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

[joecoolfrog]

3 hours ago, alyx said:

Although I disagree with the post you are reacting too, I guess that one would considered having problems because of the tourism industry if one gets contaminated by an imported virus, e.g a tourist

If there is fear from ' foreign' infection , it is because it has been ramped up by the Thai government.

In reality all covid infections have been initially imported from China.

Have the Thai authorities driven home that point or have Farangs been painted as the bogey men ?

[vermin on arrival]

13 hours ago, Oldie said:

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

But not deaths and hospitalizations. It's not a hoax, but it's not what we were led to believe. It's currently a casedemic driven by a faulty PCR test with many false positives that has an inability to distinguish between fragments of virus and a full one, and live from dead non-infectious virus. It's a media/public health hysteria, which has the much of the global population cowering in fear.

[alyx]

3 minutes ago, joecoolfrog said:

If there is fear from ' foreign' infection , it is because it has been ramped up by the Thai government.

In reality all covid infections have been initially imported from China.

Have the Thai authorities driven home that point or have Farangs been painted as the bogey men ?

Sorry, I was just explaining the content of a post,  not suggesting that Thai people were scared of the "foreigner" (whether this is true or not). This being said, from all the posts I have read, I am sure that more than one would reply "isn't it what every government has been doing...instilling unfounded fear" (again not stating)

[TheFreqFlyer]

1 hour ago, charmonman said:

Will they get a refund for the 10000 baht paid to the Thai Long Stay company for their “services “? For the $100000 health insurance they had to buy? For the ASQ hotel  and the at least 75 days hotel/condo they’ve had to pay for in advance? For the Covid-19 test they had to take? For the 2000 baht visa fee?

I can’t even get this Thai Long Stay company to respond to me in the first place. Maybe I am lucky. 

I have Thai friends telling me things are starting to get dire on the jobs/economic front.

Maybe I should be happy I’m not in Thailand. If it wasn’t for the 33 years I have spent in and out of Thailand and all the friends I have there I’d say to hell with the place.

The whole world is in dire straits. I'd think very carefully about where you want to hunker down for the next few years as travel as we knew it, may not be easy for a while to come...in the worst case scenario this is the future...no more easy border crossings.

[TheFreqFlyer]

13 minutes ago, vermin on arrival said:

But not deaths and hospitalizations. It's not a hoax, but it's not what we were led to believe. It's currently a casedemic driven by a faulty PCR test with many false positives that has an inability to distinguish between fragments of virus and a full one, and live from dead non-infectious virus. It's a media/public health hysteria, which has the much of the global population cowering in fear.

Mostly true. The "hoax" aspect is that the virus itself hasn't been proven to exist. So using the PCR test they're creating fear out of the seasonal flu, the common cold, pneumonia (due to various causes) and other illnesses that present in similar ways. You're correct that much of the global population is cowering in fear right now. 

[kingofthemountain]

3 hours ago, Hoppyone said:

Maybe there’s no one on the plane 

Maybe there is no plane

[Oldie]

44 minutes ago, joecoolfrog said:

When the GDP of a country falls dramatically it affects all sectors of the population !

To be frank I doubt very much that the welfare of the Thai people is uttermost in your thoughts in any case.

I would guess you are elderly , in the at risk group and financially secure.

Consequently it suits you personally very nicely to be cocooned in a bubble, even if that means others struggle badly.

It's an understandable reaction , but very selfish and in the long run 

Thailand has to open up anyway , virus eliminated or not.

I have nothing to do with this. I am not a Thai. At the moment there should be the October Fest in Munich. It will not happen. It costs Bavaria a lot of money and also very many other people. But apart from them nobody else in Germany cares about this.

 

I think we also have to see that Thailand is very big and not only some tourist areas. But again - it is their country. Everything is up to them. I just try to understand. I myself have been supporting my ex girlfriend for some months now. She really works very hard. But without tourists there is not much to earn. She has a small hotel, sells things on the market and drives for Grab. She doesn't want to take my money but with credits at the bank there is no other option. She wants to pay it back one day. I will never allow this. I see it as a gift. I just write this to tell you that I see how people struggle here. ???? 

[oldhippy]

59 minutes ago, vermin on arrival said:

But not deaths and hospitalizations. It's not a hoax, but it's not what we were led to believe. It's currently a casedemic driven by a faulty PCR test with many false positives that has an inability to distinguish between fragments of virus and a full one, and live from dead non-infectious virus. It's a media/public health hysteria, which has the much of the global population cowering in fear.

Deaths and hospitalizations in Europe ARE rising.

Do you want to sit back an watch the drama unfold again?

 

[simtemple]

Meanwhile Thailand's VIP tourists watch and wait: 

 

https://amp.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3104289/golden-week-ghost-town-thailands-pattaya-party-zone-struggles

[SunsetT]

14 hours ago, Don Mega said:

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

Simple.....No return charter flights for 90 days.

