Sandbox: 50% of foreigners cancel plans to visit Phuket

[kimamey]

12 hours ago, Caldera said:

Ouch, such a vote of non confidence by the target group. Well deserved though, with those ongoing flip flops and last-minute "improvements".

 

And the remaining 50% ain't tourists! They are expats who use Phuket as an alternative to regular hotel quarantine.

I had intended to use it as a good way to return as well but now it's 14 days I think I'll wait and see if they reduce it later when they don't get the numbers they need. It's possible that a lack of people entering Phuket might mean there are less infections which may bring about a change as well.

 

To be honest they would have been better off just saying 14 days at the start rather teasing us with 7 days. Even  more days for example 17 or 18 but not in shut in a hotel room might have enticed some expats and they could then have moved to 14 or 7. It's like putting a price on something and then trying to push the price up to what you want. It's always better to improve the offer than worsen it.

[gim12]

the 50% cancellation statistic is a madeup lowball number, a complete farce,  the actual number will be  higher,   I bought a fully refundable that can be cancelled one hour before my flight. I havent cancelled yet as i will wait awhile  and then  will cancel if this cluster continues

[Beachboy66]

9 hours ago, ajarnmarc said:

I'm still enjoy the read about how they think tourist who arrive in Phuket, that are fully vaccinated, tested 72 hrs prior to flight, tested again upon arrival, they will be allowed to test yet again on the 6th day, and then they can transfer over to Samui for their remaining 8 days, and just for good measure get tested again on the 13th day, and if this fully vaccinated individual passes that last test, then they can then travel anywhere within Thailand freely, yes? I hope I got this all correct, as there are so many loops to jump through just to get through the process. Of course even though the individual is fully vaccinated he or she will also have to enjoy the new dress code or pay 1,000 bht upon first violation, and the price of the new dress code i.e. face mask, will increase quickly afterwards. 

Side note, person was recently tested on their 13th day stay here, after being tested before arrival and completing all the other noted tests, while staying at an approved facility on Phuket, only to find the test results on the 13th day, came back positive. I'm almost sure this is yet another trap to keep those happy tourist, who before arriving were informed the warm Phuket stay would only be required for 7 days, yet was extended to 14 days after arrival. Now it can be extended for another 14 days to cure the covid infection which they received during their holiday in the ultra safe environment created just for these lucky tourist. 

Not sure how at this point it's still considered a tourist holiday, or simply a warm fleecing of foreigners bring their hard earned saving into the friendly country for other to decide how to enjoy after the foreigners have departed to their home country. 

Did anyone think of what happens if one. Of the tests (highly insecure) show positive results. Will they be forced to quaratine then? Where is that quarantine? Will they check all persons that have been in contact and quarantine them as well? Or do they think we are a big quarantine in Phuket, if so, why even bother to test people? If you are sick you stay home. If you need hospital you go there.

[Ginner]

13 hours ago, Caldera said:

Ouch, such a vote of non confidence by the target group. Well deserved though, with those ongoing flip flops and last-minute "improvements".

 

And the remaining 50% ain't tourists! They are expats who use Phuket as an alternative to regular hotel quarantine.

I don't believe any of these 50% ever booked in the first place. Now the health minister can blame the foreigners for Phuket's decline.

  

[nattaya09]

7 hours ago, FarangJon said:

"Mr Pipat said that among the first people to visit the island in July will be  sailors from the US and British navies"

 

They will leave after one day. What they gona do the whole day without beer bars and the bar ladies? ????

Visit the Temples of course ????

[Albert Zweistein]

Pipat never asked me.

[Joe Mama]

I'm really surprised that's it's only 50% cancellations...I couldn't design a more anti-tourist vacation package if I tried to myself!  It's almost the middle of June, & they still haven't blessed the final entry process!  Keep in mind this program was designed for fully vaccinated folks, so increasing the lockdown from 7 days to 14 days is a complete show stopper for many folks!  Also, they keep increasing the number of required Covid tests from 1 to 3!  The initial departure RT-PCR tests offered at  US airports costs a whopping $250...not sure what 3 tests in Phuket will run, but I've heard anywhere from 1.2K up to 4K THB each!  Plus you'll need an expensive $100K Covid 19 insurance policy!   I'd love to book a flight...but I can't yet  because the total package is not approved, & the cost of tickets keep increasing every day that I delay!  I have no idea what 14 days in an approved SHA + hotel will cost either as they haven't even finalized the list, & now you have to get some crazy document with a QR code as proof of payment to send along for your COE!  And after all that heartache & expense, you still need to get the blessing of the foreign Thai embassies to let you in via the COE process!  And last, but not least, you get to have a completely dry, no alcohol vacation!  I just might as well go & spend 2 weeks in the Utah desert with the Mormons, it will be more fun, way less expensive, & equally as dry!

[Lucifer999]

50% canceled their trip so 1 of the 2 people that were coming canceled ... thailand is done = next stop vietnam 

[Jonathan Swift]

I have skipped over all comments because I have a tendency to have kneejerk responses that are really not (ahem) productive, but this I'm sure is no surprise and to be expected. I have no expectations of normalcy in any way until October anyway, and I don't think it was ever practical in the first place to think that Phuket or any other place would be normalized this soon. I'm sure that when they increased from 7 - 14 days they knew full well there would be losses. regardless of all criticism I grant Thai officials the right to make these decisions on the fly, given the nature of Covid and its unpredictability

[finnomick1]

Sandbox.....a place for politicians to bury their heads ?

