Tourists on the new Special Tourist Visa will have to arrive on charter flights

[herfiehandbag]

22 minutes ago, shackleton said:

Why bother talking about this type of Tourist coming its not going to happen pie in the sky

Only people who would resort to this would those trying to get back in 

Ie those who have a place here or family

Perhaps that is what they are aiming for?

To make as much money as possible out of those who want to "come home"?

[maqui]

8 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

* This just in * Quarantine Hotels to have no windows.

I had to read the next sentence to decide whether or not this was sarcasm, given the other tourism revival schemes that surface week after week.  (it was sarcasm, right? Right?)

[stuarty]

2 hours ago, paahlman said:

You guys are missing something... If you have a rental its sufficient.. Or have a lease contract somewhere.... A hotel is not enough, but a rental seems to be. Which is good for villa renters I would guess. At least they say" asq hotels OR lease, rental contract, condo ownership or house papers like the housebook or/and title deed."

 

So seems to be not impossible not to stay in a hotel designated by the gov.

The quarantine of 15 days must be in an approved hotel or medical facility, not an owned or rented property. That's clear in the announcement

[dlclark97]

I can only applaud the governments attempts to keep future Covid 19 infections out of Thailand.  But with the new 90 day tourist visa the restrictions that go along with it almost guarantee failure in attracting new tourists.  Charter flights directly to the destination?  The cost and infrequent nature of these flights would add a further barrier to the success of the visa.  $100,000 Covid insurance overpriced and undersigned by a Thai insurer?  Restriction of movement?  Compulsory Covid quarantine?  Money exchange rates that are providing little value for ones home currency.  Thailand is a beautiful place to visit but the added inconveniences and expenses are making other destinations more attractive.    

[GooEng]

10 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Thats per month

1,200 tourists per week taken advantage of by this "scheme"

[uncle_tom]

  8 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

* This just in * Quarantine Hotels to have no windows.

I had to read the next sentence to decide whether or not this was sarcasm, given the other tourism revival schemes that surface week after week.  (it was sarcasm, right? Right?)

 

A lot of the cheap hotels used by Thais don't have windows..

[flinc2020]

11 hours ago, DLock said:

 

I missed that "minimum" of 90 days.

 

And now another gem of :

 

 

....ha ha ha...so Thai Airlines misses out on even these well - healed  1,200 tourists.

 

Well thought through Cha Cha.

Unles, of course, Thai Airlines "rent out" their planes to companies, no doubt run by relatives of the government, who have travel businesses, just as the STV being run by Longstay. 

[Bkktodd]

8 hours ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Don't forget the 18,000 baht for the three Ovid-19 tests at the customers expense.

So travel the $3,000,000 travel insurance i already have PLUS. My full coverage work health insurance  isnt enough ??  I got a quote for 45,000b to  60,000b from thai insurance  ....good God ????

[Bkktodd]

6 hours ago, FalangJaiDee said:

I know ASQ is between 1k-2k. How much would a ticket cost on the scheduled chartered flights from...*COUGH*...the USA?

My guess is flying first to europe.  Then connecting to a chartered flight on a different booking

[Raphus]

Firstly, the airlines will be empty on the return if the have to stay a mim or 90 days !!!

second. The cheapest ASQ at the moment is 29,000 !! Another rip off.

then covid insurance underwritten in Thailand

Plus 90 day accommodation has to be paid before visa application.

Mega bucks and who is going to come !!!

Nobody with these ridiculous limitations. 

[Gracas]

The Australian Aboriginals had what was called the "Dreamtime", a time when all things were created, many stories and paintings about this.

It appears that the Thai government have embraced this idea and have created there own Dreamtime.

[tjinks]

I'm confused by the "travel on chartered flights from overseas directly to their destinations" bit. Does that mean a non-stop flight? If so, how would one fly from the US to Thailand? Or am I interpreting wrong?

