Fewer tourists entered Thailand in the last six months than would normally enter in a single day pre COVID-19

[DirtyFarang]

It costs more than $4,500US, not including all the covid tests, certificates and airfare to come to Thailand.  The $4,500 is just the insurance and quarantine.  I have no doubt that at least 95% of those that came in the last six months did so for business (had no choice) and deducted the expenses.  Nobody in their right mind would go anywhere for vacation that they had to pay $4,500 as only the price of admission and them be locked up for 14 days without even a beer -- unless they were fat hard up perverts that would pay or do anything to get laid.   Thailand does still have that!

[DirtyFarang]

7 minutes ago, DirtyFarang said:

It costs more than $4,500US, not including all the covid tests, certificates and airfare to come to Thailand.  The $4,500 is just the insurance and quarantine.  I have no doubt that at least 95% of those that came in the last six months did so for business (had no choice) and deducted the expenses.  Nobody in their right mind would go anywhere for vacation that they had to pay $4,500 as only the price of admission and them be locked up for 14 days without even a beer -- unless they were fat hard up perverts that would pay or do anything to get laid.   Thailand does still have that!

And further, I have been getting this rather strong feeling that there is a growing segment of Thais that would be quite happy if tourism NEVER resumed.  They are traveling and enjoying their country with no competition for restaurants and accommodations and don't have to be offended by those who don't understand the culture.   It is also obvious that certain folks in the government, such as the health minister who referred to us as "dirty farangs," prefer not to have us here.  The guy certainly did not hide his feelings!

[Boedog]

Oh now they get it but lm sure that figure is inflated due to people returning from work abroad but lm sure one of these idiots will put a positive spin on it, there wasn't a lot but wow they spent alot

[mikeymike100]

5 hours ago, herwin1234 said:

what a mess! if other mostly western countries just would have acted more resposible and swift, and would have controlled this pandemic from the start, the world would be pretty normal by now.

instead, western countries its leaders make weak decisions based on politics and a little bit science, and its citizens have confused individualism with stupidity; violent protests and encounters, and a massive online wave of the most dumb anti vaccin and conspiracy theories.

facts are, countries like Thailand and China, act resposible, other many western countries, not so, and thanks to them  responsible countries like Thailand have to suffer economically.

Your saying China acted responsibly? If the Chinese had not eaten Bats, Pangolins etc allowing the disease to spread to humans in the first place we wouldn't  be in this mess.

I agree with you that some Western governments acted far too slowly and let it get out of control, but China is the chief culprit here and are totally irresponsible !!

 

[cardinalblue]

Numbers will be determined by keeping or dropping the quarantine....most single important factor period!

[kiwikeith]

18 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

To be accurate here, this is not true. It is not Covid.

It is the government's response, closing of borders or 14 day 'pay yourself into a 5* hotel' is the reason that there are so few tourists/foreigners.

Many foreigners have family, jobs, retirement homes here. They could and would quarantine at home. The government has killed the goose.

Friends of mine have quarantined themselves at home where they live.

They calculated that it would cost them 7,000 GBP (280,000 THB?) to get here and then stay in their home as they would self quarantine again. (They have been coming here for more than 20 years. Four months every year.)

I am not saying that the government is right or wrong. Just saying that what is printed is NOT the reason.

This government has said for a long time now that it wants 'quality tourists'. Well this is the result.

Just over 11,000 - per month.

 

If you quarantine at home you need support, trained and qualified. 

Self isolation requires this and if you test positive while isolating ur taken to a quarantine facility, that's the NZ version. However those entering the country are not allowed to quarantine at home. Those who self isolate are close contacts of known cases, they are monitored and transferred into quarantine if they test positive within 14 days. 

Since the knew South African strain has arrived NZ has had to close one quarantine hotel as cases started spreading through droplet transmission and a few people were released only to test positive after 14 days spent in quarantine 

They are now upgrading the hotel ventilation and aircon, as well as tightening all quarantine procedures. 

 

So vaccine passports will not be a guarantee, especially now that South Africa has suspended the astra zeneca trials as the vaccine is not working on the new strain to well. 

What we might see is only certain vaccine types might be approved for the, wait and see passport. 

[NoComment]

The dollar is still low to the Baht?

Why should the government worry? 

They are not starving, unemployed, homeless or begging from their families!!!

Something needs to be done for the the good people of Thailand and done quickly.

