High season? What high season? Thai tourism has a gap year.

[Harry Fingerling]

High season cancelled, 94 active cases but apparently only 1 new case??? Damn quick in stopping the spread these Thais. ????

[newnative]

     My partner and I are on a 15 day leisurely drive through southern Thailand.  Had a wonderful time in Krabi--spectacular scenery and fun snorkeling around the islands--and we are now enjoying Phuket with several more stops planned. 

     We are staying at a lovely resort just two years old. 140 rooms and less than a dozen booked.  With few guests, they gave us a free upgrade to a room with direct pool access.  We have the beautiful, large pool practically to ourselves whenever we roll out of bed into the pool.  While it's nice for us, the hotel has to be losing money with so few rooms booked.

      Krabi and Phuket are both hurting badly.  Our Krabi resort was also lightly booked.   It has been sad driving around both places and seeing nice restaurants open and with few customers.  And, so many closed businesses, like Pattaya. 

     We ate at a local restaurant last night (just 2 tables had customers) and talked to the owner.  She had 3 businesses and now she is down to just the one restaurant left.  Each month is a struggle to make the payroll and she doesn't know how much longer she can stay open.  She says she has not been sleeping with the constant worry.  I'm sure her story mirrors many others.  

      Quick plug.  If anyone's thinking of doing some domestic travel, I can highly recommend checking out this area--which we had never been to since we arrived in Thailand 10 years ago.  The people have been wonderful--so friendly and welcoming--and we have immensely enjoyed seeing this part of Thailand, with scenery quite different from other areas.   The roads have been good and we are glad we decided to take our time and drive rather than fly--we are enjoying seeing so much more and we love a road trip.  Now is a good time to explore and enjoy Thailand while helping the local economies. 

[BangkokReady]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

The uptake of the much-hyped Special Tourist Visa has been dismal

It's quite interesting when you consider how popular the single entry tourist visa and 30 day extension to it was.  So many people staying in Thailand for 90 days. 

 

Where have they all gone?

 

Is it just that they don't meet the new requirements?  Or have they arranged something else?

[BangkokReady]

20 minutes ago, newnative said:

Quick plug.  If anyone's thinking of doing some domestic travel, I can highly recommend checking out this area--which we had never been to since we arrived in Thailand 10 years ago.

Where are you plugging?  Just Krabi generally?

[adammike]

1 hour ago, vinny41 said:

This article talks about European  Holidaymakers to blame for Covid 2nd wave and subsequent lockdowns all over Europe

European holidaymakers to blame for COVID second wave, says health expert

https://www.euronews.com/2020/10/28/european-holidaymakers-to-blame-for-covid-second-wave-says-health-expert

 

So if Thailand opens up no quarantine would it go into a countrywide lockdown

 

There are question marks over how accurate and reliable these rapid tests are

1) They aren't meant to be given to everyone only for symptomatic people

How accurate are rapid COVID-19 tests?

https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/policy/health-care/how-accurate-are-rapid-covid-19-tests.html

 

Why Trump’s Rapid-Testing Plan Worries Scientists

Experts were already divided on the right way to deploy new coronavirus tests. Then the White House barged ahead.

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/10/do-rapid-antigen-tests-have-accuracy-problem/616681/

I'm wondering who is going to pay for all these tests and for the vaccines when they arrive.I fear that I will need to pay for a vaccine,pay for a test at the airport and then pay for any certificates to show I have been vaccinated and am free from covid19.Then rinse and repeat when I return.The government here in the Netherlands will want vaccination certificates when anybody fetches up at the border according to a report in the papers.No way am I going to travel untill all I need

[BangkokReady]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

I do not hear ANY discussion about what sacrifices Thailand is willing to make, to get the tourists, and that multi trillion baht cash cow back.

They don't even particularly like to admit that they need tourists, let alone sacrifice to get them back.

 

The attitude of many Thais has always been: "we don't like you, we don't want you, we don't need you, but we are entitled to your money; get in, spend up, flip off!"

 

It seems to me that they could have opened up on the same old visas, but simply said you need travel insurance that covers covid and you have to quarantine for 14 days.  Not perfect, but if it was only quarantine that was the issue I can imagine a lot more people being interested.  There must be an agenda somewhere.  Quarantine should be the catch-all and surely many hotels could be quarantine hotels.

 

It could of course be that the old system was so unreliable, with zero checks being carried out, that there would be no way to actually ensure that people had the right insurance or were going to go through with quarantine.

[BangkokReady]

4 hours ago, Kaopad999 said:

Things are changing in Thailand, and i don't think it's ever going to be the old Backpackers paradise that it once was. 

Assuming covid eventually goes away, the day that Thailand opens back up they will be clamoring for tourists of any spend.  They will probably discount everything, free visas, free extensions, cheap hotels, whatever.

 

All the workers will come back down from the villages and head to the entertainment zones.  With probably more than there were previously competing for business as they try to recover from the recession.

