1 hour ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I'm sure if you perused the criminal justice stats for Thailand (assuming their available somewhere) I'm sure you would find that the vast vast vast majority of arrests and citations in Thailand each year were of Thais for breaking whatever law they happened to be breaking; and that the figures for foreigners were insignificant in comparison. Next. 

THais are in prison merely because of drugs....murder , robbery and raping. Foreigners only have to pay big fines to build their houses and drive their BMW's.. and sometimes you have to go to jail for overstaying of your visa. If you have money you free and if you are poor there is jail....Best example is Red Bull heir,  and so many others

9 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I think most tourist don't book on a short term to go on holiday to a far country... Most make plans months before...so 6 weeks to go

Nothing to do with booking, but with most people being able to realise rules now will be different from rules in 6 weeks time.

7 hours ago, stevenl said:

Nothing to do with booking, but with most people being able to realise rules now will be different from rules in 6 weeks time.

I don't know where you are from , but  you very misinformed about the situation.. Yes the rules will change, but be realistic with growing cases and deaths even in Phuket it seems that the rules will be stricter .. And it doesn't care which color they give, That is only propaganda and fake hopes

17 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I think most tourist don't book on a short term to go on holiday to a far country... Most make plans months before...so 6 weeks to go

 

Under what could be described as 'normal' circumstances you are correct.   However, this past year hasn't been 'normal'.   For most countries, foreign travel hasn't been possible due to their respective countries restrictions.   That is changing and without doubt there is a great deal of pent up demand.   It remains to be seen how many will take the opportunity of a Thailand visit, whether Phuket or elsewhere.

 

The flaw that I see in the 'Phuket Sandbox' scenario is that the Thai Government has singled out Phuket as a trial destination.   I'm not aware of any other country who sanction travel to only a part of country.   An example here, the Balearic Islands of Spain (Majorca, Ibiza etc) have had very low levels of Covid for some time, yet Spain as a whole currently remains off limits (though there is the possibility that the Canary Islands could be added to the UK's 'Green List' shortly).   Either the country as a whole is safe, or not at all.

British health secretary tells Brits to bypass Thailand for summer holidays

 

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/british-health-secretary-tells-brits-to-bypass-thailand-for-summer-holidays

4 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I don't know where you are from , but  you very misinformed about the situation.. Yes the rules will change, but be realistic with growing cases and deaths even in Phuket it seems that the rules will be stricter .. And it doesn't care which color they give, That is only propaganda and fake hopes

Where I am from has nothing to do with this. Number of cases and number of deaths are not growing on Phuket but going down. Your negativity is astounding.

On 5/17/2021 at 6:23 AM, Polaky said:

How long do you have to stay in Phuket before being allowed to travel elsewhere? Phuket is not my destination of choice, has this been discussed or are you limited to the island only?.

Probably as long as it takes to get a rental or a taxi.

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

British health secretary tells Brits to bypass Thailand for summer holidays

 

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/british-health-secretary-tells-brits-to-bypass-thailand-for-summer-holidays

Where can I send him a thank you note?

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

Where I am from has nothing to do with this. Number of cases and number of deaths are not growing on Phuket but going down. Your negativity is astounding.

Ok good luck to you ...

On 5/16/2021 at 11:51 PM, baansgr said:

Those 300 arrivals each month will make the economy boom again..flights from UK are almost £900 cattle class

Where are you getting you flight costs from? Just done a quick check on Kayak so possibly cheaper if you look. A lot can depend on the exact dates for outbound and inbound but this is what I've found.

 

I searched for economy flights from 4th July to 18th July +or- 3 days and  I found Turkish Airlines  £531 - £560.   Singapore seem to be about the same and so do Emirates and Qatar

On 5/17/2021 at 4:43 AM, Pattaya Spotter said:

I splashed out on the 49 baht bag ????

 

 

So now you can't afford anything to put in it. Are you asking for donations because you were silly and spent too much on a bag. ????????

