Open the country now! Stop quarantine for foreign tourists, says Thai media

[webfact]

Open the country now! Stop quarantine for foreign tourists, says Thai media

 

Thai caption: Why Thailand needs to open up to foreign tourist WITHOUT quarantine

Picture: Bangkok Biz News

 

Thailand's business media has called for the country to throw open its doors to foreign tourists from low risk countries.

 

In an opinion piece from Bangkok Biz News it was clear who they really meant - the Chinese.

 

The media outlined the desperate state of the Thai economy with some estimates putting GDP for the year down as low as 10%.

 

The Economist ranks Thailand as among the 12 worst hit economy wise (out of 42 countries surveyed).

 

One of the key ways to kickstart the economy was to get the foreign tourists back, said BBN.

 

And the best way to do this was turn to China where travel was now permitted internally and where like Thailand the virus was under control. There were enough Chinese to rescue the industry before more foreigners returned.

 

They proposed ending quarantine for the Chinese - instead insisting on pre-flight checks, tests on arrival in Thailand then another after 5/6 days. 

 

This would be acceptable to those in Thailand worried about the spread of Covid, they said. 

 

The Thai people would understand there would be a small percentage of cases but if the government invested more in test and trace and health facilities then any outbreak could be controlled. 

 

Source: Bangkok Biz News

 

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[J Town]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand's business media has called for the country to throw open its doors to foreign tourists from low risk countries. (I added the emphasis)

That leaves the US out in the cold, and my British friends say their native country is fighting hard to keep up.

[RandolphGB]

The majorities of Thais would disagree. 

[pegman]

Sure, learn nothing from the Yanks, Brits or Swedes. The business community only cares about their bottom line. They could careless about public good.

[aussiexpat]

Agree 100%. Why should low risk countries like Australia and New Zealand have the same requirements as USA or Europe. We are basically Covid free here now with most outbreaks due to returning travellers spreading covid through quarantine hotel incidents over the last 4 months.

 

Test before flight, quarantine 3 days, test and when negative let us low risk people free imo

Edited November 24, 2020 by aussiexpat

[Surelynot]

 

So 'we'. are on the verge of mass vaccinations and rapid testing leading to the control of the virus and Thai business wants to throw the doors open............. so a nation with hardly any immunity can embrace..........disease and money......LOS.

 

For "Thai business" read five or six very wealthy, well insulated Chinese families who are now demanding even more money.

[Meat Pie 47]

2 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

Agree 100%. Why should low risk countries like Australia and New Zealand have the same requirements as USA or Europe. We are basically Covid free here now.

 

Test before flight, quarantine 3 days, test and when negative let us free imo

Yes I live in Western Australia we had no public infection for 8 months why should I go in quarantine

for 2 weeks

[Surelynot]

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

This would be acceptable to those in Thailand worried about the spread of Covid, they said. 

 

The Thai people would understand there would be a small percentage of cases but if the government invested more in test and trace and health facilities then any outbreak could be controlled. 

 

Who the hell are they to say "this would be acceptable to those in Thailand"...rubbish.

 

Let business commit to fund all the costs of this "small percentage of outbreaks"....bet they wouldn't be so keen then!

[Buffy Frobisher]

They clearly didn't note the panic at Shanghai's airport on Saturday when they found a bunch of airport staff infected.

 

China's nowhere near out of the woods, but Thailand is as safe as anywhere can be because of the strong lockdown. If that's the price that must be paid until the population is vaccinated in another 6-8 months then so be it.

 

It's a helluva lot better than some States in the US where there are no hospital beds left, and it's not like Thailand is mass testing either. We're safe simply because we're closed.

 

Who in Thailand would ask for that option, but a filthy rich conglomerate owner with a private jet to escape the carnage in country towns that would ensue if we drop our guard.

[GeorgeCross]

52 minutes ago, webfact said:

And the best way to do this was turn to China where travel was now permitted internally

 

key word being internally as in not externally

 

thailand will have to do a lot of grovelling (probably involving sea ports and submarines) before that situation changes.

 

i'd wager the chinese will be more than happy to watch one of their enemies allies twist in the wind just a little bit longer..

 

 

 

[Surelynot]

19 minutes ago, Buffy Frobisher said:

 

Who in Thailand would ask for that option, but a filthy rich conglomerate owner with a private jet to escape the carnage in country towns that would ensue if we drop our guard.

Exactly

[ukrules]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

They proposed ending quarantine for the Chinese - instead insisting on pre-flight checks, tests on arrival in Thailand then another after 5/6 days. 

These idiots don't appear to realise that China is 'discouraging' all foreign travel right now, they do this with the promise of an arduous quarantine system which matches the one in use in Thailand exactly when you return.

 

Here's an article by someone who returned to China last month : https://medium.com/swlh/china-quarantine-68dd15d41559

 

This ended leisure travel for the Chinese, they're not going anywhere, regardless of which countries are open.

 

I wonder, can the average Thai hop on a plane to some other country right now and then easily return and have their free government quarantine? I doubt it.

 

The situation is going to change pretty soon and I expect big changes in the way they handle returning Thais. Right now they're processing repatriations of stranded Thais.

 

Will they allow a Thai national to travel out of Thailand and then come back through the repatriation and free quarantine system?

 

I've asked some Thais and they all assume that they have the freedom to travel just like they could before, then they would get the free quarantine when they return.....I think quite a few of them will be in for a shock if they try to do this because they're making themselves optionally 'stranded' instead of inadvertently stranded....that's a big difference right there.

 

 

[brucegoniners]

Sure. Let's just let all that Covid 19 into the country. Then we'll be back where we started and worse.

