Phuket ready for the Sandbox! But PM says “don't let mafia" spoil the party

[webfact]

Picture: Manager

 

Thailand's tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprkarn had a stark message from prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha when he visited Phuket ahead of the island's opening to international tourism next week. 

 

Don't let Phuket's infamous mafia spoil the party. 

 

With this in mind all the pick-ups at the airport will be registered drivers and no taxi mafia will be allowed. 

 

Around 300 tourists are expected on the big day next Thursday. 

 

Manager reported that deputy governor of Phuket Phichet Panapong outlined the readiness of the island for the start of "Phuket Sandbox" on July 1st at a meeting at the international airport yesterday.

 

International tourists who have received two doses of WHO and Thai authority approved vaccines will have to stay on the island for 14 days before going elsewhere. Their movements will be tracked by compulsory apps. 

 

Picture: Manager

 

Pipat said just a few minor matters remained to be sorted but that Phuket was 100% ready and he was "waiting for the first tourist to arrive at the airport".

 

Then the question was: "How many?"

 

Pipat said that on Thursday he was expecting something around 300. 

 

But not to worry, when others see how safe it is they will decide to come and he was expecting increasing numbers in the last three months of the year.

 

He said that the latest Tourism Authority of Thailand assessment was that 100,000 visitors in the next three months will spend 9 billion baht. 

 

He said this was down on previous assessments by 30,000 people after it was decided to change the requirement to stay on Phuket from 7 days to 14. 

 

"Be that as it may," he said "Thais and foreigners will all be safe".

 

Then he mentioned that one big concern of the PM, the mafia. 

 

It was clear that with so much resting on the Phuket Sandbox as regards the immediate future of Thai tourism the government did not want the mafia putting a spanner in the works and upsetting foreign tourists, notes Thaivisa. 

 

Planning to visit Phuket? Book your Sandbox hotel here

 

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[Phuketshrew]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

Pipat said that on Thursday he was expecting something around 300. 

Yet the governor told us 1,500 yesterday ....

These guys are not even reading the same book let alone on the same page.

[poskat]

"the government did not want the mafia putting a spanner in the works and upsetting foreign tourists, notes Thaivisa."

 

having 80% of places closed and no holiday partying allowed will be much bigger spanners in the works than anything the taxi goons could do.

 

"Hey Trevor, how was your phuket holiday"  "Totally boring mate, only a few restaurants to go to, the shops were all closed, and the only booze was at the 7/11... dont bother going.....however, the taxis were great"

Edited June 25, 2021 by poskat

[JonnyF]

I'm sure this won't be a problem and that the gang of work deprived taxi mafia will offer a polite, inexpensive and courteous service to these tourists. Meters on of course.

 

 

[ikke1959]

expect to arrive ......who cares 300 or 1500??? The question is How many people have confirmed and booked already there flights..And talking about maffia... the head is in Bangkok busy to delay vaccines

[PFMills]

I feel bad now, I’ve got this all wrong, I thought they were the mafia.

[nattaya09]

I'd say the Govt foreign tourist requirements already spoiled the party for everyone...including the "mafia"

[Bkk Brian]

48 minutes ago, Phuketshrew said:

Yet the governor told us 1,500 yesterday ....

These guys are not even reading the same book let alone on the same page.

You can trust the Phuket Governor with numbers, honest, no testing no need to add new covid cases each day

[richard_smith237]

It’ll all be ok now...  an announcement has been made..... 

[ChipButty]

How about he tells the mafia he's the one with all the guns

[grandpa]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Don't let Phuket's infamous mafia spoil the party. 

Surely, the renowned Royal Thai Police Force, should be responsible for this! Aren't they controlled by central government?  Oh wait a moment though, they are the mafia! ????

[ChipButty]

They know no different it's ingrained into them from birth, I stopped off at one of these junk shops as I call them that sell everything along the main near home I wanted to buy just one pint glass stay home like a good boy drinking my beer.

I picked one up took it to the counter how much, she said 270 baht, it just doesn't stop.

I eventually bought one in Phuket town for 90 baht and better quality,

[Pravda]

Why... I only go to Phuket for the taxi mafia

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

a few minor matters remained to be sorted but that Phuket was 100% ready

Doublespeak.

A few minor matters means less than 100%.

How minor and how many is a few?

[Sticky Rice Balls]

the fact that the PM of LOS has confirmed that a mafia exists, and has for decades, and yet does nothing about it, shows whos really in charge there...so will the admit that prostitution is rampant too?

[smedly]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

But not to worry, when others see how safe it is they will decide to come and he was expecting increasing numbers in the last three months of the year.

so they have only 300 confirmed the rest of the numbers they have been pumping for weeks was all ##

[BobinBKK]

Considering all of these ridiculous restrictions and the way foreigners are treated in this country, I honestly hope that not only Phuket but Thailand as a whole fails. Who in there right mind wants to spend there hard earned money and earned vacation time from work to holiday in any destination that has the unmitigated gaul telling you what to do and how to do it. Vacations are supposed to be restful and stress free with plenty of unrestricted activities and all business open that makes their holiday a fun and memorable experience. Irregardless if you agree with me or not, life is short, each and everyone of us deserves much more than this! As long as you don't hurt anyone or yourself, live and enjoy life by your rules. Never let anyone dictate your life!

[WineOh]

No mafia allowed???

