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

[Lokie]

Seems lots of Vlads crew are already populating the beaches of Zanzibar (Tanzania) instead of Thailand as its open with no Circus hoops to jump through, was watching a vlog yesterday by a US guy who speaks the local Chagger lingo, Fly into Dar Es Salaam and ferry to island of Zanzibar (part of the Spice Islands)

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, nkg said:

 

 

 

If that's so, it's a disgrace. People could have potentially cancelled their flights and hotel bookings after seeing that article.

 

 

 

Lets hope they had refundable tickets 

[smudger1951]

14 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

We are ready. No we are not ready. They were ready, but we were not. We were ready, but they were not. We are going to open July 1st. No August 1st. Maybe October 1st. Not sure. Maybe we will never open. Maybe we should just give up on tourism. After all, it is only 20% of our economy. We can always make up for it somewhere else. We are a giant, and one of the world's leading nations. 

 

Huh? You guys are the shame of the planet. Some of the most timid and cowardly people anywhere. Over 60 nations have fully opened for tourism already. Thailand as usual, is behind the curve. Shame on your guys. Livelihoods are a stake, and you act like it means nothing. How can one still be a rank amateur after how many years at the job? Your behavior has sabotaged a once lively industry. You goons are turning the nation from the tiger of SE Asia, into a tiny little, whiny, timid, traumatized, crying pussycat.

 

Let the islands decide, or the islands should act in total defiance of the administration and create their own plans. This is so far past ridiculous, it boggles the mind. 

 

Thailand is one of the countries open for tourism, but it has some of the strictest regulations. First, travelers must have a valid visa unless they qualify for the Visa Exemption Scheme. Once they have the approved visa, they must apply for a Certificate of Entry.

 

Additionally, tourists must present a medical certificate for a negative RT-PCR test result that was obtained within 72 hours of departure, proof of COVID-19 travel insurance coverage of over USD 100,000, as well as a reservation number for certified accommodation, such as an Alternative State Quarantine facility. This is where they’ll stay for the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

 

https://capturetheatlas.com/countries-open-for-tourism/#thailand

Spidermike007, you've summed it up perfectly. You just know they don't want us, covid is a good excuse. Its like they put up a tangle of barbed wire around the country and its not coming down soon. 

[Sharron Merrilees]

21 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

Thailand

The Fuster Cluck center of the Universe.

Australia Is not that different , as for us getting vaccinated, There has only been 5-6 million so far in the whole country. It keep's going on one stuff up after another as for the boarders reopening That is one sick joke, I like many others are dying to get out I would much rather spend my money on somewhere that needs it and I love, so will get back there as soon as t can where once more it will be the land of smiles.

[ChipButty]

24 minutes ago, Sharron Merrilees said:

 it will be the land of smiles.

Not smiling much at the moment

[thailand49]

10 hours ago, Lashay said:

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

You dreaming!  the PM is a puppet!  he is behind times the article stated it hasn't been approved although officials have been bragging about it for months. With these leaders anything is possible but history is I have a 90% plus chance of winning I go with those odds, even if I lose this one I'm so far ahead it isn't funny!????

[Sharron Merrilees]

1 hour ago, thailand49 said:

You dreaming!  the PM is a puppet!  he is behind times the article stated it hasn't been approved although officials have been bragging about it for months. With these leaders anything is possible but history is I have a 90% plus chance of winning I go with those odds, even if I lose this one I'm so far ahead it isn't funny!????

Only thing I am dreaming about is when I get out of here, PM and his mates puppets that is putting it mildly, I can't say what I think of them or would be banned  off this site. If you are lucky enough to live up there stay,I cause this country has gone to the pack and I'm being nice. I LOVE THAILAND.

[Bozo travel]

Give them points for trying…… but it’s time to throw in the towell.   
We’ve said all along,,who , apart from family reunions will bother with all the BS in getting here.     IF & when things do resume it will only happen once mass vaccination is achieved AND countries can agree on Vac passport policy.,  At the moment UK, USA,  EU, Canada AUS & NZ to name a few will not recognise Sinovac & Sputnik UNTIL they have independently tested the stuff. 
See how long that takes…..with all the legal BS involved. 

So far it’s been the medics calling the shots & getting the cash…….just wait until the lawyers get involved with rules & regs involved in Vaccine treaties between countries. 
 

This game is far from over.

[drenddy]

Delusions.

 

They want to do 2 sandboxes in one, Phuket and Samui, try to see, how it works.

 

These guys really believe that tourists will just run to the airports in order to get a fly to Thailand.

 

 

[DUNROAMIN]

Phuket quick sand plan.

[BestB]

6 minutes ago, Bozo travel said:

Give them points for trying…… but it’s time to throw in the towell.   
We’ve said all along,,who , apart from family reunions will bother with all the BS in getting here.     IF & when things do resume it will only happen once mass vaccination is achieved AND countries can agree on Vac passport policy.,  At the moment UK, USA,  EU, Canada AUS & NZ to name a few will not recognise Sinovac & Sputnik UNTIL they have independently tested the stuff. 
See how long that takes…..with all the legal BS involved. 

