Here they come! 120+ Chinese from Guangzhou set to arrive at Bangkok airport on TUESDAY

[webfact]

Here they come! 120+ Chinese from Guangzhou set to arrive at Bangkok airport on TUESDAY

 

Picture: INN

 

The chief of Suvarnabhumi airport has revealed that more than 120 Chinese tourists on the special tourist visa (STV) will arrive at the airport on Tuesday, October 20th. 

 

They are the first batch on the STV scheme, reported INN.

 

Though Thaivisa notes that the on again, off again nature of the much ridiculed reopening of Thailand will only be believed if and when it actually happens. 

 

But Wing Commander Sutheerawat Suwannawat was adamant that the Chinese were on their way and that everything was ready at the airport after liaison between them and the health department, government, airlines and airport staff. 

 

In an attempt to allay fears he said "there was nothing to worry about" and "there are not many of them".

 

The airport could handle thousands more, he intimated 

 

Among the measures in place are special testing areas where PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests can be performed on the new arrivals. 

 

These have an accuracy of 95% and results are available in two hours, he said. 

 

Thaivisa notes that the first batch should have arrived on October 8th in Phuket but they were put off until after the Vegetarian Festival by the head of Thailand's security council. He didn't want to spook Thais going to the festival. 

 

Other dates have also been mooted leading to widespread confusion and criticism from those in the tourism industry that government departments are not talking to each other. 

 

Thaivisa further notes that the Vegetarian Festival runs until October 25th, after the scheduled arrival of the Chinese tourists at Suvarnabhumi next week. 

 

Source: INN

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-10-16

 

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[DaLa]

How will I spot them?

[RotBenz8888]

The shrimp buffet festival is on 20 October. 

[booji]

3 minutes ago, DaLa said:

How will I spot them?

There are no queues to cut, but you will hear them long before you can see them 

[Ventenio]

120 will test positive, 120,000 baht will be paid, and 120 TV viewers will believe the news that everyone is COVD FREE as India goes towards 8 million (probably closer to 50 million by now).  

[worgeordie]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

"there was nothing to worry about"

When you hear those words in Thailand...time to bloody worry.

regards Worgeordie

[Virt]

Are they divided into groups of 4?

[ThailandRyan]

Each will have his/her own Covid minder on a leash.  Each leash comes with a dog poop bag, so that when they need to take a dump on the sidewalk, it can be picked up.

[TSF]

Actually it's a positive step forward. Slowly opening up to selected countries and doing rapid covid tests upon arrival at the airport. My guess is in 2021 there will be lots more freeing up, allowing hassle-free entry to people from certain countries, who have been vaccinated and do a rapid covid test at the airport. It's the best we can hope for at the present time. 

[Kadilo]

“Thai-visa further notes that the Vegetarian Festival runs until October 25th, after the scheduled arrival of the Chinese tourists at Suvarnabhumi next week. “

 

.....confirming the excuse for first cancellation was bs. 

[UB40]

On 10/13/2020 at 6:18 AM, albertalaska said:

Foreign money gets spent in the country and the people who earn it directly spend it all over Thailand in all businesses.   I am a perfectly healthy person who goes to SE Asia for 5 months every winter.  I would not even mind two weeks quarantine if it meant I could travel as usual.   But the country , where over 22000 Thais die on the roads every year, is closed  because of 59 virus deaths. Go figure.  I know how much my yearly money has built in their country for the last 35 years of my visits. Collectively we tourists have built much in their country.   Let us come back to our second homes please.  We will not be infecting anyone after quarantine. 

Yesterday I read, that exactly "0" Chinese applied for the STV. And now they're coming? Seems as if all media have a serious truth-problem

[darksidedog]

No mention of the quarantine requirements for them I notice. It will be interesting to see how that turns out.

While there is genuine need to reopen tourism, I have little faith in the ability here to do so, and keep covid out.

