Thailand sticking with plan to welcome vaccinated tourists in July

[nattaya09]

I was intrigued when this idea surfaced a couple months ago figuring a week at the beach was a reasonable tradeoff to get us to Udon to visit wife's family but it's out of the question now. Hopefully, by this time next year, Thailand will have figured out their vaccine program and gotten most of their population jabbed

[smedly]

I would like to know who they think they are protecting with this 14 day quarantine 

 

- are they trying to protect the fully vaccinated tourist from Thais

 

- are they trying to protect the not fully vaccinated Thais from fully vaccinated tourists

 

it really does not make any sense at all either way 

 

 

The bottom line - just accept fully vaccinated tourists into the country without all this ## nonsense (if they want to come) - simple as that  

[mtls2005]

The bump from seven days to fourteen is significant.

 

Has the country-list been published yet?

 

And the return via quarantine country list? Saw that Phumkit Raktaengam, president of the Phuket Tourist Association, mentioned that 20 of the 28 countries which send the most tourists (admittedly pre-COVID) have quarantine in place for their citizens who travel and return home.

 

And has 70 % of the local population really been fully vaccinated? Not just one shot.

 

I know you need to start somewhere, but honestly, they'll have more SHA properties than tourists. Is it really worth all the expense for a few tourist dollars? Maybe consider getting the populace vaccinated first? Justifying the deaths of 30-ish at-risk Thai seniors per day for a trip to the sandbox seems, well, distinctly macabre, even for Thailand.

 

And lastly, what are the plans to handle monitoring of the infection rate, what metrics will be used, what steps will eb taken to control a potential outbreak?

 

 

The plan seems half-baked, and even that's a stretch. They've located the oven, now if they just figure out how to turn it on without burning down the house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 4, 2021 by mtls2005

[SmartyMarty]

Overseas experience indicates this initiative will work, but not in the expected numbers. I think Phuket will end up very disappointed. 

[skorp13]

3 hours ago, Willy333 said:

Is there a plan to remove the ban on alcohol too? Tourists like to get drunk.

 

Exactly! Tourists aren't coming to a place where hardly anything is open, nothing to do, and they can't enjoy a drink with dinner

[JohnnyChristo]

Well if it’s Aussie’s they are expecting forget it. They might after Xmas but they plan on no international flights for a year or more. Things may change. Also who wants to go on a holiday to a place where the pandemic is just getting started. 

[Karma80]

All this does is steal the ASQ business from Bangkok hotels and diverts it to Phuket under the guise of SHA+ hotels where you can quarantine in a hotel, but be free to roam the island. The Phuket hotels were going bankrupt the next couple of months and this is just a band aid to get them through. Fair enough, but right now there is no short haul tourism, it's all long haul and I think you may need your head examined to come here for a two week vacation right now. 

 

 

[WilliamCave]

I am fully vaccinated and my Thai wife and my kids will be soon , 

why would  I need to quarantine in A specified hotel in Phuket for 14 days , hope it fully opens by Christmas or I will not be going there with my family . Even my Thai wife said no to staying in Phuket for 2 weeks . She said let’s look at the Caribbean or south America for 2 weeks from Canada and a week in Banff canada .

she said who’s pockets are being lined with designated hotel of there choice makes her mad 

guess they won’t get my money this year . I usually spend 6 months of the year in Thailand for 16 years but not now .

feel bad for the people in the service industry, 

 

 

[Henryford]

I thought it was a 7 day stay in Phuket, it's now 14 days. For most people that's their entire holiday.

[Poet]

11 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Is it really worth all the expense for a few tourist dollars? Maybe consider getting the populace vaccinated first? Justifying the deaths of 30-ish at-risk Thai seniors per day for a trip to the sandbox seems, well, distinctly macabre, even for Thailand.

Not one single Thai will catch Covid from fully-vaccinated Westerners.

Every outbreak so far has originated in Myanmar or one of the other neighboring countries where the virus is raging. Thailand has almost 5,000 KM of land borders and millions of illegal migrants work here.

If they want to prevent those 30 vulnerable Thais from dying each day, they need to start there.

