Thailand’s plan to reopen to vaccinated visitors sparks hope of tourism revival

[brommers]

So where are all these visitors clamouring to visit Thailand. Australia eont have open boarders for at least a year, NZ will be similar. Thailand is not on the UK Green List and China does not allow travel outside its borders. The list goes on. This country has blown its chance of emulating Maldives and Seychelles and will never regain its previous position as a tourism powerhouse.

[hioctane]

21 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

The insurance requirement will be kept in place. If you test positive (could be false positive) you'll spend your very precious holiday locked up in hospital-better have cover for that. 

The insurance is fine. It is around $100 for 30 days. People should have travel insurance anyway. There would be no quarantine so you wouldn’t be tested unless by choice.

[hioctane]

2 minutes ago, brommers said:

So where are all these visitors clamouring to visit Thailand. Australia eont have open boarders for at least a year, NZ will be similar. Thailand is not on the UK Green List and China does not allow travel outside its borders. The list goes on. This country has blown its chance of emulating Maldives and Seychelles and will never regain its previous position as a tourism powerhouse.

Americans are allowed to go pretty much anywhere. 

[ftpjtm]

3 hours ago, Kadilo said:

Wasn’t a pre requisite for opening this scheme in July that 70% of the locals had to be vaccinated first.?

How is that going to happen for those participants in July, then again for the rest in October when the target is now 70% of the population by the end of the year? 

 

The need to vaccinate 70% of the population has decreased dramatically since all temples in Thailand were ordered to chant anti plague prayers weekly. 

 

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2021/05/11/govt-asks-temples-to-chant-daily-prayers-to-ward-off-covid-19/

 

[Fat is a type of crazy]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Why would anyone would want to come to Thailand now is beyond me, what with all the restrictions, closed venues, rampant Covid everywhere and no end in sigh,t what are the upsides of visiting Thailand now?... 

In my case it is to see  a girlfriend I have been separated from for 14 months. Being outside Thailand and sitting at work on a cold Melbourne day I can say there is an appetite to get to Thailand and stay at a nice hotel and sit on a beach. I think they'll be a lot of people around the world who feel the same. I like it if it is a bit quiet.

This assumes of course that covid has reduced significantly from current levels. 

[hioctane]

 

6 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Why...vaccinated people can still contract and pass on the virus..

The chances are low that a vaccinated person will contract the virus. It prevents hospitalization and death. That is the point of vaccination.  Early studies have shown that they do not pass the virus. Studies are ongoing but evidence from highly vaccinated countries show that it does not.

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, hioctane said:

Americans are allowed to go pretty much anywhere. 

USA 2.39%. 

China and India is the Key

[nkg]

3 minutes ago, hioctane said:

The insurance is fine. It is around $100 for 30 days. People should have travel insurance anyway. There would be no quarantine so you wouldn’t be tested unless by choice.

 

 

The Thai covid insurance is a rip-off. It's the same price whether or not I've been vaccinated, and it covers nothing except covid. I have no objection to paying for real travel insurance.

 

 

[fishtank]

Who do they think will want to come to Thailand for a holiday knowing they face quarantene when they return home?

[wensiensheng]

2 minutes ago, hioctane said:

 

The chances are low that a vaccinated person will contract the virus. It prevents hospitalization and death. That is the point of vaccination.  Early studies have shown that they do not pass the virus. Studies are ongoing but evidence from highly vaccinated countries show that it does not.

Agreed, a vaccinated person has LESS chance of contracting the virus, pretty much sure of avoiding hospitalization and death.

 

However, reports I have read suggest that a vaccinated person who has contracted the virus, can still pass it on, just at a reduced rate.

 

agreed, studies are ongoing. So nothing is certain.

 

 

[Rocking Robert]

Whatever you do make sure you can cancel at the last moment do not pay upfront  Because they can change things with little notice 

[hioctane]

3 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Keep hearing October but what about now for fully vaccinated people they are the ones taking a risk in an unvaccinated country ????

