Booking a Thailand holiday

[superal]

Recent info on global covid 19 vaccinations that will see most westerners vaccinated in the next few months has not drawn any response from the TAT . This is the time of the year when folks are booking their annual holiday and as things stand there will be no takers for Thai holidays .  So the barren Thai resorts will be just that or degenerate even further because there appears to be a lack of foresight by TAT that could have laid down provisos or any sort of planning  or proactiveness . 

The majority of annual holidays are booked 1 year in advance so under the current climate  will Thailand ever see the return of tourists on a grand scale?

 

When will the near impossible visa regulations be revised ?               Forward planning needed and posted by the TAT .

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Once the borders re-open properly and things return to 'normal', tourist arrivals wont go from zero to back to 40 million overnight.

 

But within three, maybe four years, there will be more foreigners visiting Thailand than ever before.

[FritsSikkink]

58 minutes ago, superal said:

Recent info on global covid 19 vaccinations that will see most westerners vaccinated in the next few months has not drawn any response from the TAT . This is the time of the year when folks are booking their annual holiday and as things stand there will be no takers for Thai holidays .  So the barren Thai resorts will be just that or degenerate even further because there appears to be a lack of foresight by TAT that could have laid down provisos or any sort of planning  or proactiveness . 

The majority of annual holidays are booked 1 year in advance so under the current climate  will Thailand ever see the return of tourists on a grand scale?

 

When will the near impossible visa regulations be revised ?               Forward planning needed and posted by the TAT .

There is NO APROVED vaccine yet. When it is approved it will take a lot of time to get most people vaccinated. So lack of foresight is BS at the moment.

[superal]

Not to mention the unstable government 

[cucme]

Thailand keep dreaming.

This decade it will not be the same as the last one. Maybe comes back to that when there will be battery powered airplanes ???? at least hydrogen powered ones

[JusticeGB]

2 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Once the borders re-open properly and things return to 'normal', tourist arrivals wont go from zero to back to 40 million overnight.

 

But within three, maybe four years, there will be more foreigners visiting Thailand than ever before.

I doubt that once farangs find other places to visit that they will find Thailand as attractive as before. It's a very long journey and for example my daughter and her family come here to eat and party. However most of her favourite restaurants are now closed and the closing hours of most places she likes to go out to at night are the same time that clubs open up in London UK. 

[superal]

5 minutes ago, JusticeGB said:

I doubt that once farangs find other places to visit that they will find Thailand as attractive as before. It's a very long journey and for example my daughter and her family come here to eat and party. However most of her favourite restaurants are now closed and the closing hours of most places she likes to go out to at night are the same time that clubs open up in London UK. 

Also the Thai Baht is too strong ,  e.g. 60 baht for a small chang beer in most resorts , cheaper in Europe

[berrec]

Good question; don't think anyone really knows the exact answer to this; most are just their best guess or their wishlist.

 

Influencing factors are vaccine (when available globally) efficacy long term results, populations take up rate on COVID immunization, global economic recovery and employment rates, individual's disposable income, consumer confidence levels, each country's post COVID governmental legislation and policies and tourist's international travel confidence.    

 

Plus I assume a whole lot of other factors I did not consider!   

 

https://www.unwto.org/international-tourism-and-covid-19

 

Edited November 21, 2020 by berrec

[Destiny1990]

Air pollution , sea water pollution, deliberately made up visa extension complications , deadlock real-estate ownership rules,  feelings of being unwelcome, expats have mostly left already,  anyway in last years the place lost totally its charm other countries nearby offer much welcoming  staying options.

[DUNROAMIN]

It appears to me the Thailand government doesn't want cheap charlie anymore only the mega rich. They seem to want to set a benchmarks for future tourists beyond the average income earner.

[mfd101]

4 minutes ago, DUNROAMIN said:

It appears to me the Thailand government doesn't want cheap charlie anymore only the mega rich. They seem to want to set a benchmarks for future tourists beyond the average income earner.

And, if true, that's probably a Good Thing: Fewer numbers, less environmental damage, but better profits per capita.

 

In short, and this is now a worldwide issue, international tourism may NEVER be the same again and governments worthy of the name should by now be planning the restructuring of their economies and the reeducating/reskilling of their workforces. But, in Thailand's case, we may have a VERY long wait ...

[DUNROAMIN]

Just now, mfd101 said:

And, if true, that's probably a Good Thing: Fewer numbers, less environmental damage, but better profits per capita.

