Cheers go up in Koh Samui as Covid authority gives green light to foreign tourism initiative

[webfact]

 

Thai media The Bangkok Insight said that there was joy throughout Koh Samui as a plan to create a pilot project for foreign tourists to visit was announced for the island and neighboring Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. 

 

However, it bore a remarkable resemblance to "Area Hotel Quarantine" and would only benefit selected hotels.

 

And it would not start until July 1st when tourists were expected to arrive from Singapore. 

 

TBI said this was all part of "Samui Wonder Island" , "Samui Sealed Route Model" and "Samui Health Pass" plans. 

 

Samui district chief Theerapong Chuaychu has called for no stone to be left unturned and no mistakes in implementing the scheme after CCSA (Covid steering committee) approval.

 

Here's how it will work when the tourists arrive:

 

Day 1: They are whisked from the airport to selected, approved hotels.

 

Days 2-3: They get mouth and nose swabs and must stay in their rooms even after getting test results back in 3 hours.

 

Days 4-7: They can leave their rooms but only to designated places (this appears to be in the hotel grounds).

 

Day 7:More swabs, then the tourists can leave the hotel and even go and stay elsewhere in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. 

 

Day 14: They are free to go elsewhere in Thailand. 

 

Everything will be very strict with lots of QR Codes and the "Health Pass" that was not explained. 

 

The media quoted a tourism leader they called only Rachaporn who thanked the CCSA for "Samui Wonder Island".

 

He'd be working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote the plan. 

 

Bangkok Airways (the airline that has a monopoly on Samui) are in on the plan and will hopefully bring the first batch of foreign tourists from Singapore on July 1st, said the media. 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-03-22

 

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

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[pkrv]

Day 0: Foreign tourists - who are even capable of travelling despite financial difficulties and potential quanrantine initiatives in their home countries - will look for easier places to visit.

[anchadian]

Another ridiculous story.

 

[AlfHuy]

Typo.

 

Should have said:

Cheese goes up.

[Surelynot]

It is like the lunatics are suddenly in charge of the asylum......

[KarenBravo]

They still don't understand. No tourists will come and waste precious days of their holiday in quarantine..........especially having to pay the rip-off prices for said quarantine.

[AlfHuy]

Typo.

 

Should have said:

Cheese goes up.

[Tropicalevo]

  On 3/22/2021 at 4:08 AM, KarenBravo said:

They still don't understand. No tourists will come and waste precious days of their holiday in quarantine..........especially having to pay the rip-off prices for said quarantine.

Expand  

Some will. Not tens of ,000's but some. 

Snowbirds. These are retired people who typically come to the islands for months - not weeks.

Some friends have been coming to Samui for 25 years. They have property here. They have just had their first UK winter in all of that time. They hated it and they are not the only ones that I know of.

Then there are younger people who do not work in an office. They can work anywhere.

There are also those with family here or a business. Suddenly, quarantine is more affordable. The prices are coming down.

As I say - not boatloads of tourists - but some.

Life is not always negative.

[Boomer6969]

  On 3/22/2021 at 4:08 AM, KarenBravo said:

They still don't understand. No tourists will come and waste precious days of their holiday in quarantine..........especially having to pay the rip-off prices for said quarantine.

Expand  

You should have written "no [western] tourist will come". Chinese or even Indians won't be put off by such restrictions. I think people in the ministry are aware of the situation and might even be happy with the ethnic cleansing potential of the Covid control measures.

[madmen]

From Cheers to tears 

[kotsak]

Nice initiative.. Next!!

 

[Mavideol]

  On 3/22/2021 at 3:07 AM, webfact said:

 

He'd be working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote the plan. 

Expand  

the plan is called  ""lunatics working together"  ????????????????????

[khunPer]

In my view a few long-time-stayers or snow birds from south might come, but it will not save the tourism industri on the islands before quarantine is lifted, which could be with a kind of vaccination passport for a start.

[spidermike007]

Expect 9,200 people to participate in this program, for the remainder of 2021.

 

Only tourism without quarantine will work. All others will fail. 

[KarenBravo]

  On 3/22/2021 at 5:12 AM, Boomer6969 said:

You should have written "no [western] tourist will come". Chinese or even Indians won't be put off by such restrictions. I think people in the ministry are aware of the situation and might even be happy with the ethnic cleansing potential of the Covid control measures.

Expand  

 

I think you are wrong, but if you're right, Koh Samui is welcome to them.

[MasterBaker]

CAT = Covid Authority of Thailand?

