Tourism minister: Phuket unlikely to be ready for "sandbox" opening - "sealed route" share with Samui proposed

[connda]

1 hour ago, rumak said:

 

tsk tsk .   there are definitely people in favor of this great idea !

 

The Phuket RTP would swoop in and arrest everyone for failure to wear masks, improper social distancing, and having fun.  The lot would be paraded in front of Thai media and ostracized, fined, and threatened with deportation. 

[Jimbo2014]

Well I for one am relieved to see some predictability come to this pandemic.  Up until now everything seemed to be unpredictable, uncertain.  Phuket failing to open, thats something we were all certain about.

[rumak]

Just now, connda said:

The Phuket RTP would swoop in and arrest everyone for failure to wear masks, improper social distancing, and having fun.  The lot would be paraded in front of Thai media and ostracized, fined, and threatened with deportation. 

 

they are a fine example .......of Amazing Thailand

[new2here]

To me, I’d start kind of “small” so-to-speak..: show people the process works — especially if there will be major foreign media present… after a few weeks or so, THEN add to it.. by then word would have got out that the Phuket model works.. then they could add to it.

 

If you do in fact get it right, then the media will “sell” it for you - and i’d argue that the media would have a much father reach and probably better credibility.. so .. getting it right when they are there is huge. 

 

I’d rather start with the basics and get that correct right “out-of-the-box” versus shoot too big and look foolish when you have to step it backwards and fix it…

[DefaultName]

And the people who'd booked to come based on the governments dates?

[friendofthai]

Just replace COE with fixed entry fee - and 1 million tourists will arrive Phuket tomorrow. But they will not do it for years.

[anchadian]

Breaking: Prime Minister allows some relaxing of a few restrictions in Bangkok, including museums, parks, tattoo shops, and foot massages. This is effective Monday, June 14th He also stated the Phuket Sandbox will proceed as of July First. More soon.

 

https://twitter.com/The_PattayaNews/status/1403701714675372035

[Aussiepeter]

Backhand ad forehand. According to the Thai missus' friends in LOS, who once ran a good business in Kaosarn Road (we are in Oz, but she chats with them daily) - LOS is "stuffed" without tourists and will remain so, perhaps for years. They are barely surviving, selling basic foodstuffs in front of their house in BKK & are also 'sh*t scared of getting any dodgy vax for covid, as they "don't trust the current administration". Hmm. Neither does the wife either it seems - she says "Oz is MY home now - forget that other place, 'cos we aren't taking MY daughter there ever, whilst covid is still around". It seems that now that she is an Aussie citizen, it is "MY" daughter, rather than "OUR" daughter but really, who cares ? Not me  - I just got the all clear - no prostate cancer five years after 'salvage radiation', to correct a Thai Dr's failed op - I can still hoist the flag too ! Life is good in the great-south-land, even with 'she-that-must-be-obeyed' running the show. Most of the time. Cheers all !

[Lashay]

1 hour ago, habuspasha said:

Please say where you read this.

You can read for yourself what was really said here.

 

So yes this is textbook example of fake news, Thai visa changed title, took out where minister says July 1 is still on for Phuket and then misrepresented that he was really talking about Phuket-Samui sealed route.

 

Same minister has been in multiple other industry meetings today saying July 1 is still on

 

If TV admins had any self respect would delete this article with an public apology

 

Edit: And in last hour PM also confirmed on facebook that July 1 is still a go

Edited June 12, 2021 by Lashay
Update

[thailand49]

Another bet won this is getting so easy!????

[Lashay]

12 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

Another bet won this is getting so easy!????

If your bet was July 1 not happening...you probably lost. This is fake news created by ThaiVisa.

 

 PM just confirmed again July 1 in last hour

[desert dueller]

7 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Errrrrrrr Just a minute, does the tourist have a say in any of this? For example maybe some maybe do not want to go to Samui or anywhere else for that matter except maybe the mainland can they stay in Phuket for the whole two weeks?? Then proceed directly to the mainland...........

You ting tu mat

[desert dueller]

5 hours ago, palm said:

 

Tweet of the Week™

Not "center". Please, get with the program. "Hub" of the Universe. The hub of all hubs. Especially stupidity. All of Asia's stupidity is parked here.

[desert dueller]

3 hours ago, Mavideol said:

I dare to disagree, 1,000 baht will get you much less then before, bars owners expect to have same profit with much less customers, the THAI Logic is, if before they made 1,000 baht profit selling 100 beers now they expect the same 1,000 baht profit but selling 10 beers  555

Correct. Although you are missing the point: believe it or not, but it obviously works for them. Hike the prices, the punters won't worry. Why? It's called the power of the little cat.

[eddie61]

Will someone tell this donkey that no ones listening to him anymore….

