Pilot launch of new 'Phuket Model' to let tourists in likely next month

[ebean001]

I have friends who are Digital nomads. they have significant problems getting long term Visa. They make lots of money (many do...my friend makes 3m bahts a year). they spend money. they are professionals but treated like tourist. This means they have to leave Thailand. They go to other countries, keep making lots of money, keep spending that money in another country.

Countries are way ahead of Thailand. They understand this pot of gold. There are 100,000s of Digital Nomads. They are giving these Digital Nomads long term Visas. These countries will win the pot of gold while Thailand already is losing…I know because I have friends that had to leave and found long term Visas someplace else other than Thailand.

Hurry up Thailand or the pot of gold will be spent in other countries with long term Visas.

[Guderian]

Make sure you've got enough booze stocked up to last you when the next lockdown inevitably happens as the virus spirals out of control across the country!

[MadMac]

Brand new pirouette incoming ????

[madmitch]

There will probably be a contradictory announcement tomorrow.

 

Phipat seems to have his own aganda and not necessarily with the support of the rest of the Government.

 

 

Edited August 30, 2020 by madmitch

[tonysilly]

Wait! Wait! Wait! Stop with the two weeks <deleted>!!! They got tested twice!! No tourist want to come to phuket that bad.  Just week. Go to beach, eat some pappaya salad, a few ladyboys and off to Chaing Mai 

This might be ok for Farangs that live here or has Thai kids.  Back to the drawing board for TAT

[tonysilly]

7 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Make sure you've got enough booze stocked up to last you when the next lockdown inevitably happens as the virus spirals out of control across the country!

Your crazy!! I rather have covit 19 in Thailand then 1,000 people each year killed on the road for reckless driving.  

[Oldie]

7 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Make sure you've got enough booze stocked up to last you when the next lockdown inevitably happens as the virus spirals out of control across the country!

The virus will be mainly in the tourist areas. Hard times might come for us expats. 

[cardinalblue]

How long does your health insurance policy cover? For tourists their duration but for an expat who is using  a return ticket with no departure date? Coverage until visa expiration?

 

it just doesn’t make sense....

[ThailandRyan]

16 minutes ago, madmitch said:

There will probably be a contradictory announcement tomorrow.

 

Phipat seems to have his own aganda and not necessarily with the support of the rest of the Government.

 

 

Yes he is playing his own game, and to what ends it is for we may never know.  He is however just a Muppet like the rest of these government clowns.

[Travelanimal]

I'm sure they are not tourist. This is going to be another failure

[Dialemco]

Let's see logistics of such operation including arrangements for long stay visa. Don't think it will realistically create much tourist income if at all to benefit locals reliant on tourists who are now in a desperate situation. Government would need to have representives in respective countries to make the necessary arrangements where will they come from? 

[rupert the bear]

its hard to understand this as it makes no sense.its riddled with absurdities.what is the purpose ?as is pointed out theres many cases in both nz and aus.why quaranteen people for so long when theyre tested before they get on the plane?thais arnt tested when they return and from high risk countries so some positives are found.people will not pay these crazy prices to be confined for so long ,it wont fly.if they can do it in their own apts houses and condos as is the case in many places go with that,but this constant greed and stupidity.thailand has killed the toursi golden goose along with manufacturing and business its a worse case scenario economically.eventually youll have to open and guess what itll come in unless u wanna go all north korea . the virus is weakening,no testing is done here so we dont actually know whats going on,most cases are non symptomatic or minor now.itest are cheap 10USD and results fast,allow people to test before they come on entry free,min 1 mnth stay and wait for the results if neg ,out you go after 2 or 3 days wait.stop these rediculous hotel rip off prices.why do that?people come to spend money why act like a sleazt pimp?its not attractive and most people stand well clear

[Emdog]

Any mention of staff and workers isolation and/or testing? Training?

Unless they have Japanese "robot hotels" these tourists will have lots of interaction with staff.... good path for virus to leak out.