 

are you having a laugh?

 

They have been camping outside Phuket airport since the beginning of June! ????

[connda]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Don't let Phuket's infamous mafia spoil the party. 

That's totally for the government to control but they chose not to.
If the government wanted the mafia ended, they'd end the mafia.
So obviously they don't.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Don't let Phuket's infamous mafia spoil the party. 

Dream on.

[thaibeachlovers]

24 minutes ago, BobinBKK said:

Considering all of these ridiculous restrictions and the way foreigners are treated in this country, I honestly hope that not only Phuket but Thailand as a whole fails. Who in there right mind wants to spend there hard earned money and earned vacation time from work to holiday in any destination that has the unmitigated gaul telling you what to do and how to do it. Vacations are supposed to be restful and stress free with plenty of unrestricted activities and all business open that makes their holiday a fun and memorable experience. Irregardless if you agree with me or not, life is short, each and everyone of us deserves much more than this! As long as you don't hurt anyone or yourself, live and enjoy life by your rules. Never let anyone dictate your life!

I can only assume you spent your holidays in such IMO awful places as Phuket and Samui. They used to be great but were IMO ruined before corona.

However, there are places away from the madding crowd that were delightful to visit pre corona, so long as one did not expect the IMO abomination of flashpacker accommodation.

Edited June 25, 2021 by thaibeachlovers

[clivebaxter]

It's officially mafia Island then, best avoided completely

[Cake Monster]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprkarn had a stark message from prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha when he visited Phuket ahead of the island's opening to international tourism next week. 

 

Don't let Phuket's infamous mafia spoil the party. 

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"Be that as it may," he said "Thais and foreigners will all be safe".

 

Then he mentioned that one big concern of the PM, the mafia. 

 

It was clear that with so much resting on the Phuket Sandbox as regards the immediate future of Thai tourism the government did not want the mafia putting a spanner in the works and upsetting foreign tourists, notes Thaivisa. 

They may be assuring the Safety, of the Tourists from the Airport to their Hotel with registered " Non Mafia " drivers, but once the tourists have signed in, and had their Tests Etc, they will be fair game for all the Professional Gougers who have had a Year or more to practice their art, and probably develop new skills as well.

An open admission of Mafia Gangs on Phuket made by a Prime Minister, really says it all about this Country now.

They have Mafia Gangs in open operation, and have never lifted a finger to stop them or protect the Tourists from their criminal activities.

Really Sad.

 

[Justgrazing]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

International tourists who have received two doses of WHO and Thai authority approved vaccines will have to stay on the island for 14 days before going elsewhere. Their movements will be tracked by compulsory apps. 

 

and bonking your partner is a no no 'lest you are officially hitched is being reported in another article ..

 

that'll go down like a lead balloon .. 

[ChipButty]

Wait for it we'll be getting one of them taxi stories, a tourist left 5 million baht in his taxi

[khunPer]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Around 300 tourists are expected on the big day next Thursday. 

I wonder how they got their COE...????
But again I realize that there are so much I don't undestand about Thailand...????

[khunPer]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

He [tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprkarn] said that the latest Tourism Authority of Thailand assessment was that 100,000 visitors in the next three months will spend 9 billion baht.

9 billion baht divided with 100,000 tourists equals 90,000 baht spent by each tourist.

 

Based on average 14 days stay on Phuket this equals 6,429 baht per day in average, i.e. $202 by today's exchange rate ($1 = 31.76 baht).

 

Other articles have mentioned that the expected tourists are mainly Europeans, which according to statistics spend $125.47 pr, day in average when visiting Thailand, i.e. 3,985 baht per day by today's exchange rate.

 

I understand we are not talking plain European tourists when Phuket's sandbox is opening, these numbers indicates rather what might be considered as "quality tourists", as they otherwise might be disappointed when they are only finding 5.5 billion baht in the treasure chest by the end of September...????

[Surelynot]

3 hours ago, poskat said:

Hey Trevor, how was your phuket holiday"  "Totally boring mate, only a few restaurants to go to, the shops were all closed, and the only booze was at the 7/11..

....and had to sleep with the wife.

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, khunPer said:

9 billion baht divided with 100,000 tourists equals 90,000 baht spent by each tourist.

 

Based on average 14 days stay on Phuket this equals 6,429 baht per day in average, i.e. $202 by today's exchange rate ($1 = 31.76 baht).

 

Other articles have mentioned that the expected tourists are mainly Europeans, which according to statistics spend $125.47 pr, day in average when visiting Thailand, i.e. 3,985 baht per day by today's exchange rate.

 

I understand we are not talking plain European tourists when Phuket's sandbox is opening, these numbers indicates rather what might be considered as "quality tourists", as they otherwise might be disappointed when they are only finding 5.5 billion baht in the treasure chest by the end of September...????

 

And let's not forget that it's not that easy to spend money when everything is shut. A lot of that money would have been 2 week millionaires spending a few thousand in the bars every day/night.

 

You don't tend to spend as much when you're sat around the pool or on the beach. I can't see a family of 4 spending 25,716 Baht (6429 x 4) a day when shops and restaurants are boarded up. More likely a few thousand on food and drinks at the hotel pool/restaurant.

 

[Rampant Rabbit]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Don't let Phuket's infamous mafia spoil the party. 

So you  know its there but  fail to do anything about it, what a bunch of  tossers.