Phuket: More than 40,000 out of work and it'll only get worse if foreign tourists don't come back

 

Image: Manager

 

Evidence presented to a visiting government commission in Phuket showed that nearly 43,000 people had lost their jobs between March and July during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. 

 

Suthep U-On representing the Labour Commission of the House of Representatives met local officials who discussed the bad news along with data about others who had applied for state aid. 

 

The meeting, last month, heard that the situation would only get worse if foreign tourists were not allowed back into Thailand. 

 

The issue is now coming to a head with plans for the "Phuket Model" and the recently announced long term STV or special tourist visa at the top of the government's reopening agenda. 

 

Tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn is a leading proponent of the STV that will be discussed early this coming week with clarification expected as to what it entails. 

 

The scheme, also backed by TAT governor Yutthasak Suphasorn, has its critics but many in Phuket - and elsewhere in Thailand, are desperate to make a start on welcoming back foreign tourists.

 

Others have criticized moves to oblige tourists stranded in the country - estimate at 150,000 - to leave after an amnesty came to an end yesterday, September 26th. 

 

Many felt they should have been encouraged to stay on and continue supporting the economy rather than chase well-heeled tourists who may not want to come anyway due to the hurdles presented by 14 day quarantine and large expense. 

 

The coming weeks that should have heralded the start of Thailand's annual "high season" will be crucial not just for Phuket but the entire country's tourism industry that has been devastated by the pandemic, notes Thaivisa.

 

Source: Manager

 

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18 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The coming weeks that should have heralded the start of Thailand's annual "high season" will be crucial not just for Phuket but the entire country's tourism industry that has been devastated by the pandemic, notes Thaivisa.

 

Will have no high season this year. Sure. 

 

Can not allow tourist from countrys not control covid. Because the loons. Terrible situation. So annoying me. 9 months covid and still not control. New lockdowns some countrys etc 

 

I think be more loose the job in Phuket. Thousands more Burma people. Also Chinese, Russian, Farang tour company guide, restaurant, bar etc etc 

 

Thai situation improve so much. The world situation be worse. 300,000+ everyday. 

Death not down. Still 5,000+ everyday.

terrible. 

 

15 day quarantine only. 

 

 

27 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Evidence presented to a visiting government commission in Phuket showed that nearly 43,000 people had lost their jobs between March and July

I'm surprised it's so few.

430,000 would be more believable.

387000 are not registered anywhere.

Officially, they can't be out of work.

Yinn is correct. Looney World.  My state Utah had highest daily case  number yesterday.   Many daily highs this last week.  Definitely a real spike from school opening.  Many schools now closing and going online.  People and politicians actively fighting mask wearing.  Loons.    

1 minute ago, Elkski said:

Yinn is correct. Looney World.  My state Utah had highest daily case  number yesterday.   Many daily highs this last week.  Definitely a real spike from school opening.  Many schools now closing and going online.  People and politicians actively fighting mask wearing.  Loons.    

Yup....that "rugged American individualism" is killing you.

They quoted that figure a while ago and 40,000 left the island what is it your calculator stuck on 40,000? must have borrowed it from TAT

3 hours ago, Yinn said:

Will have no high season this year. Sure. 

 

Can not allow tourist from countrys not control covid. Because the loons. Terrible situation. So annoying me. 9 months covid and still not control. New lockdowns some countrys etc 

 

I think be more loose the job in Phuket. Thousands more Burma people. Also Chinese, Russian, Farang tour company guide, restaurant, bar etc etc 

 

Thai situation improve so much. The world situation be worse. 300,000+ everyday. 

Death not down. Still 5,000+ everyday.

terrible. 

 

15 day quarantine only. 

 

 

The Thai economy is the WORST performer in ASEAN this year and all sheep like you want to do is keep it closed. Before you know it, locals out of work will start rioting, crime will go up and law and order will collapse.

 

Why? For a "virus" that is no worse than a normal flu. A virus that you need a test to know you even have, and a very faulty test at that. 

This is crazy.

 

Let's end this madness and open the floodgates. Be fair to the Thai people. They deserve better. They need jobs so they can put food on the table, pay their mortgages and loans and put their children through school. 

 

With fewer tourists, Thais normally reliant on tourism (more than 20% of GDP including indirect sources) will have less money to spend in the local economy. Less money to buy cars for example. This will have a knock on effect, which could lead to the closure of more Thai car factories (GM already left earlier this year) and in the worst case scenario, the complete collapse of the automotive industry in the country. 

 

Not to mention, investors will flee if they aren't allowed to easily enter the country to oversee their operations. New investors won't come at all. 

Without tourists and foreign investors, Thailand is doomed and the standard of living will drop. Poverty will go through the roof and the country will go back to 1980s standard of living. 

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I'm surprised it's so few.

430,000 would be more believable.

Most of the workforce were foreigners (mostly Burmese) the majority of whom have since returned to Myanmar. That's why the 40,000 figure is believable, because it's the leftover Thais. 

