On 8/21/2020 at 2:38 AM, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Tourists will have to stay for at least 30 days, with the first 14 days in quarantine in a limited vicinity of their hotel, before they can visit other areas, T

 

In the news yesterday , some Thai big wigs saying maybe 14 days quarantine not enough and it should be extended. Maybe 28 days in quarantine followed by a face mask wearing holiday, not allowed on the beach, social distancing , no nightlife etc etc. 

 

They are going to need  a lot of wooden elephants , paper umbrellas and other stuff to compensate for any disappointments.

16 hours ago, mehrdad said:

Who would be will to go on such a journey? 
 

I know at least 5 people who have missed their 4 to 6 month Australian winter break here that  will take this up. AND at least that many Expats trying to return to their homes / wives/ kids here in Phuket !

16 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

There is so much negativity on TVF that you aren't seeing the big picture. Assuming that this goes ahead, and it likely will, it'll be taken up by thousands and thousands of people. And yes, details will still need to worked out.

 

I can't speak for Phuket, but on Samui there are approximately 10,000 people who spend the winter on the island; they have money and want to come back. On a personal note, I have had approximately 15 friends from the 'Snowbird' group who have already asked me when and how they can return. How many people spend the winter on Phuket in a normal year?

 

if you were in Northern Europe, Russia, Canada, etc, wouldn't you want to spend your winter in Thailand? The land of tropical islands, hot chicks, great food, beaches, etc?

 

Think it through...

 

Barring a massive increase in numbers of virus cases in Thailand, this will go ahead and it is a good thing; thousands and thousands of poor Thai people will get an income, businesses will be saved, and hopefully enough people will be able to generate enough income to see them through until next year when a more proper tourist season can occur.

 

This is a very good thing.

 

 

 

Agreed. 

 

There must be thousands of 'snowbirds' or foreigners who divide their time between their home country and Phuket. Many of those will own property on the island. This at least allows those foreigners to return. 

 

Amazing Thailand, but you can't get to see it.

16 hours ago, MadMac said:

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

That´s the positive news. But Expats are not Tourists!

Thailand would be a better place to visit if they made the visas 6 months this way people may consider, but not one area, the whole country then it may work! 

Now let me get this straight 14 days  quarantine and have to stay for 30 days.

What if the tourist's want to go home after 30 days and there own country in on

lock down.Does that mean amnesty will start again,or they will have to leave to

what ever country that will have them? Just a premonition of what could happen.

16 hours ago, Oldie said:

Perhaps Thailand finally gets what was missing here anyway - all inclusive resorts. I understand that "all inclusive" can be a little bit problematic here... 

Various hotels already offered optional all-inclusive packages pre-covid. But usually, the offers were overpriced and not worth the money.

16 hours ago, sebastion said:

Thailand the hub of quarantine travel

Unlike Europe, the hub of variable quarantine travel.

A musical chairs version where you have to move before the bell rings.

 

Thousands of British holidaymakers have been given until the early hours of Saturday morning to return from Croatia to avoid new quarantine measures.

But Britons can go to Portugal, for the first time in weeks, without having to isolate when they return.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/croatia-quarantine-coronavirus-travel-flights-uk-deadline-covid-latest-a9680616.html

14 hours ago, rumak said:

the tourism authority says  8 million .

 

????????????????????????????????????????????

No they don't, 6 million have been and gone, looking for another 2 before end of year.

14 hours ago, MRToMRT said:

Me! And many of us who are stuck outside Thailand away from homes and our life. 

Exactly, rather than ridicule the idea people should give a bit more thought as it could be a way back into Thailand, but then what is wrong with saying the first thing that comes into your head.

I would really like to get back to the UK for a while but not until I can get back relatively easily. If this pans out I may see a proper Christmas dinner for the first time in 20 years.

1 minute ago, sandyf said:

No they don't, 6 million have been and gone, looking for another 2 before end of year.

"The country expects to receive 8 million foreign tourists this year" 

 

Good proofreading SF .   I imagine you are correct, though the word "expects"  kind of threw me off. 

