Foreign tourism reopening: Key operator slams government for inconsistency, lack of communication even damaging tourism

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

A leading figure in the tourism industry in Phuket has pulled no punches in slamming the Thai government for its inconsistent approach to the reintroduction of foreign tourists. 

 

He has even claimed that they are doing more harm than good at the moment. 

 

The hard hitting comments to Manager from Torphong Wongsathienchai of the "Love Andaman" company came after the first Chinese tourists were meant to arrive last Thursday but were put off by a security chief citing the Vegetarian Festival.

 

The comments also come amid conflicting statements from the TAT and the tourism and sports ministry. 

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

Torphong said that the 8th October non-arrival debacle showed the hopelessness in the lack of coordination between the tourism ministry, health ministry, TAT and Phuket authorities. 

 

He suggested that they were not singing by the same hymn sheet.

 

Miscommunication was rife. 

 

This had resulted in confusing Thai people and actually damaging the industry that they were trying to repair. 

 

He said that people cancelled their booking because of it. 

 

"What is so hard about actually talking to each other?" he demanded. "We need help, not more damage".

 

He came up with a four point plan to stimulate and expand tourism, particularly domestic visitors. 

 

One of his key points was this plea to the government and its ministries: Actually come to Phuket and listen to us. 

 

Source: Manager Online

 

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If we, possible tourists find that government idiotism frustrating, imagine what the local, tourism dependant citizens feel

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He has even claimed that they are doing more harm than good at the moment. 

 

Isn't that what they're always doing? 

I find that excuse a bit lame because of the Vegetarian Festival. they would have been in quarantine would they not?

this guy needs to go out and find real work, the days of skimming from the lives of others is over..

"slams the govt" he would be locked if his opinion mattered, be patient we are targeting the wealthy quality over the <deleted> we brought in before and gradually removing

Read 2 days ago that NO  Chinese even applied for an STV.  Most farangs doubted they would with all the red tape, restrictions and cost.

Nothing to do with the veggy brigade!

16 hours ago, webfact said:

One of his key points was this plea to the government and its ministries: Actually come to Phuket and listen to us. 

Dream on pal, that will never happen, since when did Prayut or any of his cronies ever listen to anyone.

They know best, well silly sods think they do, fact is they dont care about anybody, anything, except their own bloated bank accounts.

16 hours ago, webfact said:

Torphong said that the 8th October non-arrival debacle showed the hopelessness in the lack of coordination between the tourism ministry, health ministry, TAT and Phuket authorities. 

And in another news item no Chinese tourists had ever bought VISAs to come.

Essentially the Thai government is trying to sell a product nobody wants to buy, then lying about it.

 

There's no miscommunications .......... just lies to try and cover their incompetence.

while this guy does make a couple of interesting points,  he has to understand that Thai tourism is gone and it won't recover anytime soon.  He has to think of other ways to make a buck as the days of ripping of the tourists have vanished.  So saying ' actually come to Phuket '  is useless .......  what are they going to do in Phuket ....  buy an ice cream.

 

Every department coming up with their own senseless unworkable plan just to show that they are worth their monthly salary and how productive they are.???????? Everyday another plan however none of them works..

Enjoying the Quietness this virus has created. Nice , slow, easy life without the loud ,trampling ,damaging tourists. 

Well I have to give the guy some credit for speaking out about the craziness of the announcements and (in)action of the government on tourism thus far. What's really needed are more voices from sensible heads on (younger?) shoulders, then perhaps something meaningful can come.

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Key operator slams government for inconsistency, lack of communication even damaging tourism

It's a military government. The military damages stuff. It's what they are trained to do.

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Miscommunication was rife. 

Very delicately put.

1 hour ago, mrfill said:

I believe vegetables are exempt from quarantine

But not from government.

The government has been screwing around with tourism and foreign business since it usurped power in 2014.  Watching TAT updates are comical for those of us on this forum.  If you are Thai in the tourism industry, they test your patience. 