Edited June 12, 2021 by eddie61

[skatewash]

This whole kerfuffle reminds me of the time during World War II when Churchill was talking with reporters about the progress of the war when a friend asked him if he and Mrs. Churchill could meet him at the Savoy for dinner that night.  Churchill was overheard by a reporter to say "Sorry, we can't make it."  The next day the banner headline in the Times read: "WAR LOST! CHURCHILL SAYS WE CAN'T MAKE IT!"

The egregious level of reporting (true everywhere, but especially here) is only matched by the tendency of Thai officials to shoot from the hip, sometimes not even bothering to remove the weapon from the holster before firing.

The inevitable "This was all a misunderstanding" article to follow tomorrow.

By the way, I made up the story in the first paragraph out of whole cloth.  I'm thinking of going into journalism.

[stevenl]

6 minutes ago, skatewash said:

This whole kerfuffle reminds me of the time during World War II when Churchill was talking with reporters about the progress of the war when a friend asked him if he and Mrs. Churchill could meet him at the Savoy for dinner that night.  Churchill was overheard by a reporter to say "Sorry, we can't make it."  The next day the banner headline in the Times read: "WAR LOST! CHURCHILL SAYS WE CAN'T MAKE IT!"

The egregious level of reporting (true everywhere, but especially here) is only matched by the tendency of Thai officials to shoot from the hip, sometimes not even bothering to remove the weapon from the holster before firing.

The inevitable "This was all a misunderstanding" article to follow tomorrow.

By the way, I made up the story in the first paragraph out of whole cloth.  I'm thinking of going into journalism.

It wasn't a misunderstanding since it clearly was not what he said. No flipflopping here, just bad reporting.

[chaihot]

Quote

Thailand's tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan as saying that the much vaunted opening of Phuket under the "sandbox" no quarantine scheme will not happen on July 1st.

 

2 hours ago, anchadian said:

Breaking: Prime Minister allows some relaxing of a few restrictions in Bangkok, including museums, parks, tattoo shops, and foot massages. This is effective Monday, June 14th He also stated the Phuket Sandbox will proceed as of July First. More soon.

 

https://twitter.com/The_PattayaNews/status/1403701714675372035

 

Hahahahahahahah

[stevenl]

4 minutes ago, chaihot said:

 

 

Hahahahahahahah

Since the tourism minister never said what he was 'quoted' as having said, they're both saying the same. It will go ahead from 1 July.

[AnnieSeek]

As soon as it went to 14 days (actually 15 days), with 3 tests, and the threat of going into a field hospital, families seperated if you test positive, then it was never going to work. 

 

It's essentially just turned into a another quarantine proposal, that will take guests from Bangkok to Phuket. The number who have entered Bangkok since ASQ began has been very low. Infact Phuket will probably be best served by just opening up to domestic tourists again. 

 

With the more dangerous Indian variant i do understand why Thailand would be cautious. There will be unvaccinated people coming to Phuket mixing with new tourists who may pass the virus onto them, and then they take the virus back to an unvaccinated Bangkok population. 

[Bkk Brian]

16 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Since the tourism minister never said what he was 'quoted' as having said, they're both saying the same. It will go ahead from 1 July.

How do you know the tourism minister said that?

[skatewash]

10 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

How do you know the tourism minister said that?

https://siamrath.co.th/n/252224

in translation, Google Translate

Quote

 

Mr. Phiphat discussed the Phuket Sand Box project that the government will push to happen on July 1, with details of such projects It is open to tourists who have been injected. Complete vaccine Traveling to Thailand via Phuket Province, where tourists can travel in Phuket without quarantine. But tourists must stay in Phuket for 14 days and pass 2 Covid-19 tests. Once the result is safe, on the 15th day tourists can continue traveling throughout Thailand.

In this regard, the Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao Tourism Association has proposed the Samui Sealed Route model to run parallel to the Phuket Sand Box, starting on July 1, 1964 as well, for tourists who come to stay in Phuket. Stayed in Phuket for the first 7 days. On the 8-14 days, stay at Koh Samui. and check for infection as well
Phiphat said that the proposed Samui Sealed Route model will be announced on July 1, 64, with Phuket, is unlikely to be able to do so in time. But will try to push in the Cabinet meeting and the CCP to announce Samui Sealed Route on August 1, 64 with the following guidelines when tourists come to Phuket. Let tourists stay in Phuket for 7 days. On the 8th day, Bangkok Airways planes pick up tourists from Phuket. to Koh Samui and stay at Koh Samui on 8-14 days after 14 days from tourists entering Thailand will be tested for COVID-19 If the virus is not found, you can travel anywhere in Thailand.
However, both Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao must prepare personnel to accommodate tourists. The establishment must have SHA+. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism will go to negotiate with Bangkok Airways regarding the Phuket-Samui-Phuket flight in order to prepare the travel measures (Sealed Flight) to be safe.