[SunsetT]

14 hours ago, Oldie said:

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

So 3 tests and 2 weeks quarantine is not being careful?  It is sad because Thailand has now missed the boat. It could have been so different if they had marketed it differently: " Quick! Come now! Escape to Thailand for the winter to avoid the second wave". If promoted differently and without the greedy cartel rip-off, the hotel quarantine would have been welcomed with open arms, and the snowbirds and tourists allowed to find sanctuary would have been grateful and loyal to Thailand for life. Now those that survive will be put off Thailand for life!

[SunsetT]

13 hours ago, ezzra said:

The whole fiasco of " forced tourism" was ill conceived and born of haste and "will work out the kinks when we get to it" typical Thailand...

No one is taught to think in the Thai education system therefore everything in Thailand is trial and error.

Edited October 6, 2020 by SunsetT

[Albert Zweistein]

S u r p r i s e !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SunsetT]

11 hours ago, Oldie said:

Tourists pose a much higher risk than residents. They visit many places and often enjoy the nightlife every day. On top of it the tourists are here a short time and are replaced by new tourists. You can't compare them with people living all the time at the same location.

.....Not after 3 tests and 2 weeks quarantine! And none of your description applies to Snowbirds.

[whaleboneman]

8 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

imo anyone looking to be a tourist in a worldwide health crisis has a few screws loose to begin with..

Can I borrow your screwdriver?

[SmartyMarty]

Muppets.

[Miami007]

16 hours ago, Oldie said:

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

Cases do not equal hospitalization or death... If 10% of the world's population had the virus (per WHO) we had more than 700 million infections - but only 35 million were tested for some reason.

the other 665 million recovered from Covid without feeling sick or needing a hospital.  

this also means that the mortality rate of 1 million out of 700 million cases is fairly low (in the USA, 7 deaths out of 2,000 cases among TSA = airport screeners.  1800 recovered per CNN.  that equates to a mortality of 0.39% based on resolved cases).  Zero - point- three- nine percent.  Less than half of one percent die

In several European countries the number of deaths from all reasons is below the historic average in the last months (this means that even with Covid, fewer people die than usual).

Time to wake up and get out from under the bed

 

 

 

[Miami007]

1 hour ago, oldhippy said:

Deaths and hospitalizations in Europe ARE rising.

Do you want to sit back an watch the drama unfold again?

 

They are not rising anywhere to what happened in the spring.  And during this time of the year, deaths do rise in general (just look at past statistics)

These statistics also show that older people (over 75) have a larger death rate as young ones (in 2020 with Covid and before without Covid).  Mortality for young people under 40 is not impacted much by Covid

Cases are not hospitalizations... most people recover

How long are you able to stay home without income?  Or are you one of the lucky ones who is wealthy or receives a guaranteed pension.  

[oldhippy]

5 minutes ago, Miami007 said:

Cases do not equal hospitalization or death... If 10% of the world's population had the virus (per WHO) we had more than 700 million infections - but only 35 million were tested for some reason.

the other 665 million recovered from Covid without feeling sick or needing a hospital.  

this also means that the mortality rate of 1 million out of 700 million cases is fairly low (in the USA, 7 deaths out of 2,000 cases among TSA = airport screeners.  1800 recovered per CNN.  that equates to a mortality of 0.39% based on resolved cases).  Zero - point- three- nine percent.  Less than half of one percent die

In several European countries the number of deaths from all reasons is below the historic average in the last months (this means that even with Covid, fewer people die than usual).

Time to wake up and get out from under the bed

 

 

 

Yes and all those virologists work together with politicians in a worldwide power grab - Reptilians they are, the lot of them.

Good that all this is exposed by freedom fighters like Trump, Bolsanaro, Loekasjenko and you.

[Miami007]

3 hours ago, joecoolfrog said:

If there is fear from ' foreign' infection , it is because it has been ramped up by the Thai government.

In reality all covid infections have been initially imported from China.

Have the Thai authorities driven home that point or have Farangs been painted as the bogey men ?

I had asked the question many times - how was it possible that Thailand did not import infections from China when the country was open to Chinese visitors in December, January and February?  The first case outside China was found in Thailand.

But CV only became an issue when it was brought in by Europeans/ Australians/ Americans?  

Thailand does not test internally - and definitely not anyone who is asymptomatic (unless they arrive from abroad).  In Miami, test positivity is 4%, which means that we are testing many people for some reason and they do not have the infection (wish I was in the business of developing and selling test kits - would make a fortune)

[roxnadz]

38 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

Yes and all those virologists work together with politicians in a worldwide power grab - Reptilians they are, the lot of them.

Good that all this is exposed by freedom fighters like Trump, Bolsanaro, Loekasjenko and you.

Nothing like ad-hominem attacks to prove your point.

[oldhippy]

6 minutes ago, roxnadz said:

Nothing like ad-hominem attacks to prove your point.

