Multi-ministry drive to open up Thailand to foreign tourism by October 1st, tourism minister

[webfact]

Multi-ministry drive to open up Thailand to foreign tourism by October 1st, tourism minister

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thailand's tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn has revealed that five ministries will be working together with the aim of opening up Thailand to foreign tourism again from the start of the fourth quarter - October 1st. 

 

The "travel bubble" plans have been binned - now "twin countries" are on the table. 

 

Pipat's Ministry of Tourism and Sports and those representing transport, health, foreign affairs and the interior will be meeting on August 27th to iron out what Pipat called a "new approach".

 

Thai Rath intimated that the tourist industry and its 4 million workers will be following the news keenly as they have suffered greatly during the pandemic and everyone is desperate to get back to work.

 

Pipat cautioned that the reopening of Thailand will come with restrictions. Safety will need to be a priority and the five pronged approach will ensure that.

 

The travel bubble scheme is now rejected, said Pipat, especially as the prime minister himself ditched that proposal. 

 

In its place is something he referred to as "twinning countries" and regions.

 

What this will actually mean remains to be seen, notes Thaivisa.

 

Pipat added that the ministries will be working closely with the Tourism Authority of Thailand on the new approach. 

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-08-19

 

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[JoePai]

As long as they are quarantined properly I can see no problem

[Shuya]

Oh my, will be great to see with what they come up now.... 

[Rmac442]

Being ridiculously optimistic ..

[darksidedog]

I am waiting for the day when Thailand can go for an entire week without doing a back-flip on its policy. We have had every scenario possible suggested over the past few weeks. I wonder what restrictions they will be planning for the lucky travelers who are obviously queuing already to kick the door down to get in?

[Misterwhisper]

The stench of desperation is particularly pervasive this morning as the straws to grab on to are slowly running out. 

[ChipButty]

I think it's a great plan, what would we do without these ministries? 

[Somtamnication]

Airports open Oct. 1st, closed October 5th. Can't wait for a new fiasco!

[ThreeEyedRaven]

Does anyone in these ministries have a brain? Travel bubble no good, so we will replace it with a "twinning Country" system, which is essentially the same thing, but because it has a different name, all will apparently be well?

[Laughing Gravy]

I can always rely on a minister or TAT official to keep my sides working with laughter. I understand that to these folk, Thailand is the centre of the universe but if they did look outside of their bubble, they would realise the rubbish they sprout on a daily/weekly basis. 

 

The can has been kicked down the road so many times on this topic, I was looking for the 2021 to be added to the 1st October.

[RotBenz8888]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

In its place is something he referred to as "twinning countries" and regions.

 

What this will actually mean remains to be seen, notes Thaivisa.

Thailand and China. 

[AndrewMciver]

"TWINNING"

 

A new version of saying 'CHINA' version 2453

[Captain_Bob]

...says guy who's life/job/face relies entirely upon tourism... when 99.9% of foreigners are barred from entry at least until next year and/or/when a vaccine miraculously solves the problem. 

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

What this will actually mean remains to be seen, notes Thaivisa.

I would have thought 'What this will actually mean remains to be made up' would be more accurate, given the government's usual lack of clear policy.

[Stocky]

27 minutes ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

Does anyone in these ministries have a brain? Travel bubble no good, so we will replace it with a "twinning Country" system, which is essentially the same thing, but because it has a different name, all will apparently be well?

I think the 'bubble' idea was with multiple countries, this is a bespoke bubble.

[AndrewMciver]

7 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I would have thought 'What this will actually mean remains to be made up' would be more accurate, given the government's usual lack of clear policy.

 

It's pretty simple.

 

Twinning is another term for bubble. 

 

Bubble and all that malarky was to let Chinese tourists back into the country.

 

The same China that has wrecked Thailand's economy, and the world. 

 

What's inept is trusting China after all this.

 

ShameFULL. 

[hotandsticky]

53 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

I am waiting for the day when Thailand can go for an entire week without doing a back-flip on its policy. We have had every scenario possible suggested over the past few weeks. I wonder what restrictions they will be planning for the lucky travelers who are obviously queuing already to kick the door down to get in?

 

 

I don't think it is a back-flip; rather a ministerial department desperate to justify it's own existence.

[lovesthespicy]

I think we may see Japan/China/Korea/HK back in before the end of the year. While the ROW isnt back for quite awhile.

[Saint Nick]

So...just another microphone, stuck into someone's face- hole, filled with inane babble, saying nothing and having no plan!

What's new? 

[tomazbodner]

To be fair... he didn't say October 1 of which year...

[Don Chance]

Thailand has not had a run of the virus.  New research suggests that up to 50% of people have a natural immunity but the other 50% are at risk. When the virus hits a country there will a large number of people who are hit hard, then it weans off as we see in London for example.

Thailand has population with low exposure, so it could easily go very bad quickly

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

As long as they are quarantined properly I can see no problem

Practically you can not have a high number of people arrive and provide quarantine facilities for 14 days.  Tourists do not want to be stuck in a hotel for 14 days. Perhaps apartments, bungalows. But it is too difficult to pull off.

[realfunster]

1 minute ago, Don Chance said:

Thailand has not had a run of the virus.  New research suggests that up to 50% of people have a natural immunity but the other 50% are at risk. When the virus hits a country there will a large number of people who are hit hard, then it weans off as we see in London for example.

Thailand has population with low exposure, so it could easily go very bad quickly

Practically you can not have a high number of people arrive and provide quarantine facilities for 14 days.  Tourists do not want to be stuck in a hotel for 14 days. Perhaps apartments, bungalows. But it is too difficult to pull off.

 

I assumed JoePai was joking because as you rightly note, it's clearly ridiculous to expect tourists in any meaningful numbers to go through a quarantine process. 

[geriatrickid]

They need a country to twin with. And as mentioned above, it might only be China, and even that is  a  guess.  I just don't think it will occur before December 1, if  at all.

[AlfHuy]

they mean Bubble tea

[ezzra]

somehow those misguided people think that is up to thailand to "open up for tourism" but what else can you to justify your salary now that there are no tourists" ? making up stuff and daydreaming...

[bluesofa]

30 minutes ago, Don Chance said:

Thailand has not had a run of the virus.  New research suggests that up to 50% of people have a natural immunity but the other 50% are at risk. When the virus hits a country there will a large number of people who are hit hard, then it weans off as we see in London for example.

Thailand has population with low exposure, so it could easily go very bad quickly

Practically you can not have a high number of people arrive and provide quarantine facilities for 14 days.  Tourists do not want to be stuck in a hotel for 14 days. Perhaps apartments, bungalows. But it is too difficult to pull off.

'But it is too difficult to pull off' - I have someone to do that for me.

[2 is 1]

46 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I don't think it is a back-flip; rather a ministerial department desperate to justify it's own existence.

Yeah! Where you need TAT if don't have tourist! Also don't have any sport activities! 

[Fex Bluse]

49 minutes ago, lovesthespicy said:

I think we may see Japan/China/Korea/HK back in before the end of the year. While the ROW isnt back for quite awhile.

Chinese won't likely be going anywhere soon. At least not in significant numbers. Even if they had the disposable cash, which they will not, the government will encourage most of them to spend any money in country. Hallelujah 

 

 

[ravip]

Reading through the thread, the Thai government should seek the guidance of the TVF experts for a successful opening of the country. None could beat the expertise available herein.

[bluesofa]

4 minutes ago, ravip said:

Reading through the thread, the Thai government should seek the guidance of the TVF experts for a successful opening of the country. None could beat the expertise available herein.

Absolutely. Plus, no big kickbacks. I'm sure we'd all gladly do it for beer.