Thailand to remain closed to mass tourism until March, travel bubble discussions ongoing

 

Image: FILE PHOTO: Empty chairs are seen on a beach in Phuket, Thailand March 11, 2020.

 

Thailand will remain closed to the vast majority of foreign tourists until at least the second quarter of 2021.

 

Last week, Pipat Ratchakitprakan, Minister for Tourism and Sports told Thai media that Thailand’s borders are likely to remain closed to foreign tourists until March next year.

 

Currently only a relatively small number of foreigners are eligible to enter Thailand.

 

These include business people such as technical experts, high level workers and those in the medical field, foreigners who are married to or a parent of a Thai national, property owners, retiree visa holders, Elite Card holders and those who enter Thailand under the Special Tourist Visa scheme - all of which have to undergo mandatory 14 day quarantine.

 

Minister Pipat also added that talks with so called ‘low-risk’ countries regarding the creation of travel bubbles remain ongoing.

 

Countries including Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan had previously been mooted as possible travel bubble partners.

 

This week, the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce urged the Thai government to set up a travel bubble with China.

 

Narongsak Phutthaphrommongkhon, chief of the Thai Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said a pilot scheme should be introduced that would allow Chinese tourists from Guangzhou to travel to Phuket. Once the scheme would be proved successful, Thailand could then establish further travel bubbles with as many as 19 other Chinese provinces.

 

The prospect of Thailand’s borders remaining closed to most foreigners until March will come as a further blow to Thailand’s beleaguered tourism industry which this week was told not to expect the pre-coronavirus pandemic level of 40 million visitors to return to Thailand until 2024.
 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-12-06

 

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

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

What a nightmare. They have no clue on what to do.

Excellent news. Mass tourism has spoilt Thailand's beauty, and I hope it's gone for good.

Outstanding news.

56 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Last week, Pipat Ratchakitprakan, Minister for Tourism and Sports told Thai media that Thailand’s borders are likely to remain closed to foreign tourists until March next year.

 

So will they continue to issue the TR60 for CoE "tourists"?

 

 

29 minutes ago, dbrenn said:

Excellent news. Mass tourism has spoilt Thailand's beauty, and I hope it's gone for good.

Yes and all the unemployed Thais as a result of it agree with you. 

Edited December 6, 20205 yr by Kadilo

Another thread for all the “Im alright Jacks” 

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Thailand will remain closed to the vast majority of foreign tourists until at least the second quarter of 2021.

Thai tourism.............................

Good, but how about shutting down the business of the cross border Thai hookers, and gambling addicts?

Edited December 6, 20205 yr by Boomer6969

Until march? The vaccines are already being given to the western world.. Why can't they just allow vaccinated tourists to enter?

1 hour ago, sweetserenity said:

Until march? The vaccines are already being given to the western world.. Why can't they just allow vaccinated tourists to enter?

 

No vaccine is 100% effective, why take the risk of allowing potentially infected people enter.

 

1 hour ago, sweetserenity said:

Until march? The vaccines are already being given to the western world.. Why can't they just allow vaccinated tourists to enter?

Tomorrow there will be a new story, estimate, expert statement, plea for understanding, whatever you want to call it. And the next day...

People are being vaccinated very soon. Why shouldn't someone with a vaccine be allowed into Thailand?

20 minutes ago, Techno Viking said:

 

No vaccine is 100% effective, why take the risk of allowing potentially infected people enter.

 

So by that assumption no one can ever travel from anywhere, to any place at any time from now on.

 

2 hours ago, dbrenn said:

Excellent news. Mass tourism has spoilt Thailand's beauty, and I hope it's gone for good.

'Mass tourism' probably enabled you and many other posters that live here, to come to Thailand in the first place.

Mass tourism enables cheap flights and accomodation. It helps to build the infrastructure that enables people to move around the country more easily.

Of course, those who came here earlier do not want to share paradise with the masses.

It was the same when I first came to Thailand (except I drove here). I built a house in the middle of nowhere and told my friends about this geat place that I had found. They told their friends, who told their friends and before you  know it, I am surrounded by more 100 houses. But at least I now have concrete road access, and reliable water and electricity supplies. There are even supermarkets now where I can buy decent bread! ????

It is called progress. The world changes.

4 minutes ago, poohy said:

So by that assumption no one can ever travel from anywhere, to any place at any time from now on.

 

 

Not seeing the downside of that to be honest.

There is a fine line between 'over tourism' and having a functional tourist economy.  I don't think the insane amount of Chinese tourist busses clogging the streets was helping anyone but the Chinese business owners shuttling these Chinese package tourists around.  Shunning tourism as an ex-pat is distasteful, as you originally came as a tourist as well.  However, these package tours will hopefully be gone for good, they were of no benefit to Thai people and certainly didn't help regular tourists enjoy it anymore either.

3 minutes ago, Techno Viking said:

Not seeing the downside of that to be honest.

 

Spoken as a selfish expat would.  Well done.

2 hours ago, Kadilo said:

Another thread for all the “Im alright Jacks” 

 

a few members here often boast how the virus has had no effect on their lives..zzzzzz...did i just fall asleep. 

9 minutes ago, Maha Sarakham said:

 

Spoken as a selfish expat would.  Well done.

 

Do you need a tissue ?

 

FWIW, Thailand is not the only country with travel restrictions !!

1 minute ago, Techno Viking said:

Do you need a tissue ?

I sure don't, I have a Thai spouse and can come to Thailand whenever I want.

1 minute ago, Maha Sarakham said:

I sure don't, I have a Thai spouse and can come to Thailand whenever I want.

 

Shame about the quarantine thing though.

It's not just the people who are unemployed, it's also the people who are getting half or one-third of the income they were getting pre-COVID.

I'd suggest if Thailand wants tourists, vaccination and a rapid virus test upon entry would be the way to go. No-one is going to come here as a tourist with 14 days quarantine, unless they have a compelling reason.

3 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

So will they continue to issue the TR60 for CoE "tourists"?

 

 

They are worldwide...

But its a secret...as they have not told the Thais that the door is already wide open to all thru the tourist visa.

1 hour ago, poohy said:

So by that assumption no one can ever travel from anywhere, to any place at any time from now on.

 

No, when thailand has vaccinated enough people and achieved herd immunity, it will be safe to allow other vaccinated people to enter without quarantine. For better or for worse, thialand has adopted a virus eradication strategy as opposed to a containment strategy, and domestic vaccinations are required for this strategy to continue to be successful. 

How about people stop gloating about others misfortunes and think about the bigger picture. You’re making yourself look quite pathetic. 
 

Rather than wallow about others being stuck in a hotel for 2 weeks, stop and consider the real damage to the people losing their livelihoods in the country you’re living in for a moment.  
 

That’s the real story and the ones who are really paying the price. 

3 hours ago, dbrenn said:

Excellent news. Mass tourism has spoilt Thailand's beauty, and I hope it's gone for good.

You obviously don't mind the million(s) of people that lost their means of earning money.

Disgustingly egoistic.

I think there would be a different story if the LOS gov had to pay unemployment benefits....

Many thais will be screaming in business to open the borders.If they have the vaccine then let them in.good for travel and thailand

16 minutes ago, travelerjim said:

They are worldwide...

But its a secret...as they have not told the Thais that the door is already wide open to all thru the tourist visa.

I was thinking that. 

Strange that the Tourism Minister makes no mention of the SETV.