Thailand still plans for international tourists to return on Oct 1

[KhaoYai]

Minor point but countless reports state a '14 Day Quarantine Period' - to the best of my knowledge its 15.

[D M G]

What is the problem with self-quarantine? 

– It’s enforceable by both people and technology.
– 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/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.

[SupermarineS6B]

6 hours ago, pookondee said:

Obviously this will garner a whole lot of the usual responses about what Thailand does wrong, so let me add a few differing viewpoints:

 

At the end of the day, who is going to risk diving into the unknown when a real pandemic is going on?

(unless you REALLY have to)

 

Would i rather stay in my own country (relatively Covid free) 

OR

go somewhere i might get trapped without flights or exit. 

have to worry about getting trapped without a visa and have to stay long term in expensive accomodation..

 

Then there is always the unknown with Thailand...

If i do end up with Covid, will i be forced into a private hospital, even if i dont have symptoms?

Any number of ways this could pan out, and they all sound bad.

 

For the average traveller Its all about confidence and risk.

 

Do i stay at home, where we are looked after, no visa issues, no exclusions because of racism and nationalism..

AND able to work and even get welfare..

 

or travel to Thailand and go through countless hoops and expense,

in the end, to be treated not much better than a short term visitor, even if married or on retirement.

 

Then there is the issue of those of us (Australian) are not even allowed outward travel as tourists)

I dont really get why this endless debate keeps going.

Its all pretty much a no brainer id say.

100%,   I just hope someone in TAT reads this post......... 

[Rocking Robert]

2 hours ago, peter48 said:

KamalaRider says "Not necessary with a lockdown, just make sure the vaccine is given to risk groups and then open borders, ever heard about flock immunity?

Outside risk groups,  the virus is as deadly as a flue. "

 

Yes I want to see Thailand really opened up but your remark above is false. London ICUs are full of under 60s , loads of under 50s, many 40s. On UK media ( BBC or Sky) many specialists are saying that up-to 50% of cases are under 60. Try New York (USA)  or Brazil or Mexico etc loads of younger people are dying to this brutal disease. Fit people can be struck down with it as its nothing like Flu as it damages organs all over. Deaths from Covid in the world  is now at  2.36 million humans.

Totally false 

[Roger Ward]

Not while you have to spend 14days in quarantine,most people in Europe can only come for 1month at the longest,then quarantine again on return to there country,and be tested before they can leave Thailand,sorry but its not going to happen.

[Rocking Robert]

As more people are getting vaccinated in the USA and the EU and other nations.  The Death rate will drop significantly since the old and the people with P existing condition  are the ones getting vaccinated. And they make up the greatest numbers of deaths

[Wytchend]

Can't wait to get to Vietnam now. Thailand is a distant dream, I might go back in 3 to 5 years, ....if they are open then?

I'm sure 1/2 population will still not be vaccinated by then.  

[spidermike007]

Tourism is not returning to Thailand anytime soon. If you think about it, the group that comprised perhaps 70% of all arrivals (lower to middle income Chinese, Malaysians, and Indians) are the ones who have been hardest hit by this idiotic worldwide economic shutdown. Tourism in Thailand will never recover to even close to it's former levels, and that leaves millions out of work. Most countries will still be required to have Covid letters, as the virus is still raging in many countries. And some countries will not issue that letter (impossible to get in the US). 

 

And even if the virus miraculously goes away (Covid chai dam mak mak!) will the mandatory health insurance still be required? Will it be even stricter than before? Plus, a vaccination type passport? And just what are people returning to, or coming to? Will restaurants be open? How about nightlife? The southern islands are absolutely decimated, so what are people coming to see? How many businesses will eventually go under before this is all over? They are currently dropping at an alarming pace in Pattaya, Samui and Phuket. And the government is doing next to nothing to help the industry survive.

 

The real irony is that the domestic tourism industry was helping alot, prior to the Samut Sakhon catastrophe. And had they had the wisdom, skill, talent, vision, courage, and smarts, to shut that province down like San Quentin, the day of the outbreak, it is quite likely the nation would not have suffered a second wave. The cases elsewhere were very minimal up to that point. 