Thailand is not China (yet)

 

[SupermarineS6B]

Those of us who have been in Thailand a long time all know that tourism and the attraction of Thailand was on it's way down way before C19 turned up.  Whoever's running the country should know that people do not, and will not jump through hoops in mindless military fashion.  Thailand (WAS) always an easy place to travel to and enter, it was cheap, good fun, good food, and it drew millions from all over the world and Thailand and those in the tourist industry were making a mint. 

Now the present situation under let's say military rule, because we all know that's what it is, has driven away those millions of tourists from all backgrounds who brought money into the country and happily spent it.

I'm not buying into the sympathy pitch the Gov and the TAT's coming out with, as far as i'm concerned it's all of their own making, very similar to bar girls years ago that were given everything on a plate and then lost it all through stupidity, then you used to see them slicing their arms with a carving knife in mad frustration of how stupid they'd been....... I find it amazing that individuals were given (Stolen) such a money maker as Thailand and have thoroughly destroyed it, and all that's left of the farangs is the married, hard liners that won't admit the end, and those who can't leave because they've put too much into the country...........The happy go lucky characters that made Thailand so interesting have all moved on, or should i say pushed out, and what's left is hardly worth jumping through all the raping hurdles the Gov has set up..............  What a shame....... 

 

 

[herwin1234]

15 hours ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

Not surprise with those figures, with borders closed, and hoops to jump through to get a visa, plus the 14 days quarantine, tourists just won't come. 

and thats a good thing. unfortunately tourists come from countries that cant control their covid crisis. 

[SupermarineS6B]

1 hour ago, NoComment said:

The dollar is still low to the Baht?

Why should the government worry? 

They are not starving, unemployed, homeless or begging from their families!!!

Something needs to be done for the the good people of Thailand and done quickly.

Thailand is not China (yet)

 

Yet.......  But unfortunately being run by individuals who are only a stones throw up the food chain from China....   They're backing the wrong horse again with China, just as they did with Japan last time with another Army individual at the helm....... and we all know how that little pipe dream ended....... 

[BostonRob2]

19 hours ago, Natai Beach said:

They never claimed the close to 40 million number arrivals was all different people. They know that. It is obvious.
 

Of course they know some people come more than once. A lot of people love it in Thailand and come a few times a year. 
 

If they counted all bordering countries people the number would be a lot higher. Some from Laos, Cambodia, Burma  cross nearly everyday for work, don’t need passports, just to carry an ID card. They are not counted as tourist arrivals. 
 

I am very happy they are keeping people out unless they quarantine. There is a nasty highly contagious deadly virus pandemic going  on currently.
The less tourists the better. 

Are you in Thailand or Australia? Just curious.

[SupermarineS6B]

2 hours ago, DirtyFarang said:

And further, I have been getting this rather strong feeling that there is a growing segment of Thais that would be quite happy if tourism NEVER resumed.  They are traveling and enjoying their country with no competition for restaurants and accommodations and don't have to be offended by those who don't understand the culture.   It is also obvious that certain folks in the government, such as the health minister who referred to us as "dirty farangs," prefer not to have us here.  The guy certainly did not hide his feelings!

Anutin like many others in Gov are pro Chinese and you have to know where these lot came from in the not too distant past.  The Thailand and the Thai people that most farangs experience and like are nothing to do with his kind, they're usually the hotch potch that makes up the population of Thailand who are Laoatian, Cambodian, Burmese and all kinds of mixtures...... Anutins kith and kin are nothing to do with the mass poulation.... These are the individuals who you might be refering to...... 

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, DirtyFarang said:

unless they were fat hard up perverts that would pay or do anything to get laid

i think most men would do  anything to get laid.

No need to insult overweight guys.

[D M G]

What is the problem with self-quarantine? 

– It’s enforceable by both manual and modern means.
– It has an immediate impact on the economy with a limited danger of spreading of the virus.
– It can be rolled out to select groups: the Retired, Employed, Educator, etc.
– It’s a Win/Win for the Government, the unemployed locals and the disgruntled foreigner.

I have not heard a legitimate objection or discussion. This should be questioned, analyzed, addressed.

[ThailandRyan]

2 minutes ago, D M G said:

What is the problem with self-quarantine? 

– It’s enforceable by both manual and modern means.
– It has an immediate impact on the economy with a limited danger of spreading of the virus.
– It can be rolled out to select groups: the Retired, Employed, Educator, etc.
– It’s a Win/Win for the Government, the unemployed locals and the disgruntled foreigner.