My point has been proven over and over and over again.

I only attack the covid deniers.

 

[Bohemianfish]

18 hours ago, whiteman said:

Amazing Thailand why am I not surprised 

Oh my. The daily Thai tourist government news. I thought the American White House was dysfunctional, but this really takes the cake. I don't even mention this kind of news to my Thai wife. She recently said, "you will only go crazy" in regard to government decision making.

[Don Mega]

3 hours ago, SunsetT said:

Simple.....No return charter flights for 90 days.

Thats not a penalty though and such a clause would be known upfront.

[alianware]

19 hours ago, Oldie said:

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

Yea, careful that their economy will collapse.

[Mickeem]

8 hours ago, charmonman said:

Will they get a refund for the 10000 baht paid to the Thai Long Stay company for their “services “? For the $100000 health insurance they had to buy? For the ASQ hotel  and the at least 75 days hotel/condo they’ve had to pay for in advance? For the Covid-19 test they had to take? For the 2000 baht visa fee?

I can’t even get this Thai Long Stay company to respond to me in the first place. Maybe I am lucky. 

I have Thai friends telling me things are starting to get dire on the jobs/economic front.

Maybe I should be happy I’m not in Thailand. If it wasn’t for the 33 years I have spent in and out of Thailand and all the friends I have there I’d say to hell with the place.

 

Don't forget the refund for the ..

 

medical certificate from licenced doctor; Applicants must have no forbidden diseases according to the Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (B.E. 2535) which include Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Elephantiasis, drug addiction and third stage of Syphilis. The certificate must not be valid more than 3 months.

 

copies of certificate of criminal record clearance from country of permanent residence. The certificate must be valid not less than 3 months.

 

Cost of copies of complete bank statement of the applicant’s account(s) showing transaction for the past 6 months, with minimum balance of THB 500,000. Bank contact details must be included.

 

blah blah blah

 

 

 

 

[Jimbo53]

13 hours ago, kevc said:

where are all these tourists going to come from. If your staying on a 90 day holiday its not something you do at the drop of a hat you have to plan ahead and these people at the moment don't even know how to get a visa in fact nobody does not even the government. Just can't see it happening, you plan everything them someone decides to change the goalposts so all your plans have just sailed away and not to Thailand.

Another figment of the Bangkok Brains Trusts imagination,150 imaginary tourists that suddenly never existed,it was never getting off the ground.  TIT.????????

[hotchilli]

22 hours ago, Don Mega said:

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

Fined for under-staying !

[spidermike007]

7 hours ago, woogoo said:

It won't be too hard for them to get people back. Work with Hollywood for a remake of The Beach or hire a reputable and quality foreign marketing company. 

 

The problem here is that they want their cake and then they want to eat it too. Then they want your cake to eat that as well. After that they want the Chinese to make them a new cake, the Japanese to supply the ingrediants for that cake, the Americans and Brits to pay for it, then the Italians to package and deliver it.

 

They could have the backpackers and everyone else back in a few months but someone put a stupid idea in their head that they should target only wealthy people. The problem is that wealthy people don't go to third world banana republics. Wealthy people go to the Caymans or Majorca or even the Greek islands. All placed designed exclusevely for wealthy tourists. 

 

They could get the wealthy people, but that would require a complete revamp of their entire culture. And there is where the problem happens. They want the wealthy people and the qualtiy tourists, but they want to keep the corruption and feudal system that is in place. Thus, they want the cake and they want to eat it, but they don't want to buy the cake and they don't want to make themselves.

 

I'm moving back to America next month and honestly it feels like a giant weight has been removed. After six months of not having to deal with immigration, going to Changwattena last week cemented my decision. This place is going to get worse before it ever gets better. If it ever does get better.

Some good points. Totally agree the nation is moving backwards, under the fuedal army system.

 

And totally agree if they want rich tourists, the administration needs to make major sacrifices. Lowering VAT on luxury items to 22%, from 100% or more would be a good place to start. Rich people like to shop for luxury items. Then you lower the duty on wine from 365% to 90%. Rich people like to consume fine wine while on vacation. And they are not dumb, like the army men. So, they will NOT spend 18,000 baht on a bottle they can get at home for $125.

 

Note to Prayuth and Pipat. You keep droning on and on about wealthy tourists. What are you willing to do, to demonstrate your sincerity? What will you sacrifice? Nothing? We thought as much. 

[spidermike007]

13 hours ago, Huckenfell said:

I dont know which "year" that you returned from Samui, but i was just chatting with my mate who is looking after my car in MAENAM. He tells me that except for Chaweng, things are normal, bars restaurants open and the local Pub Pool league is full on. Are you sure that you went to Samui.

Yes. It was a ghost town. And all of my friends there say it is utterly devastated. Everyone I talked to in the industry says the same. 

 

Your friend is living on another planet, and detached from reality. Many expats are still there. Hence, his local pub pool league is busy. Empirical proof?