Phuket announces ‘5T’ model for receiving tourists, includes mandatory US$100k health insurance

[american2]

My question is...  Since Covid Insurance is required as an additional entrance item...Why is the Insurance not offered by Thailand as part of the Visa cost or Landing fee.  This idea the Government is pushing makes no sense.  How many Families are going to want to go through this Expensive process.  Does the country  (Thailand) plan on just marketing this to Sex Tourists.  Are there private in room  nurses offered also.

[whaleboneman]

15 hours ago, mybeat said:

Wasn't this model named 5R like a week ago and now it's 5T?

 

5T is the new and improved 5R. I think I missed hearing about the 5S.

[NightSky]

It seems like a lot if hoops to jump through for a holiday although there is nothing stranger than folk and so i will look on with anticipation..

 

 

[CANSIAM]

10 hours ago, Pilotman said:

It seems more and more evident to me that Thailand, and this Military government in particular, have a long term plan to destroy, or at least severely limit the tourist industry and reduce it to a minor role in the economy.  Tourism is around  some 18% of GDP, so not a huge hit if they eliminate most of it.  They probably see this as a way to shut out foreigners altogether as a first step, then eventually refuse retiring expats as step 2. Covid has provided the excuse and the means to achieve a much longer aim. 

Is it possible PM may be shot before that happens?

[DPKANKAN]

17 minutes ago, american2 said:

My question is...  Since Covid Insurance is required as an additional entrance item...Why is the Insurance not offered by Thailand as part of the Visa cost or Landing fee.  This idea the Government is pushing makes no sense.  How many Families are going to want to go through this Expensive process.  Does the country  (Thailand) plan on just marketing this to Sex Tourists.  Are there private in room  nurses offered also

They muted ages ago about adding an insurance charge at the airport and should think about it again!! That way they benefit from the premiums as well!!. Ooohhh requires a thought process!! 5555????????????????

[DPKANKAN]

20 minutes ago, whaleboneman said:

5T is the new and improved 5R. I think I missed hearing about the 5S.

No!! You mean the BS!!!!! 5555????????????????????????????????

[GeorgeCross]

so lets get this straight..

 

if everything goes well you get to keep all my tourist dollars - yay!

 

but if things go bad (and i catch covid) I HAVE TO PICK UP THE TAB??

 

seems win win win (for Thailand) ????

 

they really know how to stack things in their favor

 

*as a side note and if you are reading thailand google "value proposition"

 

Edited August 28, 2020 by GeorgeCross

[bodga]

16 hours ago, mybeat said:

Wasn't this model named 5R like a week ago and now it's 5T?

 

lucky the thai alphabet has 46? characters, they have a long  way to go yet

[bluesofa]

20 minutes ago, CANSIAM said:

Is it possible PM may be shot before that happens?

Just to make it more spectacular, add: Out of a cannon with no safety net.

[kiwikeith]

15 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

So, basically anyone wishing to vacation in Thailand must be first be approved by a Royal Thai Embassy and have evidence of COVID-19 test proving they are COVID-free within 72 hours before departing. Alternatively, they must present a ‘Fit to Fly’ or other documents proving they are free of infection. Additionally the tourists must have health insurance coverage of US $100,000 in case they need to have medical treatment for whatever reason.

With that being said they must also acknowledge that after arriving, they will remain at an ASQ hotel venue for 14 days, during which they will be tested two times during their stay at the hotel. The first test to be conducted sometime between the 3rd and 5th day of there lovely vacation, with the second test conducted between the 11th and 13th day of there by now wonderfully enjoyed quarantine, after which they can then be free to enjoy whatever remaining time they may have.

 

However, if they test positive then there time now is spent at a glorious beach front hospital where there 100K US policy will pay for there remaining vacation time in a luxuriosly appointed hospital suite.

 

No flickking way will anyone, except those expats who have family come and subject themselves to an out of pocket cost nearing the 300,00 baht range, before they can even began to enjoy there time here.  Plus jumping through the hoops just to get approved.  God forbid you take time off from work to go to through the initial testing but then to be denied or accepted at the discretion of the Royal Thai Embassy in your home country is Ludicrous.

 

Additionally, what airlines are they going to be allowed to travel on or just specific chartered flights which will only fly on certain timeframes guaranteed by the Thai Government.  I personally do not know anyone who has all the free time in the world just to sit on there <deleted> and wait for a vacation that may or may not ever come.  Additionally, whose job will allow them to just take off whenever.