 

[Stargeezr]

It is a good thing that Thailand is in the low season of their tourism, and the July sandbox may help some expats

that need to get back to Thailand. I think the October sandbox has a better chance at success.  The start of high

season, should have an affect on some decisions, by the excellent Thai governance and TAT deep thinkers.

  Maybe by October the vaccinated numbers will be higher and the better vaccines of Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J

will be available for those who are willing to pay for these shots.  Though I hear that the AZ vaccines are effective after the

2nd shot as well.  Good Luck High Season!

Geezer

[scunner]

3 hours ago, Beachboy66 said:

Did anyone think of what happens if one. Of the tests (highly insecure) show positive results. Will they be forced to quaratine then? Where is that quarantine? Will they check all persons that have been in contact and quarantine them as well? Or do they think we are a big quarantine in Phuket, if so, why even bother to test people? If you are sick you stay home. If you need hospital you go there.

 

Sounds like a money spinner - oh sorry, but someone has tested positive, from your intake,  I am afraid you will all have to stay in this approved Hotel for another 14 days, please go to reception to pay for your stay, have a great day now.

[kiwikeith]

16 hours ago, dyertribe said:

They are planning to bring navy guys in with no bars or entertainment venues open?  Tell them they're dreaming ...

I wonder if they can still get their tot of navy rum before going ashore, that will cheer them up me hearty. 

[Marknreston]

Unfortunately I believe more and more will cancel as more changes and restrictions come out.  Multiple COVID tests, very few businesses open, increasing from 7 to 14 days, etc etc.  and this for vaccinated and pre-travel tested tourists??   Just does not make sense to spend thousands on air travel and hotel.  I have reservations but will cancel soon.  

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

I did not book any flight but i had plans to come 1 july.

acctually i canceled my bangkok ASQ entrance plan and waited for the phuket plan.

but than i cancelled the phuket plan too, after i heard that the plan is called SANDBOX.

that was it.

i am sure that this name was chosen with intention to humiliate us the AI farang, and

there is so much for what i can take.

 

i am also looking now at panama for my next holiday and also residency plans.

in panama anyone can come, if you forget your PCR-PT T test you can do it at the

airport of panama for 50 USD, and if you are found positive you will have to get into

quarantine in a hotel paid by the panama government, yes you heard right.

panama will pay for your quarantine !!

this only proves to you how the thai government treats tourists...

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

11 hours ago, Ricebarnandrooms said:

My cats like the sand box. 

bring them over to play with the sailors !!

 

ohh wait a minute...you meant real cats...

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

8 hours ago, thailand49 said:

Stop all the nonsense ideas or dreams and just open up completely you got vaccinated " Come on in " no C.O.E. no insurance, no quarantine.

indeed this is the right thing to do.

either that the vaccines are working, or that they are not working.

thailand has no respect for the sceince behind the vaccines.

typical arrogance and ignorance.

[Pierre Hanot]

The other half is thinking about leaving Thailand when the opportunity arises. 2 months now of total inactivity!!!! + locals are broke. Elections? Heads will roll ..

[Mike Galley]

16 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Still time for the other 50% to cancel, 

 

As of today, the Embassy has not received any official guidelines regarding the Phuket Sand Box due to an ongoing situation in Thailand. Thus, the regulation at this time would be quarantine for 14 days.
If you plan to travel to Phuket in July, please check back on the Embassy’s website regularly.

 

https://thaiembdc.org/visas/ 

Perfect comment...thanks

[Pierre Hanot]

The other half is thinking about leaving Thailand when the opportunity arises. 2 months now of total inactivity!!!! + locals are broke. Elections? Heads will roll ..

[elgenon]

One more hole in the Thai government's credibility.

[Andycoops]

Another bloody nose for the minister of make it up as I go along in la la land.

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, KarenBravo said:

Who's going to re-open their business with this news?

Northern girls who love a sailor?

[ChipButty]

Just imagine a boat load of sailors landing here and not a bar open not much pussy available the place looking like ghost town thats a great advertisement they will never recommend the place, 

[EVENKEEL]

21 hours ago, dyertribe said:

They are planning to bring navy guys in with no bars or entertainment venues open?  Tell them they're dreaming ...

I can't speak for the British but the US Navy has long been enforcing crazy liberty regulations. I don't think bars being closed will stop the port visits.

[10baht]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

29,700 foreigners have now cancelled plans to visit Phuket.

What don't they mean 4.5 ???

[nausea]

This is heading into damp squid territory fast. Personally, I had great times there in the early 2000s, later, one or two bad experiences turned me off the place completely. Little empathy from me. Karma hits. You think you're the bees knees, and can do <deleted> you like; sorry, Black Swan and all that, I must say schadenfreude is very heavy with me.

[BobinBKK]

22 hours ago, McGregor21 said:

Over 50%....not just 50%..wonder what the true figure is.

 

Not a shock, constant flip flopping on policy and the decision not to allow bars to open. 

 

They will still get the long term returning expats who see it as a better option than being stuck inside a BKK hotel for two weeks.

 

Tourists...you're dreaming.

I would never book travel to that ???? hole. Too many other places in Thailand with much nicer Thai people!!!

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, nausea said:

This is heading into damp squid territory fast. Personally, I had great times there in the early 2000s, later, one or two bad experiences turned me off the place completely. Little empathy from me. Karma hits. You think you're the bees knees, and can do <deleted> you like; sorry, Black Swan and all that, I must say schadenfreude is very heavy with me.

More like the Dying Swan

[Bluedan]

1 hour ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

has been blowing up on thai friendly too...many trying to sell me vdo and cam...

yes I think they just hear a rumor about opening and jump onto the Isaan - Phuket express bus