 

For me, watching young back packers buy motorcycles and explore southeast Asia is far more interesting then trying to lure first timers to a 4 star hotel. 

 

Most other countries in the region are not in any hurry to open up.   That should be communicated as well by the usurpers in government, but as usual, Thailand always looks inward.        

17 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I find that excuse a bit lame because of the Vegetarian Festival. they would have been in quarantine would they not?

From my understanding, these 120 Chinese tourists simply signed up to come to Thailand. That list was given to the TAT which in turn gave it to immigration to allow entry. They had not obtained visas (Thai embassies confirmed), they had not done COVID tests as they were to arrive on private aircraft and meet with busses to tour Thailand... no quarantine.

Yes Thailand needs foreign tourists however this is really impossible at this time and we all have to accept this. The priority should be financial help to the unregistered poor who have relied on foreign tourism but are now being ignored and need financial assistance to live and care for this families especially Children who really do not understand why there is no food or other necessities transport to school school uniforms ete etc. Food handouts are essential but would be far better to give them financial assistance for their well being and dignity which they deserve.

The Thai Gov't is ALWAYS screwed up. The 90 day reporting system is from the age of dinosaurs. First it was going to be easy online and then when you actually try to use it, it won't accept the information you type in.Opening up to foreigners is a joke. What they really mean is opening up to Chinese. The rest of the countries in the world can go stuff themselves. Expecting anything resembling logic when it comes to the Thai Gov't is a fools errand. 

They had 10s of thousands of people waiting to get back and basically did sweet FA to allow them in. 

Just dreamed up gouging processes to get money from them. 

Fair enough, exercise caution. 

Put in isolation hotels for 15 days.

But using the non IMM O visas they have/had.

Not scheming up new types. 

The problem now is that most people are still in countries where they cannot leave. 

Putting it bluntly. 

Thailand has missed the boat. Stuffed up again. All for the sake of extra dollars again. 

 

How is it possible that other countries simply reopened for tourists without "special visas", "special plans" or "special bubbles" ?
And they even get bookings and visitors !
 

The W.H.O. finally admitted that lockdowns cause more harm and death than the virus. Time to open everything.

Sorry  never  been to Phuket

If that  pic  of a street   and the  Kebab  sign is a  main street  in Phuket

I  am amazed  why  they have tourists  anyway

Looks like a  third  world  slum ...sorry  yuk    in  any  large city  there are  slums  sadly  true  ....   but a tourist  place to look like  a slum area  ?......Really  

One place I would  not want to visit if  in Thailand 

Good  Luck  Phuket

The Thai public have now woken up and realised that all this talk on rejuvenating tourism is total BS 

Wow! A least someone figured it out. Any policy that the government made only benefits them — nothing for down line people. The more insane policies they come up with, the more people there are that don’t want to come here; not only during this pandemic but in the future as well. I guess soon the tourism industry will be RIP here.

33 minutes ago, TERMINATOR3AB said:

Looks like a  third  world  slum ...sorry  yuk    in  any  large city  there are  slums  sadly  true  ....   but a tourist  place to look like  a slum area  ?......Really  

 

Pretty normal stuff. Snarled wires and little shops built right up to the side of the street. Welcome to Thailand.

18 hours ago, teacherclaire said:

He has even claimed that they are doing more harm than good at the moment. 

 

Isn't that what they're always doing? 

The Thai pensioners don't like western tourists. They think they own Thailand but they are just crooks. Hence the protesters and they have damaged Thailand and should be held accountable like Yingluck was.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

There's no miscommunications .......... just lies to try and cover their incompetence.

But which incompetence is the more significant, I am more than happy for the incompetent to keep me safe, unlike other incompetents.

 

It would then transpire that the new measures had actually been disowned far in advance of their announcement, and to make it clear, the prime minister’s group of scientific advisors published all the guidance they gave to the prime minister three weeks ago, about the urgent need for an immediate temporary lockdown, which he had declined to do.

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/the-virus-is-out-of-control-and-only-a-pasty-with-chips-and-or-side-salad-can-save-us-now-b1016872.html