 

In short, and this is now a worldwide issue, international tourism may NEVER be the same again and governments worthy of the name should by now be planning the restructuring of their economies and the reeducating/reskilling of their workforces. But, in Thailand's case, we may have a VERY long wait ...

Environmentally, Covid 19 was the best thing to hit Thailand. I don't think Thailand's got what it takes to be a mega rich capital for tourists, compared to Europe or UK, Thailand is far from having real 5 star status, better to accommodate for the middle income earners who only want a two week cheap holiday, however, with the Covid 19 effecting every country, people wont have the money to travel due to the shutdowns everywhere. Also the high Barht is killing any future prospects of tourists. 

[Jumbo1968]

If the vaccine is approved and you have it will Thailand remove the pre flight COVID tests, quarantine and mandatory COVID health insurance ?

I think they will be looking at ‘fleecing’ foreigners some other way as the ASQ Hotels etc are a cash cow for the elite few.

[newnative]

    Of course the tourists will eventually be back.  Thailand sits a fairly short plane ride from the two most populous countries in the World.  Large numbers of tourists were coming to Thailand in 2019 and there's no reason they won't choose Thailand again once things open up.  And, my partner and I will be eager to travel internationally again, as well.  

[Robin]

According to all news sources, UK is planning to start mass Covid vaccination soon, possibly before end of the year.  The whole population will not be done at once, as priorities have been set, and "Potential visitor to Thailand" is not a high priority yet.

But it looks as if UK and probably many other countries are going to start mass vaccination by new year.  Many people will still hope to have a holiday and might be planning (dreaming,) now.  Dare I suggest that it could be an idea if TAT was to announce a policy for potential vaccinated visitors.  

Like being so bold as to say that anyone who has been vaccinated will be able to visit Thailand?

If this was announced now, there might be a chance that some would begin to make plans to visit Thailand.  it would also show that Thailand seriously intended to get tourism going again, and not to continue with the nonsense of "we only want the rich toursits"

 

[Deerculler]

Air fares could be the one to watch for, as airlines try to recover there losses.

[ThailandRyan]

Just pinch yourself when you decide to wake up from your deluded semi-comatose state of wanting tourism anytime soon.  It is a <deleted> shoot.  A friend of mine flew back to the US in July to take care of burying his mother, and taking care of her assets, selling houses and what else needed to be done.  He is married to a Thai and had an extension of stay that he had just taken care of at the end of June, so when he left he picked up a re-entry permit.  I talked to him today, and he started the process with the Los Angeles Thai Consulate online 2 weeks ago around the first week of November, he has put all of the paperwork together, but still needs to get his COE before he can book the flight and the ASQ.  He believes that by the time he obtains all of the paperwork and the Covid-19 testing he might be back here by the middle of December and out of quarantine around Christmas.  So in essence even if you have the required paperwork and such it will still take one approximately 4 to 6 weeks just to get back here, and then into quarantine.  His total estimated costs to return he said was around 9K USD.  He already has a HI plan here which does cover Covid, and all the other requirements. As he lives here in Udon Thani and has for the last 15 years, it has taken a toll on him to say the least.  I can not imaging any Tourist wanting to jump through all of theses hoops.  I was trying to figure out when I could jet back to the US and then return here to my home, but with all of the regulations and such, even though I have all that is needed, I wonder if a person could start the process of returning to Thailand from within Thailand prior to making the jump back to take care of personal business in order to minimize the time lag the entire process takes. 

[nobodysfriend]

19 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Once the borders re-open properly and things return to 'normal', tourist arrivals wont go from zero to back to 40 million overnight.

 

But within three, maybe four years, there will be more foreigners visiting Thailand than ever before.

There are clear signs that Thailand only wants ' quality tourists ' who spend a lot of money .

They want Thailand to become some kind of an exclusive destination , no more mass tourism .

[hotchilli]

20 hours ago, superal said:

The majority of annual holidays are booked 1 year in advance so under the current climate  will Thailand ever see the return of tourists on a grand scale?

As things stand most westerners don't know whats happening this Xmas/new year.... a budget for a holiday next year is not their priority list at the moment.

They are working to re-coup finances lost earlier this year, I think if time allows for a holiday it will be a shorter break, closer to home.

Having to deduct 14 days quarantine from your vacation before you can start to tour is going to be a big turn-off along with the associated cost.