[RichardColeman]

Seriously, why bother ? If we believe what they said yesterday, you only need to wait 3 months and have no quarantine or tests

[charmonman]

  On 3/22/2021 at 3:47 AM, pkrv said:

Day 0: Foreign tourists - who are even capable of travelling despite financial difficulties and potential quanrantine initiatives in their home countries - will look for easier places to visit.

Expand  

Are there any easier places to visit? Most other countries also have quarantines in place or don’t even allow tourists in the first place. Correct me if I’m wrong.

[pkrv]

  On 3/22/2021 at 8:17 AM, charmonman said:

Are there any easier places to visit? Most other countries also have quarantines in place or don’t even allow tourists in the first place. Correct me if I’m wrong.

Expand  

Like I said: "...look for easier places...". Didn't say they would find them. The point being the quanrantine super-hurdles and super-costs will deter almost all "normal tourists". Correct me if I'm wrong.

[FitnessHealthTravel]

Samui district chief Theerapong Chuaychu??? (Jetski and Taxi Mafia)  CCSA (Covid steering committee) approval. Who the hell are these people. We own resorts here and we have never heard of these clowns.

[Swimfan]

Bangkok Airways (the airline that has a monopoly on Samui) are in on the plan

Of course they are the Samui flights provide 70% of their annual profit. They must be bleeding now.

[from the home of CC]

  On 3/22/2021 at 4:08 AM, KarenBravo said:

They still don't understand. No tourists will come and waste precious days of their holiday in quarantine..........especially having to pay the rip-off prices for said quarantine.

Expand  

and no matter how many dumb polls, the Thais do not want poxxed up tourists and expats to be here..

[hotchilli]

  On 3/22/2021 at 3:07 AM, webfact said:

However, it bore a remarkable resemblance to "Area Hotel Quarantine" and would only benefit selected hotels.

Expand  

Yeah... cheers-to-tears for the masses..

Select hotels I can well believe that.

[ExpatOne]

  On 3/22/2021 at 4:01 AM, Surelynot said:

It is like the lunatics are suddenly in charge of the asylum......

Expand  

Suddenly? ????

[crazykopite]

Was in Samui last week doing my immigration report the place is nothing like it was prior to Covid so many shutters down or signs for rent or sale even the shopping mall “ Central “ appears to be struggling  and Fishermans village is a total disaster. I imagine that it will take a good three years to recover one things for sure it’s not going to happen overnight and these people are kidding themselves if they think that is the case.

[brain150]

Perfect plan for very rich people who never leave the hotel anyway !

4 seasons, Napasai - all big hotels who cater only for rich people.... it's for the rich !!! 

They come, stay 1 week and leave ! Never leave the hotel apart from maybe on a private yacht.

 

Forget about tests and all this nonsense .... that's not being done - but you are supposed to believe it's done ????

 

That's what the future will be. .... and that's what stupid people cheer for  ????

[Huckenfell]

  On 3/22/2021 at 6:07 AM, khunPer said:

In my view a few long-time-stayers or snow birds from south might come, but it will not save the tourism industri on the islands before quarantine is lifted, which could be with a kind of vaccination passport for a start.

Expand  

Why should any person who cannot have the vaccination due to dangerous medical reasons, but who has been tested and certified Covid free, not be allowed entry. This would be discrimination.

[khunPer]

  On 3/22/2021 at 3:50 PM, Huckenfell said:

Why should any person who cannot have the vaccination due to dangerous medical reasons, but who has been tested and certified Covid free, not be allowed entry. This would be discrimination.

Expand  

Sorry, but it's not my decision, it what various governments talks about.

 

You are let in today without vaccination, you just need the negative tests and quarantine. The vaccination certificate is to avoid quarantine.

 

We are not all equal, some are vaccinated, and others are not.

 

Vaccination passport have been used before, like the yellow certificate from WHO, and if you didn't had the required vaccination(s), you would not be let in.

[khunPer]

  On 3/22/2021 at 8:17 AM, charmonman said:

Are there any easier places to visit? Most other countries also have quarantines in place or don’t even allow tourists in the first place. Correct me if I’m wrong.

Expand  

For Europeans for example Mallorca and Greece.

[sammieuk1]

And here by coincidence is why it wont work????

 

Day 1: They are whisked from the airport to selected, approved hotels.

 

Days 2-3: They get mouth and nose swabs and must stay in their rooms even after getting test results back in 3 hours.

 

Days 4-7: They can leave their rooms but only to designated places (this appears to be in the hotel grounds).

 

Day 7:More swabs, then the tourists can leave the hotel and even go and stay elsewhere in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. 

 

Day 14: They are free to go elsewhere in Thailand.