 

This appears to be aimed at those with unlimited funds and High Flyers who will just unfortunately go elsewhere to avoid the three ring Thai circus that this is becoming.

 

Ok Flame and Rant over.

Great rant! Same as I have been saying while stuck in NZ, many in the same boat besides tourists, I have wife and family and still will not go through the hoop at present as would cost me maybe 15k plus $nz- one way.

So what tourist in their right minds would go through this just to go to Pattaya, not the choice Of the majority in any way.

Then what airline will fly these eager to visit Walking Street fanatics, beside Chinese who want to stand on a beach and smoke, dump their butts and be ripped off by the Chinese tour guides, who will see to it that they only go to Chinese Thai owned venues to be fleeced.

Maybe the enlightened ones should consult with airlines and see what they say, or could the good leader order Bankrupt Thai airways to collect these eager to visit , and wanting to spend their time in quarantine tourists just busting to visit the wonderful leaders paradise.

The lady boys should be queuing up to buy fresh make up, and the Cabaret venues should have the staff on high alert to expect this sudden surge of The New Normal Tourists, that will flood Pattaya as soon as the enlightened one says lets do it.

[bluesofa]

8 minutes ago, bodga said:

16 hours ago, mybeat said:

Wasn't this model named 5R like a week ago and now it's 5T?

lucky the thai alphabet has 46? characters, they have a long  way to go yet

46 consonants - of which two are erroneously listed as 'not used' but which in reality can be.

All down to the inventor of the Thai typewriter Edwin McFarland/Hunter who is responsible for deliberately not including the two on the keyboard.

[mogandave]

1 hour ago, olfu said:

its different for old farts--

covid insurance 350$ a month

business class from US 3000$

specialty hotel at least 100$ a night

and if government tells me where to stay I will stay home.

Well, I’m 62 and the Covid insurance was $350 a year. 
 

I flew CX from LAX premium economy for ~$1,600. Coach was ~$1,000 and business would have been over $4,000 one way.

 

Stay home

[aussieinphuket]

what a load of rubbish this is not for foreign tourists but single persons looking to come to thailand on a long stay visit and can jump through hoops to come here.

 

most families would be looking to book inadvance especially airlines to achieve cheap flight prices or packages and how can they do this if a test required 72 hrs inadvance and they are told no cannot fly then have to a rogue with airlines for refunds same for hotel bookings overseas. obviously need to be millionaires to pay for 2 weeks quarantine and then holiday times and then quarantine when arriving back in home country... good luck

 

nothing makes sense here.

 

i ca=ould go on and on but as ThailandRyan said your thoughts just continue to go on and on so i will stop now.  

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

Vice Governor Phichet explained that tourists wanting to come to Phuket must be approved by a Royal Thai Embassy and have evidence of COVID-19 test proving they are COVID-free within 72 hours before departing. Alternatively, they must present a ‘Fit to Fly’ or other documents proving they are free of infection.

 

[khunjeff]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

Vice Governor Phichet explained that tourists wanting to come to Phuket must be approved by a Royal Thai Embassy and have evidence of COVID-19 test proving they are COVID-free within 72 hours before departing. Alternatively, they must present a ‘Fit to Fly’ or other documents proving they are free of infection.

How could any document other than a Covid test show that someone is free from infection? There seems to be a continuing misunderstanding among Thai officials that a "Fit to Fly" certificate means anything other than that you don't look like you're going to collapse or drop dead on the plane.

[chivo]

16 hours ago, mybeat said:

Wasn't this model named 5R like a week ago and now it's 5T?

 

It's when we get to 5X that we have to worry.

 

[trucking]

Tourists will receive a protective costume to wear during their stay all must not leave their hotels without it. Each costume will cost only 5000 baht.

 

[phantomfiddler]

Venkers, venkers, venkers, venkers, and more venkers heff decided ve do not vant you ????

[madmitch]

They were at one point talking about up to 2 million tourists arriving on this basis. Have they actually done the maths?

 

A hotel room would be occupied by six people/couples in the three months at 14 days a go. That's, say 12 people.

 

Let's assume 200 rooms in a hotel: 2400 people. How many hotels in the scheme? Well, two or three at the moment in Phuket, though in view of the medical issues I wouldn't have though more than fifty. At full occupancy that would be 120,000 people.

 

That will be more than enough anyway, as I agree with the majority on here that the criteria will put most people off coming. The trip to the Thai Embassy for approval will get rid of the majority of potential traveller for a start.

 

With those numbers, is it actually worth bothering? I suppose it depends who the ASQ hotel owners are!