There are so many unanswered questions, it boggles the mind, with regard to the future of tourism here. One thing is for certain. Thailand will be feeling the effects of this for a very, very long time. So will the rest of the world. And I seriously doubt they will ever see the kind of numbers they saw the past few years, at any point during our lifetimes. Too much has changed, and Thailand is being forgotten. The one thing that the relevant authorities do not seem to have comprehended, is that Thailand needs the world 20X more than the world needs Thailand! One would have hoped that it was possible some humility would have been learned from all of this economic devastation and horrendous job losses. That does not seem to be the case, at all. So, any projected dates for a return to "business as normal", is a bit like predicting overall economic growth for 2021. 

Edited February 12, 2021 by spidermike007

[ThailandRyan]

"Mirror Mirror on the wall I see tourism returning in the fall, can you tell me if Kuhn Prayut is the fairest one of all", signed your favorite TAT Governor and seer of all.

[noone223]

The best thing that came out of covid is the narrative shift within Thailand.

From 2016 there has clearly been a huge rise in Xenophobia .

 

Covid manifested exactly what many of them wanted,

The farang is officially OUT.

 

Hence the famous saying, "Be careful what you wish for..."

 

 

Edited February 12, 2021 by noone223

[onebir]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Tourists would still need to quarantine on the island but would not be confined to a hotel room, as is the case currently. Travel to other parts of Thailand would be restricted until tourists have completed 14 days on the island. 

Do they even understand the point of quarantine???

[ThailandRyan]

Just now, onebir said:

Do they even understand the point of quarantine???

Nope, its inter changeable  from location to location apparently in their eyes.

[SiSePuede419]

Stop whinging. ????

[schvonsky1]

12 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Best thing they can do is stop carping on about opening up as not a single person here has had a jab yet and the job won't even be completed this year, so why even contemplate opening in 2021 at all ?     All these people try to do is justify their own salary by keep opening their mouth's and spouting garbage; best to keep their gobs shut !

So explain why the jab won’t be completed this year are you talking about the falangs or Thais give ya heed a wobble ???? ???????? 2 jabs 12 weeks apart ????

[Cali farong]

So many experts on TV that know what is best way to handle everything 

like a bunch of know it all women 

[sekmet]

Tourists with a internationally recognized vaccination passport would be the way to go.

[daejung]

As long as they don't drop COE, quarantine, insurance and other bull<deleted>s, I will not go back to Thailand

[gazzzz]

14 hours ago, pookondee said:

Obviously this will garner a whole lot of the usual responses about what Thailand does wrong, so let me add a few differing viewpoints:

 

At the end of the day, who is going to risk diving into the unknown when a real pandemic is going on?

(unless you REALLY have to)

 

Would i rather stay in my own country (relatively Covid free) 

OR

go somewhere i might get trapped without flights or exit. 

have to worry about getting trapped without a visa and have to stay long term in expensive accomodation..

 

Then there is always the unknown with Thailand...

If i do end up with Covid, will i be forced into a private hospital, even if i dont have symptoms?

Any number of ways this could pan out, and they all sound bad.

 

For the average traveller Its all about confidence and risk.

 

Do i stay at home, where we are looked after, no visa issues, no exclusions because of racism and nationalism..

AND able to work and even get welfare..

 

or travel to Thailand and go through countless hoops and expense,

in the end, to be treated not much better than a short term visitor, even if married or on retirement.

 

Then there is the issue of those of us (Australian) are not even allowed outward travel as tourists)

I dont really get why this endless debate keeps going.

Its all pretty much a no brainer id say.

Most sensible comment I have ever read on here... and elsewhere come to that.

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

First revealed in August 2020, the proposal to open up Phuket to foreign tourists would essentially see the island turned into a huge travel bubble/quarantine zone.

So if it's turned into a bubble, that would obviously exclude Thais from entering or leaving the island?

[soalbundy]

17 hours ago, internationalism said:

There were already many dates proposed in 2020 - probably every single month feom september till now, and every month in this year. 
Hence i worry, that some tourists would come, but it would be in tens od thausands in rhe whole year, so insignificant

but one has to admire the tenacity.

