Covid fears vs Starving to death? Tourism businesses give their verdict: Open up Thailand!

 

Picture: Voice TV

 

Voice TV asked some tourist businesses their opinion about opening up Thailand. 

 

They got a clear answer: Open up the country now. 

 

The message was put in stark terms. 

 

There are still fears about Covid-19 but not opening up the country to foreign tourists would mean they would starve to death.

 

Picture: Voice TV

 

Amporn W. who owns a massage shop in Huay Kwang, Bangkok, said business was terrible. All her customers were Chinese and Taiwanese so she had virtually none now. 

 

There were few Thais wanting her service. She didn't know if she could last past the end of the year. 

 

Yes, Covid was a worry to her but you could get the disease and recover. 

 

What recovery was there from starving to death, she asked. None.

 

Picture: Voice TV

 

The same was true of Jinda L. and Noprada W. who run a restaurant that caters to foreigners. They implored the government to open up the country to improve the economy. 

 

They couldn't charge as much for Thais as they could do for foreigners, they lamented. 

 

They too were worried about Covid but the state of their business was another form of death. They couldn't last longer either.

 

As always Voice found that people wanted quarantine to ensure the virus was not brought in, albeit suggesting that it was reduced to a few days or about a week. 

 

And there is the crux of the matter. 

 

Who is going to come for a short holiday if they have to quarantine for any length of time?

 

Picture: Voice TV

 

Voice referred to the Special Tourist Visa that so far has meant a few tourists arriving for long stay trips.

 

But this involves 14 day quarantine and there have been few people prepared to do it.

 

It is not the answer.

 

Opening up the country now is the only answer to stop more tourism businesses going to the wall was the overriding message from their article. 

 

Source: Voice TV

 

 

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Quote

They couldn't charge as much for Thais as they could do for foreigners, they lamented. 

Just about says it all.

No sympathy for them.

9 minutes ago, fishtank said:

Just about says it all.

No sympathy for them.

catering to foreigners means foreign food on the menu,

and yes there is a better profit in that niche,

no different in principle then mercedes

can charge a much higher unit price, but the volume is not anywhere near toyota

Edited November 24, 20205 yr by scammed

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Yes, Covid was a worry to her but you could get the disease and recover.

And you could die.

 

There are some that may go hungry at times but I honestly know of no one here that is literally starving to death.

 

PS:  she does not look like she has missed many meals.

 

Edited November 24, 20205 yr by bkk6060

Who stands surprised that those in the tourist industry are willing to put the lives of everyone in the kingdom in jeopardy to line their pockets? 
 

self interest is their only motive. I get it they are suffering, but must they inflict suffering on everyone else? 
 

Instead of demanding the borders flung open and everyone in the kingdom risk infection, they and the kingdom would be better served if they demanded the government to provide financial assistance until a vaccine will allow safe entry. 
 

their demands have a selfish and self centered ring. 

1 hour ago, fishtank said:

Just about says it all.

No sympathy for them.

I guess there has been something lost in translation.

The ingredients for foreign food are already more expensive, plus trained chef and some extra kitchen appliances.

Also many Thais probably don't like foreign food or willing to pay higher prices.

I don't know their business, but probably with more service and amenities therefore higher prices as any roadside stall.

Therefore mostly targeted to foreigners / tourists on holiday who don't have to look after each spent baht.

You need to be vaccinated.  You need to quarantine for two weeks.  The rest of the world just is not ready.  Thailand is not the center of the universe.  Other countries do not seem to be in a hurry to open up.

We just visited Pattaya this past weekend, for the second time in two months, and it is sad how that resort area is dying.  I don't think embracing experience of the pandemic is a good solution. 

 

It's sad but I also don't think the Thai government has it in them to put together any sort of a longer stay tourism plan, that stands any chance of working.  What that would've involved seemed clear enough; keep it simple, make it easy, don't rush to add charges at every step, eliminate risk by adding a quarantine demand.  Instead proposed plans changed every two weeks and no two government agencies were ever saying the same things.

