Pattaya: Conflicting policies adding to obstacles for arrival of Russian/European long stay tourists

 

Picture: Sophon TV

 

Sophon TV reported on facebook that there were plenty of Russian and European tourists who were prepared to visit Pattaya on the Special Tourist Visa or STV and go through the 14 day Alternative Local State Quarantine at the resort.

 

This is due to the fact that they are going to stay in Thailand for the northern hemisphere winter and will be in the kingdom long term.

 

The length of time these visitors will be staying in Thailand is in stark contrast to most Chinese tourists.

 

But obstacles still stand in the way of Pattaya hotels offering them quarantine. Most caused by conflicting statements coming from the Thai authorities.

 

According to Thanet Suphrothatsarangsee of the Chonburi tourist business council it was understood that ALSQ could be used for the visitors in Pattaya.

 

So far 13 hotels have applied though only three have actually been approved. 

 

However, Thanet suggested that foreign consulates were saying to prospective visitors that ASQL would not be available to them and they would have to quarantine in ASQ (alternative state quarantine) in Bangkok and its surrounding areas.

 

Picture: Sophon TV

 

This despite the fact that the tourists had already made bookings for ASLQ in Pattaya.

 

There are suggestions that they are being made to quarantine in Bangkok because they represent high risk nations for the virus.

 

Business groups are thus calling on the Pattaya mayor to make representations to sort out the mess and allow the long stay tourists to begin and continue their stays in Pattaya itself.

 

Source: Sophon TV

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-10-22

 

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What a freaking mess! That's what you get when people without experience buy high profile positions 

If they are going to be kept in Quarantine, what does it matter that it will be in Bangkok rather than Pattaya.... closer to the main airport?

The plenty will turn out to be none in the fullness of time ????

24 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

If they are going to be kept in Quarantine, what does it matter that it will be in Bangkok rather than Pattaya.... closer to the main airport?

They can hear the noise of the bars instead of the noise of airplanes. Not sure what will make them suffer more...

28 minutes ago, Oldie said:

They can hear the noise of the bars instead of the noise of airplanes. Not sure what will make them suffer more...

I was listening to the racket from a next door bar while having a massage last night.... not long after I was in the GoGo itself. The temptation to sneak out if in a Buakhao area quarantine hotel  would be strong... knotted sheets from the balcony.

Lets not forget something they deemed very important last year, sometimes foreigners 'stay too long' in Thailand or 'come too many times' and need to be denied entry.

 

The Chinese will remain in China until next Spring and Europe / US is just getting started with the 2020 winter virus season.

A report this morning says that visitors can come if their home cities have no reported covid infections for 30 or more consecutive days. That seems reasonable to me but rules out huge swathes of India, Europe and the US.

OK for parts of China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Oz and NZ.

2 minutes ago, champers said:

A report this morning says that visitors can come if their home cities have no reported covid infections for 30 or more consecutive days. That seems reasonable to me but rules out huge swathes of India, Europe and the US.

OK for parts of China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Oz and NZ.

And are they permitted to  travel through cities that have had Covid infections,  like the one where the airport is?

The Russians actually spend money in local shops and restaurants. The Government has already approved 3 hotels in Pattaya as quarantine hotels and these hotels had to pay a lot of money to get approved by making changes within their hotels to get approval. The Minister of Tourism and Sports in any other country would be asked to resign. 

surely russia is still considered a high risk country???

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

If they are going to be kept in Quarantine, what does it matter that it will be in Bangkok rather than Pattaya.... closer to the main airport?

Good point, maybe the airport transfer to Pattaya is not up to scratch yet

4 hours ago, paulikens said:

surely russia is still considered a high risk country???

I would hope so...they're setting daily records for infections aren't they? 

The brownies and the TAT have no clou whatsoever on how to resolve/manage future incoming tourism business. Besides that its time for a new democratic government to run the country properly.

7 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I would hope so...they're setting daily records for infections aren't they? 

Not even close... the USA has been taking that recently having kicked up and gone higher than India.

Right hand v Left hand.  Rules are made up on the spot; then ignored; then not enforced; it's Thainess.

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Not even close... the USA has been taking that recently having kicked up and gone higher than India.

I was unclear...I meant cases in Russia are higher than ever.