 

Things that were being tightened up on will be loosened up again.  People will value tourists more than they had started to pre-covid.

 

If covid never goes away, who knows, but if it goes, there will be so many crusty backpackers in Thailand you won't know whether to poop or go blind!

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, BangkokReady said:

Where are you plugging?  Just Krabi generally?

Krabi itself is not much, but Aonang Beach is worth a few days holiday.

[ronaldo0]

1 hour ago, Harry Fingerling said:

High season cancelled, 94 active cases but apparently only 1 new case??? Damn quick in stopping the spread these Thais. ????

Cambodia and Laos are telling porkies me thinks ! ????????

[newnative]

1 hour ago, BangkokReady said:

Where are you plugging?  Just Krabi generally?

    So far we have been to Krabi and now Phuket and have enjoyed both. 

[Postmaster]

Pattaya is very much alive on SoiBuakow and LK Metro.  No shortage of customers there !

[pattayadude]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

High season? What high season?

when 1000 people are dying a day and my life is on the line, the last thing I wanna do is travel half way around the world just to end up in a dicey soi 6 bar and start buying lady drinks to middle aged, bored, loud and alcoholic prostitutes in the middle of the day in a hot and humid environment

[Destiny1990]

Hello TAT go to the airport with some flower baskets and Thai music maybe it helps ????????????..

[Elkski]

I am not a long term Thailand expert.  But in my 11 visits from USA  thd last 4 years  I have enjoyed comparing prices of everything.   My mind is constantly covering baht to USD.  My opinion is there has been huge profit taking for many years.   We read many stories of the 2 week millionaires  types.  I believe it is these sorts who have spoiled Thailand.   They never complained about cab fares or no meter use or cabs declining a pickup,, so you see what that mess had become.    I have partied with the types who  pay an ugly gal to sit with us and drink our drinks and eat our food.  He acted like I was stingy. But I said I dont pay for things like this.   Of course his story is of the guy who blew it all and now old and in debt  amd last I knew  he still rather take a taxi from the airport rather than the link. 

How can a hotel in BKK who pays workers 15,000 baht a year with massive overtime  justify prices like large US cities? 

Scuba dive trips the same price as the Caribbean for such destroyed, fishless, reefs with vis that would make you take a day off to go deep sea fishing in the Caribbean.   Oh yeah there is no deep sea fishing Industry because the oceans are so depleted.  Look at the trash everywhere.   Its such a tourist attraction to learn the trash is just placed on the sidewalk in BKK.  Or a trip up country reveals burning fields of sugarcane or corn up high in Chiang Rai its so fun to see the hillside forests stripped to grow corn on a 35 degree  hillside.  

I think Thailand is a better place for domestic tourists and from my contacts and IG stars i watch many are enjoying Thailand more now than ever.   

Rapid covid tests and no quarantine idea is asinine Mike.   

Very few tourists without a loved one is going to risk traveling to Thailand now even with no insurance,  bank account requirements (6months <deleted>), or quarantine.   

I think you expats  lucky to be in Thailand shoukd just enjoy it now.  Who in their right mind would want it back to what I have seen?

Reefs with 8 cattleboats full of non swimming snorkelers,  some standing on coral for selfish. Beaches below limestone monuments from Krabi to Koh Phi phi crowded beyond sensibility, oozing greed $$$.   

I say enjoy the popularity on tinder.  

Mass tourism is not coming back  in the 20's. 

[dallen52]

High season..

It Will certainly be in the nose this time..

 

The blame game will be starting soon.

[JeffP]

It’s all a bit crazy out there for sure. I have been away from my Thai wife for nearly a year so far, this quarantine and tourism does not go down well.

[Bkktodd]

7 hours ago, Guderian said:

The way they write these articles you'd swear that Thailand is the only country in the world to have been affected by the virus. Get a grip, for goodness sake, it's a calamity for most countries, and given how lightly the Thai population has got off in terms of deaths due to C19 it's less of a tragedy here than in many other countries. The government's ban on foreign tourism is simply aimed at keeping things that way, not on victimising the bars and hotels favoured by foreigners. 

Most dont  die though.  Over blown hysteria 

Edited November 18, 2020 by Bkktodd

[Bkktodd]

2 hours ago, adammike said:

I'm wondering who is going to pay for all these tests and for the vaccines when they arrive.I fear that I will need to pay for a vaccine,pay for a test at the airport and then pay for any certificates to show I have been vaccinated and am free from covid19.Then rinse and repeat when I return.The government here in the Netherlands will want vaccination certificates when anybody fetches up at the border according to a report in the papers.No way am I going to travel untill all I need

Fair enough.  Covid test and vaccine should becall thats needed for intl travel. Including Thailand.  Do away with the ridiculous amount of paperwork

[Elkski]

Oh and all Americans are being asked to skip Thanksgiving with family,  Chicago is in stay at home order, case numbers and hospitalizations rising in every dam state but Mikey and others thinks Thailand should open up?  And  quality western tourists will come save the day..    people planning travel have lots of time and are using online social media more than  ever and Thailand has more black eyes than I can list.  People are calling me asking what is going on with all the riots and I tell them the story of the autobahn man and the #1 traffic deaths title, largest wealth discrepancies. High proce of <deleted> beer, and avocados,  and on and on.  You guys are  being selfish thinking of your rich tourist business owners or poor bar girls. What about the 70%-80% who are living a 90% normal  life now.  A breakout of covid would ensure an overthrow of the government.   Right now hoso never had it so good.  Desolate resorts. Uncrowded roads and airplanes, high baht to $.