 

The frustrating part is how marketable it would be to sell visiting a place where the cost of living is cheap, natural environment is beautiful, and there is a greatly reduced chance of dying.  Two week vacationers wouldn't be a candidate, but every single at-high-risk person in a country like the US, or most of Europe, or South America who has the means to not work, or could work online for half a year, should want a break from isolation.

No sympathy from me for the two restaurant ladies mentioned...got no time for anyone who just tries to rip people off because they are not local (even if it it just a few baht).  Some locals just don't get it...if they treat us fairly (as many do) they sure get a lot of custom.  Popped down to Pattaya a couple of weeks ago and the same pint of beer was 100 baht more expensive than my regular pub in bangkok.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

They couldn't charge as much for Thais as they could do for foreigners, they lamented. 

Good to see there are no dual standards .................LOL

2 hours ago, webfact said:

They couldn't charge as much for Thais as they could do for foreigners, they lamented. 

That sums it up. 

 

54 minutes ago, d2b2 said:

Who stands surprised that those in the tourist industry are willing to put the lives of everyone in the kingdom in jeopardy to line their pockets? 
 

self interest is their only motive. I get it they are suffering, but must they inflict suffering on everyone else? 
 

Instead of demanding the borders flung open and everyone in the kingdom risk infection, they and the kingdom would be better served if they demanded the government to provide financial assistance until a vaccine will allow safe entry. 
 

their demands have a selfish and self centered ring. 

You do know, I hope, many earn a living in the tourist industry, possibly a million people lost their job?

Are their wishes also selfish?

You think only the business owners have problems?

And the government paying for all that might be difficult, less tax coming in, no income from tourism, less VAT incoming because people buy less (no money), and so on.

Isn't your answer slightly egoistic?

Edited November 24, 20205 yr by hansnl

1 hour ago, scammed said:

catering to foreigners means foreign food on the menu,

and yes there is a better profit in that niche,

no different in principle then mercedes

can charge a much higher unit price, but the volume is not anywhere near toyota

 

I doubt tourists come here for foreign food. Do you get a foreign experience by paying 10x of local pricing?

Voice TV  - says it all really.

52 minutes ago, d2b2 said:

Instead of demanding the borders flung open and everyone in the kingdom risk infection, they and the kingdom would be better served if they demanded the government to provide financial assistance until a vaccine will allow safe entry. 

Oh that it were this easy! The Government has provided very little support for small businesses and that won't change.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

They couldn't charge as much for Thais as they could do for foreigners, they lamented. 

 

A quote that many have picked up on but we don't know anything about their business. If it's located in a tourist enclave than they'll probably be paying extortionate rents and need to charge more if they are to make any sort of profit. Not the best choice of words, I admit, and possibly, as someone said, lost in translation.

1 minute ago, shady86 said:

 

I doubt tourists come here for foreign food. Do you get a foreign experience by paying 10x of local pricing?

i go to resturants catering to foreigners on occasion,

because most resturants dont have the dishes on the menu,

or even know what the hell i am saying when i order.

that is me that eat more chili then any thai i know,

imagine the tourists that have never seen chili on a dish,

they are normally discontent trying to eat thai food,

so the niche catering to foreigners is needed for a better experience

5 minutes ago, hansnl said:

You do know, I hope, many earn a living in the tourist industry, possibly a million people lost their job?

Are their wishes also selfish?

You think only the business owners have problems?

And the government paying for all that might be difficult, less tax coming in, no income from tourism, less VAT incoming because people buy less (no money), and so on.

Many people who worked in the tourist industry looked and found already other jobs. Maybe not as good paid but they make some money.

Business owners obviously suffer. And in some cases I think the government should help them.

But there are definitely many cases were business owners made huge profits by overcharging tourists in the last years. Should we really care about tuk-tuk drivers who charged 500B for a trip around the block? 

And how about bar and restaurant owners? Some, maybe many, paid for many years tremendous rents for good locations. The landlords made millions and millions. Now, with no income, the business owners can't pay that rent. Should the tax payers help so that those greedy landlords can make many more millions? And/or should we risk that many people get infected to help them all?

It's all over the planet already and has been for about 9 months.  What is the point of trying to prevent further spread?  There is nowhere for it to go it hasn't been.  Open the borders now and let's get back to normal.