[KKr]

15 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

I tried but it just seemed to keep expanding as my thoughts hit my fingers on the keyboard and the post was written.

may the light of truth hit your fingers daily ????

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, whaleboneman said:

5T is the new and improved 5R. I think I missed hearing about the 5S.

In the end it will me renamed '0T' which stands for Zero Tourists.

 

Forget 'applying at a Thai embassy', no tourist will do that.

Forget '$100k' mandatory COVID insurance, no tourist will be interested in buying that.

 

If you want any tourists to return to Thailand, stop trying to extort them.

If you feel any extra COVID precautions are required, provide them all free of charge at the airport on arrival.

 

Free COVID testing on arrival, OK

Free COVID insurance on arrival, OK

Free VISA waiver on arrival, OK

14 days quarantine at resort, OK ....... but make all food/drink/alcohol inclusive in the holiday price (no extortion).

 

Note to the Thai government.

COVID isn't an excuse for additional extortion from tourists, everyone knows what you're like, the world knows your reputation. If you really want tourists to return, stop the extortion. This isn't a chance for your pals in the insurance and health care business to make a bit of extra cash.

Edited August 28, 2020 by BritManToo

[KKr]

Even when including the 5T plan into consideration,
Unless Captive Markets,
I do not know of a single Sales Tactical Plan that was successful
whilst disregarding the needs of the End Consumer.

 

Edited August 28, 2020 by KKr

[elgenon]

I really want to be trustable! But without having to stop breathing.  : )

[Surasak]

17 hours ago, mybeat said:

Wasn't this model named 5R like a week ago and now it's 5T?

 

They know next to nothing of the 3Rs, so 5 is well off the scale. But give them credit, they moved down the alphabet to T and thought, that`ll fool them.

[fulhamster]

17 hours ago, mybeat said:

Wasn't this model named 5R like a week ago and now it's 5T?

 

What about 5S ??

[Surasak]

16 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

So, basically anyone wishing to vacation in Thailand must be first be approved by a Royal Thai Embassy and have evidence of COVID-19 test proving they are COVID-free within 72 hours before departing. Alternatively, they must present a ‘Fit to Fly’ or other documents proving they are free of infection. Additionally the tourists must have health insurance coverage of US $100,000 in case they need to have medical treatment for whatever reason.

With that being said they must also acknowledge that after arriving, they will remain at an ASQ hotel venue for 14 days, during which they will be tested two times during their stay at the hotel. The first test to be conducted sometime between the 3rd and 5th day of there lovely vacation, with the second test conducted between the 11th and 13th day of there by now wonderfully enjoyed quarantine, after which they can then be free to enjoy whatever remaining time they may have.

 

However, if they test positive then there time now is spent at a glorious beach front hospital where there 100K US policy will pay for there remaining vacation time in a luxuriosly appointed hospital suite.

 

No flickking way will anyone, except those expats who have family come and subject themselves to an out of pocket cost nearing the 300,00 baht range, before they can even began to enjoy there time here.  Plus jumping through the hoops just to get approved.  God forbid you take time off from work to go to through the initial testing but then to be denied or accepted at the discretion of the Royal Thai Embassy in your home country is Ludicrous.

 

Additionally, what airlines are they going to be allowed to travel on or just specific chartered flights which will only fly on certain timeframes guaranteed by the Thai Government.  I personally do not know anyone who has all the free time in the world just to sit on there <deleted> and wait for a vacation that may or may not ever come.  Additionally, whose job will allow them to just take off whenever.

 

This appears to be aimed at those with unlimited funds and High Flyers who will just unfortunately go elsewhere to avoid the three ring Thai circus that this is becoming.

 

Ok Flame and Rant over.

There is one other added difficulty, finding the insurance company who will supply the Covid19 cover !! Very seriously few and far between.

[shackleton]

No Tourist in his right mind is going to do this

Now ex-pats and people who   live here have a home here ect

Would proberly consider this as a option to getting back 

[joe jadore]

17 hours ago, mybeat said:

Wasn't this model named 5R like a week ago and now it's 5T?

 

100K insurance SAY GOODBYE TO PENSIONERS AND ORDINARY TOURISTS THAILAND,  they cannot afford this for a short holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nor will they!

[Surasak]

1 hour ago, Sharp said:

Just Sayin...

Reasons to be cheerful, part one!!

[SymS]

17 hours ago, mybeat said:

Wasn't this model named 5R like a week ago and now it's 5T?

 

That's called progress. Next up is 5U. They clearly had to skip 5S because it was already taken.