The reopening in these areas are precedent on 70% vaccination of the locals.

 

I am fully vaccinated and just went to Colombia (country with skyrocketing cases and low vaccination).  Lots of risky behavior with locals.  My fully vaccinated friend has been going monthly since January. We are fine (as were many others that have gone).  You are just being a worry warrt if you still worry after vaccination .

[hioctane]

5 minutes ago, nkg said:

 

 

The Thai covid insurance is a rip-off. It's the same price whether or not I've been vaccinated, and it covers nothing except covid. I have no objection to paying for real travel insurance.

 

 

I believe you can buy any insurance as long as it has the 100k coverage.  In fact they even advertise it for travel to Thailand... but it also includes baggage insurance, cancellation, emergency evac, hospitalization for any reason including covid, etc. 

[nkg]

5 minutes ago, Rocking Robert said:

Whatever you do make sure you can cancel at the last moment do not pay upfront  Because they can change things with little notice 

 

Phew, thanks for that advice. I was about to book some non-refundable hotels and flights - you may have saved me thousands of pounds. I owe you one ????

[Been There]

15 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Agreed, a vaccinated person has LESS chance of contracting the virus, pretty much sure of avoiding hospitalization and death.

 

However, reports I have read suggest that a vaccinated person who has contracted the virus, can still pass it on, just at a reduced rate.

 

agreed, studies are ongoing. So nothing is certain.

 

 

Without the vaccine the survival rate is more than 99% ... 

[tigerfeet]

2 hours ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

It's  dirty alright, the locals forever throwing their  rubbish anywhere they want, they simply don't  care, not  one  jot.

It's still a third world country I live in the north and people hear are still living in wooden huts with tin roofs and no running water . tourism just paints over the real situation in the lives of most Thai people

[kynikoi]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Why would anyone would want to come to Thailand now is beyond me, what with all the restrictions, closed venues, rampant Covid everywhere and no end in sigh,t what are the upsides of visiting Thailand now?... 

 

To this end unless one has a job and or family why wouldn't you leave? If for no other reason than lockdowns and the future 6-12 months looking bleak.

 

As I'd stated before this covid bureaucracy isn't going away as there's money to be made!

 

Pre documents and visa 3000b*

 

Incoming test 500b

 

Insurance 300b

 

3 day quarantine package 5000b

 

Covid booster 1200b

 

 

My speculation for a holiday in the land of smiles 2022. 10,000b pax before you step foot in the sand.

 

Or...go to Florida, Caribbean, Spain, Greece...

Edited May 12, 2021 by kynikoi

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

However, that plan hinges on the success of the Phuket Sandbox programme, which is expected to start in July. Under that plan, vaccinated tourists will be allowed to visit Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Krabi and Pattaya without mandatory quarantine.

This constant drivel is like water-boarding.

Who in the hell is going to come to a country that is largely un-vaccinated?

 

What shall we do today honey?... lets go see if we can find a restaurant that's open, or a cafe to have breakfast, ok lets just call Grab and have it delivered to our room.

Then we can swing by the field hospitals and drop off some grapes for the inmates, after lunch maybe go look at the queues of people at the hospitals waiting for their Covid tests..

Not sure about tonight, looks like an early night with the TV.

 

[trainman34014]

Sick of all the 'reopening' talk; just get on with getting their own Population Vaccinated first and then talk about letting Tourists in....that is if they want to come anyway !

 

[nkg]

2 minutes ago, hioctane said:

I believe you can buy any insurance as long as it has the 100k coverage.  In fact they even advertise it for travel to Thailand... but it also includes baggage insurance, cancellation, emergency evac, hospitalization for any reason including covid, etc. 

 

 

The only real reason people are buying this insurance is because it's one of the requirements when you apply for a Certificate of Entry from the Thai Embassy.

 

Technically, you can buy any policy with the 100k coverage, but what are you going to do if the Thai Embassy reject your choice of insurer and turn down your CoE application? Do you still have time to submit a new CoE application? And good luck getting a refund for your insurance ...

