Confusion reigns as STV arrivals now may not land in Thailand this week

 

File photo: Reuters
 

Plans for the return of tourists to Thailand were once again thrown into utter confusion. 

 

The first batch of tourists were set to arrive on Thursday but now the secretary of Thailand's National Security Council  and chief of CCSA or Covid-19 response committee has put the plans on hold. 

 

Yet another committee meeting will now be held on Friday. 

 

Chinese tourists were due to land in Phuket on Thursday.

 

Gen Natthaphon Nakphanich indicated that he wanted everything "airtight" including in-country testing, places of quarantine and track and tracing measures. 

 

How locals are informed about the arrival of tourists will also be discussed.

 

Thus ministers and concerned authorities will be meeting on October 9th at a "special committee". 

 

The casual observer could have been forgiven for thinking all this had already been thrashed out, but now that looks to be far from the case.

 

The STV - that includes a huge amount of hoops and which has been universally criticized as both unworkable and a drop in the ocean - is the 'baby' of tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn and TAT chief Yutthasak Suphasorn. 

 

It appeared to be all systems go for the arrival of the first 150 tourists from Guangzhou China but they will now have to wait despite it being announced that a charter plane was virtually on the tarmac in China. 

 

The announcement of the meeting on Friday brings into question the whole question as to whether Thailand has the appetite to open to tourism post-pandemic.

 

And if it does WHAT that form of engagement will take and WHEN it might actually happen. 

 

From the Thai government perspective the STV was only ever a test for the readiness to open up - but even that test is proving to be a situation of much hand-wringing and uncertainty. 

 

Source: Manager Online

 

 

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Amazing Thailand why am I not surprised 

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

but even that test is proving to be a situation of much hand-wringing and uncertainty. 

thai competence at it's best

a picture says a thousand words.

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

Gen Natthaphon Nakphanich indicated that he wanted everything "airtight" including in-country testing, places of quarantine and track and tracing measures. 

Does this sound like a place one would want to go as a tourist? 

I forgot to look surprised when I read the headline.. ????

They're not tourists if they have to stay for minimum 90 days, but has anyone confirmed that they will? I would be very surprised.

 

Oh, maybe just maybe they're rich Chinese who will come to buy up the failing businesses in Phuket at rock-bottom prices. I wouldn't put that past the Muppets in charge.

Just now, 2long said:

They're not tourists if they have to stay for minimum 90 days, but has anyone confirmed that they will? I would be very surprised.

 

 

What penalties do they suffer if they don't stay the whole 90 days ?

13 minutes ago, whiteman said:

Amazing Thailand why am I not surprised 

I guess a long life with a massive amount of experiences might be hardening. 

Covid cases are surging at the moment worldwide. The government has to be careful. Nothing wrong with this. 

On seeing the above OP, a brewery picture came into my mind.

Was the flight empty?????

How do airlines plan their schedules? 

They can't sell any tickets if they are not sure if they will be allowed to fly and even if they get green light, who is ready to sit on an airplane the following day. First you need all paperwork re Covid test etc.

So now, on top of all the hoops you have to jump through you have the chance of your entire holiday being cancelled because some official changes their mind about letting you come at the last minute.

 

Where do I sign up?

'How locals are informed about the arrival of tourists will also be discussed.'

 

Why?

 

 

Let's not forget that by TAT's own admission these are not 'tourists' but 'business travelers invited by Thailand’s Board of Investment'.

Maybe there was not any bookings to this fantastic offer ?

36 minutes ago, 2long said:

They're not tourists if they have to stay for minimum 90 days, but has anyone confirmed that they will? I would be very surprised.

 

Oh, maybe just maybe they're rich Chinese who will come to buy up the failing businesses in Phuket at rock-bottom prices. I wouldn't put that past the Muppets in charge.

And they're certainly not tourists, if they can just change flight dates at the drop of a hat. Anyhow I don't think they'll come next week either, nor the week after ... 

 

Yet many Thais that I speak to really think the country is opening up now and everything will be hunky-dory. They just believe the headlines.

This all is messed up

First of all Thailand should have allowed all valid visa holders to come in without putting so many restrictions and let flights operate smoothly . when that would have been achieved then they could have thought of a meaningful plan to let tourist come in from few countries .

But rather they let people with valid visas suffer and jump directly to illogical special tourist visa which is bound to fail

Maybe they think many other people now want try this great idea! And those who denied want really do it again! All 3!

41 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Does this sound like a place one would want to go as a tourist? 

no much better to go to outer mongolia.....see the lovely people there and YAKS !!

46 minutes ago, mr mr said:

a picture says a thousand words.

Not really. Pic is from Swampy, these tourists were to fly to Phuket. Swampy will be deserted on international side for many more months to come. Quite busy on domestic side, though.

44 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

What penalties do they suffer if they don't stay the whole 90 days ?

financial its as simple as that.....

Considering it was never about tourists anyway, I dont see why the whole opening up is "on the table". It is not on the table that is the point. Very hard for Thai tourism to recover from here, tourists plan ahead, any announcement Thailand makes about the future can't be taken seriously so people like airlines and travel agents, won't. Even tiny steps seem to be impossible, the complete lack of gumption on part of the ex Army chiefs is amazing Thailand. The pace of people returning is just so slowly picking up, be happy as you can with that, tourists are miles down the list. Singapore, even nanny state Australia are at least being decisive and you can believe their announcements. One can only assume this latest caution is as a result of the most recent WHO fear fest.

48 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

My prediction, is that when Covid is dead and gone, it will be a very slow recovery. It will take many years. And even ten years from now, I doubt if Thailand will see 20 million tourists a year. The longer they wait, the harder they fall. 

I surely hope so. Mass tourism has destroyed much of Thailand. And many other places around the globe.

25 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

So now, on top of all the hoops you have to jump through you have the chance of your entire holiday being cancelled because some official changes their mind about letting you come at the last minute.

 

Where do I sign up?

find the government office on google.....ask if any vacancies for a tourist administrator !!! and visa advisor

27 minutes ago, Saltire said:

'How locals are informed about the arrival of tourists will also be discussed.'

 

Why?

 

 

good question.....

59 minutes ago, webfact said:

Chinese tourists were due to land in Phuket on Thursday.

so does this mean that the bookings tests and preparations these so called tourists have completed are now binned and they will have to start over, I seem to recall one of the strict rules before boarding a plane is having a negative CV19 test 3 days before

 

Maybe they have read the small print and now realised what a fun time in quarantine actually means, "no fun at all"

But, But, But we were told the two flights from China were already confirmed and full up with Chinese, just itching to return to Thailand.  More Porkies we are being fed.  They just need to stop with all of the news regarding tourism until it is done deal and the flights are in the air.  What a bunch of minions and buffoons these folks are.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Gen Natthaphon Nakphanich indicated that he wanted everything "airtight" including in-country testing, places of quarantine and track and tracing measures. 

sounds like tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn and TAT chief Yutthasak Suphasorn didn't get the memo