Tourism Ministry Considers Free Cross-provincial Flights for Foreign Tourists

[webfact]

 

By Paphamon Arayasukawat

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Tourism and Sports Ministry is considering offering free cross-provincial flights for foreign tourists after airline workers are approved for Covid-19 inoculation this week.

 

Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said from July 1, inoculated tourists exempt from quarantine might be tempted to extend their stay in the country after spending 10 days in Phuket if they are offered free or discounted air tickets to other provinces.

 

He said the ministry already discussed the plan with Bangkok Airways, the owner and operator of Samui airport, as that island has the potential to accommodate tourists.

 

Mr Phiphat said this effort is meant to attract 100,000 foreign tourists during the first three months of Phuket’s sandbox initiative as Phuket is scheduled to reopen from July.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-04-03

 

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[mickymouse1]

I am getting confused by all these proposals and suggestions.

Only for tourists going to Phuket? If yes,why only those going to Phuket?

Not everyone likes this place.????

[MasterBaker]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

is meant to attract 100,000 foreign tourists

that's where he lost me

[JimInPattaya]

GREAT, NOT SO MUCH!

 

It seems that the people in charge miss the point that Thailand has been simply, "extremely lucky" so far. Waves of new outbreaks are still happening around the world. Vaccination does not prevent COVID! It reduces severity and symptoms. If tourists will be coming they can still be infected and spread COVID around Thailand to locals.

 

So far very few people have been vaccinated in Thailand. Un-vaccinated locals will not have any protection! Some locals can expect full severity if the become infected without being vaccinated. Concept of collateral damage comes to mind.

 

Nobody knows when the vaccine will be readily available to the locals. A new plan or target is announced every couple of days that usually contradicts previous plans. If tourists arrive before vaccinations then Thailand is likely Fl#ked! But then its all about money. Think of all the money that can be saved if there are fewer older people alive thanks to COVID for the government to support with future health care and old age benefits. Some might consider it a planned cull.

[RichardColeman]

53 minutes ago, mickymouse1 said:

I am getting confused by all these proposals and suggestions.

Only for tourists going to Phuket? If yes,why only those going to Phuket?

I have a theory to that after playing 'Dead Island'

[mr_lob]

Does anyone know if the Guv are going to require kids to be vaccinated for this sandbox thing on Phuket?

[gemini6]

 

Stupid idea. Only helps to increase the risk of covid spread. Do they think that foriegns are enticed to come bcuz of lower or free provincial travel when they can easily afford the airfare all the way fm Europe n the cost n inconvenience of quarantine. 

[klauskunkel]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

discounted air tickets

Is that for those millionaire visitors he talked about last week? Better include some 7-Eleven stamps with that, I'm sure CP will help out.

[Badboldie]

Only phuket is open in July, once you have been there 1 week  (quarretine Island) you can go to rest of thailand. So free flight because they do not want tourist to go home straight away. 

[Dialemco]

Best expedite vaccination programme and wait until next year to welcome back foreign tourists most of whom cannot presently leave their home countries owing Covid restrictions. Sure incentives will be necessary to restart tourism which will be on a much smaller scale for the foreseeable future.

[stigar]

Im in a qarantene hotel in bangkok now.I get a msg from the hotel yesterday about my adress in thailand so they can issue.cerificate letter from the goverment.They need my full adress after qarantene is finished.

[Metapod]

They don't need to do anything like this.

 

Just let people fly into Thailand with no quarantine or other <deleted>.

 

That is literally all they have to do.

[BestB]

And this is why you got to love Thailand.

 

One day, all is aimed at attracting the rich, and rules introduced but removed for having money in the bank, but the next day offering free flights.

 

As if saving 1500-2000 baht will make all that much of a difference to even not so rich, but if they are targeting the rich, then why even think to offer free flights?

 

Why stop at free flights? why not add free hotel? free food? and free overnight guest?

[chang1]

Free flights to Samui and no quarantine sounds good to me. A chance to catch up with friends I have not seen for years partly due to the stupidly high flight costs and partly due to rip off prices for everything else there. 

