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

[outsider]

We're opening, we're not, we are, we aren't. I'd like to see the queue of tourists straining against the turnstiles waiting to get into the Land of Scams once this scam is finally launched.

[Jimbo53]

The first 3 paragraphs were enough to put me off the idea of travelling to Thailand,i think TAT are in for a rude awakening!

[Sean60]

Good Luck

 

[ndreamer]

7 hours ago, Oldie said:

I am confused because tourists from Australia and New Zealand will be allowed in the middle of September already. On Aug 29th this source at the following link writes the following below. So there are still cases in both countries. 

 

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/australia-new-zealand-report-new-covid-19-cases/1956809

 

 

Cases in Australia rose to 25,570 with 112 infections reported in the past 24 hours, according to health officials.

 

New Zealand reported 13 cases in the past 24 hours, raising the overall count to 1,727, including 22 deaths and 1,568 recoveries.

Australians can't even leave without special permission. 

Its also very expansive to fly home atm with 300pax per day restriction. 

If they manage to leave they have a very good reason too.

[NRGF]

Being a snowbird staying December through February for the last nine years there is no way I would travel to Thailand under these circumstances, even though I have already booked and paid for the ticket. 

[Max69xl]

7 hours ago, Oldie said:

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

 

I am confused because tourists from Australia and New Zealand will be allowed in the middle of September already. On Aug 29th this source at the following link writes the following below. So there are still cases in both countries. 

 

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/australia-new-zealand-report-new-covid-19-cases/1956809

 

 

Cases in Australia rose to 25,570 with 112 infections reported in the past 24 hours, according to health officials.

 

New Zealand reported 13 cases in the past 24 hours, raising the overall count to 1,727, including 22 deaths and 1,568 recoveries.

Do you think Thai officials read news or even reports before they announce their ridiculous ideas? They probably don't even know that Australian citizens aren't allowed to leave the country unless it's really necessary. 

[Thomas J]

8 hours ago, ezzra said:

Like tirelessly trying to force a square peg into a round hole and all that time the proponents of such scheme sure that tourists will line up in their thousand to take part in this shereade,,,

Ezzra you are right. 

They will be able to take all the arriving tourist to Phuket in a Toyota Yaris and still maybe have seats left in the car. 

[Redline]

Ankle monitors?

[PumpkinEater]

Here we go again with “categorization” of people based on the country they are from!

Just because I am from the USA should not preclude me from entering...

I am covid free and will test to the Thai standard.to prove it before the flight and after the arrival...

<deleted>!

And to only arrive via Thai Airways charter flight? Crazy.

 

No the entry should be on Airline of choice (now Qatar) into BKK, quarantine in Bkk and then let loose to roam after the hoops have been satified.

 

They are taking the fear of this flu virus to a whole new level.

 

Cheers

 

[Jimbo53]

3 minutes ago, ndreamer said:

New Zealand reported 13 cases in the past 24 hours, raising the overall count to 1,727, including 22 deaths and 1,568 recoveries.

Pretty difficult to believe the figures for Thailand,when compared to N.Z.,a country that has only 3.5% the population of Thailand,and a rigid plan in place with track n tracing etc!!!

[toolpush]

2 hours 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. 

Multimillionaire you say? Did not have 400,000 baht? How about an Elite visa? Something doesn't add up.

[barney42bb]

They still don't get it ...Do They?????????

[Jimbo53]

7 minutes ago, toolpush said:

Multimillionaire you say? Did not have 400,000 baht? How about an Elite visa? Something doesn't add up.

 

7 minutes ago, toolpush said:

Multimillionaire you say? Did not have 400,000 baht? How about an Elite visa? Something doesn't add up.

Read the whole sentence..hint....Seasoned!

[Destiny1990]

Personally i would not travel to a place where outdoor mouth masks are made mandatory and i would never let random folks stick a 12 cm long object into my brains period. To the rest of you all happy holidays ????

[VBF]

3 hours ago, cardinalblue said:

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....

Agree...... But that's basically the difference between health insurance and travel insurance. Unless you resident in a particular country, you don't really qualify to buy TI in that  country. IE, I live in UK, have an annual travel policy that includes Covid, however, it only covers trips out of UK of up to 60 days (or 90 with endorsement)

So i can travel to Thailand for 3 months, but couldn't live there on that particular policy.