I have not heard a legitimate objection or discussion. This should be questioned, analyzed, addressed.

Unfortunately you have missed the main points.  The Government of Thailand does not trust people to self quarantine.  They tried it at the beginning of the pandemic, and their own Thai returnees could not stop themselves from going out and partying and spending time with their friends shopping.  There was a media backlash on Facebook chastising these folks.  Since then the Government has mandated that all people entering the country go into a quarantine location regardless.  No Self Quarantine for foreigners, but recent they have been allowing their own people to self isolate if they were near a case of covid.  5 days ago however, they found people violating the self isolation requests and decided that if they violate the isolation they will be arrested, fined and imprisoned.  So nothing has changed as self isolation and self quarantine will not work for the Thai people as they do not listen to the government and do what they want for the most part.

[D M G]

2 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Unfortunately you have missed the main points.  The Government of Thailand does not trust people to self quarantine.  They tried it at the beginning of the pandemic, and their own Thai returnees could not stop themselves from going out and partying and spending time with their friends shopping.  There was a media backlash on Facebook chastising these folks.  Since then the Government has mandated that all people entering the country go into a quarantine location regardless.  No Self Quarantine for foreigners, but recent they have been allowing their own people to self isolate if they were near a case of covid.  5 days ago however, they found people violating the self isolation requests and decided that if they violate the isolation they will be arrested, fined and imprisoned.  So nothing has changed as self isolation and self quarantine will not work for the Thai people as they do not listen to the government and do what they want for the most part.

With "enforcement measures."  It can be done.   Not just blind trust.

[teacherclaire]

However, the proposal for the so-called ‘vaccine passports’ appeared to have been shelved, at least for now.

 

However, the proposal for the so-called ‘Land of Smiles" appeared to have been shelved, at least for now.

But it won't take longer than 25 years to get back to Thailand's Ping Pong New Normal.  

[ThailandRyan]

5 minutes ago, D M G said:

With "enforcement measures."  It can be done.   Not just blind trust.

The enforcement measure is to have you stay in a State run facility with guards, or if you have the money and your a foreigner you pay for the ASQ in a private hotel and are basically locked into your room.  Medical staff are also assigned to these locations and mandatory Covid -19 pcr tests are taken twice during the period, as well as daily temperature readings.  This is the only way the Government can keep a handle on it and also make money, and control it in their view, not going to change no matter what you may think or say.  Many of us agree with you however, but the Thai Government has it's own ideas. 

[murraynz]

14 hours ago, MrMo said:

A lot of those who have entered in the past few months do not qualify as "tourists".   They are farang who have lived in Thailand for a number of years but were trapped outside the country in early 2020.   It is only recently that they were permitted to return to their family here.   They add little to the tourist economy.

Who says farang that live here,add little to the economy..thats nonsence,unless theyr a cheap charlie living in Issan.

Im sure many of us that live here,spend far far more in a 12 month period,than most tourists would spend in 3 or 4 visits.or 6+ visits,if chinese or indian.

Many of us ,even spend millions more, buying a house or condo,car,or motosai..

[henry213]

10 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

They don't like you, maybe.  I'm pretty popular.

Well as they say "There's one born every minute" and thai's love your sort, so yes you are popular, well done! 

[sdweller]

Gotta let tourists in...screen them and if they jump through the hoops let them in!  Also don't screw around about vaccines...if someone has a vaccine LET THEM IN NO QUARANTINE!   Enough is enough time to get over the excessive fear.

[ThailandRyan]

7 minutes ago, sdweller said:

Gotta let tourists in...screen them and if they jump through the hoops let them in!  Also don't screw around about vaccines...if someone has a vaccine LET THEM IN NO QUARANTINE!   Enough is enough time to get over the excessive fear.

Good luck with having that occur.  TIT and they do it their way not what anyone else wants.  Haven't you figured that out yet with Immigration, TM30's, 90 day reports etc....

[elliss]

 

     The elite decision makers are not in the least concerned 

      about the tourist economy in the Kingdom .

     They , have other more profitable agendas...

[Catkiwi]

21 minutes ago, sdweller said:

Gotta let tourists in...screen them and if they jump through the hoops let them in!  Also don't screw around about vaccines...if someone has a vaccine LET THEM IN NO QUARANTINE!   Enough is enough time to get over the excessive fear.

So, I haven't seen any talk about, if someone has been vaccinated, can they still be a carrier of the virus and possibly still able to transmit to others? Just asking.

