Thailand cuts 2021 foreign tourist target to 4 million after new outbreak

[Jonathan Fairfield]

FILE PHOTO: Empty chairs are seen on a beach which is usually full of tourists, amid fear of coronavirus in Phuket, Thailand March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has lowered its 2021 foreign tourist target to 4 million from 6.5 million after a new wave of coronavirus infections, the country's tourism minister said on Friday.

 

The four million arrivals are expected in the second half of the year, Pipat Ratchakitprakarn told reporters, as the tourism-reliant nation prepares to reopen more broadly to visitors after more than a year of tight entry procedures.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Martin Petty)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-04-24

 

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[Thaiwrath]

2 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thailand has lowered its 2021 foreign tourist target to 4 million

More bizarre figures.

The way the (non) vaccination effort is going, not many countries will let their citizens travel to Thailand, without compulsory quarantine on returning home ! 

[colinneil]

Wake up Pipat, it will not happen, why would anybody want to come to a country that has failed dismally to vaccinate its people.

[Excel]

Anybody in government or NGOs who say that are either delusional or mentally challenged. 

[PatOngo]

Another gem from Pipat, he never ceases to amaze!

[bluesofa]

20 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The four million arrivals are expected in the second half of the year, Pipat Ratchakitprakarn told reporters,

 Four million! ????????????

I reckon the real numbers would probably fill those empty deckchairs in the photo.

[IamNoone88]

Less than 1 million. Mystic Phil.

[Mitkof Island]

The government has been so focused on its failed quarantine ransom to return home program it forgot about the general population and a vaccine. Nothing new really in the world. The few rich control the masses. In Thailand's case the greed for $$$ helping their hotel ,insurance, lawyer,  hospital friends first with the foreigner quarantine scam seems still to be their focused priority. Count on 100,000 or less entering Thailand in  2021. Ain,t nobody that desperate with the exception of a few gullible foreigners willing to pay thousands to be locked up in a hotel room for two weeks and mountains of documents just to enter. Take a hint Thailand you managed to scare off most of the human population with your ever changing stupid and wacky ideas.

[Hayduke]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thailand has lowered its 2021 foreign tourist target to 4 million from 6.5 million after a new wave of coronavirus infections

 

Never mind…those are just today’s numbers. Tomorrow we’ll be reading about millions of insanely wealthy and free-spending lemming ranchers, camel racers, pearl divers, and drawbridge oilers who will soon be arriving for lavish, extended holidays.

 

 

[Maha Sarakham]

Did they mean to say they lowered their forecast to 4 tourists instead of 6.5 tourists?  The million part of that must have been a typo.

[mfd101]

Baseless optimism is one of the signs of incompetence.

[mikebell]

Pie-in-the-Skyland.  New infections (reportedly) at over 1500 per DAY.  The post-Songkran explosion about to happen. Even Prayuth is wearing a worried look and he's had his jab!

[vivananahuahin]

My zygomatic muscle begint to hurt

[Misterwhisper]

2 hours ago, Mitkof Island said:

The government has been so focused on its failed quarantine ransom to return home program it forgot about the general population and a vaccine. Nothing new really in the world. The few rich control the masses. In Thailand's case the greed for $$$ helping their hotel ,insurance, lawyer,  hospital friends first with the foreigner quarantine scam seems still to be their focused priority. Count on 100,000 or less entering Thailand in  2021. Ain,t nobody that desperate with the exception of a few gullible foreigners willing to pay thousands to be locked up in a hotel room for two weeks and mountains of documents just to enter. Take a hint Thailand you managed to scare off most of the human population with your ever changing stupid and wacky ideas.

So... I guess there also won't be 1 million retired foreign millionaires flocking to Thailand this year to snap up over-priced real estate, huh? Bummer.

 

And speaking of foreign tourists, I think even a mere 100,000 will already stretch it.

[khunPer]

I know that it's difficult to predict, especially about the future, but in this case my prediction would be less...????

[RichardColeman]

In all fairness, 4 million tourists IS possible in the last QTR.

 

But only with no quarantining and things back to pre-pandemic entry. If not, they'll be lucky to hit 400 than 4 million

[boogiewoogie]

It looks like he still praying on winter season. Thailand takes 2 mil a month easily.

And that's exactly where he is going. 

Thailand is gonna be fully opened in late autumn. Indians, Russians, chinese, americans, koreans, japans. But mostly chinese. He need them big time.

 

Well, as for u, guys, u can have a pleasant winter vacation in Luton.

[boogiewoogie]

6 hours ago, mikebell said:

Pie-in-the-Skyland.  New infections (reportedly) at over 1500 per DAY.  The post-Songkran explosion about to happen. Even Prayuth is wearing a worried look and he's had his jab!

Covid wave is a 2-3 month entertainment. It will be back to " normal" before summer

[ThaiFelix]

7 hours ago, Hayduke said:

 

Never mind…those are just today’s numbers. Tomorrow we’ll be reading about millions of insanely wealthy and free-spending lemming ranchers, camel racers, pearl divers, and drawbridge oilers who will soon be arriving for lavish, extended holidays.

 

 

Who told you??

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thailand has lowered its 2021 foreign tourist target to 4 million from 6.5 million after a new wave of coronavirus infections, the country's tourism minister said on Friday.

Keep going, Prayuts handling of the situation it will reach zero.

[Jumbo1968]

Can Thailand afford or will they close the borders due to the increase in numbers and the shortage of ICU Beds and other beds as they hospitalise everyone who is tested positive ?

[gunderhill]

I'm  surprised they can even know what 4  million is as they only  have 8 fingers 2  thumbs.

[rasmus5150]

Right about now, they start to miss all the foreigners/expats that left due to immigration chaos, regarding whether or not they could get visa amnesty or had to leave the country.

 

Every time MANAGEMENT is a factor in Thailand, everything goes horribly wrong.

 

Only if Thailand could get VAR like in football - but for real life - then they might have a chance.

[bluedoc]

9 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

More bizarre figures.

The way the (non) vaccination effort is going, not many countries will let their citizens travel to Thailand, without compulsory quarantine on returning home ! 

I’m sure you can rely on all the people from India that you said would turn up. NOT!

[Tubulat]

8 hours ago, Maha Sarakham said:

Did they mean to say they lowered their forecast to 4 tourists instead of 6.5 tourists?  The million part of that must have been a typo.

6.5 was already very difficult.

[Cake Monster]

9 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Another gem from Pipat, he never ceases to amaze!

Yes, if he and Anutin were in some kind of Competition for who had the worse Verbal Diarrhea, it would be extremely difficult to pick the winner. 

[Bangkok Barry]

Thailand cuts 2021 foreign tourist target to 4 million thousand after new outbreak

[tanner]

3 hours ago, ThaiFelix said:

Who told you??

Drawbridge oilers, fabulous!!!.

[mrfill]

All these numbers!!

 

Must be costing a fortune in lottery tickets...

[soalbundy]

3 hours ago, ThaiFelix said:

Who told you??

TAT?