[tomauasia]

8 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

You make as much sense as them

[Antifreeze]

3 hours ago, tonysilly said:

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

Maybe you forgot the last lockdown. Could not go very far. Roads deserted. 

[tomauasia]

Nobody's interested in there ridiculous option. They are professional time wasters with fake COVID NUMBERS.

[davidmann]

Being tourist/holiday /travel. ,is fun for those with money ,who would wont to go to country with so many restrictions  and its no longer cheap. ,,,to me the old thailand is gone. ,went some time ago 

[VBF]

2 hours 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. 

Exactly...... People with serious money won't be messed about like this, people without such resources cannot afford to even if they wanted to!

And your reply to @GeorgeCross summed it up perfectly. ????

Edited August 30, 2020 by VBF

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

A new model to reopen Phuket to foreign tourists was expected to be piloted in the middle of next month, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said.

While in another post the PM says he's not ready to allow international tourism to start yet, quoting that the economy needs to be first and of the highest priority nationally. Not in isolated island regions.

[sambum]

"He said that on August 25, the Cabinet had approved in principle that Thailand Longstay, in which Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) owns 30 per cent, should coodinate with tourists on visa application and purchase of insurance. But the tourists would have to bear the cost of visa and insurance. 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."

 

Can't you just see the thousands of tourists lining up to take this wonderful "holiday in Paradise"? 

[Raphus]

Yesterday they said it wasn’t likely.

[sambum]

2 hours 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. 

"plane lunacy." 

 

Bearing in mind the ban on International flights, is that a deliberate typo?

[VBF]

7 minutes ago, Raphus said:

Yesterday they said it wasn’t likely.

From "Through The Looking Glass"

 

I'm sure I'll take you with pleasure!" the Queen said. "Two pence a week, and jam every other day."
Alice couldn't help laughing, as she said, "I don't want you to hire me – and I don't care for jam."
"It's very good jam," said the Queen.
"Well, I don't want any to-day, at any rate."
"You couldn't have it if you did want it," the Queen said. "The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday – but never jam to-day."
"It must come sometimes to 'jam to-day'," Alice objected.
"No, it can't," said the Queen. "It's jam every other day: to-day isn't any other day, you know."
"I don't understand you," said Alice. "It's dreadfully confusing!"

 

With thanks to Lewis Carroll who somehow predicted that Thailand would become "Looking Glass land"???? ????

Edited August 30, 2020 by VBF

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

A new model to reopen Phuket to foreign tourists was expected to be piloted in the middle of next month, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said.

The Covid-19 pandemic is spreading closer to Thailand, Dr Yong Poovorawan, an expert virologist at Chulalongkorn University, said on Saturday (August 29).

 

I wonder who will win the battle or will it go to the toss of a coin with the PM having the final say if it ends in a draw?

 

[djuiiy]

The article has the fluffy self contradicting tone as all previous articles about reopening. "likely" means may or may not. I think when opening is planned to happen, there will be a much firmer positive tone in the media.
I'll believe it when it happens. The article says the 14 day prison sentance is still there.

[connda]

Man, I'm on the edge of my seat.  How exciting!!!

[DB58]

8 hours ago, baansgr said:

Be interesting to see how many snowbirds do this...for those that normally do come for 6 months, the excessive cost and 2/3 week restrictions may not be too much of a concern. Time will tell.

I suppose, if they have current visas that allow that length of stay. As far as I can determine Thai Embassies still are not issuing new visas. 

[SupermarineS6B]

7 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

This is starting to be like a fish out of water story, more flip flopping than one can endure as they try to keep the tourism, that they believe they should have alive.  It's already on life support folks, you killed it before Covid with your policies and then catering to 2 specific countries while ensuring the corruption and overcharging continued.  Now you expect folks to subjugate themselves at their costs to being quarantined for their vacation.  Lets get real.  The only ones who would possibly throw themselves into the que would be those that have family here and want to get home, long stay retirees/snowbirds and the like who call Thailand home for 6 months out of the year, but to say it is for true tourists they are absolutely Bat<deleted> Crazy.

It's getting like watching an orphanage burn down.............. This lot cocked it all up well before cov 19 came along to save their miserable backsides from the kicking they well deserve from the long suffering people of Thailand.........   I just hope that everyone doesn't forget all the barmy decisions and racist comments coming from the piggies at the trough......   Let's hope karma's finished sharpening her nails, she's got work to do......