New grand plan to bring tourists back to Thailand in fallout of COVID-19

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand is preparing to welcome back foreign tourists – at least, those with deep pockets – from next month, with a strategy that seeks to restore its battered tourism sector without ruining its impressive COVID-19 record.

Some European countries opened up their borders & allowed travel, now they are enjoying a new spike in Covid.. good luck Thailand, don't expect to hold onto your impressive record much longer.

[holy cow cm]

I do believe they will have success in the Chinese sending proxies to buy up and into everything they can get their dirty little communist hands on securing yet another portion for the red flag and thus conquering another country with investments and eventually their populace. Thailand should beware of this as the Chinese have infiltrated everywhere they imaginable can. Made my old home of the Bay Area in California look like an ongoing China town.

 

I do not know of any business person who would go through their rules as there is no time for this charade of 14 day expensive quarantine, and this for normal foreigners who already have roots here yearning to get back home is a way to fleece them. The very wealthy maybe, but highly doubtful at that being more than a couple of hundred total.

 

I do know of many Thai now taking advantage of the hotel offerings here. For them it is a Buddha send to stay in a nice hotel for a very cheap price in a part of Thailand worth visiting for fun, as something they would never spend the money on or have as an experience.

[worldfun]

so how long will it take them to specify eligible countries? ????this program will be dead in the water before it even get started ????

[verticalift]

And so the question still remains...... What about those of us who are not tourists, but who live in Thailand and who have built our homes there...???

Employed as a pilot based overseas, i have “lived” in Phuket for over the past 20+ yrs while not at work overseas. Unfortunately, I remain stuck in Abu Dhabi, unable to return to the home that I built for my upcoming retirement. 

 

I have my name on the Tambian Baan Yellow Book, Thai ID Pink Card and a Non-Imm 10 yr O-X Retirement Visa.
 

It’s unfortunate that the main focus is on the “Tourist” sector and not the foreign expat population that have invested heavily in Thailand, making it our permanent home. 
 

Issued with a Non-Imm 10yr O-X Retirement Visa in Oct 2019, why would I be required to get a so call Special “Tourist“ Visa that is only good for 9 months...? For those of us who have our homes in Thailand, what are we suppose to do and where are we suppose to go after 9 months...???

[cmrichsw]

18 minutes ago, cmrichsw said:

Big Hotel travel promotion going on this weekend at Central Festival Chiang Mai. Should be lots of local tourists coming by the looks of the people signing up at the lower floor area on Sunday 9/20/20 Central Festival was packed on the rainy weekend.

Koh Samui was the promotion 

[holy cow cm]

5 minutes ago, verticalift said:

And so the question still remains...... What about those of us who are not tourists, but who live in Thailand and who have built our homes there...???

Employed as a pilot based overseas, i have “lived” in Phuket for over the past 20+ yrs while not at work overseas. Unfortunately, I remain stuck in Abu Dhabi, unable to return to the home that I built for my upcoming retirement. 

 

I have my name on the Tambian Baan Yellow Book, Thai ID Pink Card and a Non-Imm 10 yr O-X Retirement Visa.
 

It’s unfortunate that the main focus is on the “Tourist” sector and not the foreign expat population that have invested heavily in Thailand, making it our permanent home. 
 

Issued with a Non-Imm 10yr O-X Retirement Visa in Oct 2019, why would I be required to get a so call Special “Tourist“ Visa that is only good for 9 months...? For those of us who have our homes in Thailand, what are we suppose to do and where are we suppose to go after 9 months...???

Unfortunately the retiree who invested are considered chopped liver!

Edited September 21, 2020 by holy cow cm

[PumpkinEater]

1. I am "outside" with a Non O.

I ask the Government WHY Is my Non O not valid for re-entry now? We should be credited for meeting all of the requirements for this Visa type (why the new model). In other words our Non O"s should be honored.

2. Also the attitude of "HIGH RISK" countries to be denied? I am in a high risk country but live in the countryside away from the yahoos. I will take a test prior to leaving no problem. This should show serve as a entry requirement no matter which country you are from? DISCRIMINATION!

3. Charter flight completely unnecessary! I flew out of BKK on Qatar and they did an excellent job under these adverse conditions. Why not come in the same way? $$$$$ I THINK.

4. Two week Quarantine, I agree with, then let us loose to holiday. 

 

I AM READY TO COME TO LOS AND SPEND MY MONEY FOR THE WINTER... but these restrictions are TOO much to swallow.

Cambodia/Mexico and parts of Caribbean are open to USA passport holders, I will go there this winter. 

 

Cheers! 

 

 

[iyoung]

there is no plan, only scared ideas. I doubt very much that anyone will want to be responsible for unitended consequences.

[Cadan]

Will never work... 1 aircraft per week ? Cases are rising everywhere. Recovery will take 3-5 years. What’s lost is lost. Travel World has changed and will continue to do so. What they could do is open up countries like taiwan, Vietnam, HK were cases are low. If thailand opens up the cases will rise. Just delaying the facts. Same what’s happening to Europe now with second wave starting 

[condobrit001]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

To apply for the STV, tourists must first contact a licensed Thai travel agency, and make travel arrangements including booking a flight, a place for quarantine, and a hotel or apartment to stay at after completing their quarantine.