[aussiexpat]

Just wondering why all the non-Thai keep commenting like Thailand is their country. If Thailand want to open up to low risk countries which have no covid, so be it. If you don't like it, go back to your own country. Pretty simple really.

 

Edited November 24, 2020 by aussiexpat

[natway09]

They come out with this rubbish just to prove how stupid they are.

The medis should be the best informed ?????? Greed

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, RandolphGB said:

The majorities of Thais would disagree. 

And they are quite right.

The tourist industry is split 40% domestic and 60% international so why should the whole of the Thai population be put at risk for those that think they need foreigners.

[J Town]

1 minute ago, aussiexpat said:

Just wondering why all the non-Thais keep commenting like Thailand is their country. If thailand want to open up to low risk countries, so be it. If you don't like it, go back to your own country. Pretty simple really.

We living here still have skin in the game, and this forum is meant for us to voice our opinions. Sure, it doesn't count for much, but getting it off our chests is a way to pass the day.

[Cake Monster]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

And the best way to do this was turn to China where travel was now permitted internally and where like Thailand the virus was under control. There were enough Chinese to rescue the industry before more foreigners returned.

BBN are as desperate as TAT for the Chinese Touroids.

Just one small issue

The CCP has banned all Tour Related Holidays abroad until at least the Spring.

China has not stopped the Covid 19 outbreaks in the Country, they are still erupting spuriously around the Country, and the CCP are obviously worried that Foreign Travelers will return bringing back Covid with them.

[sandyf]

" if the government invested more in test and trace and health facilities then any outbreak could be controlled."

 

That view certainly did not come from TVF, they only want the testing, tracing is an alien concept as far as they are concerned.

[Tarteso]

Open the country now! 
 

Good idea... Just in the days that the Covid-19 infections rise in southeast Asian countries. This people don’t read international news?

Edited November 24, 2020 by Tarteso

[djayz]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

There were enough Chinese to rescue the industry before more foreigners returned.

Just how exactly do they define "foreigner"? 

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, pegman said:

Sure, learn nothing from the Yanks, Brits or Swedes. The business community only cares about their bottom line. They could careless about public good.

From what I read, no one cares about public good. TAT, the government, the economists etc etc. Why single out the Business community?

Edited November 24, 2020 by Tropicalevo

[paulikens]

3 hours ago, Buffy Frobisher said:

They clearly didn't note the panic at Shanghai's airport on Saturday when they found a bunch of airport staff infected.

 

China's nowhere near out of the woods, but Thailand is as safe as anywhere can be because of the strong lockdown. If that's the price that must be paid until the population is vaccinated in another 6-8 months then so be it.

 

It's a helluva lot better than some States in the US where there are no hospital beds left, and it's not like Thailand is mass testing either. We're safe simply because we're closed.

 

Who in Thailand would ask for that option, but a filthy rich conglomerate owner with a private jet to escape the carnage in country towns that would ensue if we drop our guard.

@Buffy Frobisher will you posters stop with the WE you're not thai and if you think its your country just ask a actual thai and they will put you straight!!

[ronaldo0]

Yeah let’s invite everyone from where this all started , all because they want money ! Lol

[djayz]

39 minutes ago, paulikens said:

@Buffy Frobisher will you posters stop with the WE you're not thai and if you think its your country just ask a actual thai and they will put you straight!!

Those of us who live here full-time, have homes, families, jobs and eventually even friends and a life here, think differently. 

I don't give a rat's behind whose country it is; it's home to me/some of us.

People with your attitude never have that feeling, no matter where you live. 

 

 

[aussiexpat]

19 minutes ago, djayz said:

Those of us who live here full-time, have homes, families, jobs and eventually even friends and a life here, think differently. 

I don't give a rat's behind whose country it is; it's home to me/some of us.

People with your attitude never have that feeling, no matter where you live. 

 

 

But it's not your country, you don't get to have a vote who is elected, you don't get a vote for who should be allowed in, so stop acting like you do.

 

Letting people in from low risk countries makes sense for the health of Thailand.

 

The out of control countries, sorry but you need to wait your turn

 

Edited November 24, 2020 by aussiexpat

[djayz]

7 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

But it's not your country, you don't get to have a vote who is elected, you don't get a vote for who should be allowed in, so stop acting like you do.

 

Letting people in from low risk countries makes sense for the health of Thailand.

 

The out of control countries, sorry but you need to wait your turn

 

Where in my reply did I talk about voting? Where did I say it was my country? 

As for voting who should be let in: It was blatantly clear for a very long time that a virus was spreading rapidly in Wuhan, surrounding areas and throughout China, yet governments worldwide continued to allow people from that country to travel into theirs and they allowed their citizens to travel to China. Let me ask you this Aussie; Did YOUR government let you vote on who should and shouldn't enter Oz during those times? 

[FarangJon]

5 hours ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

Yes I live in Western Australia we had no public infection for 8 months why should I go in quarantine

for 2 weeks

So you also had no contacts with people in the plane on the way to Thailand?

[champers]

As an aside, the proposed travel bubble arrangement between Hong Kong and Singapore has been suspended because of a spike in infections in HK. It is relevant to others in the region who may have been keeping a close eye on how things worked out for those 2 countries.

[khunPer]

A few days ago a news article mentioned that the quarantine capacity is 40 new arrivals per day. Looking at the almost daily new reports about foreigners in quarantine with Covid-19, so opening without quarantine doesn't sound wise.

 

I presume foreigners shall show negativ Covid-19 test, not older than 72 hours, before flying to Thailand. If just one out of 40 is Covid-19 positive during quarantine, it's 2.5 percent.

 

I'm thinking of the fear from a potential super spreader, recalling recent panic when a lady arriving from France became sick a few days after having done the full 14-days quarantine, and tested positive...