2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

A reasonable approach.

 

Although vaccinated people may still present a risk of transmission. Those who have been vaccinated and taken a pre-flight Covid-19 test have a minimal chance of carrying the virus in to Thailand. 

 

 

Other countries have a smaller ‘quarantine requirements’ i.e. a Covid-19 RT PCR test on arrival and quarantine for a day while awaiting test results. Not idea, but much better than what currently exists. 

 

The issue with any of the plans is that there is no water-tight solution and any easing brings additional risk of the spread of Covid-19.

 

 

Confirmed vaccination along with pre-flight and arrival Covid-19 tests (and track and trace) should handle the vast majority of risk while allowing opening Thailands tourist sector back up.

 

It is critical that Thailands tourism sector be allowed off its knees and take steps towards getting back on its feet - the potential devastation to millions without a robust social welfare safety net is essential not only to those individuals but the fabric of the nation. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What ids the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine each year?? 

Somewhere around 50-60% I believe.

 

So im sure thousands of people enter thailand with influenza and im sure they pass it onto many people.

 

So whats the difference with a covid vaccine that is 70 - 80% effective??

 

This is the best way to move forward.

Proof of vaccination, maybe a negative test 72 hours before the flight and maybe an app on phone for contact tracing.

 

The world has to move forward at some stage.

 

If the world stands still for the next 2 - 3 or 4 years until Covid is gone (which it never will) the death toll from poverty will be far greater than the virus.

 

Just my opinion

This is insane, passengers may get the Covid in the airport. 

51 minutes ago, yeahbutif said:

I think the passport Idea is very good.but the thing I see is who issue them.As we all know a false piece of paper can easily be obtained in most countries.for a price.not even having a test.i reckon

You think every country has koh san Rd? 

That's just silly I'm in Oz and wouldn't even know where to start. Majority of people are law abiding and not interested in fraud 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 minutes ago, Big Yuley said:

Proof of vaccination, maybe a negative test 72 hours before the flight and maybe an app on phone for contact tracing.

at this stage COVID is endemic everywhere in the world. Tracing is only useful to prevent outbreaks but we're already into month 12 and we've seen 2 "waves". How much of the world has caught COVID already I wonder? No country has tested 100% of the population so we don't really even know. Could be higher than 50% even.

I can hear the anti vaxers crying already. Boo hoo vaccinated people dont have to quarantine but I have too.. Discrimination I want the same rights even though i dont vaccinate.

 

Many people already thought that tourist countries would do this now it seems that it comes true.

8 minutes ago, kevin612 said:

This is insane, passengers may get the Covid in the airport. 

????????????????

3 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

at this stage COVID is endemic everywhere in the world. Tracing is only useful to prevent outbreaks but we're already into month 12 and we've seen 2 "waves". How much of the world has caught COVID already I wonder? No country has tested 100% of the population so we don't really even know. Could be higher than 50% even.

So if more than 3 billion people have had this virus in the world and only 2 million deaths it would mean its no where near as deadly as the common Flu. 

And we don't shut down countries because of the flu

 

1 hour ago, WineOh said:

Vaccine passports are a good idea, but...

 

Why would anybody fly 6,000 miles to visit deserted beaches, shuttered attractions & closed bars/restaurants? 

The impact that this pandemic has had on Thailand's once flourishing hospitality industry has been crippling. 

Many businesses have shut their doors for good.

Not to mention the fact that many foreigners have also lost their jobs in the west due this virus.

Yesterday I took a stroll down Khaosan Road & Patpong and it was eerily quiet at both locations.

I spoke to a few locals and they told me they don't know if many places will ever open again.

 

It's going to take years to get back to any form of normality, for locals & westerners alike. 

 

don't forget all the foreigners in the east.  1.5 billion chinese haven't all lost their jobs, and are ready to party once their government drops the restrictions on group travel, which could only happen after quarantine requirements are reduced.

 

vaccinations are coming, digitally-secure yellow-book certificates are coming.  once the results of current studies on immunity and asymptomatic spread following inoculation are completed, quarantine can be reduced or eliminated and thailand can get their travel hubble operational.

 

 

Okay - vaccinated people can come without quarantine. What will happen if they are here? Do they have to expect the same limitations as not vaccinated people here? Can they enjoy a soapy massage and not vaccinated people not? Can they drink alcohol when and wherever they want? And endless other things. How will this be? A two class society? 

 

And how do they check if the vaccination (still) protects? 

 

41 minutes ago, kevin612 said:

This is insane, passengers may get the Covid in the airport. 