Is there such a thing as a licensed Thai travel agency overseas? I would imagine these licenses would be very ex[ensive to obtain as they would effectively grant each holder with a license to print money. How can I get one?? Corruption in LOS has reached a whole new level!

[geoffrobbo]

"To apply for the STV, tourists must first contact a licensed Thai travel agency, and make travel arrangements including booking a flight, a place for quarantine, and a hotel or apartment to stay at after completing their quarantine."
and I am sure the licensed Thai travel agency is going to be fair and offer competitive rates.

[rupert the bear]

favoured countries totally banal!china ha ha you cant believe a word they say ask taiwan  hk or the uighers.its absurd.if you test neg then your good to fly.as for the other scams,ditch the insurance and the expensive hotels.there so many empty hotels in this country this is easy,what is the problem here?thais dont test coming in so can infect the whole plane duuuuur.its the usual stupid,greed ,racist nonsense,tidy up your act and get on with it

[SupermarineS6B]

What a complete disaster for Thailand and its people and now the muppets are still carrying on......  Couldn't run a bath !     Please do us all a favour and just P*&^ off !     

[2 is 1]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is now busy preparing “14 days of fun” programmes to help international tourists enjoy themselves during quarantine.

Cant wait to know how they manage this one! Going to be really great idea! TAT idea's has been always so wonderful.

14 day's of fun in ASQ room, whitout alcohol or company. New minesweeper now! Only possible in Thailand's ASQ hotel's. COME AND feel excitement! 

[essox essox]

5 hours ago, Davo369 said:

Those with deep pockets....... 

I've got £150 in my left front pocket, I've got £250 in my right front pocket, 

I've got £350 in my left back pocket, and I've got £450 in my right back pocket............. 

WHAT HAVE I GOT........... Someone else's trousers on 

what ABOUT YOUR VISA DEBIT CARD.......i suppose you have one......

[essox essox]

what IS  SO GRAND ABOUT THIS PLAN??????

[Jaxxper]

It’s going to be a £3-4,000 holiday before you step off of the plane. For people just wanting to vacation or are snowbirds I’d say that there are better options out there.

[Misterwhisper]

300 per week?

 

My, my... the "battered tourism sector" surely must be singing and dancing in the streets out of sheer joy and excitement.

[spiekerjozef]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

“14 days of fun”

Absolutely brilliant !

[Thed]

if the Thai Bath would get better exchange rate, expats here may travel around more

But everything is expensive for most of pensioners now

[Elkski]

So thais are enjoying hotels at what 10% or 25% of regular cost but these quarantine hotels are going to be 5000-7000 baht a night?  And you have to book through some Thai travel agencies who have agreed to pass the browns  around. 

Do yiu also have to book your stay after the 14 days  through these travel agents.  

Not going to work Bangkok boys.   Yiu lucky guys there now.  Enjoy the low cost everything without crowds or competition.   It must be sweet.  

[Lacessit]

Whatever gaggle of geniuses ( or should that be a miscellany of muppets ? ) came up with this grand plan must think the whole planet is slavering to get into Thailand for some tom yum goong.

The majority of tourists don't want the terms of their holiday set by someone else, they want to pick and choose. They are not going to accept 14 days quarantine and a minimum stay, any more than I accept pumpkin as a vegetable fit for human consumption.

Sorry fellas, back to the drawing board. Why don't you try consulting your potential customers?

Edited September 21, 2020 by Lacessit

[stouricks]

5 minutes ago, Thed said:

if the Thai Bath would get better exchange rate, expats here may travel around more

But everything is expensive for most of pensioners now

No Thed, it needs the GBP or USD to get a better exchange rate, and it does depend on the origin and size of your pension as to how expensive things are, it's all relative.

[KC 71]

1 hour ago, petedk said:

I doubt if the Chinese will come. I think they usually book through Chinese agents.

 

 

Apparently a significant number of Chinese people are struggling with their condo payments here !

[rott]

I have always liked pumpkin myself. 

[Ketyo]

For ten years now Thailand has has strategy to shift from low spend backpacker and retirees to high spend richer tourists.

 

Some management consultant must have told TAT to do it.

 

The problem is most of the tourism products bars, restaurants, hotels, guesthouses are geared to low spend tourists and pay for the jobs of the vast majority of the Thais in the tourism sector who earn a low income and have low skills.

 

If you get rid of that sector you are an idiot tourism authority and will kill 10% from your economy and throw millions out of work.

 

Maybe try it in 20 or 30 years when people are richer and better educated to find other jobs.

[PEE TEE]

I can see it working for those who have a real need to get back, family property ect. but it will not come cheap so big money needed . i do not see any requirements for the covid insurance cover have they discharged this . 

[Millcx]

4 hours ago, Gjk7777 said:

So would I be, I have a house near Ubon Ratchathani, I just couldn't do the 14 days quarantine, I will stay in the UK until all this is over...could be a while though..

I will wait the 6 months before returning

[Thomas J]

[IamNoone88]

The Gov't is damned if they do and damned if they don't. It is a start.