Thailand NOT opening up to mass tourism until next year - mandatory quarantine to stay in place

[webfact]

Thailand NOT opening up to mass tourism until next year - mandatory quarantine to stay in place

 

TAT file photo for reference only

 

An interview between Thailand's tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan and the Thai media has poured cold water on plans for quarantine to be scrapped. 

 

And it could be next year's hot season - March at the earliest - before there are any major changes allowing mass tourism.

 

It looks as though the STV scheme for long term stay is the best there is for now.

 

PPTV 36 reported that Thai hoteliers and others in the tourism sector had been calling on the government to ditch quarantine and create so-called travel bubble with provinces in China where there had been no Covid for 150 days. 

 

Relationships with countries like Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan in this regard have also been mooted. 

 

But Pipat told the media this was all on hold. He mentioned the concerns of Thailand's prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha who advised caution.

 

The country will thus continue with opening to businessmen, technical experts, high level workers and those in the medical field for now. 

 

Pipat said that 14 day quarantine would continue for now with many countries still in the grip of the pandemic.

 

Even China, according to the minister, is advising caution and has suggested waiting until the hot season next year.

 

Resurgences of the virus in China this month during cooler weather have added to the feeling of caution. 

 

The needs for locals in Thailand to be considered is also paramount. 

 

This comment seemed to pander to the concerns of those worried about the spread of the virus rather than doing anything dynamic to solve the economic woes associated with the downturn in tourism, notes Thai visa. 

 

The PPTV report also quoted Tourism Authority of Thailand marketer Thanet Petchsuwan as agreeing with the minister and suggesting that measures like the special tourist visa - with all its hoops and restrictions - would be the only way to visit Thailand for the foreseeable future. 

 

Source: PPTV

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-11-30

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[bkk6060]

I think it is very smart.

Good for them for maintaining this requirement.

[rott]

"STV the only way to visit Thailand in the future."? 

Is the SETV being scrapped then.?

Edited November 30, 2020 by rott

[mr mr]

i feel like i'm wearing hockey equipment to school and riding on the short bus. can i get off mommy i want to go home. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Excellent news. 

 

I shall enjoy my holiday in Phuket this coming month in the absence of international tourists and sleep safe in the knowledge that the authorities are doing their best to keep COVID-19 out of the country.

[KC 71]

5 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Excellent news. 

 

I shall enjoy my holiday in Phuket this coming month in the absence of international tourists and sleep safe in the knowledge that the authorities are doing their best to keep COVID-19 out of the country.

Say Hello to Kata for me, I often think about that place.

[Brad88]

34 minutes ago, webfact said:

And it could be next year's hot season - March at the earliest - before there are any major changes allowing mass tourism.

Pick a month...any month...it doesn't matter. Grab the chalk and write this on the blackboard a thousand times, Mr. Pipat: "Mandatory quarantine = no tourism."

 

Hopefully one of these months they'll figure out that doing the same thing over and over again means getting the same result again and again. Sigh...it looks like Thailand will need to import a lot of chalk!

[WuhanVagabond]

22 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Excellent news. 

 

I shall enjoy my holiday in Phuket this coming month in the absence of international tourists and sleep safe in the knowledge that the authorities are doing their best to keep COVID-19 out of the country.

We're thinking of heading to Phuket this weekend, but afraid it will be way TOO dead to enjoy. Lack of tourists is seemingly great, unless many of the activities you want to do are closed down because of... lack of tourists!

 

Are you just planning a "boring" lay on the beach/by the pool trip, or has your research shown enough businesses open to enjoy the food, some nightlife and activities (like Phi Phi, James Bond Island, snorkeling, etc)?  It's the GF's birthday and want to go, but we like some level of activity. Went to Chiang Mai and it was depressing until we found the university area, which was bustling. 

[canopus1969]

48 minutes ago, mr mr said:

i feel like i'm wearing hockey equipment to school and riding on the short bus. can i get off mommy i want to go home. 

Please do

[shackleton]

Looks like more Domestic holidays coming up next year 

These 4 day weekend holidays work wonders  

 

[Rhys]

...someone grew a pair?

[JP canada]

2 hours ago, WuhanVagabond said:

We're thinking of heading to Phuket this weekend, but afraid it will be way TOO dead to enjoy. Lack of tourists is seemingly great, unless many of the activities you want to do are closed down because of... lack of tourists!