[DFPhuket]

It is suggested that you apply for a COE at least 2 weeks in advance; which means a firm decision would need to be made by June 15 if Phuket is really going to open on July 1 and get any tourists. 

 

I live in Phuket but came to the US a couple of weeks ago to see the family and get my Pfizer vaccination. When Ieft I was expecting a 7 day (now 14 day) quarantine upon my return. If the government made up their mind about Phuket's sandbox I'd remain in the US until July 1, change my Qatar return flight (they are adding Phuket flights July 1) and land there. But I'd imagine an announcement will come on the last day of June.

 

[ThailandRyan]

54 minutes ago, vandeventer said:

It must be the masked girls. They look so sweet. I think.

However, when they drop their masks you see they are truly bearded ladies....lol

[Nanaplaza666]

33 minutes ago, fishtank said:

Who do they think will want to come to Thailand for a holiday knowing they face quarantene when they return home?

I think a lot of people want to take a holliday and when return home have an extra 14 days holliday ???? as long as they don't have to quarantine here when on acctual holliday .

[riverhigh]

"Tourism operators in Thailand have hailed the country’s plan to waive quarantine for vaccinated travellers from October as a positive step towards positioning the country for a robust post-pandemic recovery."

 

Positioning the country for a robust post-pandemic recovery ==> Whatever they are smoking I want some too. The Thai government should stop dreaming up non-sensical plans to attract new tourists and focus on retaining the long-term paying tourists.  Haven't they heard of loyal customer retention programs? Of course not! Long-term tourists are replaceble and should be happy to be here regardless of <deleted> immigration regulations.

[thailand49]

Focus Leaders!  Look at the big picture and that is the country as a whole Phuket isn't the sole destination in Thailand, it is nothing but one sandbox.

????

[hioctane]

9 minutes ago, nkg said:

 

 

The only real reason people are buying this insurance is because it's one of the requirements when you apply for a Certificate of Entry from the Thai Embassy.

 

Technically, you can buy any policy with the 100k coverage, but what are you going to do if the Thai Embassy reject your choice of insurer and turn down your CoE application? Do you still have time to submit a new CoE application? And good luck getting a refund for your insurance ...

 

The insurance companies know about the COE requirement to Thailand. Some are advertising that they qualify!

[AnnieSeek]

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

If Thailand opening to vaccinated tourists is anything more than showing your vaccination card in departures and immigration , then it's not going to be a success is it ? 

 

Shockingly you can easily pick up these cards and write on them with a PEN you've had the vaccine - date, batch number, etc I'm shocked beyond horror that the embassy in London was accepting THIS as the sole proof to shorten the quarantine to 7 days. 

 

Beyond a disgrace. 

[Orinoco]

1 hour ago, RotBenz8888 said:

The insurance requirement will be kept in place. If you test positive (could be false positive) you'll spend your very precious holiday locked up in hospital-better have cover for that. 

Better just stay at home, get some money back in the bank and 

have a few days holiday at local spots.

This virus has emptied many peoples bank accounts.

Well done China. !!!!!!!!!!! you broke the world.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 12, 2021 by Orinoco

[hioctane]

16 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

This constant drivel is like water-boarding.

Who in the hell is going to come to a country that is largely un-vaccinated?

 

What shall we do today honey?... lets go see if we can find a restaurant that's open, or a cafe to have breakfast, ok lets just call Grab and have it delivered to our room.

Then we can swing by the field hospitals and drop off some grapes for the inmates, after lunch maybe go look at the queues of people at the hospitals waiting for their Covid tests..

Not sure about tonight, looks like an early night with the TV.

 

It is conditional on 70% of the local population (Phuket) being vaccinated. Of course everything would be open.

[hioctane]

45 minutes ago, fishtank said:

Who do they think will want to come to Thailand for a holiday knowing they face quarantene when they return home?

Who is doing this besides the UK?