And I imagine if you wanted some "companionship" the staff could arrange that after being slipped some gratuity

 

 

[vermin on arrival]

the whole thing is farcical

[englishoak]

What a FUBAR. 
LOL

[Oldie]

Let us see the bright side. It will take very long until a huge country like China will have no new Corona cases for 30 days. And of course poor Indians and Americans and... 

[British Bulldog]

I'm so confused, yesterday they said no tourist coming for a while (like next year) next minute they are coming next month, from Australia of all places ? I thought Australia had banned all incoming/outgoing flights and banned Australians from leaving and coming back ? I've had my 25 year old Lao daughter stuck down in Perth for 6 months already, if this really happens, it could be a way for her to get back to Vientiane ?

[rupert the bear]

there arnt any free of covid that long,thai govt said that about nz and aus WRONG.china will lie but they get a free pass how moronic corrupt and racist is that???hk has cases. japan  s korea sing even taiwan.europe has too ,ahhh north korea how silly of me.this obsession with making yourselves look complete fools,racists and rip off merchants is hardly a model for economic success.make it reasonably possible for people from anywhere that test neg. then arrive test again at the airport[a free test the kits are 10 usd]wait the result,max 2 days in a non rip off hotel.stay a min of a mnth then lets move on ,xenophobia and tourism naaaah not a good mix!!

[Xonax]

It will be interesting to see, if they can actually find 200 people, who are so desperate to visit Thailand, that they will accept those ridiculous rules. 

[evadgib]

Why can't someone who lives here quarantine in their own home as seems to be happening elsewhere? This ASQ lark seems to be driven by greed.

[rtco]

If you pronounce Phuket with an F instead of Ph then that's what people will think!

[ThailandRyan]

4 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Why can't someone who lives here quarantine in their own home as seems to be happening elsewhere? This ASQ lark seems to be driven by greed.

Exactly, but then you need to see what happened back when they started to let the little ghosts who returned from South Kore quarantine at home.  Instead of quarantining as they were suppose to they had welcome home parties, went out to the bars, posted on Facebook of where they were shopping etc...  Caused quite a stir and of course the end result was this lockdown in quarantine style for returnees and those wishing to come.

[xylophone]

Roll up, roll up, have we got a deal for you, something which is too good to miss and the specifics of it have been carefully analysed and put together by, by, by................a Muppet!

 

The tourists will be required to undergo Covid-19 test 48 hours before their departure for Phuket and they will be tested again when they arrive. They will have to stay in alternative state quarantine in Thailand for 14 days before they are allowed to travel in Phuket.

 

 If they want to travel to other provinces outside Phuket, they will have to stay in the quarantine facility for 21 days.

 (TAT) ......should co-ordinate with tourists on visa application and purchase of insurance. But the tourists would have to bear the cost of visa and insurance.

 

Phiphat said that this model was expected to be piloted in the middle of September with a first group of around 200 tourists. Most of them will be from Australia and New Zealand.

 

He said that tourists under this model must be from the countries where there has been no outbreak for at least 30 days.

 

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away from reality.................

[GeorgeCross]

16 minutes ago, rupert the bear said:

there arnt any free of covid that long,thai govt said that about nz and aus WRONG.china will lie but they get a free pass how moronic corrupt and racist is that???hk has cases. japan  s korea sing even taiwan.europe has too ,ahhh north korea how silly of me.this obsession with making yourselves look complete fools,racists and rip off merchants is hardly a model for economic success.make it reasonably possible for people from anywhere that test neg. then arrive test again at the airport[a free test the kits are 10 usd]wait the result,max 2 days in a non rip off hotel.stay a min of a mnth then lets move on ,xenophobia and tourism naaaah not a good mix!!

the incubation period is not 2 days its closer to 14 days (some say longer). many of the returning thais have tested positive on days 12 and 13 after testing negative on arrival.

 

airport testing does not work becuase of this thats why its not being considered.

 

 

 

[GeorgeCross]

13 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Why can't someone who lives here quarantine in their own home as seems to be happening elsewhere? This ASQ lark seems to be driven by greed.

because its easier to police a handful of designated building than thousands of random homes - of course if people (and their families) could be trusted to just stay home during this period then this wouldn't be a problem.. but TiT.

