Thailand to allow long-stay tourists in island of Phuket from October

[gearbox]

9 hours ago, farang51 said:

I will certainly consider it. I use to spend six months in Thailand every winter, and then 14 days in quarantine is not that bad. However, I will wait and see how this turns out; instead of going October 1st as I use to, I will probably wait until November 1th - it also depends on the available hotels, I will not stay at an expensive 5-star hotel.

Staying 6 months requires long term visa. AFAIK there are no 6 months tourist visas issued. A lot of people stayed for 6 months by doing visa runs, it won't be practical now.

[farang51]

14 minutes ago, gearbox said:

Staying 6 months requires long term visa. AFAIK there are no 6 months tourist visas issued. A lot of people stayed for 6 months by doing visa runs, it won't be practical now.

Yes, that is a problem that I hope they will address. It is a bit crazy if one goes for a visa run at Ranong only to get another 14 days quarantine.

 

Another problem: Unless the government in Denmark change the current travel advice for Thailand, my insurance company will not offer coverage, and I will not travel without insurance.

[torturedsole]

With all due respect to the OP, but is this really breaking news?  TAT breaking wind would be more the point.  

[Jack Hna]

4 minutes ago, torturedsole said:

With all due respect to the OP, but is this really breaking news?  TAT breaking wind would be more the point.  

What's that? Your only Interested in news where the TAT belt out some fat farts? What kind of sick individual wants that? 

 

You must be retired and under endowed to be into that malarky.

 

I

[oompie69]

11 hours ago, MadMac said:

But perhaps a way for stranded expats to come back, if anything at all.

That's probably what it will end up being about. Another obscure way of allowing some types of tourists in while keeping others out. Because that is all longstayers are at the end of the day in the eyes of the locals, tourists. And, if there are problems, enough wiggle room to get out without losing face by blaming foreigners for rescinding it when/if the need arises. 

[kiwikeith]

11 hours ago, mehrdad said:

Who would be will to go on such a journey? 
 

Funny you should say that, on the news last night, Chinese were shown paying for the latest fad

The fad is, believe it or not, going on a simulated flight where they spend 10 minutes in the simulator then leave passing through simulated customs and immigration on the way to the simulator and out. 

 

All this to combat withdrawal symptoms from not being able to travel at the moment. 

 

So, maybe Chinese will cop the quarantine gladly and Phuket will be saved 

Edited August 21, 2020 by kiwikeith

[Shey420]

I've said I'm willing to do the 14 day quarantine as long as I can travel freely but this isn't it. 14 day quarantine plus and 7 day quarantine.  Come on man. Really? I really don't want to be in phuket either.  Just trying to get to my family.  Wdh?!?...

 

Just a few days ago a thai virologist said 14 days is not enough it should be 21 day????‍♂️????‍♂️????‍♂️. 

Step 1- Catch a expensive flight. 

- pay to get tested. 

- pay 14-21 days for expensive hotels. Because I think its only 3 asq in phuket. 

-I did hear before you can't drink while in asq. 

Are they issuing new 3 to 4 month visas for tourist on arrival? 

Okay let me stop panicking. The final details haven't been worked out yet so it can only get worse. Maybe they will  throw that wrist band thing back in.

 

They need to say if you 14 quarantine you can travel freely. Also open up bangkok for quarantine stays. 

[Patong2]

If we went back on this proposed scheme we would be minimising contact with other people anyway, just as we are here at the moment.

Everyone should take self responsibility and if they want to go and drink at bars in large numbers, well we all know the risks and so do the people they are mixing with and that is their choice. I would just minimise the chance of them infecting me by keeping to ourselves as much as possible.

[watso63]

Seems the only people that have any enthusiasm for being willing to pay a lot of money to intern themselves in what effectively is house arrest are those that aren't in the current list allowed to enter Thailand. I would guess retiree's, property owner's and those desperate to see their tee-rak's again. Over the last few days there have been cases where the virus has produced positive test results close to the end of and post quarantine period's. Which government official would fall on the sword when a breakout occurs? Get the popcorn ready????

[alant]

14 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thailand has gone nearly three months without a confirmed case of a local COVID-19 transmission

not counting the one that tested positive when no longer in quarantine then!

[alant]

What a stonkingly good plan, I can see the island being full to overflowing.