If they want to rescue their economy, they need to drop the corrupt nonsense and make coming here as easy for vaccinated tourists as it was before the pandemic.

[scorecard]

"Stay in hotels certified by Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA+) for 14 nights, ...."

 

Looking forward to seeing the list of certified hotels, how many stars, and what's the lowest cost for the 14 days.

 

No Covid 19 tests during the 14 days. But just wondering. If yes then no doubt the hotel costs will rise by several thousand Baht especially if it's a family.

 

It mentions having an application; does that mean an app on smartphone, and what will be monitored, or does it mean an ankle bracelet? 

 

Ultimately will all foreigners entering Thailand (e.g. those with Thai wife visas, WP holders, PR holders etc.), with full vaccination be allowed to enter without quarantine?  

 

[ChipButty]

I think Thailand should at least give itself another month

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The plan was approved by the government's economic task force on Friday and comes just days ahead of the start of a mass-vaccination drive, the success of which will determine when Thailand can fully restart an industry that attracted 40 million tourists annually before the pandemic.

Vaccination plans up to now along with registration foul-ups means it doesn't bode well.

Talking of mass inoculations, their target is 60%-70% herd immunity, while mandating tourists to have 100% and both jabs?

Who is going to come to a country with only 70% at best [most with only one jab]?

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The government hopes at least 100,000 foreign tourists will come to Phuket in the third quarter.

Pure fantasy.

[BestB]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Stay in hotels certified by Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA+) for 14 nights, after which travel to other parts of Thailand will be allowed

In other words quarantine but with freedom of movement, at a premium price.

 

Not too sure how this will help to revive tourism or save small operators. Sure will help the big boys, but they are not the ones suffering and losing it all.

 

Personally, i am all for opening up and saving what is left, but putting a lipstick on a pig does not make it into anything else but a pig with a lipstick on.

 

If you open up, then you allow people freedom to chose where they stay and where they eat.

 

Having app and making reports is just silly, what happens if people do not? what happens if people lie?

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Stay in hotels certified by Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA+) for 14 nights, after which travel to other parts of Thailand will be allowed

To other parts of Thailand that haven't had the local population vaccinated... yeah great idea for tourists.

[nattaya09]

12 minutes ago, Poet said:

Not one single Thai will catch Covid from fully-vaccinated Westerners.

Every outbreak so far has originated in Myanmar or one of the other neighboring countries where the virus is raging. Thailand has almost 5,000 KM of land borders and millions of illegal migrants work here.

If they want to prevent those 30 vulnerable Thais from dying each day, they need to start there.

If they want to rescue their economy, they need to drop the corrupt nonsense and make coming here as easy for vaccinated tourists as it was before the pandemic.

Apparently, they're delusional enough to think they have a product that foreign tourists can't say no to.

 

If I wanted to spend two weeks at a beach, there are far nicer beaches two hours away in South Florida and the Caribbean

[BestB]

2 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Pure fantasy.

If i am not mistaken 3 days ago, there were 5 confirmed arrivals for July, little short of 100 000

[DoctorB]

2 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

"The beaches of Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Turkey........."

 

But not, for the moment (for many English tourists) the beaches of Portugal.

 

Many English have just had to cancel/cut short holidays because Portugal has been suddenly categorised as "Amber" :

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england.

 

Thailand is "Amber".

 

While I was writing the above someone has posted that the same applies to several of the "popular" destinations you mentioned.

 

UK "shenanigans" are just as potent as Thai ones.

 

 

 

Spot on matey. The UK government is currently showing the Thais to be rank amateurs in the shenanigan stakes. For weeks cynics have been prophesying that as the promised end of all restrictions draws near (21 June) some exciting new variant would be announced. Then 'bong' right on time, this week,  the Nepal variant pops up (though strongly denied by the Nepalese authorities); 'project fear' is back, the boffins are delighted and Joe Public is back in the dog house. This isn't going to end any time soon.

[starky]

4 hours ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

Do you really think Tourists are going to come to Thailand, when the 3rd wave is still not under control,, if so the government is very deluded... ????