[mehrdad]

The rest of the world ( all Europe and America and Middle East and many place in asia example ( india ... ) are fighting with second and third wave of this virus ????! 
but thailand ( covid free ???? ) worry only tourist and will do a big risk by opening border now 

Edited October 16, 2020 by mehrdad

[sammieuk1]

It wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't being paid for by someone who likes the Chinese and needs a face to save fast .but that's a guess ????

[connda]

Happy days are here again,

The skies above are clear again

Let us sing a song of cheer again

Happy days are here again,

Altogether shout it now

There's no one who can doubt it now

So let's tell the world about it now

Happy days are here again,

Your cares and troubles are gone

They're be no more from now on

 

Happy days are here again,

The skies above are clear again
Let us sing a song of cheer again

Happy days are here again!!!

[anchadian]

27 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

No mention of the quarantine requirements for them I notice. It will be interesting to see how that turns out.

While there is genuine need to reopen tourism, I have little faith in the ability here to do so, and keep covid out.

Yes, quarantine was mentioned previously but not in this report.

 

As you stated, 'It will be interesting to see how that turns out'.

 

I have my doubts.

 

This mornings BP said that these Chinese tourists will only be here for 30 days.

Edited October 16, 2020 by anchadian

[connda]

27 minutes ago, TSF said:

Actually it's a positive step forward. Slowly opening up to selected countries and doing rapid covid tests upon arrival at the airport. My guess is in 2021 there will be lots more freeing up, allowing hassle-free entry to people from certain countries, who have been vaccinated and do a rapid covid test at the airport. It's the best we can hope for at the present time. 

Thank God for optimists.  Without them we'd have to think up our own comedy material.  ????

[Katipo]

Hooray! The economy is saved!

[CockneyGit]

Curious as to how long they are staying here. Anyone know?

If it's just a 3-4 week beano, why the need for the STV which is for up to 9 months.

[2 is 1]

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

But Wing Commander Sutheerawat Suwannawat was adamant that the Chinese were on their way

Darn long flight! Maybe they have aerial refueling. 

[PFMills]

Test is 95% accurate, 120 people, means 6 people could get the wrong result ... <deleted>

[spidermike007]

Rapid testing on arrival is the only way Thailand is going to be able to attract tourists. Any kind of quarantine program, is destined for failure. It will only work for the thousands of expats who want to return. 

 

I wonder if these Chinese tourists were offered free trips, as a PR gambit?

[86Tiger]

46 minutes ago, UB40 said:

Yesterday I read, that exactly "0" Chinese applied for the STV. And now they're coming? Seems as if all media have a serious truth-problem

It gets crazier every day.

 

From no one applied to 120+ imminent arrival over night.  They sure did get all that paper work in order qwikly.

[Traubert]

26 minutes ago, connda said:

Thank God for optimists.  Without them we'd have to think up our own comedy material.  ????

Don't give up your day job.......

[anchadian]

And again according to the BP, both groups (another group will be arriving on the 26 of this month) will be here for 30 days of which they will be required to do 14 days in alternative state quarantine or alternative state local quarantine.

[Justgrazing]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Here they come!

walking down the street

We get the funniest looks 

from everyone we meet 

 

Hey Hey we're the Chinese .. 

 

( I'll get punished if I tweak the lyrics anymore but you get the idea ) 

[ezzra]

All the good joke been taken already.. I've got nothing....

[LennyW]

6 minutes ago, ezzra said:

All the good joke been taken already.. I've got nothing....

Just like the shrimp at the buffet then ????

[Virt]

42 minutes ago, PFMills said:

Test is 95% accurate, 120 people, means 6 people could get the wrong result ... <deleted>

If a test is 95 % accurate, how many tests would you statistically need to go through, to make sure your 100% negative. 

 

Could be a new money machine ????

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, anchadian said:

Yes, quarantine was mentioned previously but not in this report.

 

As you stated, 'It will be interesting to see how that turns out'.

 

I have my doubts.

 

This mornings BP said that these Chinese tourists will only be here for 30 days.

Wow, when I took my Morning BP it said 117/68, so your machine gives you news instead of readings.  Tell me more.