[Blaxland]

This article certainly raises more questions than it answers.Potential visitors are not only going  to want travel but be allowed to travel.No one is going to want to do 14 days compulsory Hotel quarantine upon return to their home country.Having done it I can attest to it being a most unpleasant experience.There are going to be have to reasonably priced  and reliable flights available.Most major International airlines are a long way off starting regular services and under this proposal would have to bypass BKK as a major Hub.Thai Airways is going through the bankruptcy process which will surely mean in any restructure they will only fly high occupancy and profitable routes with their air crews exempt from quarantine in their country of arrival.Surely the immediate goal and focus should be to get the entire Thai Population Vacinated before opening the boarders to travellers from countries that have achieved the same then start the discussion in an informed and qualified way.Till then all these arbitrary dates and proposals are meaningless.Another disincentive will be the increased price of Travel Insurance and will it include Covid Cover.

[CANSIAM]

The photo is accurate ! the beaches are deserted here, absolutely wonderful !! 

[joecoolfrog]

14 hours ago, teacherclaire said:

 

  Millions of Brits and German are currently planning their Thailand holiday after lockdown. 

 

      Or was it billions? 

I believe the true figure is 26

[Fex Bluse]

11 hours ago, noone223 said:

The best thing that came out of covid is the narrative shift within Thailand.

From 2016 there has clearly been a huge rise in Xenophobia .

 

Covid manifested exactly what many of them wanted,

The farang is officially OUT.

 

Hence the famous saying, "Be careful what you wish for..."

 

 

 

The other positive is the pressure China will be under since the Trump awoke the world to how much a threat China is. Trump may have singlehandedly delayed your pubs being converted to dim sum restaurants. We should all send him thank you cards. 

 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, Blaxland said:

This article certainly raises more questions than it answers.Potential visitors are not only going  to want travel but be allowed to travel.No one is going to want to do 14 days compulsory Hotel quarantine upon return to their home country.Having done it I can attest to it being a most unpleasant experience.There are going to be have to reasonably priced  and reliable flights available.Most major International airlines are a long way off starting regular services and under this proposal would have to bypass BKK as a major Hub.Thai Airways is going through the bankruptcy process which will surely mean in any restructure they will only fly high occupancy and profitable routes with their air crews exempt from quarantine in their country of arrival.Surely the immediate goal and focus should be to get the entire Thai Population Vacinated before opening the boarders to travellers from countries that have achieved the same then start the discussion in an informed and qualified way.Till then all these arbitrary dates and proposals are meaningless.Another disincentive will be the increased price of Travel Insurance and will it include Covid Cover.

That's talking sense.... something T.A.T is devoid of.

[brucec64]

16 hours ago, Rodbayne94 said:

15 days to fill the pockets of hotel owners, nothing to do with the health system

You really think anyone is getting rich from this? Thailand is getting at best not even 1% of the tourist numbers that it was seeing before, and almost all hotels are empty.  When you factor in the current costs of covid tests here, and the number of tests during ASQ, a large of amount of the cost is going towards this. All hotels and all parts of the tourist industry would benefit by several orders of magnitude versus the current situation.  You will have to look somewhere else for a conspiracy. 

 

I recommend qanon or infowars.com. I think you will find like minded people there.

[DBath]

Carrot on a stick, but the stick keeps getting longer. October is still overly optimistic, IMO. 

[pookondee]

20 minutes ago, DBath said:

Carrot on a stick, but the stick keeps getting longer. October is still overly optimistic, IMO. 

 

Not to worry, there will soon be another article quoting next Christmas as the opening date.

[NoshowJones]

18 hours ago, Rodbayne94 said:

15 days to fill the pockets of hotel owners, nothing to do with the health system

Don't tell me the unelected "PM" and his soldiers are not getting their share of pocket filling from the ASQ hotels, scam insurance policies, hospitals.

[stigar]

On 2/12/2021 at 7:10 AM, Willy333 said:

October 1st but what year?

Chard na.(next life)