A single traveler might be tempted but a family... no way !

 

[adammike]

14 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

There are clear signs that Thailand only wants ' quality tourists ' who spend a lot of money .

They want Thailand to become some kind of an exclusive destination , no more mass tourism .

That's the mantra from Amsterdam to Venice.There are not enough high spending "quality" tourists on the planet to satisfy all the cities and resorts that think they deserve them.

In Amsterdam the mayor wants to remove the sex workers from the red light district and relocate them out of town to a purpose built erotic centre! The local TV station interviewed some of the residents of the red light district today, one man said the prostitute's are not the problem,it's the mass tourists that are the problem.so it goes.

[adammike]

11 hours ago, Deerculler said:

Air fares could be the one to watch for, as airlines try to recover there losses.

And insurance, taxis,girls,bars, restaurants,bhat buses,hotels.lambs to the slaughter.

[madmen]

17 hours ago, superal said:

Also the Thai Baht is too strong ,  e.g. 60 baht for a small chang beer in most resorts , cheaper in Europe

59 baht beer in Europe screw Thailand! 

[vandeventer]

Just lower the walls, and stop putting up new ones. Than open up some borders. Also you should remember to treat all tourist as equals, the have and the not have so much tourist should be treated the same . This is what other countries see and that will send tourism to Thailand to new lows if you stick with the haves. So be nice and let the backpackers in without making things super hard for them. After all they just want to see the wonders of Thailand. I still think a Thai Disneyland was a good idea?

[NoshowJones]

23 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Once the borders re-open properly and things return to 'normal', tourist arrivals wont go from zero to back to 40 million overnight.

 

But within three, maybe four years, there will be more foreigners visiting Thailand than ever before.

I don't think the unelected "PM" and his soldiers will have the brains to start attracting western tourists after the borders are open again.

Though if there is a peoples fairly elected government in, I think you may well be right.

[NoshowJones]

18 hours ago, DUNROAMIN said:

It appears to me the Thailand government doesn't want cheap charlie anymore only the mega rich. They seem to want to set a benchmarks for future tourists beyond the average income earner.

That is the main reason, among others, that I said that if a peoples fairly elected government gets in over the next three years instead of a bunch of poorly educated soldiers, you may well see a lot more foreign tourists coming to Thailand.

[Bangkok Barry]

19 hours ago, DUNROAMIN said:

It appears to me the Thailand government doesn't want cheap charlie anymore only the mega rich. They seem to want to set a benchmarks for future tourists beyond the average income earner.

And, without doubt, the mega rich have far better places to spend their money than Thailand, with its poor infrastructure, dangerous roads, surly attitude these days from so many. Those with money demand and expect first class service at every level, and all too often that just isn't available in Thailand. And despite 'rolling in it', the mega rich still demand value for money. Too often, Thailand likes these days to charge first world prices for third world service.

The 'cheap charlies' used to come to Thailand because it was good value. Now it isn't so they won't be returning when the pandemic is over. And the government simply stating that they now only want high-end visitors doesn't mean they will come. Just more delusion, which we read now on a daily basis.

[Oldie]

5 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

There are clear signs that Thailand only wants ' quality tourists ' who spend a lot of money .

They want Thailand to become some kind of an exclusive destination , no more mass tourism .

This does not fit to what happened during the last years. Without Corona there would be for sure more mass tourism now. At the moment they have limited capacities to handle incoming tourist numbers because of quarantine and other health requirements. Of course they will rather allow a millionaire to enter than a backpacker. Everything else would be very stupid. They want to become an exclusive destination? They are already one with endless personal entertainers that hardly can be overlooked.

[nobodysfriend]

 Last time I went to immigration for my extension , they were quite clear about this ...

Even I had the 800.000 in my bank account for a year , they even insisted in talking to the manager of my local bank ( phone ) to be assured that there was enough money and that I was a good customer . That never happened to me before ...

I think that even the TAT realizes by now , that , in times of Covid , there will not be anything like the 40 mio visitors anymore anyway ...

So , they just insist on getting ' quality tourists ' now . That is why they came up with the ridiculous 500.000 baht requirement for tourist visas .

Even this was abolished by now , it still indicates the direction they want to go ...

[Hanuman2547]

The shift in tourist numbers had already begun a few years ago.  Less farang coming from Europe, North America, and Australia. Increasing numbers from China and India. That dynamic will continue once the current pandemic has been brought under control.