If you can come to Phuket with no quarantine after having being vaccinated up to a year prior I think there will be plenty lining up tbh. Quite a few ifs though before that happens and more than likely not a lot of tourists but good for those who are long term visitors. If any of it is true or actually happens.

Edited June 5, 2021 by starky

[starky]

1 hour ago, jopham said:

They are saying to have to stay in a covid hotel for 2 weeks and then you are allowed to leave Phuket. What does that mean? Does is mean you travel free throught out Phuket and go and sleep in your hotel or can you only stay in the hotel grounds?

Yep they seemed to have, not surprisingly, backpedalled quite I bit.

 If I remember correctly at some point it was free to roam Phuket for 7 days and then to travel throughout Thailand. How is staying in an approved hotel for 14 days ( read 16 in Thailand) not quarantine?

[Henryford]

I can't see the point of forcing people to stay at a special (expensive?) hotel if they can go into any bar, shop, restaurant that they want.

[starky]

36 minutes ago, JohnnyChristo said:

Well if it’s Aussie’s they are expecting forget it. They might after Xmas but they plan on no international flights for a year or more. Things may change. Also who wants to go on a holiday to a place where the pandemic is just getting started. 

You can get out of Aus quite easily if you plan to leave for more than 3 months which obviously stops your average tourist. Bit harder to get out of WA obviously not as many flights.

   It's the getting back in and the atrocious Australian quarantine that is slightly more challenging. 

  If people want to imagine Thai quarantine is bad (which it's not)

  Aussie quarantine is woeful. Much much worse.

Edited June 5, 2021 by starky

[clivebaxter]

Know one bloke from EU booked already for August. His Thai gf was here last night, her new 800k car outside he just bought her. Known her 6 weeks never met her, he's never been here before. Yup the mugs will be back, in this case thanks to Thai Friendly, they ought to get a government subsidy!

[wensiensheng]

Here we go. No even the slightest clarification that the 50% refers to the percentage of the population that has had one jab. And that jab is sinovac which has a poor efficacy after the first jab, improving dramatically after the second.

 

it’s only taken a week, but already “vaccinated” is synonymous with having had only the first jab. Entirely predictable, as many did a week ago, but very disappointing that the press go along with this charade, even Richard Barrow.

 

congratulations Mr Governor and the other Thai authorities, you have worked out yet another way to put people’s lives at risk. Thank you for that.

[dsj]

I read that if you don't spend the whole 14 days in Phuket, you  will have to fly directly to your home country from Phuket, you can't travel throughout Thailand.

[ICELANDMAN]

• Stay in hotels certified by Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA+) for 14 nights, after which travel to other parts of Thailand will be allowed
• Update their health on the app and undergo further COVID-19 tests as required by the Public Health Ministry. Tourist activities under DMHTTA (Distancing, Mask wearing, Hand washing, Temperature, Testing, Application) are recommended.

 

 

 

                                                      PHUKET SANDBOX GUIDE

Edited June 5, 2021 by metisdead
Trolling image removed.

[wensiensheng]

1 minute ago, dsj said:

I read that if you don't spend the whole 14 days in Phuket, you  will have to fly directly to your home country from Phuket, you can't travel throughout Thailand.

Correct. 14 days quarantine in Phuket, only then can you travel through out Thailand.

 

notice also the double standard on vaccinations. To be “vaccinated” tourists must have two jabs, for locals, one jab makes you “vaccinated”.

 

comical.

[Dazinoz]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Stay in hotels certified by Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA+) for 14 nights, after which travel to other parts of Thailand will be allowed

Earlier in the week I read it was only 7 days in Phuket. All other requirements plus a covid test at day 5 and if negative you could travel after 7 days, now 14.

 

I read that all people involved with organising vaccines and things like the sandbox are being entered into the next Olympics. Sure to take out gold in the backflip event.

[Darkside Gray]

3 hours ago, RoyJames said:

Its not too bad.,no quarantine and you can go where you want after 14 days,I can think of worse places to spend 14 days than Patong lol,I wonder what the cost of the hotels will be,this could be the catch,otherwise I would consider going if I could get time off work.

With no Booze, I don't think so!