2 hours ago, fishtank said:

Just about says it all.

No sympathy for them.

very smart quote... ????

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

And you could die.

 

There are some that may go hungry at times but I honestly know of no one here that is literally starving to death.

 

PS:  she does not look like she has missed many meals.

 

No disrespect but how would you know? Do you in poor rural areas or in Pattaya? 
Do you actually know people are not starving or is it just a gut feel? 
 

I think the Thai people will be more poor when they get hit with the tax bills - and them enforced - to pay all the borrowing back. My own UK public is about to get walloped, and whilst I have every confidence in the UK collecting, in Thailand tax collection seems a bit hit and miss

Why not try asking for the opinion of the non-tourist businesses that make up 80-85% of the Thai economy?

1 hour ago, CLW said:

I guess there has been something lost in translation.

The ingredients for foreign food are already more expensive, plus trained chef and some extra kitchen appliances.

Also many Thais probably don't like foreign food or willing to pay higher prices.

I don't know their business, but probably with more service and amenities therefore higher prices as any roadside stall.

Therefore mostly targeted to foreigners / tourists on holiday who don't have to look after each spent baht.

So what? Revisit your business model.

 

I have worked 35 year in IT and readjusted to demand every couple of years. Don't whine for a lost cash cow; find another one.

1 hour ago, d2b2 said:

Who stands surprised that those in the tourist industry are willing to put the lives of everyone in the kingdom in jeopardy to line their pockets? 
 

self interest is their only motive. I get it they are suffering, but must they inflict suffering on everyone else? 
 

Instead of demanding the borders flung open and everyone in the kingdom risk infection, they and the kingdom would be better served if they demanded the government to provide financial assistance until a vaccine will allow safe entry. 
 

their demands have a selfish and self centered ring. 

I think your first point is largely heartless nonsense but your second point is bang on.

The Thai government should be borrowing cash or using its reserves to prop up those who are in difficulty, no question about it.

21 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Why not try asking for the opinion of the non-tourist businesses that make up 80-85% of the Thai economy?

Even easier , let's just ask the comfortably off , retired ex Pat's , who are not impacted by the economic downturn.

1 hour ago, d2b2 said:

Who stands surprised that those in the tourist industry are willing to put the lives of everyone in the kingdom in jeopardy to line their pockets? 
 

self interest is their only motive. I get it they are suffering, but must they inflict suffering on everyone else? 
 

Instead of demanding the borders flung open and everyone in the kingdom risk infection, they and the kingdom would be better served if they demanded the government to provide financial assistance until a vaccine will allow safe entry. 
 

their demands have a selfish and self centered ring. 

 

And you really suppose the government will listen to the aforesaid demands?

 

Do you live in Thailand or Cuckooland?

 

Everybody is "self centered " when it comes to their survival.

A troll post with derogatory trolling comments has been removed. 

2 hours ago, CLW said:

I guess there has been something lost in translation.

The ingredients for foreign food are already more expensive, plus trained chef and some extra kitchen appliances.

Also many Thais probably don't like foreign food or willing to pay higher prices.

I don't know their business, but probably with more service and amenities therefore higher prices as any roadside stall.

Therefore mostly targeted to foreigners / tourists on holiday who don't have to look after each spent baht.

 

More likely is they have 2 menus, one in Thai and one in English and the prices on the English menu are higher.

 

This was common practice in many restaurants in Phuket when I lived there.

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

You need to be vaccinated.  You need to quarantine for two weeks.  The rest of the world just is not ready.  Thailand is not the center of the universe.  Other countries do not seem to be in a hurry to open up.

Again another comparison with other countries!!! 
Other countries are not at the same level as NO CASES FOR MONTHS
Something has gotta give soon . . . 

For way to long, they have gotten away with charging higher prices from foreigners. Many of the 70 million Thais love foreign food and a good massage, so now the foreigners are gone, they just have to adjust the prices to a competitive level and they will be able to survive.  The restaurant itself does not look international to me, so they could just take down the chinese decoration and sign and change the menu to local food.

Edited November 24, 20205 yr by Xonax