[elliss]

12 hours ago, ezzra said:

You get the impression that there are hoards of tourists chomping at the bits to come to this paradise called Thailand, charter flights 90 days minimum finger printing insurance and 14 days quarantine, the ultimate destinations, come one come all...

 

    However that said , 

      Many farangs/aliens,  are not as stupid , as Thais are led too believe, we are ..

      Plan B , may well be an option , sooner than expected ..

 

Edited September 17, 2020 by elliss

[agood1963]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

The major ‘stumbling block’ remains in place – the mandatory state 14 day quarantine – which many potential tourists say they are simply not prepared to tolerate.

Oh dear back to the drawing board Thailand .

[Kalasin Jo]

Unworkable or even if it works that's such a tiny number. And a minimum of 90 days stay? What normal tourist would do that? As another has said this is more likely to be used by those previously on multi entry visas as it gives a a possible unbroken stay of 270 days it appears. I wonder what financials will be required to finance such a stay, on top of all the other stuff.

 

If Covid is a just a dastardly conspiracy as some suggest then Thailand and every other country with a large tourism based economy has nothing to fear from reverting straight back to normal. If not, then Thailand and all the others are doomed..without a,widely available vaccine and proven success. It's a truly sorry state of affairs everywhere.

 

In terms of Thais themselves the <deleted> is only now really hitting the fan. I'm no longer in Thailand, nor is my wife but we are getting reports from my wife's family, dependent entirely on selling produce in the local markets just to (until now happily I have to say) get by day to day,  that people are returning in droves from Bangkok and other tourist centres now due to lack of jobs and setting up in competition in these markets and with roadside stalls ( some no doubt offering other services being all they know how to do) thus knocking basic livelihoods on the head for all. 

 

And so yes, I've already been asked to send money, just for food for family. Not by them they are too proud still, but by my wife who now worries for them ( but still does not see the contradiction in buying expensive cosmetics here for herself being she says essentials for her wellbeing and will last " long time"!).

[Tony125]

International travel could take until 2024 to recover from COVID-19

 

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/iata-international-travel-2024-to-recover-from-covid-19-103216023.html

[David Garden]

This governement has clearly a lot of imagination, but is .....  Pathetic ! You are fired ! 

[jerolamo]

blackmail foreigner who have already a life in Thailand for money will never paid. No one will go with that and Thailand will loose a lot more (a world wide reputation first).

[jerolamo]

3 minutes ago, Tony125 said:

International travel could take until 2024 to recover from COVID-19

 

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/is full of our link ews/iata-international-travel-2024-to-recover-from-covid-19-103216023.html

your link is full of spy bot and probably a fake news.

Thailand will have to stop his blackmail with that before to become very poor and obtain a very bad reputation world wide with this kind of practice to make no difference between tourist in holiday and expatriate foreigners who have business or family or retirement.

[ray richards]

It looks like it will be back to pre Thailand days for me with the cost & hassle of getting there etc etc.

Hello SPAIN or TENERIFE here I come for 1 or 2 months.

[impulse]

I'm amazed that TVF posters keep taking this special visa program at face value. 

 

A few chartered jets full of cashed up foreigners from a little north of Thailand could give a significant boost to the condo market.

 

Perhaps it's not about tourism at all?  It could be a very successful program for its actual intended purpose.

 

[lesmac]

 (the mandatory state 14 day quarantine – which many potential tourists say they are simply not prepared to tolerate.) This rip off price for 14 days and covid tests at 5000b a go Thailand deserves for people to vote with their feet

[uncle_tom]

I think people are pretty much agreed that this is not only a non-starter, but the tiny numbers indicated show a complete lack of realism.

 

Moreover people in or attached to government are clearly looking for opportunities to profiteer out of those tourists who do make the effort.

 

The people who made up the red shirt movement have the greatest to lose from the tourist high season failing to materialise - I wonder what they are making of this right now?

 

 

[NeoDinosaw]

7 hours ago, MRToMRT said:

I think its the standard Thai inter quarantine flight. They will just run more flights or fill up more seats.

