Video highlights desperate plight of businesses in Phuket amid COVID-19 pandemic

 

video screenshot

 

A widely viewed video on YouTube posted by a Thai under the hashtag #Voice from Patong showcases the desperate times being faced at one of Thailand's premier tourism locations. 

 

Premier that was before the pandemic struck and left it deserted. 

 

It begins by juxtaposing the throngs of previous years and the desolation of now. 

 

The interviewer talks to Thais and foreigners from different sectors providing an excellent snapshot of where Phuket and Patong in particular found itself in July. 

 

 

The message from "Mike" at Sugar Club was that Phuket needs you!

 

A serving lady in the red light district was all alone but still smiling. 

 

In fact the mood, while clearly in trouble, was upbeat and hopeful.

 

One Thai lady at a stall said she was not paying rent, only electricity.

 

Her assessment and that of many others was that right now there were only Thais coming, and few of those. 

 

When tourists would return was a moot point - but everyone was in agreement. 

 

Please visit Phuket and come back soon. They are ready and willing to serve!

 

The video has been viewed over 37,000 times. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-08-04

 

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A picture can say a thousand words, so here goes ........ ????

Traffic over the hill in the first minute of the video reminds me of when I first arrived here.  However the scene on Bangla back then was a lot more happening then this video shows Bangla.  

 

It definitely looks quite bleak for those trying to stay afloat in Patong.

Seems that overpriced Phuket is Phuked?

It is not just Phuket, many friends here in Hua Hin, Thai and Foreigner alike will not open up again.

RiP ..... the writing was on the wall for a long tome, Covid was the final nail.

Hope you banked some of your spoils and have a long rest.

It's time to open borders for Western tourists. like it happened in Europe.

For how long shall this cr** continue ? People need work and income.

The Chinese virus won't kill millions, the closed borders do.

Problem is that Phuket doesn't appeal to Thais or expats living here. It was a lovely place many years back. They need foreign tourists and without them things will be very bad.

54 minutes ago, gamini said:

Problem is that Phuket doesn't appeal to Thais or expats living here.

You are speaking for yourself.

Apparently the vast majority of Thais believe that foreigners are all carriers of the virus, and the vast majority also want the borders to remain closed to regular tourists. Looking at the figures that they have access to (and believe in) I can see their point. In the grand scheme of things, tourism in general (and Phuket in particular) is of no importance to the average Thai.

 

When I booked my flights in April i was confident that this whole thing would blow over in time my December arrival, but it is clear that this is not going to happen and now I am looking at a plan B outside of SE Asia.