Unfortunately I don't see this happening. Bangkok Airways will want too much as they used to exploiting their monopoly. Next the UK doesn't have any vaccine passport set up and people are saying they will be decisive so don't want them - surly that is the point of having them! I want to be devided from the ignorant few who refuse to be vaccinated. 

What happens about our unvaccinated son? He will be last on the list so definitely won't have 2 shots in time. 

As it is only a proposal I will wait to see if it actually sees the light of day before I make any plans. 

[Boedog]

Just another stupid idea, they just don't get it they never will, do they think Thailand is another planet, everyday one of these genuises comes out with another stupid comment or a ridiculous idea, welcome to Thailand, lm sure the struggling airlines will be happy to hear the Government wants to give free fights

[dogfish180]

Thailand, to become hub of free flights ????

[chang1]

10 minutes ago, BestB said:

And this is why you got to love Thailand.

 

One day, all is aimed at attracting the rich, and rules introduced but removed for having money in the bank, but the next day offering free flights.

 

As if saving 1500-2000 baht will make all that much of a difference to even not so rich, but if they are targeting the rich, then why even think to offer free flights?

 

Why stop at free flights? why not add free hotel? free food? and free overnight guest?

You obviously have never flown to Samui. 

If they have finally woken up and realised that rich people are insignificant and us plebs are where the significant money is going to come from then that could be a real turning point. 

Here in the UK we are dying to get away and a nice little stay in Samui before a free flight to other more reasonable places is very tempting. 

[BestB]

2 minutes ago, chang1 said:

You obviously have never flown to Samui. 

If they have finally woken up and realised that rich people are insignificant and us plebs are where the significant money is going to come from then that could be a real turning point. 

Here in the UK we are dying to get away and a nice little stay in Samui before a free flight to other more reasonable places is very tempting. 

Wait wait, let me get this right, you in UK and free flight from Phuket to Samui , 50 pounds is what gets you excited? You sure you should be travelling? instead of  looking for a second job?

[dave moir]

24 minutes ago, chang1 said:

Free flights to Samui and no quarantine sounds good to me. A chance to catch up with friends I have not seen for years partly due to the stupidly high flight costs and partly due to rip off prices for everything else there. 

Unfortunately I don't see this happening. Bangkok Airways will want too much as they used to exploiting their monopoly. Next the UK doesn't have any vaccine passport set up and people are saying they will be decisive so don't want them - surly that is the point of having them! I want to be devided from the ignorant few who refuse to be vaccinated. 

What happens about our unvaccinated son? He will be last on the list so definitely won't have 2 shots in time. 

As it is only a proposal I will wait to see if it actually sees the light of day before I make any plans. 

Maybe you're the ignorant one for getting the vaccine!????????????????

[chang1]

1 minute ago, BestB said:

Wait wait, let me get this right, you in UK and free flight from Phuket to Samui , 50 pounds is what gets you excited? You sure you should be travelling? instead of  looking for a second job?

Last time I flew to Samui it was well over £100 per flight. 100 x 2 for each of us is £600. You may have money to burn but we have to work for it. 

Normally we take 2 foreign holidays a year, Thailand being one of them so we are not on the breadline. Also this year funds are down due to covid19 but we still want to get away. Being forced to pay to go to Phuket or Samui for quarantine could make the difference between Thailand or somewhere else. That is the reality. 

Maybe taxing expats pensions to subsidise flights would be a viable way to get this working.

[chang1]

6 minutes ago, dave moir said:

Maybe you're the ignorant one for getting the vaccine!????????????????

True, but the evidence is not showing that yet.

[KhunMorris]

49 minutes ago, stigar said:

Im in a qarantene hotel in bangkok now.I get a msg from the hotel yesterday about my adress in thailand so they can issue.cerificate letter from the goverment.They need my full adress after qarantene is finished.

Soi 6, Pattaya, Thailand?

 

Sincerely 

 

Morris 

[BestB]

3 minutes ago, chang1 said:

Last time I flew to Samui it was well over £100 per flight. 100 x 2 for each of us is £600. You may have money to burn but we have to work for it. 

