Covid-19: Three quarters of Thais want to keep foreigners out, many cite fear of virus, says poll

[webfact]

Covid-19: Three quarters of Thais want to keep foreigners out, many cite fear of virus, says poll

 

Image: Siam Rath

 

More than 75% of Thais polled last week do not want foreign tourists to be allowed back into Thailand just yet. 

 

In a Suan Dusit survey 54.39% said they wanted Thai tourism to resume first. A total of 21.33% said no to foreign tourists, they were just too scared about catching Covid-19. 

 

Only 24.28% said open up Thailand and get tourists back now. 

 

The survey also revealed current attitudes to when tourism will recover in the country with many predicting a long road ahead.

 

Some 41.4% reckoned it would take a year. A quarter were optimistic at six months but 20.52% thought two years and 12.18% thought even longer than that.

 

Top of the list where people wanted to go after lockdowns were eased was Chiang Mai, 31%, Prajuab Khiri Khan (that includes Hua Hin) with 28.14% and Bangkok with 19.35%.

 

Chonburi that includes Pattaya polled only 18.55% ahead of Kanchanaburi with 11.92%.

 

With regards to feeling safe when travelling the highest concern was limiting tourist numbers followed by cleanliness , temperature checks, gels and mask wearing by tourist business personnel as well as the need for social distancing. 

 

The poll asked 1,116 people their opinions from June 9-12th.

 

Source: Siam Rath

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-06-15

 

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[thequietman]

And so it begins. ????

[Mr Meeseeks]

It will be a long time before foreigners are welcomed back here. 

 

You can blame a number of factors; UK and US governments' poor handling of the crisis, Thai xenophobia, etc., but if you left at the start of this crisis at any time in March or April expecting to waltz back in, well... you've only yourself to blame. 

[JCP108]

Just now, Mr Meeseeks said:

It will be a long time before foreigners are welcomed back here. 

 

You can blame a number of factors; UK and US governments' poor handling of the crisis, Thai xenophobia, etc., but if you left at the start of this crisis at any time in March or April expecting to waltz back in, well... you've only yourself to blame. 

I'm still here. But, I have to travel to the U.S. soon for family matters. What would have been a temporary trip now has become moving back with no notion of when/if I can return to Thailand. Bummer. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 minute ago, JCP108 said:

I'm still here. But, I have to travel to the U.S. soon for family matters. What would have been a temporary trip now has become moving back with no notion of when/if I can return to Thailand. Bummer. 

Yep, I am unable to return to the UK or travel internationally on business for the foreseeable future. 

 

I took a risk and travelled to Cambodia early March, luckily I got back in before the lockdown began.

 

I knew the risks though, and took the chance. 

[ezzra]

Tourism in it's many facets are the main revenue earners for millions this country who are part of the hospitality and tourism industries, the government is almost out of money to funds this on going pandemic and yet Thai people are crying for free handout, something got to give here you can expect the government to give freebies for much longer without tourists coming in and very soon...

[Mr Meeseeks]

2 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Tourism in it's many facets are the main revenue earners for millions this country who are part of the hospitality and tourism industries, the government is almost out of money to funds this on going pandemic and yet Thai people are crying for free handout, something got to give here you can expect the government to give freebies for much longer without tourists coming in and very soon...

Tourists aren't coming in from overseas for a good while yet, even if the borders opened tomorrow with no restrictions.

 

International travel won't return to normal for many months yet.

 

Business owners and people employed in the foreign tourism sector will continue to suffer, but those that diversified or rely on domestic tourism will survive. 

 

The whole thing was a massive, unsustainable bubble anyway, and the environment is no doubt breathing a sigh of great relief.

[Eibot]

Lol. By the end of next month tourists will be allowed back in full force. 100%

[ChakaKhan]

Will get to see if the old saying rings true--"Money No. 1"...?

 

Pain is a great motivator, is certainly their right, but curious to see how this plays out....

 

As ive met few thais that know about saving or arent in debt....time will tell

[tonray]

43 minutes ago, webfact said:

Only 24.28% said open up Thailand and get tourists back now.

Apparently at least 24.28% of Thais work in the sex or beer bar industry

[bkk6060]

 

I say let the family members come back including Falangs.  Test and quarantine.

 

Selfishly, this is a fantastic time for some:

Golf 1/2 discounts.

Girls low lower then ever in 10 years.

Restaurants many offering 2 for 1 or other discounts.

No traffic.

Little crowds.

 

Geez, some could say this is the best of times.

 

But, I do understand many people hurting with lack of business domestic tourism will not support all of it.

So, they will have to figure out some plan to open things up to internationals.

 

 

[DrTuner]

Amp it up a bit and you get another Myanmar. Birds of feather.

[herfiehandbag]

As ever with these polls, it all depends on who you ask, where they are, and exactly what you ask.

[Laza 45]

40 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

It will be a long time before foreigners are welcomed back here. 

 

You can blame a number of factors; UK and US governments' poor handling of the crisis, Thai xenophobia, etc., but if you left at the start of this crisis at any time in March or April expecting to waltz back in, well... you've only yourself to blame. 