 

Are you just planning a "boring" lay on the beach/by the pool trip, or has your research shown enough businesses open to enjoy the food, some nightlife and activities (like Phi Phi, James Bond Island, snorkeling, etc)?  It's the GF's birthday and want to go, but we like some level of activity. Went to Chiang Mai and it was depressing until we found the university area, which was bustling. 

Lots of site seeing and adventure stuff to check out and open such as Khao Sok national park and yes even JB island. Some companies on certain days still are  doing Similan Islands also and with the lack of tourists the time has never been better to see some of these places. I just went on a tour of PhangNga with the wife and friends... it was awesome.

[Traubert]

1 hour ago, Rhys said:

...someone grew a pair?

He should get that seen to. There's nothing good going to come of suddenly sprouting things.

[nobodysfriend]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He mentioned the concerns of Thailand's prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha who advised caution.

Not a friend of him , but he collects some bonus points there ...

together with the slow legalization of cannabis ...

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Even China, according to the minister, is advising caution and has suggested waiting until the hot season next year.

Yes , big brother was advising ...

[Tchooptip]

Thailand NOT opening up to mass tourism until next year

Next year it's next month ????

Edited November 30, 2020 by Tchooptip
error

[Ireland32]

Fantastic News 

[madmitch]

3 hours ago, WuhanVagabond said:

We're thinking of heading to Phuket this weekend, but afraid it will be way TOO dead to enjoy. Lack of tourists is seemingly great, unless many of the activities you want to do are closed down because of... lack of tourists!

 

Are you just planning a "boring" lay on the beach/by the pool trip, or has your research shown enough businesses open to enjoy the food, some nightlife and activities (like Phi Phi, James Bond Island, snorkeling, etc)?  It's the GF's birthday and want to go, but we like some level of activity. Went to Chiang Mai and it was depressing until we found the university area, which was bustling. 

Karon and Kata are almost totally dead, Patong is pretty quiet but Town and Rawai are almost as normal. Boat tours are running and it's mainly Thais. You can pick up fantastic hotel deals, especially if you have a Thai spouse/partner and can use the 40% discount.

 

I went with a group on a private catamaran tour last week. 9000 baht for the entire boat, 14 people. The reasonable hotel the group stayed in cost them just over 400 baht a night; on the beach road in Karon. You can get a top resort hotel at prices you'll never have seen before. Taxis and tuk tuks are probably the same rip off price as ever, unfortunately, though I haven't used them myself nor do I know anyone that has.

[miamiman123]

Pipat good work!!!

Now stick to that statement!!!!

[Deli]

And the numbers of suicides due to running out of money will rise. Just complete madness.

[RichardColeman]

4 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Excellent news. 

Yes, feel free to also spit in the eye of everyone stuck outside too !

[Deli]

Not advising but controling

[joecoolfrog]

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I think it is very smart.

Good for them for maintaining this requirement.

It is addressing one part of the problem yes. However it is not smart to basicly ignore the financial victims of the pandemic , where is the financial aid for small business and the unemployed ?

[nobodysfriend]

14 minutes ago, Deli said:

And the numbers of suicides due to running out of money will rise. Just complete madness.

Thailand should distribute enough money to those in desperate need .

Instead of spending billions on projects that could easily be delayed for some time  ...

[natway09]

It is not quite" the same thing over & over "

This is a changing unprecedented situation for Thailand as well as the rest of the world 

& they are trying to assess & keep tracks of the situation.

I agree, it woud be madness to open up to mass tourism (even if it would help my business 

from bankruptcy) as the hard yards are not finished yet, & if they did could spell disaster for well into 2022 after 4 months of being "open for business"

 

[wombat]

it must be becoming obvious by now that until the rest of the worlds countries have a vax and opens borders, Thailand is a closed shop.
 

Edited November 30, 2020 by wombat

[GeorgeCross]

people forget vacationing right now involves TWO quarantines - one on the way out and one on the way back.

 

until both ways are open mass short term tourism is dead 

[johnarth]

he is saying the PM is backing him, seems the PM is backing everyone but not saying so himself that is safe thinking for now

[Dialemco]

At last an official who is speaking realistically. Must wait for the vaccine so probably earliest date for international tourism some time during 2022. Will not be same as before much more expensive with limited choice certainly not mass tourism. 

[Inala]

Well, next year is only 31 days away, so this is not really an earth shattering announcement... 

[Dialemco]

1 minute ago, Inala said:

Well, next year is only 31 days away, so this is not really an earth shattering announcement... 

2022 earliest