No problem for anyone who wants to come to Phuket enough to;

Have a PCR based Covid test in their home country.

Get a fit to fly cert.

Find an airline seat.

Have another Covid test upon arrival. Maybe be quarantines at airport if not flying into Phuket.

Get to hotel, have yet another test and quarantine for 14 days.

Have another test.

Stay maybe for another 2 weeks

Get a fit to fly certificate.

Find an air seat back home.

Possibly have another test upon arrival in home country

Possibly have to quarantine again.

 

Tourists will be flooding back.

[cardinalblue]

If I am reading this correctly, then can non b visa holders spend 3 weeks in Phuket and then free to travel/go to their home province indefinitely via their visa allowance?

[yellowboat]

Sounds like a bandaid for a gaping wound.   Or it will be too little too late.   cha cha is doing great things for Vietnam and Malaysia.    

[Destiny1990]

Last years lots of expats been booted out for being not desirable enough  But now they want back long staying visitors ?? How sincere is all this?

[aussiandrew]

At last something positive to work on.

A need to spend 3 weeks on the island before moving onto the mainland.

I now can look forward to a plan B.

It is what it is.

[hashmodha]

On 8/9/2020 at 5:00 PM, Isaan sailor said:

If you want gold without the storage risk, buy gold funds.  But as the previous poster noted—price seems high now.

Thanks!a little older to make decisions which are stored in the clouds,so to speak,I am sure you understand sleeping well is important, thanks again and Good day!

[Thaifly88]

15 hours ago, Travelanimal said:

Finally some sense prevails . They should test at airport and if negative send them 7 days In qurantine rather than 15 

[Thaifly88]

You would think nobody would want to spend half their holiday in quarantine, but lots of people will jump at the chance to get to a better climate even if locked in a hotel room. 

[BEngBKK]

15 hours ago, Sheryl said:

And how exactly are tourists going to get there? Will they start to issue tourist visas again? Flights?

Easy....

Parachute...

 

[hotandsticky]

14 hours ago, CorpusChristie said:

30 days is the minimum days of stay , they can stay longer if they want to 

 

 

Remind me how they will get a visa ?

[Boomer6969]

"The main provinces may be Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Chonburi, Ratchaburi and Krabi,” Mr Phiphat explained."

 

I'd feel better if Bangkok wasn't on this list, but I am glad to see that Trat isn't mentioned. But the whole thing is just a hasty Russian roulette. They should concentrate on domestic tourism, and re-training of unemployed people.

 

[hotandsticky]

4 hours ago, farang51 said:

Yes, that is a problem that I hope they will address. It is a bit crazy if one goes for a visa run at Ranong only to get another 14 days quarantine.

 

Another problem: Unless the government in Denmark change the current travel advice for Thailand, my insurance company will not offer coverage, and I will not travel without insurance.

 

 

Don't sweat it.................................... it is not going to happen.

[crazykopite]

L????L

[Boomer6969]

7 hours ago, Albert Zweistein said:

If you were in Northern Europe, Russia, Canada, etc,  ?wouldn't you want to spend your winter in Thailand?

Ever heard about the Carribbean ?

What's wrong with the winter in the North. One of the things I miss the most here is the skiing, cross country and downhill. Winter is great, drain your body during the day and refill it with a good fondue or raclette. 

[Petchou]

I don't understand the logic here.

Foreigners with non immigrant-O or retirees stuck outside Thailand are not allowed to come back or totally forgotten group but prefer to get tourists in.  <deleted>

[Lou Provencaou]

If staying 3 weeks as required will it be then possible to moove to Chiang Mai?

 

If having to stay at least 30 days will we have to get a 2+1 months visa and will it be possible to apply in the Thai embassy in France?

[dave moir]

???? I can see them queuing up now! Phuket with be Packed!!!!

[phantomfiddler]

Well isn,t that BIG of them ???? They have been acting like they are God,s gift to tourism for years now, and the pigeons are coming (actually going !) home to roost ????

[zaZa9]

16 hours ago, Travelanimal said:

Finally some sense prevails . They should test at airport and if negative send them 7 days In qurantine rather than 15 

Another arm chair immunologist ....

[SymS]

Most of long term tourists I've ever met are backpackers with a 500 Baht daily budget...