On 5/17/2021 at 12:23 AM, Polaky said:

How long do you have to stay in Phuket before being allowed to travel elsewhere? Phuket is not my destination of choice, has this been discussed or are you limited to the island only?.

I think it's 7 days or possibly 7 nights and 8 days.

I think everyone has to get it into context.   

 

Has the exact criteria for foreign tourist entry been defined?   No.

 

Is there a guaranteed schedule of aircraft arrivals direct into Phuket from other countries?   No

 

Has the Thai and local Government met the previously proposed minimum standard of local vaccination?   No

 

Has there been a national  and global campaign of resort availability and guaranteed opening?   No

 

Have local Amphurs used the period of negative tourism to enhance the attractiveness of their areas?  No (qualified as some works have been ongoing).

 

Negative sounding I know, and I also know that local businesses (or at least those who are still open) are desperate for an influx of visitors.   Reality has to kick in though, which is why there is still a steady exodus of Thai nationals from Phuket returning to their home provinces.

 

I truly feel sorry for those people who desperately want to believe the TAT announcements and predictions, though in their hearts they know things will not change for a long time.

 

 

Prepare 3 cases one for your clothes one for your money and one for your entry paperwork ????

On 5/17/2021 at 12:10 PM, LivinginKata said:

 

Wife says it's  down to 2 cases in this mornings Thai media.

We all know this number game.  Unless you maintain the same level of testing.  Less testing = less cases.  Even better, no testing = zero case.

On 5/17/2021 at 6:42 AM, stevenl said:

Not true, all research points to vaccinated people getting far less infected and greatly reducing the spread as well.

 

Vaccines do not give you Teflon skin. They do not prevent reinfection. They simply prime your immune system to react to a new infection faster by leaving antibodies that can recognise the infection earlier, powering up the immune response already developed for the virus by the vaccination. This in turn can reduce the chances of the COVID virus gaining enough hold to give you mild or severe symptoms. There is as yet no clear information on the % of vaccinated people where that response happens fast enough to prevent them becoming infectious to others. Once that is known then quarantine for vaccinated people on return can be managed more effectively.

 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57084572

 

The advocacy levels for each vaccine differ as I previously mentioned, however it should be noted that the trials were made at differing times in the virus pandemic. The prevalence of the virus in the community at the time of the trials would affect the advocacy level. All trialed vaccines do prevent hospitalisation or death and greatly reduce the chances of transmission. To that extent they are all extremely effective in keeping you out of danger and in disarming the pandemic.

 

 

There are a lot of half informed views floating about. But I agree, that without the vaccination program, the chances of the World regaining control over the this pandemic would be next to none.

 

As I said before, make sure you are fully aware of the facts before you proceed to book travel. 

 

 

32 minutes ago, Muzzique said:

 

Vaccines do not give you Teflon skin. They do not prevent reinfection. They simply prime your immune system to react to a new infection faster by leaving antibodies that can recognise the infection earlier, powering up the immune response already developed for the virus by the vaccination. This in turn can reduce the chances of the COVID virus gaining enough hold to give you mild or severe symptoms. There is as yet no clear information on the % of vaccinated people where that response happens fast enough to prevent them becoming infectious to others. Once that is known then quarantine for vaccinated people on return can be managed more effectively.

 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57084572

 

The advocacy levels for each vaccine differ as I previously mentioned, however it should be noted that the trials were made at differing times in the virus pandemic. The prevalence of the virus in the community at the time of the trials would affect the advocacy level. All trialed vaccines do prevent hospitalisation or death and greatly reduce the chances of transmission so to that extent they are 100% effective in disarming the pandemic.

 

 

There is a lot of half informed views floating about. But I agree, that without the vaccination program, the chances of the World regaining control over the this pandemic would be next to none.

 

As I said before, make sure you are fully aware of the facts before you proceed to book travel. 

 

 

This quote from your article makes vaccinations even look better, "Of the 95 million people fully vaccinated in the US until 26 April, 9,045 developed breakthrough infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)."