Visiting Thailand? October looking most likely for opening of country

 

Picture: The Bangkok Insight

It is looking increasingly likely that October will be the first realistic chance for foreign tourists to return to Thailand in any great numbers. 

In most of the Thai media it is being reported that it will be the fourth quarter - October to December when the normal high season begins - before this can be expected. 

In the latest news as reported by The Bangkok Insight, a three phase approach is now on the table.

Assistant CCSA spokeswoman Aphisamai Srirangsan said that a sub-committee was making this recommendation to the main committee for consideration between March 15th and 19th next week.

The three phases would begin on April 1st, June 1st and October 1st 2021.

The first will see the risk zone factors and colors reassessed, the process of quarantine reexamined and matters surrounding the emergency decree addressed. 

After the second phase - confined to discussions about infectious disease regulations - comes phase three that will be of most interest to foreign tourists considering a visit to Thailand. 

Exactly how this will play out will depend on how the Thai vaccine program is progressing and will involve allowing access to Thailand of foreigners who have been vaccinated in their home countries.

Decisions will be made ahead of  this phase regarding what to do about quarantine. 

The announcement was thus very vague with a wait and see approach probably best for now for potential tourists, notes Thaivisa. 

At least until the CCSA main committee meets next week and possible through most of the first half of 2021 and possibly even later. 

Essentially the Thai authorities are playing a waiting game putting their eggs in the basket of high season recovery of sorts towards the end of the year.

 

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You have to have millions of vaccines in arms.  The UK started to reap rewards when the over 60's and the frail were inoculated.  Even then, there could be a substantial outbreak again. Frankly, the idea of Thailand opening up to mass tourism under current plans is not on.  Everything would appear ok to start with then you'd be in lockdown again, or suffering from a first real wave.  UK currently has 33% of the population covered, and considers the job only partly done. 

Won’t be open in oct. 100%

But, but 6 million Brits will visit for sure. That's what we were told last week.

Then this week we are told something else.

Nobody with an ounce of intelligence believes anything that comes out of the TAT or Government mouthpiece.

Tourism Authority means they're an authority when there is tourism.

 

 

I think it will at least start to open.   Vaccine cert., neg. test before, 3 day quarantine here with a neg. test.  So, 2 negative tests and the vaccine.  I don't see there being much else a person can do to show they are clear and not infectious.

I  wouldn't  visit if  you  paid  me.

season starts mid november, when rainy season ends and with moderate temperatures of the winter season.

october is still low, especially in the south.

don't plan anything, too many unknows  

I think there are thousands upon thousands chomping at the bit to get back at the very earliest opportunity. Many from cold climes spend 6 months here in Pattaya and Jomtien starting in October.

I'm not getting locked down again in Thailand, perhaps with

the Walking Street variant.

Plenty to do in the UK summer time.

Proposal du jour .  Every day they seem to have a different proposal.

How is this one any different from all the other ones we had past weeks and months? 

18 minutes ago, sirineou said:

How is this one any different from all the other ones we had past weeks and months? 

It's  new and unimproved!

I am optimistic that the inoculated will be allowed in without restrictions some time between June-October. It just makes too much sense that if you are inoculated and test negative, how can you spread the virus?

18 minutes ago, hioctane said:

I am optimistic that the inoculated will be allowed in without restrictions some time between June-October. It just makes too much sense that if you are inoculated and test negative, how can you spread the virus?

Unfortunately, the missing ingredient is the "sense"  part. Remember TIT where they still require covid insurance from those inoculated . 

6 hours ago, talahtnut said:

I'm not getting locked down again in Thailand, perhaps with

the Walking Street variant.

Plenty to do in the UK summer time.

There's F all to do in UK under same conditions. I know where I'd rather be!

20 hours ago, webfact said:

It is looking increasingly likely that October will be the first realistic chance for foreign tourists to return to Thailand in any great numbers. 

With 7 days quarantine don't think that'll be realistic.

20 hours ago, gunderhill said:

I  wouldn't  visit if  you  paid  me.

Ssh, don't tell anybody, but I don't think they are going to pay you anyway!

I hate to point out that the story today is that Thailand wants only tourists with 3 months or less from vaccination date. IF that IS true then that has just discounted ALL of the millions Brits, Europeans, Americans, Russians over 50 if they open in October since they will ALL have been vaccinated outside their requested time. These people are there target market and they just shot themselves in the foot by saying they cannot come !

October is just about when the 3 months would have expired from most potential tourists being vaccinated, so according to today’s news they still wouldn’t be let without a really long quarantine...

Now all that hassle for a maximum period of 3 months? LOL.

No chance, part of the attraction of Thailand was that you could always bounce around SE Asia,

Reset your visa, etc.,..

Now, all that hassle, and once your time is up your nearest border run is in Albania .

Mai dtong-gan kabun mak khrab.

 

15 hours ago, hioctane said:

I am optimistic that the inoculated will be allowed in without restrictions some time between June-October. It just makes too much sense that if you are inoculated and test negative, how can you spread the virus?

There's no evidence yet that the vaccine prevents transmission of the virus. At the moment all they know is that you don't get so sick if you catch it.

56 minutes ago, roquefort said:

There's no evidence yet that the vaccine prevents transmission of the virus. At the moment all they know is that you don't get so sick if you catch it.

Early studies suggest that the Pfizer and AZ vaccines are very effective in preventing transmission on the virus.

https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-israel-vaccine-int/israeli-studies-find-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-reduces-transmission-idUSKBN2AJ08J

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3790399

You are watching science happen in real time, so while the scientists were originally hopeful that this would be the case, the data is now filtering through to help them conclude that it is.

On 3/10/2021 at 7:30 AM, bkk6060 said:

I think it will at least start to open.   Vaccine cert., neg. test before, 3 day quarantine here with a neg. test.  So, 2 negative tests and the vaccine.  I don't see there being much else a person can do to show they are clear and not infectious.

That is still a lot of hassle for a holiday ! Tourists will just choose the vaccine proof option holiday regions and Thailand's suffering tourism will go on and on and on

3 hours ago, roquefort said:

There's no evidence yet that the vaccine prevents transmission of the virus. At the moment all they know is that you don't get so sick if you catch it.

You got it backwards. There is no evidence it does not prevent transmission, there is plenty of evidence that it does as  DUbenz  posted above. The problem is that there is not enough data yet as to the degree of protection towards transmision. hence the caution, But so far the data is very encouraging,

That's why every country who is considering reduction or elimination of the quarantine has a timelive a couple of months from now, by then we should have a lot more data, a cleared picture  and I am sure adjustment will be made   in the policy. 

this article from 8.3 states that only 15 000 foreign tourists will come in the 3rd quarter. From the mouth of the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Yuthasak Supasorn

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2021/03/08/tourism-boss-says-third-quarter-less-foreign-tourists-than-in-january/

10 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I hate to point out that the story today is that Thailand wants only tourists with 3 months or less from vaccination date. IF that IS true then that has just discounted ALL of the millions Brits, Europeans, Americans, Russians over 50 if they open in October since they will ALL have been vaccinated outside their requested time. These people are there target market and they just shot themselves in the foot by saying they cannot come !

I don,t think thailand realises what an empty bag its holding regarding tourism,i personally wouldn,t think about visiting until vietnam opens.