A big reason why very few people will be interested in international tourism until the pandemic subsides sufficiently. For now and the foreseeable future the only people interested in OS travel are going to be workers, officials, people returning home or rejoining families.

2 hours ago, luk AJ said:

 

can you please share the source that vaccinated people may still present a risk of transmission?

I thought it was pretty common knowledge TBH, but here it is:

https://globalnews.ca/news/7559408/health-matters-covid-19-vaccine-immune-but-infectious/

Quote

 

Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, Canada Research Chair in Emerging Viruses, explains the mRNA-based vaccine teaches our immune system to fight the virus, but it doesn’t block it from entering our body.

“People may be able to still get infected even though they’re vaccinated, but it’s a sub-clinical infection — so they don’t feel sick, they don’t have any symptoms, but they may still be able to transmit,” said Kindrachuk.

 

 

This needs to be set up by WHO and agree a single document standard acceptable around the world ..

4 minutes ago, Rmac442 said:

This needs to be set up by WHO and agree a single document standard acceptable around the world ..

 

something like this?  maybe updated as a plastic card with embedded chip?

 

Another day, another mull

1 hour ago, WineOh said:

Vaccine passports are a good idea, but...

 

Why would anybody fly 6,000 miles to visit deserted beaches, shuttered attractions & closed bars/restaurants? 

The impact that this pandemic has had on Thailand's once flourishing hospitality industry has been crippling. 

Many businesses have shut their doors for good.

Not to mention the fact that many foreigners have also lost their jobs in the west due this virus.

Yesterday I took a stroll down Khaosan Road & Patpong and it was eerily quiet at both locations.

I spoke to a few locals and they told me they don't know if many places will ever open again.

 

It's going to take years to get back to any form of normality, for locals & westerners alike. 

Of course!

Not to mention that until Thailand gets its population vaccinated, tourism isn't going anywhere because the 14 day quarantine will be up.

IT doesn't matter if you love it or hate it, this is the way it will be.  These childish headlines from grown men that don't know what they are doing that pander to ill advised sugar junkies.  

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

A reasonable approach.

 

Although vaccinated people may still present a risk of transmission. Those who have been vaccinated and taken a pre-flight Covid-19 test have a minimal chance of carrying the virus in to Thailand. 

 

 

Other countries have a smaller ‘quarantine requirements’ i.e. a Covid-19 RT PCR test on arrival and quarantine for a day while awaiting test results. Not idea, but much better than what currently exists. 

 

The issue with any of the plans is that there is no water-tight solution and any easing brings additional risk of the spread of Covid-19.

 

 

Confirmed vaccination along with pre-flight and arrival Covid-19 tests (and track and trace) should handle the vast majority of risk while allowing opening Thailands tourist sector back up.

 

It is critical that Thailands tourism sector be allowed off its knees and take steps towards getting back on its feet - the potential devastation to millions without a robust social welfare safety net is essential not only to those individuals but the fabric of the nation. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Would you trust the TAT to have the professional knowledge and credibility to decide that a vaccination certificate can cancel all quarantine requirements, or have the knowledge and credibility to even professionally discuss this suggestion? No thanks.

1 hour ago, WineOh said:

Vaccine passports are a good idea, but...

 

Why would anybody fly 6,000 miles to visit deserted beaches, shuttered attractions & closed bars/restaurants? 

The impact that this pandemic has had on Thailand's once flourishing hospitality industry has been crippling. 

Many businesses have shut their doors for good.

Not to mention the fact that many foreigners have also lost their jobs in the west due this virus.

Yesterday I took a stroll down Khaosan Road & Patpong and it was eerily quiet at both locations.

I spoke to a few locals and they told me they don't know if many places will ever open again.

 

It's going to take years to get back to any form of normality, for locals & westerners alike. 

I can understand your thinking, however this is Thailand and I personally believe that the enterprising Thais would have their businesses cleaned, re-painted, open and ready for trade before the first flight from the west had touched down.  I have friends in the UK that have to jump through hoops for months to open a business, here my wife was up and running ( not tourism related)  in a day when we first set up our operation here.

 

Back to your last sentence, I agree it will be the west that will pose the difficulty.  For example someone has to get BA to re-think their decision to cancel flights to BKK until November. 

high season is winter time, not spring (too hot in thailand) or summer-autumn (rainy season). Even if not 10-14 days quarantine in thailand, tourists will have it in return to their countries (already to the UK, and now also to the USA).

 

before jumping into unknown, stick to the old ideas:

 

travel corridors with not infected countries. That first would be Asian countries, short, continental flights, allowing shortish stays, group travel and cheap enough for family holidays. China is the main country to have ready traffic, with korea, india following.

