June 3, 2020 by Bluetongue
SPELLING

[robbioff]

7 minutes ago, ThailandGuy said:

But they are planning for Songkran to be held in july? What would happen if massive amounts of (drunk) people would flock together ? Do they expect it will not breakout again?

 

Are you panicking? A few might get “covid”, a few may get sick for a few days. Such is life...

[Colabamumbai]

Never is soon enough for me. We foreigners get blamed for their foolishness. 

[Bluetongue]

2 minutes ago, robbioff said:

Are you panicking? A few might get “covid”, a few may get sick for a few days. Such is life...

No, who has 6 days off, 3 days after returning from a 3 month shutdown, mostly without pay

Edited June 3, 2020 by Bluetongue

[Traubert]

35 minutes ago, AndrewMciver said:

 

It's not the individual choice. The likelyhood, China will not want returning tourists with infections, hence they will keep a lockdown on mass movement for the time being. They have said as much. 

Sorry I as talking the opposite direction. There's been just under 2000 returnees to China found to be infected (and transmissable) so you have a good point.

[Mark17AA]

So if you leave the UK, considered an unsafe departure point but transit through a so called safe point, can they efficiently monitor that, without having to go through all your travel arrangements. Even so if you stopped over a couple of days somewhere I don't see how they can really pin point your actual original departure point if there is no stamp in your passport as would be the case if you transferred through an EU safe country as it stands right now.

[Bluedan]

2 hours ago, Ranshoko said:

This is a good move. Tourists could likely start a second wave of Covid 19. especially from high risk countries. Thailand appears to have the virus under control why risk all the good work done? There should be special arrangements though for foreigners locked out who have family here and people on long stay visa's. However, for the bar crawling brigade looking for some sleazy entertainment for a couple of weeks it's unlikely to happen for a while.

Local tourism and certainly family tourism will be promoted in the future. A lot of the sleaze will be stamped out of Thailand it's plain to see and it's Government policy. 

sorry there is just no evidence that the measures taken have slowed or changed the course of the virus. Its only speculation. The government shutdown Thailand in late March but the virus had already been circulating in Thailand for a couple of months and the infection rates had already peaked. If its so dangerous and spreads so easily why did so few get infected or die in Thailand and a number of other neighbouring countries? Its unclear why the infection and death rates in SE Asia are so low...genetics, weather, previous unknown exposure and immunity? In the case of Thailand that happens to be Prayuts good luck as he can claim success over his policies which have caused enormous harm to his people, as well as an opportunity to flex his regimes muscles over the population. The longer the borders are closed the longer the misery for the average working Thai people. The final cost will likely be far far higher than the virus itself.