 

 

Seems arguable to me that the minister confirmed the Phuket Sandbox as starting on July 1.  The comment about Phuket not being ready was in reference to the Samui Sealed Route model.  That is, as the Phuket Sandbox will start July 1, they will not be ready to announce the Samui Sealed Route model at the same time on July 1, but that they will likely announce the Samui Sealed Route model as starting on August 1.

Edited June 12, 2021 by skatewash
Emphasis added (bold italics).

[Bkk Brian]

8 minutes ago, skatewash said:

https://siamrath.co.th/n/252224

mmmm reading that in Google translate does indeed seem like the article in the OP is not exactly correct, thanks

[nkg]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

the much vaunted opening of Phuket under the "sandbox" no quarantine scheme will not happen on July 1st.

 

Google translate of https://siamrath.co.th/n/252224:

 

Quote

 

Mr. Phiphat discussed the Phuket Sand Box project that the government will push to happen on July 1, with details of such projects It is open to tourists who have been injected. Complete vaccine Traveling to Thailand via Phuket Province, where tourists can travel in Phuket without quarantine. But tourists must stay in Phuket for 14 days and pass 2 Covid-19 tests. Once the result is safe, on the 15th day tourists can continue traveling throughout Thailand.

 

Phiphat said that the proposed Samui Sealed Route model will be announced on July 1, 64, with Phuket, is unlikely to be able to do so in time. But will try to push in the Cabinet meeting and the CCP to announce Samui Sealed Route on August 1, 64 with the following guidelines when tourists come to Phuket.

 

 

 

[skatewash]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/388875605677294/permalink/398562118041976/?comment_id=398579644706890

Google translation of the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha from a tweet made this evening:

Quote

2. Phuket Sandbox project (Phuket Sandbox) is a project that arises from my order. To find a way to try to open the country to tourists without quarantine to revive the tourism industry that has always been the country's main income. The island can be controlled, so we are preparing by mobilizing vaccinations for the people of Phuket, which today injected more than 70% of the whole province's population, especially brothers and sisters in the tourism sector. We will give 100% vaccination, which will be open only to tourists who have completed 2 injections from low-risk countries and must stay in Phuket for at least 14 days before traveling to other areas and will have Disease examination and monitoring system Strict example with by project This "Phuket Sandbox" has been reviewed by the Center for Economic Situation Administration (CDC) and the Council of Ministers has received preliminary notice. The next step is to update the details for the CDC. and the Cabinet formally approved which is expected to start on July 1 and will continue to serve as a model for other tourism areas for other sectors such as restaurants or other tourist areas that still have conditions Close the place or have various restrictions, I and B.C.C. The situation is constantly assessed taking into account both the safety of public health and the lifestyle of the people and will be announced as soon as a resolution is made.

Edited June 12, 2021 by skatewash
Added emphasis in bold italic.

[Bkk Brian]

The Thai Prime Minister this evening (June 12^th) has “unofficially” announced on his Facebook page to ease some restrictions in Bangkok around Covid-19 and stated that the Phuket Sandbox will proceed on July 1st after some further adjustments to the plan by the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and the Thai Cabinet.

 

The announcements, which we note are not yet truly official as they need to be printed in the Royal Gazette and in government orders, but are now nearly guaranteed to proceed, were made on the Prime Minister’s Facebook accounts around 9:00 P.M. tonight, June 12th, 2021. The statements followed a day in which doubt was placed on the Phuket Sandbox proceeding forward on schedule by some organizations and individuals based on statements that were reportedly taken out of context by the Tourism Minister.

 

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/06/12/thai-prime-minister-announces-on-social-media-easing-of-some-bangkok-covid-19-restrictions-states-phuket-sandbox-will-move-forward-on-july-1st/

[Paradise Pete]

14 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Brain dead do they honestly think tourist will put up with that <deleted> being herded around like POW's 

 

I'm sure the transfer will be optional. They could stay in Phuket if they wanted to.

[Venom]

13 hours ago, clivebaxter said:

Government stupidity and incompetence at least lightens the mood, in what is becoming a depressing and frustrating place to be stuck in ????

Sadly, now even the locals are avoiding Phuket like the plague as the regulations flip flop daily. Even the officials have no clue what's happening on a daily basis. No way to plan a holiday around that! ????

[cardinalblue]

Delay delay delay....

 

judt a killer for expats who want to return or ones who want to get vaccinated overseas but then can’t get back in w/o quarantine....

[Madeline Thompson]

There never was a Phuket opening July 1st - Thai embassy in London, England (for example) knew nothing about that, they only read about it in the news, they were never informed officially by the Thai junta government. There won't be one for August 1st either.  No way.  Emergency Decree still in place, which means there is no democratic government in power in Thailand.