6 hours ago, Elkski said:

Yinn is correct. Looney World.  My state Utah had highest daily case  number yesterday.   Many daily highs this last week.  Definitely a real spike from school opening.  Many schools now closing and going online.  People and politicians actively fighting mask wearing.  Loons.    

And how`s the death toll this september compared to 6 months ago ? Substantially lower.

7 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I'm surprised it's so few.

430,000 would be more believable.

Did the "missus" say this upon finding your phone and seeing your 'contacts" list of cuties? ????

7 hours ago, KarenBravo said:

Yup....that "rugged American individualism" is killing you.

I prefer to call it the Maga Cult and self serving GOP politicians....  I wear my mask as science suggests..

Netherlands have spikes too yet there are no more in hospitals and no more dying either, the real difference; they test even its known to have 30-50% mistakes on results. Anyway, much more jobs will be gone soon enough, as a lot of money indirectly comes from foreigners and tourism related business. 

 

Actually most of Thailand seem to only consist of endless repeats of optical stores, motorbike and car shops, 7/11s and maybe a few more. Sometimes I wonder if there is a conspiracy behind the population count of near 70 million here, as you almost never see any of them at all. I mean even central Bangkok is like a ghost town at night nowadays, the capital with millions of people....

8 hours ago, Yinn said:

Will have no high season this year. Sure. 

 

Can not allow tourist from countrys not control covid. Because the loons. Terrible situation. So annoying me. 9 months covid and still not control. New lockdowns some countrys etc 

 

I think be more loose the job in Phuket. Thousands more Burma people. Also Chinese, Russian, Farang tour company guide, restaurant, bar etc etc 

 

Thai situation improve so much. The world situation be worse. 300,000+ everyday. 

Death not down. Still 5,000+ everyday.

terrible. 

 

15 day quarantine only. 

 

 

According to the same site you are providing as evidence of the "terrible" pandemic, the mortality rate of Corona virus is 0,28%, for people under 65 years old it's 0,06%. Now, since there is a chance of 0,30% that the next asteroid will destroy the earth, I don't understand why all the countries are not preparing bunkers and equipping everyone with a yellow safety helmet...

Most large hotels have already written off the tourists until next year's "high" season. Most are marketing to Thais and some are marketing to expats.

 

Either way, Phuket is screwed, tons of alternatives to Thailand, and cheaper.

11 hours ago, TheFreqFlyer said:

The Thai economy is the WORST performer in ASEAN this year and all sheep like you want to do is keep it closed. Before you know it, locals out of work will start rioting, crime will go up and law and order will collapse.

 

Why? For a "virus" that is no worse than a normal flu. A virus that you need a test to know you even have, and a very faulty test at that. 

This is crazy.

 

Let's end this madness and open the floodgates. Be fair to the Thai people. They deserve better. They need jobs so they can put food on the table, pay their mortgages and loans and put their children through school. 

 

With fewer tourists, Thais normally reliant on tourism (more than 20% of GDP including indirect sources) will have less money to spend in the local economy. Less money to buy cars for example. This will have a knock on effect, which could lead to the closure of more Thai car factories (GM already left earlier this year) and in the worst case scenario, the complete collapse of the automotive industry in the country. 

 

Not to mention, investors will flee if they aren't allowed to easily enter the country to oversee their operations. New investors won't come at all. 

Without tourists and foreign investors, Thailand is doomed and the standard of living will drop. Poverty will go through the roof and the country will go back to 1980s standard of living. 

 

sheep vs loon --- fight!

 

17 hours ago, Elkski said:

Yinn is correct. Looney World.  My state Utah had highest daily case  number yesterday.   Many daily highs this last week.  Definitely a real spike from school opening.  Many schools now closing and going online.  People and politicians actively fighting mask wearing.  Loons.    

Glad Utah is not a province in Thailand.

17 hours ago, Yinn said:

Will have no high season this year. Sure. 

 

Can not allow tourist from countrys not control covid. Because the loons. Terrible situation. So annoying me. 9 months covid and still not control. New lockdowns some countrys etc 

 

I think be more loose the job in Phuket. Thousands more Burma people. Also Chinese, Russian, Farang tour company guide, restaurant, bar etc etc 

 

Thai situation improve so much. The world situation be worse. 300,000+ everyday. 

Death not down. Still 5,000+ everyday.

terrible. 

 

15 day quarantine only. 

 

 

It looks like Belgium has a lot of "loon" doctors who are calling for a return to normalcy without any of the measures that were imposed.  This is coming from the country that was hit the hardest early on, but are taking into account a myriad of factors.

 

https://docs4opendebate.be/en/open-letter/

 

"We believe that the policy has introduced mandatory measures that are not sufficiently scientifically based, unilaterally directed, and that there is not enough space in the media for an open debate in which different views and opinions are heard.