[ThailandRyan]

It just hit me as to why they are pushing this model so hard. Bali had planned to open up next month but has now slammed shut until 2021, the same as some of the surrounding tourist destination locations.  With that in mind, I am starting to think that Thailand believes they will be the only tropical destination and will be able to capture those tourists who wish to stay warm during there own countries winters.  Does not take a brain surgeon to see how desperate they are and how stringent they will be in implementing such a plan.  Who the hell, other than those that have a house here, have a wife, and plenty of money would even be foolish enough to strand themselves in Phuket for up to 3 weeks before they could get a true vacation or return to their families here.

 

I spoke to a friend who has a house in Rawai, Phuket.  He and his Thai wife have been stuck in California since last November because of the Visa issues for insurance requirements for a new Non Imm O-A Visa, and then his trying to Obtain an O Visa based upon marriage became a disaster due to the Thai Government and consulate wanting his US marriage certificate and her US green card paperwork all translated into Thai, certified by the US Department of State before they would issue him a visa.  However, just as it appeared they could get back here in March Covid hit and they were stuck. I told him they should have just come back in November and for him to get a 30 day VOA, which he could then convert to an extension, but he did not have the 400,000 to put in the bank to season and he still needed all of the paperwork certified and translated.  Now that he has it all and could get here based upon being married to a Thai, he has instead said they can just freaking shove it up there <deleted>, put his house up for sale, and instead they are buying a Villa in Panama.  This is someone who has lived 6 months here and 6 months in California for the last 20 years.  No more shenanigans he told me this morning.  He is a multi millionaire and can afford whatever he wants but the way Thailand is approaching this he said is just plane lunacy. 

[chilli42]

6 hours ago, 473geo said:

It's a start, Best hope this initiative is a success in protecting the Thai people, and, can be expanded in a less restrictive format sooner rather than later

They need protecting?  Many would argue that they have had too much protection for their food from a disease that has a low percentage death rate.

[rwill]

200 hundred tourists to fill 200,000 hotel rooms....

[GeorgeCross]

5 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

It just hit me as to why they are pushing this model so hard. Bali had planned to open up next month but has now slammed shut until 2021, the same as some of the surrounding tourist destination locations.  With that in mind, I am starting to think that Thailand believes they will be the only tropical destination and will be able to capture those tourists who wish to stay warm during there own countries winters.  Does not take a brain surgeon to see how desperate they are and how stringent they will be in implementing such a plan.  Who the hell, other than those that have a house here, have a wife, and plenty of money would even be foolish enough to strand themselves in Phuket for up to 3 weeks before they could get a true vacation or return to their families here.

 

I spoke to a friend who has a house in Rawai, Phuket.  He and his Thai wife have been stuck in California since last November because of the Visa issues for insurance requirements for a new Non Imm O-A Visa, and then his trying to Obtain an O Visa based upon marriage became a disaster due to the Thai Government and consulate wanting his US marriage certificate and her US green card paperwork all translated into Thai, certified by the US Department of State before they would issue him a visa.  However, just as it appeared they could get back here in March Covid hit and they were stuck. I told him they should have just come back in November and for him to get a 30 day VOA, which he could then convert to an extension, but he did not have the 400,000 to put in the bank to season and he still needed all of the paperwork certified and translated.  Now that he has it all and could get here based upon being married to a Thai, he has instead said they can just freaking shove it up there <deleted>, put his house up for sale, and instead they are buying a Villa in Panama.  This is someone who has lived 6 months here and 6 months in California for the last 20 years.  No more shenanigans he told me this morning.  He is a multi millionaire and can afford whatever he wants but the way Thailand is approaching this he said is just plane lunacy. 

he's a multi-millionaire who can afford anything he wants.. except a $12K transfer to thailand?

wow really need to be a billionaire these days ????

[Percy P]

6 hours ago, 473geo said:

It's a start, Best hope this initiative is a success in protecting the Thai people, and, can be expanded in a less restrictive format sooner rather than later

But theirs no flights in of out of New Zealand  or Australia at the moment. Their in lockdown until 2021 at least. I have a friend who lived their who keeps me informed.