Thailand’s latest quarantine blooper puts tourism in jeopardy

[madmen]

54 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I doubt the change in re-opening plans amounts to anything...how many people are actually planning vacations half-way around the world at the moment? Europe, except for the UK, is at 20-30% vaccination rates and it's my understanding China, Thailand largest market, isn't allowing vacation travel outsidemthe country at this time. It's really a big curffle about nothing. And why would ANYONE, who didn't have to, come to Phuket right now...the tourist side of the island (Surin down to Kata Noi) is completely shutdown.

They need to open regardless. It's vital they stay on track for this for obvious reasons. I have friends that are non expats chomping at the bit to get to Phuket and let's not forget bookings already made. There are PLENTY of people that can afford and want a holiday and as mentioned it appears its a soft curfew 

Time will tell and their ain't much left 

[bkk_bwana]

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

So now we are going to call a Flip and then flop a Blooper.  What next just a misunderstanding or was it brake failure.  It's a pandemic and feces occurs.

True. Just look at what is going on in other countries. They have plenty of flip flop policies too, not just Thailand. It's a pandemic, this is what happens. No crystal balls.

[Pattaya Spotter]

22 minutes ago, madmen said:

They need to open regardless. It's vital they stay on track for this for obvious reasons. I have friends that are non expats chomping at the bit to get to Phuket and let's not forget bookings already made. There are PLENTY of people that can afford and want a holiday and as mentioned it appears its a soft curfew 

Time will tell and their ain't much left 

Yes there are some number of people who will come, quarantine or no quarantine, but the numbers are a drop in the bucket. I'm all for allowing them to visit when it's deemed safe...just that it isn't going to do much to jump start the island's economy.

[brianthainess]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

it seems that Thailand after several attempts, still cannot get it right.

Well we know that, no matter what its about.

[klauskunkel]

from the article:

Yet in Thailand, plans keep changing

 

Thailand's one true consistency is its inconsistency.

You have now been paradoxed.

[Fex Bluse]

3 hours ago, realfunster said:

 

Hi Fex- this is what is known as binary or polarized thinking. Very common these days but life is more complex than that.

In your post, something is either world class or immediately jumps to bumbling along at the bottom of world rankings. Anyone issuing a modicum of praise is pigeon-holed as a ‘cheerleader.’

 

I try my best to look at things objectively. I feel we have been very lucky to have been in Thailand for the past 15 months, compared to a majority of countries. Certainly, my home country has had a massively more miserable time of it with COVID in terms of illness, death and lockdowns.

 

Now, as to why we have done reasonably well in Thailand, difficult to say. It will probably take a while for the world to fully understand the virus and why some countries have fared better than others. 

 

The latest developments in Thailand are concerning, and the authorities have taken action with further restrictions. We all know vaccines could/should have been ordered earlier, a lack of exit strategy from this pandemic was clear. Anyhow, they should be coming on-line in June, so hopefully some light at the end of the tunnel.

 

 

 

Hi there. Actually, my thinking is nearly never binary. My post was intended for the many guys on this forum who cannot distinguish propaganda from reality and who cannot in any capacity think critically, even after living in Thailand for years and seeing how haphazardly virtually every facet of Thai society is run. 

 

I'm saying that Thailand's covid response is likely to have been underperforming from the beginning but that they simply covered it up and perhaps had some luck as well. And, I'm saying that now that we see all the structural, fundamental failings -- among the lowest vaccine distribution in the world -- on par with sub-saharan Africa -- we see their true capacity for managing national agendas.

 

Whether I want them to do better (and I often do) is irrelevant -- they virtually always let the country down. 

 

What's astonishing to me is that so many people seem surprised everytime someone like me shares an opinion like mine. What? With all the incredible number of daily examples of their nationally characteristic failings... How is it a surprise to anyone?? You can review ALMOST ANY national agenda of the last 50 years and see how routinely Thailand fails miserably.

[Bangkok Barry]

To be honest, everyone is aware of the uncertainty surrounding everything related to the pandemic. Why anyone would be willing to gamble on travelling overseas under the present circumstances, unless it is really essential, is beyond me. And even if you do get somewhere, those places are mostly far from normal with many businesses closed. Just wait. There's a pandemic on and it shows no sign at all of going anywhere for some time to come. At the very best it is only being contained in some places, and it certainly isn't being overcome. 

[Dogmatix]

This is a real blooper.  Ha ha. 

 

Of course, tourists want to visit Thailand more than anything else in life whatever the cost and inconvenience.  Even if the quarantine is doubled to 14 days at their expense, they will still feel awe and wonder at being permitted to come and visit a country in virtual lockdown and curfew ravaged by pestilence that their vaccinations may not protect them from.  Strolling down empty streets taking pictures of permanently shuttered businesses will be memories to last a lifetime.

[86Tiger]

3 hours ago, FarFlungFalang said:

After suffering the pandemic for over a year I think there would heaps of covid stir crazed people itching to just get away from it all.

 

 

Can not disagree with the sentiment.

 

But as one begins process of assembling all the paper work required for CoE and contacting respective embassy/consulate, one realizes he is not getting away from anything, on contrary, he is jumping right into middle of it all.

[vandeventer]

4 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

5th wave on the way......hope they dont reverse and lock down again and ride out the wave.

The fifth wave, maybe I should move to the bay area, less waves.

[billd766]

4 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

A soft curfew in Phuket now to, 11pm till 4am I hear.

 

Edit from 10pm

 

https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/1389232642277576705

 

That makes sense to me. That is the time that most people are asleep anyway.

[billd766]

4 hours ago, rustinorman said:

FUBAR that's what it is....

Gone from SNAFU to FUBAR in 1 easy step.

[kimamey]

9 hours ago, Don Chance said:

I think Thailand's problem is how to prove people really have the vaccine when you can buy a card online.

I think that's a problem everywhere. At London Heathrow they are seeing about 100 a day and that's just the ones that are easy to spot sure to things like spelling mistakes. 

[rabang]

On 5/4/2021 at 2:35 AM, realfunster said:

 

Hi Fex- this is what is known as binary or polarized thinking. Very common these days but life is more complex than that.

In your post, something is either world class or immediately jumps to bumbling along at the bottom of world rankings. Anyone issuing a modicum of praise is pigeon-holed as a ‘cheerleader.’

 

I try my best to look at things objectively. I feel we have been very lucky to have been in Thailand for the past 15 months, compared to a majority of countries. Certainly, my home country has had a massively more miserable time of it with COVID in terms of illness, death and lockdowns.

 

 

 

 

But more important is what do the next 15 months look like compared to other countries.