Moreover, the strict repressive policy on corona strongly contrasts with the government’s minimal policy when it comes to disease prevention, strengthening our own immune system through a healthy lifestyle, optimal care with attention for the individual and investment in care personnel."

13 hours ago, TheFreqFlyer said:

Why? For a "virus" that is no worse than a normal flu. A virus that you need a test to know you even have, and a very faulty test at that. 

 

 

You just don't get it do you.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=is+covid+worse+than+the+flu

 

 

 

10 hours ago, ChakaKhan said:

I prefer to call it the Maga Cult and self serving GOP politicians....  I wear my mask as science suggests..

Which science would that be?

one day, some high end might or not ask:  why did you kill your economy over 59 death ?

 

and praying on a vaccine with unknown side effects, to be inject in 65 million people at a cost of 65 billion baht

 

over 59 death ?

20 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Evidence presented to a visiting government commission in Phuket showed that nearly 43,000 people had lost their jobs between March and July during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

The STV is not going to save 43,000 out of work.

Get your collective heads out of your back-sides and see the daylight.

Mass tourism is a thing of the past, a dead model.

Evolve or Phuket will become a ghost city forever.

You cannot sit around wishing for what was to come back when it plainly isn't going to happen.

Pipat can boast all the figures he wants of how many they will allow to come back.

How many is up to the tourists, and they at the moment have many other things on their priority lists than rush back here on holiday.

16 hours ago, TheFreqFlyer said:

The Thai economy is the WORST performer in ASEAN this year and all sheep like you want to do is keep it closed. Before you know it, locals out of work will start rioting, crime will go up and law and order will collapse.

 

Why? For a "virus" that is no worse than a normal flu. A virus that you need a test to know you even have, and a very faulty test at that. 

This is crazy.

 

Let's end this madness and open the floodgates. Be fair to the Thai people. They deserve better. They need jobs so they can put food on the table, pay their mortgages and loans and put their children through school. 

 

With fewer tourists, Thais normally reliant on tourism (more than 20% of GDP including indirect sources) will have less money to spend in the local economy. Less money to buy cars for example. This will have a knock on effect, which could lead to the closure of more Thai car factories (GM already left earlier this year) and in the worst case scenario, the complete collapse of the automotive industry in the country. 

 

Not to mention, investors will flee if they aren't allowed to easily enter the country to oversee their operations. New investors won't come at all. 

Without tourists and foreign investors, Thailand is doomed and the standard of living will drop. Poverty will go through the roof and the country will go back to 1980s standard of living. 

you write as if tourists have the whole world to go and choose from at this time.

most tourists have a limited time for vacation half the world is closed and even if country a) is deemed safe today a spike in cases and within 48 hours its classified as worthy of quarantine on you're return nice end to you're holiday.

I am not a scientist or a great one for conspiracies but i understand all governments are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

unfortunately for thai government as population hurts they become harder to control start thinking why we need spend so much on submarines ect ah never mind ive no money for bread i will eat cake as suggested

21 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Phuket: More than 40,000 out of work and it'll only get worse if foreign tourists don't come back

That makes it sound as though it the fault of foreign tourists.  "Foreign tourist no come back to Thailand.  Bad tourists!" 

Better headline:
Phuket: More than 40,000 out of work and it'll only get worse if the government keeps the Thai borders closed to foreign tourist.

Now, that's more accurate.

27 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Mass tourism is a thing of the past, a dead model.

Evolve or Phuket will become a ghost city forever.

That's probably very true and accurate respectively.

In the UK about say 30 are dying every day.

 

If that is 30 healthy people with no underlying conditions then that is very serious.

 

If that 30 people were not healthy, obese, heavy smokers, victims of self choice bad lifestyle, druggies, or people 95+ or people in last stage cancers - or even people run over by buses or stabbed, then people should be told this and allowed to make a reasonable decision of life and the economy choices.

 

Until governments start giving 'actual' death data on real deaths, then the whole thing is complete nonsense.

 

 

 

"Many felt they should have been encouraged to stay on and continue supporting the economy rather than chase well-heeled tourists who may not want to come anyway due to the hurdles presented by 14 day quarantine and large expense. "

 

This quote from the original report is spot-on !

That 40,000 is the ones they know about, what about the unregistered workers? I know a few

17 hours ago, TheFreqFlyer said:

The Thai economy is the WORST performer in ASEAN this year

As you explain, Thailand is also the ASEAN economy the most reliant on tourism.

No.

The answer is to set up a nationwide network of clinics, ready to inoculate 67 million residents in one month; overhaul Thailand as a tourist destination; totally overhaul the infrastructure and Education. 

And may Thailand take its place as leader of ASEAN.

20 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

That 40,000 is the ones they know about, what about the unregistered workers? I know a few

The other day on a  Thai news TV channel they said there where only 800,000 unemployed the highest figure for a decade ! I don't know where these "incredible" figures come from but

maybe they borrowed TAT's calculator ?