Phuket reaction to new tourist visa: The money will filter down to the wider community

 

Picture: Bangkok Biz News

 

A small scale hotelier on Phuket told Thailand's business media that the plans for a new visa for long term tourists (STV) are a good thing. 

 

Satthaphon Thongsam said that he didn't believe that it would only benefit big hotels and the money would filter through to people in other areas of the economy. 

 

Bangkok Biz News reported that the Special Tourist Visa would initially mean that people would quarantine in Bangkok, Phuket, Chonburi and Buriram. It would last until September 30th 2021 with tourists able to get 90 days initially followed by two extensions up to a 270 day limit.

 

Their reporter went to Phuket where Satthaphon gave his views as one of the smaller players in the tourism business. 

 

He likened the pandemic to a cancer whereby when someone heard of a cure they flocked to that doctor. 

 

Now that Phuket has been given the chance, local people should seize the opportunity to welcome foreign tourists back.

 

He said that some people were opposing the idea saying they had no connection to tourism. He dismissed this saying that in one way or another everyone on Phuket is involved in tourism either directly or indirectly.

 

Suggesting the idea of "what did they have to lose?", he said that it was good that Phuket was being mentioned as a test case for reopening. 

 

He admitted that the numbers would be limited at first but expected that condominium and house owners would be among the foreigners coming and after they have completed quarantine at big hotels they would be contributing to their local communities. 

 

In this way, he said, the money would filter down to a wider section of the community.

 

He called for the scheme to go ahead and also called for further stimulus of domestic tourism to help get Phuket through the current crisis. 

 

Source: Bangkok Biz News

 

 

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12 minutes ago, webfact said:

The money will filter down to the wider community

 

if it does, it will not be by design

 

 

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

Bangkok Biz News reported that the Special Tourist Visa would initially mean that people would quarantine in Bangkok, Phuket, Chonburi and Buriram. It would last until September 30th 2021 with tourists able to get 90 days initially followed by two extensions up to a 270 day limit.

So Thailand is planning 14 day quarantines for all incoming foreigners until Sept 30th 2021 ........ at least?

Looks like a bit of a disaster for hotels and people in the tourism business.

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

Their reporter went to Phuket where Satthaphon gave his views as one of the smaller players in the tourism business. 

The reporter could have asked Satthaphon, "are you aware that the Thai government is telling existing tourists that they should leave the country?" 

I likened it to the host having the cancer in order to extract as much cash as possible whilst making it as difficult as possible when waiving a 9 month visa in order to attract people willing to be incarcerated poked prodded and rinsed in huge numbers.????   

30 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

So Thailand is planning 14 day quarantines for all incoming foreigners until Sept 30th 2021 ........ at least?

Looks like a bit of a disaster for hotels and people in the tourism business.

I'm rather hoping that is a typo and that the 270 days extendable visas will end on 30th September 2021

Nothing is filtering anywhere in Phuket without more ASQ rooms. Not enough of them and stupid expensive.

This poor delusional man is clutching at straws. Just do the math! With 300 pax per week who can only come via charter flight, and no airline is operating such flights, the revenue he might earn will be measured in satang.

No chance of any money filtering down if nobody comes.

Another hurdle just thrown in the works is "charter flights only"

The Government obviously does not really want tourists at all & also can't wait for Immigration 

to chuck the present amnesty ones out

The propaganda machinery is running on high gear !

Much nonsense but people will still talk about it.

2 hours ago, brommers said:

This poor delusional man is clutching at straws. Just do the math! With 300 pax per week who can only come via charter flight, and no airline is operating such flights, the revenue he might earn will be measured in satang.

Not so sure. 

Probably many young Green bagpackers will come, paid by their parents' money of course. And for those bagpackers that don't have to care about money the ASQ period will be like a stay in a youth hostel. 

Which means of course that their old parents have to pay the adventure. 

The anncounement seems to say you can stay in hotels(ASQ) "or show ownership via condo way or housebooks, title deeds OR a rental contract". That should imply you can quarantine in your own home. At least its what they said in the requirements yesterday. Fit to fly seems sufficient too. Not a covid test. That is something else.. Since you will be submitted to a test in Thailand anyway.Also.. A foreign or insurance like the one most people already have in their homecountries suffices although it demands two copies of it..hehe.....But.. of course.. Tomorrow there is another set of rules.. Never a dull moment...

12 minutes ago, paahlman said:

The anncounement seems to say you can stay in hotels(ASQ) "or show ownership via condo way or housebooks, title deeds OR a rental contract". That should imply you can quarantine in your own home. 

It doesn't say that about the initial quarantine part.  Read it again.

1 hour ago, natway09 said:

No chance of any money filtering down if nobody comes.

Another hurdle just thrown in the works is "charter flights only"

The Government obviously does not really want tourists at all & also can't wait for Immigration 

to chuck the present amnesty ones out

What's the bet that it will sell out in minutes as desperate expats make their way back and the government will be declaring it a big success 

Nice to hear the opinion of an ordinary Thai small business owner.

 

12 hours ago, webfact said:

He said that some people were opposing the idea saying they had no connection to tourism. He dismissed this saying that in one way or another everyone on Phuket is involved in tourism either directly or indirectly.

 

Spot on. Phuket has many people directly involved in the hotel and tourism industry. Those hotel employees eat, shop, rent houses, and help keep Phuket's domestic economy afloat.

 

Remove tourists and expats from the equation, and the majority of Phuket businesses will struggle to stay afloat - even the ones that only deal with other Thais.

8 hours ago, madmen said:

What's the bet that it will sell out in minutes as desperate expats make their way back and the government will be declaring it a big success 

Quite possible, I would jump on it for that very reason; but doubtful the USA is on the privileged list of countries. So will just have to wait to be able to return to my “home”.

 

it's only 1200 tourists a month, the most minute of bones thrown at the complaining tourist sector to keep them quiet as the government can say the are doing 'something', in reality it's only going to make a difference to very very few.

 

and dont forget many of these 1200 may well be using the visa as a way to return to their lives in thailand and not be 'tourists' at all, so after two weeks quarantine they'll be off and not partaking of tourist activities at all...

15 hours ago, brommers said:

This poor delusional man is clutching at straws. Just do the math! With 300 pax per week who can only come via charter flight, and no airline is operating such flights, the revenue he might earn will be measured in satang.

He is aware that big brother is watching him.

Hopefully people will see how stupid these plans are and throw Prayut out at the next election.

15 hours ago, DB58 said:

Quite possible, I would jump on it for that very reason; but doubtful the USA is on the privileged list of countries. So will just have to wait to be able to return to my “home”.

I was thinking this as well but if we have to do quarantine why does it matter where we are from. People from the USA who qualify under the group of 11 are entering Thailand as we speak.