MRToMRT got it right I think :

I think its the standard Thai inter quarantine flight. They will just run more flights or fill up more seats.

 

So we have to get the clear to fly, Covid-free test, and then sit in the plane with untested Thais being repatriated.   Let us note the large percentage of people on these flights who are found to be Corvid positive on arival in Thailand.   Who's up for that ?

[Russel]

10 hours ago, Flying Saucage said:

I think you are 100% right with this.

 

But I like to add that very likely there is much more to it. They cannot be so stupid to believe that this scheme will work, they cannot be so stupid to believe that it will help the economy in any way, except maybe some rich friends among the elite who own some of the quarantine hotels.

 

I am sure that they create this scheme WILLFULLY TO BE IMPRACICABLE! The real point is, I assume, that they DO NOT WANT TOURISTS ANYMORE for now.

 

Keep in mind the close relations between the Thai junta government and China. Keep in mind the watches of the little general. For me, it seems obvious that this scheme is made only to appease the populace for a while and to show the Thai tourism industry that they are doing something to help, while in reality their plan is to ruin the industry willfully, to make it a cheap bargain for Chinese investors, plus a few rich Thai investors of their clique. A win-win-win situation for the junta, some others in the elite, and especially the Chinese. That's one reason also why the create all this panic and paranoia regarding Covid.

 

After the outbreak of the pandemic, China quickly realised the opportunities resulting from it. So, they had a talk with their Thai junta friends then, and this is the result now.

 

Your post, NanLeow, fits well into this plan. 

 

I assume some more luxury watches are on the way to Thailand right now.

 

 

 

The collapse of the economy is a global plan, a reset of the entire economy of the planet is being prepared This is the plan of the elites who rule the world the covid is just an excuse 

[smudger1951]

We will have all been upset to see the result of this lockdown on the thai people in tourist resorts out of work. The news of this will raise hopes of a return to normal without realising the pathetically small numbers planned to allow entry to the Kingdom. It has to fail and must fail.

[uncle_tom]

DO NOT WANT TOURISTS ANYMORE

 

Possibly - if they believe their own figures, they might think they can manage without..

 

..they'll soon find out they can't..

[kingofthemountain]

9 minutes ago, Russel said:

The collapse of the economy is a global plan, a reset of the entire economy of the planet is being prepared This is the plan of the elites who rule the world the covid is just an excuse 

The supposed ''elites'' are not able to have a meeting at 5 and to agree on something as basic as the butter price in front of the cameras,

BUT

they have managed to put in place a giant and secret plan about the collapse and the reset of the entire economy of the planet, the covid being used as an excuse?

ok cool

Edited September 17, 2020 by kingofthemountain

[Chongalulu]

5 hours ago, uncle_tom said:

The Thai government is still far detached from reality..

 

For years, largely due to the government paying homage to the vision of the late King, who wanted Thailand to exist without dependency on overseas nations; the importance of tourism to the Thai economy has been massively understated.

 

With the exception of some small island states, I can't identify any nation on the planet more economically reliant on tourism than the LoS.

 

The UK, for whom tourist spending is very much a sideshow to the economy, nevertheless attributes 10% of GDP to that sector. In Thailand, it is probably safe to estimate that tourism is several times as important, yet officially it is only listed as 9% GDP - allegedly less in percentage terms than the UK, and in cash terms, a whopping seven fold less.

 

At a pinch I could accept that the cash value of UK tourism might be marginally greater than Thailand's, but it is clear to me that tourism, and the trickle down from tourism, is probably closer to 40% of Thai GDP rather than 9%.

 

So the key question now, is when will the impact of this really hit home, and kick the Thai government out of it's complacency..?

My estimate is the consequences after the loss from no high season. Millions unemployed,businesses closed permanently and political unrest from resultant hardship. Then panic will set in but they won’t see it coming...

[Albert Zweistein]

What to think of this one : to work with overseas embassies to organize charter flights ! Ha ha ha, no need to go to travel agencies but to the Thai embassy.