webfact Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath's influential columnist "Lom Plian Thit" wrote about the impending opening of the country to foreign tourists as the much vaunted "Phuket Sandbox" kicks off in less than a week. He said that much rests on the opening of Phuket and then the three Surat Thani islands that will be a "test run" for the anticipated wider reopening of the country when the high season starts in October to December. He intimated that the government are keen that no mistakes will be made saying that he was broadly in favor of this cautious approach. The stakes were high and the country could not afford to see the plan fail that would mean more economic misery. He said that Thailand was still experiencing 3,000 daily cases of Covid-19 and questions remained as to whether foreign tourists would want to risk coming with that in mind. Latest numbers suggested 350,000 people out of 600,000 residents of Phuket had been vaccinated with 420,000 needed to be jabbed to make the 70% "herd immunity" target. He thought this would likely be met such is the need to get the Sandbox up and running. He pointed at figures for tourism pre-pandemic in Phuket when 14.5 million tourists arrived and spent 470 billion baht. There were 100,000 rooms from 5 and 6 star to backpacker lodging. Now that is but a distant memory. Even the infrastructure of migrant workers had mostly packed off and gone home. Phuket once a rich guy was now a pauper and the local people had gone from wealth to penury in the proverbial blink of an eye. Nathasiri Ronsiri, director of the local tourism office, estimated that 129,000 foreigners and 500,000 Thais would visit over the next three months. (Elsewhere on Thaivisa today the tourism minister toned down those assessments after a visit to the island yesterday). On the first day next Thursday 300 foreigners were expected on five airlines from Europe and Asia mostly, said Nanthasiri. She was hopeful that 6,000 tourists from abroad would come in July a figure that the columnist said was a reasonable assessment and an acceptable "soft start". But where would the tourists be coming from? Back in 2019 the top nationalities were Chinese, Russian, Australians, Germans and British. No Chinese would be coming at all, he said, what with China's policy to restrict international travel and concentrate on their own domestic tourism revival. He pointed out that many other countries still have severe problems with infection. Vaccination was the key, he said, asking whether the Thai government would be able to deliver on their promises and noting the slow rollout up till now. He signed on with a veiled suggestion of the criminality of those who might profit from the vaccine rollout. That was left hanging with no explanation. Phuket Sandbox hotels to suit all budgets -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-06-25 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bluespunk Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 13 minutes ago, webfact said: He intimated that the government are keen that no mistakes will be made Such as telling tourists they must wearing tracking devices… Is that stipulation still in place? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post poskat Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 "She was hopeful that 6,000 tourists from abroad would come in July a figure that the columnist said was a reasonable assessment and an acceptable "soft start"." 200 people a day wont have any impact the economy or encourage businesses to reopen but it is sure to generate stories of people not having a good time there 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Guderian Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 31 minutes ago, webfact said: He signed on with a veiled suggestion of the criminality of those who might profit from the vaccine rollout. That was left hanging with no explanation. So that's Prayut and Anutin nailed then, lol. 4 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CANSIAM Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 I was just at a print/scan shop again this morning ( Karon - Kata area ), the owner had his 7 year old son there ( son not there yesterday ), I asked him "no school today"? he said school closed 3 days for spraying / disinfecting, apparently a parent of a student tested positive. July 1 around the corner, won't see that in headline news !! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 4MyEgo Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 41 minutes ago, webfact said: when the high season starts in October to December. Be ready to be disappointed, solly, but the truth does hurt ???? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post from the home of CC Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 12 minutes ago, CANSIAM said: I was just at a print/scan shop again this morning ( Karon - Kata area ), the owner had his 7 year old son there ( son not there yesterday ), I asked him "no school today"? he said school closed 3 days for spraying / disinfecting, apparently a parent of a student tested positive. July 1 around the corner, won't see that in headline news !! this is going to blow up so badly they'll be pointing fingers at each other for years.. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ThailandRyan Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 57 minutes ago, webfact said: The stakes were high and the country could not afford to see the plan fail that would mean more economic misery Once again a sad state of affairs to put all your eggs in one basket and hope they hatch.....really sad. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotBenz8888 Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 55 minutes ago, webfact said: 6 star I thought only Dubai used that fantasy rating with golden toilets etc. But many of the 5 star hotels I stayed in here are more like 3-4, so I guess 6 stars could make sens.. 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotBenz8888 Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, webfact said: Edited June 25, 2021 by RotBenz8888 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ThailandRyan Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 10 minutes ago, from the home of CC said: this is going to blow up so badly they'll be pointing fingers at each other for years.. A new venue will be needed to showcase all of the boxing government officials whose lives and careers depend on this being pulled off. They have invested heavily but they themselves are to blame if it fails..... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post from the home of CC Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 20 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said: A new venue will be needed to showcase all of the boxing government officials whose lives and careers depend on this being pulled off. They have invested heavily but they themselves are to blame if it fails..... they watched as the world became ill, and so accordingly the lack of proactivity in the procurement of meds defies logic.. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyFoxy Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 Does anyone think people will come to the sandbox penitentiary? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Justgrazing Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 1 hour ago, webfact said: She was hopeful that 6,000 tourists from abroad would come in July a figure that the columnist said was a reasonable assessment and an acceptable "soft start". More like flaccid .. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post poohy Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 (edited) 48 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said: I thought only Dubai used that fantasy rating with golden toilets etc. But many of the 5 star hotels I stayed in here are more like 3-4, so I guess 6 stars could make sens.. Slightly of topic but i used to use Sheraton In Sanaa supposely 5 star actual fact it was more like a 2 to 3 star on a "good" day Edited June 25, 2021 by poohy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Rhacsyn Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 49 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said: I thought only Dubai used that fantasy rating with golden toilets etc. But many of the 5 star hotels I stayed in here are more like 3-4, so I guess 6 stars could make sens.. The Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai is 7 star. I have stayed in many fabulous hotels in Thailand irrespective of star rating. It is a personal perception of course 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Pattaya Spotter Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 1 hour ago, webfact said: She was hopeful that 6,000 tourists from abroad would come in July a figure that the columnist said was a reasonable assessment and an acceptable "soft start". Charging fully vaccinated tourists B2800 X 4 for Covid-19 testing during their 14 day "Sandbox" stay (as well as a myriad other hassles) should do wonders for these numbers. 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammieuk1 Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 Must have had 700 cancellations from the TAT figures arriving on day 1 now it's down to 300 on 5 planes from a 1000 2 days ago and still confused as to how any of the the 300 got a COE as no sandbox option on the embassy website ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogmatix Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 The sandbox cannot start on 1 July because they still haven't identified the countries that are eligible or announced the procedures in the Royal Gazette. The Foreign Ministry has to receive the announcement and prepare orders for embassies and consulates in the selected countries that have to issue the COEs to travellers which they give themselves 14 working days to do. Presumably there will be a fudge where strings are pulled to fast track documentation from 4 or 5 consulates, so the VIPs can do photo calls with some arrivals at the airport to pretend this shambles is a success. The usual government fake news! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogmatix Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 26 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said: Charging fully vaccinated tourists B2800 X 4 for Covid-19 testing during their 14 day "Sandbox" stay (as well as a myriad other hassles) should do wonders for these numbers. It is of no interest to regular tourists. Lucky they relented and allowed Thais and foreign residents to apply as they are the only ones interested in this scheme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhacsyn Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 (edited) 33 minutes ago, Dogmatix said: The sandbox cannot start on 1 July because they still haven't identified the countries that are eligible or announced the procedures in the Royal Gazette. The Foreign Ministry has to receive the announcement and prepare orders for embassies and consulates in the selected countries that have to issue the COEs to travellers which they give themselves 14 working days to do. Presumably there will be a fudge where strings are pulled to fast track documentation from 4 or 5 consulates, so the VIPs can do photo calls with some arrivals at the airport to pretend this shambles is a success. The usual government fake news! You are correct about it not being published in the Royal Gazette yet, most probably tomorrow. Nevertheless, I need to get back to Thailand and was finally given the green light by the Thai consulate in Dubai yesterday that I can start the COE application. The list of eligible countries is published, and is updated daily. It is low and medium risk countries which is the left and centre columns in the attachment below. Amusingly, you will see that Thailand has published a list with itself in the right hand column of high risk countries! thailand-country-risk-categorisation.pdf Edited June 25, 2021 by Rhacsyn Spell check! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman34014 Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 The English Local Media are asking people if they would like to visit the Phuket 'Sandbox Prison' for a completely ruined Holiday ! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post FarFlungFalang Posted June 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2021 3 hours ago, webfact said: Latest numbers suggested 350,000 people out of 600,000 residents of Phuket had been vaccinated with 420,000 needed to be jabbed to make the 70% "herd immunity" target. He thought this would likely be met such is the need to get the Sandbox up and running. So 420,000 jabs in 5 days is 84,000 per day to reach 70% and it takes 2-3 weeks for the vaccine to become effective!Seems like a fail in my books.It's going to be difficult to hide the positives of foreign tourists if they get infected, and if they get infected and return positive tests when fly home it won't look good. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inThailand Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 Its not only Phuket, much of Thailand’s post-pandemic recovery hangs on ‘Sandbox’ project. Have they heard the sayings... Don't put all your balls in one basket? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catoni Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 Quote: “Latest numbers suggested 350,000 people out of 600,000 residents of Phuket had been vaccinated with 420,000 needed to be jabbed to make the 70% "herd immunity" target. ” Okay, but what about those who contracted Covid and recovered? They also now have immunity. That brings the 70% “herd immunity” target closer. Did they forget to count them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 5 hours ago, webfact said: Latest numbers suggested 350,000 people out of 600,000 residents of Phuket had been vaccinated with 420,000 needed to be jabbed to make the 70% "herd immunity" target. He thought this would likely be met such is the need to get the Sandbox up and running. July 1st this year right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 5 hours ago, webfact said: Nathasiri Ronsiri, director of the local tourism office, estimated that 129,000 foreigners and 500,000 Thais would visit over the next three months. Incredulous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deli Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 5 hours ago, webfact said: No Chinese would be coming at all, he said, what with China's policy to restrict international travel and concentrate on their own domestic tourism revival. Hell, keep it like that for the next 30 years, please 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 3 minutes ago, hotchilli said: July 1st this year right? This week (coming) actually...... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wensiensheng Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 5 hours ago, ThailandRyan said: Once again a sad state of affairs to put all your eggs in one basket and hope they hatch.....really sad. It’s really putting all eggs in one basket that doesn’t have a bottom. if they want tourism back, they have to take the necessary steps first. This scheme is rushed, it’s built on fantasy land projections and fraught with health risks. it just makes no sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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