A zero-sum approach to Covid-19 could have a lasting impact on foreign tourism in Thailand

By David Luekens, Thai Island Times

 

I've been thinking back on that week in mid March, when everything changed. Over the course of a week, the news of borders being shut down to contain the spread of Covid-19 hit like thunder off the Andaman Sea. It was stressful. On March 14th, only a few days before Thailand began to close itself to the world, I tweeted:

 

It's about time now for expats to choose whether they'll ride out the pandemic in Thailand or back in their home countries. An agonizing decision for many.

 

At the time, I was grappling with that very choice. The State Dept. soon instructed American citizens abroad to return immediately or prepare to “shelter in place” indefinitely. After talking with family back in Massachusetts, I opted to stay in Thailand, where I have a long-term visa and work permit.

 

Back then, many people thought the pandemic would hit Thailand harder than the United States. I had no idea what would happen. But I kept faith in Thailand’s public health system, and hoped for the best.

 

A lone passenger rides Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain during the lockdown on March 30th.

 

We hunkered down in a small seventh-floor apartment on Bangkok’s far western fringe. From there, I watched as Thailand went from being a high-risk country to a pandemic success story — a transformation that some saw as miraculous. Others still refuse to believe it’s true.

 

Now, after more than two months without a single known case of local transmission, it’s time to reflect on how the country suppressed Covid-19. Perhaps more importantly, now is also the time to start thinking about how the next chapter of Thailand’s pandemic story might play out. Tourism is at the center of it.

 

Read more: https://thaiislandtimes.substack.com/p/a-zero-sum-approach-to-covid-19-could

i guess you can leave Oz out of the equation, no one is allowed to leave.
all eyes must turn to Chinese tourism imho.

Just remember, a couple of weeks ago Vietnam looked like it was doing a lot better than Thailand.

 

Also hail from Massachusetts.  Yes we don’t worry much about Wuhan-19, living here in Thailand.  Instead, we worry about the Baht...

There are NO pandemic success stories yet , you dont get winners at half time.

In a couple of years , transparency allowing , measuring overall health and economic impact, we can judge what nations have fared best or worst .

It takes two to tango, and reopening the borders doesn't mean that foreign tourists would rush in.

 

First, many are unable to do it because they are under restrictions in their own countries.

 

Then, many are afraid to fly, which is almost mandatory to reach Thailand.

 

In the US, for example, where people can freely fly, the numbers are still around 70% below last year...and that's without even having to cross any borders...people just prefer to drive...

 

So, whatever decisions the Thai authorities will make, it will take a very long time, years, for international tourism to recover...

 

 

8 hours ago, mrfill said:

Just remember, a couple of weeks ago Vietnam looked like it was doing a lot better than Thailand.

 

NZ and her success story is also history. They didn't need to olen borders.