[D M G]

vac·cine

/vakˈsēn/

noun

 

noun: vaccine; plural noun: vaccines

1. a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease

[Catkiwi]

3 minutes ago, D M G said:

vac·cine

/vakˈsēn/

noun

 

noun: vaccine; plural noun: vaccines

1. a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease

and your point is? Do you think that the TVF brethren are not that smart that they don't know what a vaccine is? With a few exceptions that spring to mind, we are a mostly intelligent community....

[asiasurfer]

Finally they won't have a problem with a shortage of immigration offices... But who will collect the 300 Baht tourist tax at the airport? 

[Catkiwi]

26 minutes ago, D M G said:

vac·cine

/vakˈsēn/

noun

 

noun: vaccine; plural noun: vaccines

1. a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease

Can a vaccinated person be a carrier for the disease they are vaccinated against and spread it to other people?

 

Medicine

To clarify- I'm not talking about a situation where a person gets vaccinated but may already be infected and then can spread the virus. If a fully vaccinated person comes in contact with someone who has whooping cough (or another disease) can they carry the disease and pass it on to someone else? I think no. Especially with something like whooping cough because it is spread through coughing. If you are a carrier and would therefore be asymptomatic you wouldn't be coughing and therefore wouldn't be spreading the disease

l

 

 

Microbiology | Food Production and Safety

 

Most definitely. Not only are there no vaccines that have a 100% efficacy rate, but you can have variations within a disease (classic example being influenza) that allow you to become infected even if you're vaccinated. Some vaccinations have scarily low rates of efficacy, an example would be the BCG Vaccine against TB, which has an efficacy between 0 and 80% depending on a whole range of factors.

Another fairly obvious way in which you can spread disease despite not being infected with it is simple physical transmission. I shake hands with someone who has sneezed on their hand, then shake hands with a third person, and they can catch the disease person one had due to infectious agents such as viral particles or bacteria being physically transferred person to person, regardless of whether I became infected.

A final way that this can occur, and perhaps the most interesting is that some diseases can form physical structures within the body and effectively 'hide' from the immune system, then can be released at a given time. The classic example of a disease doing this is Tuberculosis. If you do happen to inspire some particles of M. tuberculosis, and they happen to reach your lung, they can form what is known as a Tubercule within your lung, a small round nodule of bacteria surrounded by fibrous tissue that is ignored by your immune system. You can carry these while not infected with TB for decades, but rupturing one through physical trauma or respiratory distress (Such as heavy coughing) can activate an infection in you and/or make you infection to other people.

[Patong2021]

Government is doing the best it can on the issue of  tourism. I think government  do the right  policy and should stay the course. To all the critics who want no quarantine, no controls, what is the alternative to the heavy costs that will occur when infections explode in numbers? Show your plan first.  Yes Thailand can open up, but look at what happened with Dubai. Now they have big problems and this was in small city state. All i hear is  about lost revenue for tourism sector. Never any position for costs to nation if Thailand have EU or USA experience.

 

[kiwikeith]

7 hours ago, SupermarineS6B said:

Those of us who have been in Thailand a long time all know that tourism and the attraction of Thailand was on it's way down way before C19 turned up.  Whoever's running the country should know that people do not, and will not jump through hoops in mindless military fashion.  Thailand (WAS) always an easy place to travel to and enter, it was cheap, good fun, good food, and it drew millions from all over the world and Thailand and those in the tourist industry were making a mint. 

Now the present situation under let's say military rule, because we all know that's what it is, has driven away those millions of tourists from all backgrounds who brought money into the country and happily spent it.

I'm not buying into the sympathy pitch the Gov and the TAT's coming out with, as far as i'm concerned it's all of their own making, very similar to bar girls years ago that were given everything on a plate and then lost it all through stupidity, then you used to see them slicing their arms with a carving knife in mad frustration of how stupid they'd been....... I find it amazing that individuals were given (Stolen) such a money maker as Thailand and have thoroughly destroyed it, and all that's left of the farangs is the married, hard liners that won't admit the end, and those who can't leave because they've put too much into the country...........The happy go lucky characters that made Thailand so interesting have all moved on, or should i say pushed out, and what's left is hardly worth jumping through all the raping hurdles the Gov has set up..............  What a shame....... 

 

Sadly I agree, even if covid-19 dried up tomorrow, the government would want silly insurance money and other stupid restrictions, on the top of a broken airline, then those tourists who filter back would find extorted hotel prices ect, ect, ect.