I don't think xenophobia is the problem.. my Thai family certainly are not anti foreigners but they are very afraid of a return of the virus.. all the publicity has been very effective in scaring them.  My wife saw the article about the new outbreak in China being linked to salmon imports (highly unlikely in my view).. she was wondering if I should stop buying salmon.. she is also wary about returning to work July 1st when the schools open.. Healthy caution I think.. and a little overreaction maybe.. xenophobia.. no... 

[poohy]

41 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

I'm still here. But, I have to travel to the U.S. soon for family matters. What would have been a temporary trip now has become moving back with no notion of when/if I can return to Thailand. Bummer. 

Same leaving for UK on a jet plane sept dont know when i be back again..... maybe i should write a song

[JCP108]

1 minute ago, Laza 45 said:

I don't think xenophobia is the problem.. my Thai family certainly are not anti foreigners but they are very afraid of a return of the virus.. all the publicity has been very effective in scaring them.  My wife saw the article about the new outbreak in China being linked to salmon imports (highly unlikely in my view).. she was wondering if I should stop buying salmon.. she is also wary about returning to work July 1st when the schools open.. Healthy caution I think.. and a little overreaction maybe.. xenophobia.. no... 

And, your report shows how influential news stories are on the general public and thus the amount of control those with control over the media have. 

[mr mr]

drastic times call for drastic measures. thailand could fix the current tourism problem in 2 simple and easy steps. 

 

step 1 - legalize gambling and open casino's - provides much needed jobs.

step 2 - legalize cannabis - provides jobs and a hope to many a farmer who may be able to make money off it.

 

i am not saying that these things will not cause problems on their own but they are simple and easy solutions that could be used NOW to save this place for the near future. 

 

ps...legalizing cannabis would return the moniker the land of smiles

[Puchaiyank]

The virus is an excuse to express their real feelings about foreigners...times have changed...foreigners are no longer seen as a quality asset...

[JonnyF]

Things will get much worse for expats when the tourists return. 

 

Now, they know any foreigner here has been here for months so there's no big issue. Once the gates are open, we'll all be treated like diseased lepers. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of local places become Thai only when the tourists are back. If you don't believe me, look at the temples and bus companies who did it before the gates even opened. 

[tonray]

4 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

The virus is an excuse to express their real feelings about foreigners...times have changed...foreigners are no longer seen as a quality asset...

Are we still talking about Thailand or USA, UK, Germany, etc etc ?

[bodga]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

they were just too scared about catching Covid-19.

Fear a wonderful weapon and useful for the govt  in  reinforcing their prejudices.

[steven100]

see  .....  they don't want any foreigner to come ....  " him hab wiwus " 

[finnsk]

I am wondering what is the meaning with this poll. Polls can get controlled answers if you want.

 

I will understand if the government need the pollmeaning to let Thailand still suffer some more, by not open up for forreign tourists. That could be because of covid situation in China (maybe a second wave of covid in China also Beijing). But they do not teach the thai people to understand that there is forreign people living in Thailand, who is living here like normal citizens, we are not a part of the covid problem.

 

I am concerned to be a forreigner living in Thailand, this can/will work as another step to make a bad situation for expats, aliens, forreigners, pensioneers, west/thai families in Thailand.

 

 

[franzs]

44 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Tourism in it's many facets are the main revenue earners for millions this country who are part of the hospitality and tourism industries, the government is almost out of money to funds this on going pandemic and yet Thai people are crying for free handout, something got to give here you can expect the government to give freebies for much longer without tourists coming in and very soon...

  This is a typical comment of somebody missing the nightlife, wishing the country running out of cash and that everything can resume like before.

 

This will not happen.

 

Because Farangs still in down over the last months, have shown their true face, everywhere to be seen without face mask. Because they think they are SUPERIOR.

 

And that is why the Thais are not happy with the Farangs anymore, don't want to see us to have an early come back here.

 

We are still a risk for them health wise (they think)....

 

.....and it is the fault of a handful....

 

 

 

[robblok]

Seems logical to me I also dont want the borders to open to the US and Europe. Why import the virus. We might have to go back to the previous lockdown. Let it wait a bit longer and see how things develop. So far its far worse in other countries. 

 

Then people will moan again about alcohol bans or the closing of shops ect. Why import the trouble of others. Right now it seems to be going the right direction. 

[holy cow cm]

1 hour ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Yep, I am unable to return to the UK or travel internationally on business for the foreseeable future. 

 

I took a risk and travelled to Cambodia early March, luckily I got back in before the lockdown began.

 

I knew the risks though, and took the chance. 

I also but it was an easy calculated risk of a few days to the Philippines first week of March and then a few days in Pattaya. No way I will travel outward now. 

[Dmaxdan]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The poll asked 1,116 people their opinions from June 9-12t

Were they all friends and family of the Public Health Minister? 

[holy cow cm]

30 minutes ago, mr mr said:

step 1 - legalize gambling and open casino's - provides much needed jobs.

step 2 - legalize cannabis - provides jobs and a hope to many a farmer who may be able to make money off it.

#1. No. Too many Chinese will come.

#2. Yes. Would be nice to see happy hungry people smoking quality green flowery stuff. Just there would stimulate two parts of an economy.

[Captain_Bob]

Filthy Farangs! 

 

[spiekerjozef]

I agree, borders shut till 1 January.