So far it’s been the medics calling the shots & getting the cash…….just wait until the lawyers get involved with rules & regs involved in Vaccine treaties between countries. 
 

This game is far from over.

Not recognising sinovac and Sputnik is political , nothing to do with science. AZ vaccine people dying daily from it and yet do not see anyone rushing to ban it or put a stop to study it more.

 

pfyser has less mortality and once again no one in a hurry to change 

[BestB]

Original plan was to open up and enjoy the freedom for vaccinated people, final results is same strict conditions in addition to half businesses being forced to close.

 

hardly a winner or attractive or even promotional 

[Harveyboy]

On 6/12/2021 at 9:20 AM, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Anyone shocked?...

Reminds me when I first visited LOS and was called Hansum, or when a thai girl said she "loved me"...that was 2008..

yep i met the same girl ..we both hansum

[stevenl]

7 hours ago, smudger1951 said:

Spidermike007, you've summed it up perfectly. You just know they don't want us, covid is a good excuse. Its like they put up a tangle of barbed wire around the country and its not coming down soon. 

No, he did not. Ever since 1 July opening has been announced they have stuck to it. Some changes were made, but the date and the programme have in its conception not changed.

[Goldpanner]

On 6/12/2021 at 8:15 AM, malibukid said:

those where the days

1975

[desert dueller]

Not sure what the rules are here for publishing links, but this one is a neat synopsis of the current state of affairs and how it is viewed from an outside perspective.

 

If the link may not be published, please delete.

 

https://loyaltylobby.com/2021/06/12/new-development-self-sabotage-in-the-phuket-sandbox-all-bars-entertainment-venues-on-phuket-island-remain-closed/

[spidermike007]

How about a sealed route for Phiphat. Limit the area he is allowed to visit, limit the media coverage he gets, and thereby limit the degree to which he can sabotage the future of tourism here. 

[CANSIAM]

Makes you wonder if this July 1  'Phuket opening' was never to be, it did however get a large number of the island population vaccinated with the Sinovac jab ( once ).

[cheapcanuck]

No suprise here.

August 1st will also be post poned too.

 

[ChipButty]

It’s highly possible that the authorities are throwing as many roadblocks in the way to deter people from actually making a go in the early weeks / months so they can avoid cancelling the entire project altogether and face another humiliation as their previous 15+ reopening plans didn’t pan out.

Just about sums it up

[rott]

On 6/12/2021 at 11:40 PM, Bkk Brian said:

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/

It actually says "expected to start on July 1st". So a bit of face saving wriggle room there if things do not look right. 

[stevenl]

7 hours ago, cheapcanuck said:

No suprise here.

August 1st will also be post poned too.

 

Why do people react to proven incorrect news as if it were correct is beyond me.

[joecoolfrog]

Im still moderately hopeful of a january trip to Thailand.

[metisdead]

Posts using trolling images have been removed. 

 

Other off topic posts and replies have been removed. 

[ChipButty]

Is it possible i ask myself 

[skatewash]

3 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Is it possible i ask myself 

We will see.  But remember when they say 70% of the population needs to be vaccinated, for purposes of whether Phuket is ready for the Sandbox to start, people who are fully vaccinated are counted AND people who have received just one (1) dose of AstraZeneca are also counted.  

So at the time the data for this graphic were produced Phuket was a lot closer to the 61% than the 28.  The data is a few days old and vaccination has been ongoing daily.

[spidermike007]

What about the possibility of the administration deliberately trying to sabotage tourism, so their rich friends can come in and swoop up resort properties at 60% off?

 

Too cynical? Impossible? Hope so. But, with these creeps, the moral degradation seems to know no bounds. 

 

And common sense, logic, and reason, do not seem to apply to any aspect of this fiasco. 

[skatewash]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

What about the possibility of the administration deliberately trying to sabotage tourism, so their rich friends can come in and swoop up resort properties at 60% off?

 

Too cynical? Impossible? Hope so. But, with these creeps, the moral degradation seems to know no bounds. 

 

And common sense, logic, and reason, do not seem to apply to any aspect of this fiasco. 

‘Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.’ -- Napoleon Bonaparte

[spidermike007]

I know some Thais who put their life savings into trying to save their businesses on Samui. And failed, as every effort was sabotaged by Pratin. Same applies to Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi, Lanta, CM, and other spots.

 

 

 

This is a national tragedy. And who is to blame? Well, the spread could have likely been contained back in December with a 14 day, 2km. radius (of the seafood market area with 900 plus infections in one day) lockdown of Samut. So, the Pratin pair are to blame. Fair and square. Entirely on their small and feeble shoulders. Take the heat boys. You messed up badly. 

[hansgruber]

Let me tell you. The banks are in panic mode. Repossession only leaves overpriced assets on their books. 

I know of Thai people who can't repay their mortgage but the bank has said nevermind and accepted a much lower payment just to keep the repossession off the books. 

When you have the bank pleading for you to stay in your home you know things are bad right now in Thailand.