If i said i expect to have sex 150 times this year ...... without stating how many times i already have...

oh well,   you get the point

 

On the other hand I think you are spot on :    they may indeed get another 2 tourists this year 

But two days ago, after the woman from Loei was tested positive for C19 outside quarantine, all the scientists and doctors were shaking their heads and tutting that 14 days quarantine clearly isn't enough. I can see the tourists booking their 30-day holidays and being told after 12 days in quarantine that it's now been extended by government order to 30 days locked up. Have a nice time, lol.

13 hours ago, ukrules said:

Last year they were telling many people 'you stay too long in Thailand' now they're demanding it ????

Of course, nothing wrong with a bit of context distortion.

7 minutes ago, rumak said:

"The country expects to receive 8 million foreign tourists this year" 

 

Good proofreading SF .   I imagine you are correct, though the word "expects"  kind of threw me off. 

If i said i expect to have sex 150 times this year ...... without stating how many times i already have...

oh well,   you get the point

 

On the other hand I think you are spot on :    they may indeed get another 2 tourists this year 

No dispute the expectation is variable, prior to this plan it was 7 million for the year.

The gap between the rules and what happens in reality will remain as large as it is for all all other aspects of Thailand. Tourists will come and be forced to pay for quarantine hotels, tests and isolation which will not be enforced, they will just mingle as always. Hoteliers and government will make more profit to compensate for the lean period from the test fees, tea money and increased room rates, life will go on.

I say it straight away, another knee jerk reaction and doomed to fail.

17 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Tourists will have to stay for at least 30 days, with the first 14 days in quarantine in a limited vicinity of their hotel, before they can visit other areas

but who in his/her right mind will/want to do this ?

 

the blind leading the blind

12 hours ago, sebastion said:

I would have thought Hua Hin would be the closest city to any border

Correct, only 57 kilo meters. I went looking for the Immigration post at Pa La U , managed to scramble up to the 4^th level but couldn’t find it.

 

Maybe I’ll try Prachuap Khiri Khan. It’s only 18 kilo meters to Tanintharyi.

12 hours ago, Sujo said:

No, at home its still in a hotel, at extra cost.

Quite.

IF, and it certainly is a bid IF, it was choice between 2 weeks in a hotel or an outrageously priced insurance policy, then it would be a no brainer.

Looks like targeting snowbirds. There are many.

also for retirees at least it is a way to get back albeit at a cost

Really????????????

17 hours ago, shady86 said:

I'm looking forward for foreigners to spend their money to quarantine 14 days at 5 star resorts!

Be interesting to see who is going to do this. The thai authorities must just be 1000% stupid ????????????????

18 minutes ago, Classic Ray said:

The gap between the rules and what happens in reality will remain as large as it is for all all other aspects of Thailand. Tourists will come and be forced to pay for quarantine hotels, tests and isolation which will not be enforced, they will just mingle as always. Hoteliers and government will make more profit to compensate for the lean period from the test fees, tea money and increased room rates, life will go on.

I don't really think. It's just Bangkok on an Island ????????

17 hours ago, shady86 said:

I'm looking forward for foreigners to spend their money to quarantine 14 days at 5 star resorts!

And spend a fortune on being tested .. Even that’s a scam ... Pay to be told your sick for their stats.. Then pay for the hotels they pick .. But it’s Pay Pay Pay

17 hours ago, mehrdad said:

Who would be will to go on such a journey? 
 

if it means I can get back to my family. I would

I always stay for 90 days. Sounds good to me .Hotel with a golf course would be great 

I don't understand the second 7-day period.

Grasping at straws, seems to be the correct headline.

Backpackers and others on a budget might be able to quarantine here and knock off a new tourist attraction at the same time.

http://phuketwan.com/tourism/trip-inside-phuket-prison-photo-special/

But actually, I'm with Samui Bodoh on this. I think a lot of snowbirds will be willing to quarantine for two weeks if they're coming for 5 months like I usually do.