 

develop local tourism (the international one is 12% of gdp, domestic one 6% - not huge, but able to sustain)

 

limited quarantine on islands - beach resorts with 1km radius of free movement, after short time allowing on

all island, later to anywhere

 

in the meantime offer quarantine at cheap hotels hotels with less stringent health regulations. Starting from 1000b per night, allowing budget travellers (that price was offered for thai repatriating the last year, who didn't want to stay in military barracks).

 

 

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Vaccinate those in high risk groups, the elderly first, front line workers (medical families). 

Then those who work with the pubic etc etc...  which of course includes those in the tourism industry. 

 

There are certainly many who work with the pubic. Not sure that will be accepted as a reason to give them a covid vaccination as a priority.????

2 hours ago, Blumpie said:

Nobody is certain if you can or you cannot, so the worldwide assumption is that you probably can.  

Just like our vaccines may only work for a year.  

Stay tuned.

Vaccines stop one from becomng infected and sick. They don't stop one carrying the virus and possibly passing it on. This has been mentioned a few times in the press. Anthony Fauci mentioned it not long ago. This is why mask wearing is still recommended once vaccinated. I don't think vaccinated persons would be a major vector of the disease, but the risk is still there. 

 

1 minute ago, internationalism said:

travel corridors with not infected countries. That first would be Asian countries, short, continental flights, allowing shortish stays, group travel and cheap enough for family holidays. China is the main country to have ready traffic, with korea, india following.

 

 

All of this is assuming that Thailand is COVID free and needs to remain that way. This is nowhere near true now and the only question is how many infections will be found if they test for them. The US under Biden is also saying you will need a negative COVID test.... before entering the country with the most COVID in the world. Doesn't anyone see the problem here?

I can't see it being feasible until people in Thailand are vaccinated

1 minute ago, scubascuba3 said:

I can't see it being feasible until people in Thailand are vaccinated

Even if all Thais are vaccinated, Thailand won't accept unvaccinated tourists that don't go through quarantine. 

deleted

Its a non-starter as an idea.

 

Thailand has a policy of zero cases rather than  a controlled number and to change that would be a massive political decision that this govt would never take.

 

the vaccines themselves are not 100% so it would be inevitable that when you get a significant number of visitors to make a difference and be economically viable, ie more than a couple of planeloads, the virus would get in and be detected in a tourism area - think Bangkok, Koh Samui, Phuket, Pattaya.  Lockdown would quickly follow since limited local vaccination leading to <deleted> off tourists , cancelled flights and more chaos.

Even if all this works, and the authorities remove all restrictions, will Europeans still have the appetite and the finances to do such long haul holidays this year?  I think not in large numbers.

 

1 minute ago, Orac said:

Its a non-starter as an idea.

 

Thailand has a policy of zero cases rather than  a controlled number and to change that would be a massive political decision that this govt would never take.

 

the vaccines themselves are not 100% so it would be inevitable that when you get a significant number of visitors to make a difference and be economically viable, ie more than a couple of planeloads, the virus would get in and be detected in a tourism area - think Bangkok, Koh Samui, Phuket, Pattaya.  Lockdown would quickly follow since limited local vaccination leading to <deleted> off tourists , cancelled flights and more chaos.

No, Thailand does NOT have a policy of zero cases. Thay always knew there would be asymptomatic cases- though for a long time those numbers were also low (mass testing in Rayong last year showed that). 

Note, China does not record asymptomatic cases in worldometers. Only once they show symptoms are they considered confirmed cases. At least we know Thailand's asymptomatic cases when they detect them. 

 

1 hour ago, TSF said:

A big reason why very few people will be interested in international tourism until the pandemic subsides sufficiently. For now and the foreseeable future the only people interested in OS travel are going to be workers, officials, people returning home or rejoining families.

Where do you get that idea? There is a massive pent up demand for international travel and contrary to many beliefs many people have more money than ever because they haven't been able to spend it, if they have kept their jobs of course. I just saw a local travel agency stating that the demand for next winter's holiday packages to Thailand was even six times higher than a year ago, pre-Covid.

27 minutes ago, DavisH said:

Even if all Thais are vaccinated, Thailand won't accept unvaccinated tourists that don't go through quarantine. 

This is about vaccinated tourists though? 

1 hour ago, TSF said:

A big reason why very few people will be interested in international tourism until the pandemic subsides sufficiently. For now and the foreseeable future the only people interested in OS travel are going to be workers, officials, people returning home or rejoining families.

As soon as international travel starts again I am on the next plane.

I am more likely to get killed in a taxi ride from airport to hotel in Bangkok than get Covid at the airport. 

 

LOL