Edited November 18, 2020 by Elkski

[Mike k]

13 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

 

I think you need a change in government, preferably elected, to seek leadership and any possible way forward.

This govt claims to be elected just ask payute 

[Derek B]

Car Rental companies are now quoting High Season rates.....................on what justified basis can only be increased local demand not stemming from overseas tourists.

The official answer being HQ policy dictating the rates as if there was no covid-19. 

[sky2498]

From 4 years ago thai government say economic season will coming back but every year worst than last year

A lot of foreign company shut down because take a lot of paper work and a lot tax,recruitment 4 thai staff and pay they salary and ...

foreigner can not stay there easy 

thai money got high change

And a lot of other problem

That is serious problem 

but i am sure next year worst than this year

Smell very bad in the future 

[smylee52]

Perplexing how they can cock up a simple process with bureaucratic red tape and annoying restrictions .

 

Of course we can never know all the different agenda's in play but if the goal is to help the populace then :

 

1) Honour existing visa's or just give 90 day on arrival to compensate for lost time in quarantine .

 

2) Enforce confirmation Covid testing before boarding plane for departure . Testing period of 3 days before should be extended to 5 days to insure a hardcopy confirmation can be printed for presentation .

 

3) Verify insurance for Covid and minimum $100 k US before boarding .

 

4) Verify Quarantine hotel is booked and paid for .

 

Certificate of entry , fit to fly , back and forth online with embassy is all <deleted> that most people can not be bothered with and should be eliminated .

 

It's time the circus left town and serious people manage this devastating problem .  

[SiSePuede419]

If you want "high season" legalize ganja using the "coffeeshop" Amsterdam model. 

 

Tourists from uptight European countries* will FLOOD into Thailand. ✔️

 

*Countries that aren't as advanced as America ????????

[Albert Zweistein]

15 hours ago, tonray said:

Some areas where foreigners don't make up the bulk of visits are BOOMING. Went to Bang Saen Beach this weekend...got stiffed by private condo owner who failed to show up....took half a day to find a hotel with an available room. Traffic a nightmare...wall to wall people in every restuarant and the beack walk was packed. I think Thailand's tourist areas will evolve (or devolve) as the case may be to attract and accomodate domestic tourists and do just fine...it will just take some time.

That's fine but will they generate the same amount of money as the farang tourists ?

[Caldera]

An interesting way to give a complete disaster a positive spin.

[blackcab]

An off topic post has been removed.

[mstevens]

8 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

I think regardless of whatever restrictions are or aren't in place for entry to Thailand, think about the potential tourist.

 

I find it hard to believe (exclude China) that your average Western tourist, pummeled by the economic impact of the pandemic reads the news that Thailand has (if and when) lifted travel restrictions, says 'Thank God for that, get me on a plane'

 

I just don't see it. Most countries are reeling from the effects, lockdowns, business closures, unemployment.

 

Pretty sure one of the last things on folks minds is hopping on a plane to Thailand, and they are probably more focused on rebuilding family finances, and just staying safe after this appalling year! 

 

Actually, I disagree with this. While a lot of people have lost their job, most have not. Even if it was say as many as 10% of people who have lost their job, that's still 90% of people who had employment before Covid, still have employment now.

 

I can only talk for my country and my group of friends, but everyone I know is gagging to get back to Thailand. They've had enough of not being able to travel and the warm weather and the party atmosphere of Thailand is a strong lure. Surveys here show that as soon as people can travel international, they will. There is a lot of pent up demand!

 

 

[baansgr]

16 hours ago, tonray said:

Some areas where foreigners don't make up the bulk of visits are BOOMING. Went to Bang Saen Beach this weekend...got stiffed by private condo owner who failed to show up....took half a day to find a hotel with an available room. Traffic a nightmare...wall to wall people in every restuarant and the beack walk was packed. I think Thailand's tourist areas will evolve (or devolve) as the case may be to attract and accomodate domestic tourists and do just fine...it will just take some time.

School holidays at present, be busy for the next few weeks

[P100]

15 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

the problem with this administration is that every time they have a good idea they then kill it by adding loads of petty restrictions

 

keep it simple stupids and you'll get the results you want

Restrictions get added because the good idea is a show-only for the public, they don.'t really mean it or want it and they wilfully kill it by adding endless and outragious restrictions. Thai standard since many years, only show, no substance.