Normally we take 2 foreign holidays a year, Thailand being one of them so we are not on the breadline. Also this year funds are down due to covid19 but we still want to get away. Being forced to pay to go to Phuket or Samui for quarantine could make the difference between Thailand or somewhere else. That is the reality. 

Maybe taxing expats pensions to subsidise flights would be a viable way to get this working.

when was last time? a decade ago? 10000 baht return flight? did you go first class? or a charter?

[chang1]

14 minutes ago, BestB said:

when was last time? a decade ago? 10000 baht return flight? did you go first class? or a charter?

It was about 8 years ago. I can't find the details so maybe I am a little off on the price but it was way over any other domestic flight in Thailand. But Samui Airport was very nice not that it made any difference. 

[schvonsky1]

1 hour ago, Badboldie said:

Only phuket is open in July, once you have been there 1 week  (quarretine Island) you can go to rest of thailand. So free flight because they do not want tourist to go home straight away. 

Yeah I’d have some of that it beats been in this rats nest London looks i will have to get the freaking jab then ????

[IamNoone88]

Has anyone actually explained to the Thai Gov't that the vaccine does not stop you catching or spreading Covid? The virus continues to shed in a vaccinated person. It just stops them from being very sick and lessens the chance of requiring hospitalisation. Singapore is identifying a significant number of infected people in quarantine on a daily basis - that remains their barrier to the general population. The bottomline is that vaccinated people can spread the virus to other vaccinated and non-vaccinated people who in turn shed to others. As for free flights - that is the least of concerns.

[stigar]

50 minutes ago, KhunMorris said:

Soi 6, Pattaya, Thailand?

 

Sincerely 

 

Morris 

My friend tried to say pattaya area.They didnt approve that.They really need a proper adress.And they will google the adress same they do in the airport uppon arrival.I will stay in my apartment in bangkok.They get my full adress,and their satisfied with that.

[raccos21]

I’ve noticed that this guy is always proposing and suggesting many insane ideas since last year, but none of his ideas were taken into credit or actually even work. So where are the tourists? Besides, nobody knows how long this crazy pandemic will continue for or when everything will be back to normal because even after vaccination, we are also not sure if it’s safe for everyone to travel. Additionally, Thailand always comes up some ridiculous policies for the foreign travelers.

[jerolamo]

2 hours ago, JimInPattaya said:

GREAT, NOT SO MUCH!

 

It seems that the people in charge miss the point that Thailand has been simply, "extremely lucky" so far. Waves of new outbreaks are still happening around the world. Vaccination does not prevent COVID! It reduces severity and symptoms. If tourists will be coming they can still be infected and spread COVID around Thailand to locals.

 

So far very few people have been vaccinated in Thailand. Un-vaccinated locals will not have any protection! Some locals can expect full severity if the become infected without being vaccinated. Concept of collateral damage comes to mind.

 

Nobody knows when the vaccine will be readily available to the locals. A new plan or target is announced every couple of days that usually contradicts previous plans. If tourists arrive before vaccinations then Thailand is likely Fl#ked! But then its all about money. Think of all the money that can be saved if there are fewer older people alive thanks to COVID for the government to support with future health care and old age benefits. Some might consider it a planned cull.

How can you build a proof about Thailand free from COVID infection ? There is very low test rate made there.

I know already a friend there in Thailand die with kind of COVID symptoms, he hasn't been tested.

To speak seriously, we need to get something serious in the hand first. You do not.

[vandeventer]

23 minutes ago, IamNoone88 said:

Has anyone actually explained to the Thai Gov't that the vaccine does not stop you catching or spreading Covid? The virus continues to shed in a vaccinated person. It just stops them from being very sick and lessens the chance of requiring hospitalisation. Singapore is identifying a significant number of infected people in quarantine on a daily basis - that remains their barrier to the general population. The bottomline is that vaccinated people can spread the virus to other vaccinated and non-vaccinated people who in turn shed to others. As for free flights - that is the least of concerns.

So it looks like you can fly into Phuket than after a week you can fly anywhere you want in Thailand. So where the hell are the good vaccines for the rest of Thailand? Do you really want to build more hospitals?