Pimonta "Micky" Suksaen, a 39-year-old single mother, and her daughter sell food on the beach after a lack of customers at her restaurant due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, while waiting for the reopening of the resort island to restore her income, in Phuket, Thailand June 30, 2021. REUTERS/ Jiraporn Kuhakan

 

By Jiraporn Kuhakan

 

PHUKET, Thailand (Reuters) - Restaurant owner and single mother Pimonta Suksaen is pinning her hopes on a revival for Thailand's most visited island, after a turbulent, year-long struggle to manage debts and keep her business afloat during the pandemic.

 

Pimonta has taken to selling food like pizza on the beach in Patong, a once thriving town in Phuket, and hopes a pilot scheme launched on Thursday to lure tourists back by waiving quarantine requirements can help rescue her restaurant.

 

Tourism, a source of income for millions in Thailand, ground to a halt last year when the government imposed tight entry requirements to keep out COVID-19. Pimonta, nicknamed "Micky", has been offering car rental and laundry services to try to pay off nearly 500,000 baht ($15,622) of debt.

 

 

"I was so hopeless to the point that I wanted to commit suicide because I can't carry on anymore," she said, tears streaming down her face.

 

She said another Phuket restaurant owner had taken his own life.

 

"That was a wake up call to me," Pimonta said. "So I decided to pick myself up and fight again."

 

Phuket reopened on Thursday to tourists fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, Thailand's biggest step so far towards rejuvenating a battered industry that drew 40 million annual visitors before the pandemic struck.

Authorities are hoping the "Phuket Sandbox" project will catch on in the coming months and plan to replicate it in other holiday hotspots.

 

About 400 visitors were expected on Thursday, when direct flights arrived from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Singapore and Israel.

 

Pimonta said she had received no help from the government, but said she was encouraged by its decision to take a risk with the reopening.

 

"Even if tourist arrivals increase by only 5% to 10%, or even just 1%, I will still have hope because this is the only thing I have left," she said.

 

(Writing by Jiraporn Kuhakan and Martin Petty; Editing by Toby Chopra)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-07-02

 

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Sigh... I'm sad....

They keep mentioning the 40 millions of yesteryears, those days are GONE, the'll be lucky if 10% of that will come and July will be a watershed moment to gauge by...

45 minutes ago, ezzra said:

They keep mentioning the 40 millions of yesteryears, those days are GONE, the'll be lucky if 10% of that will come and July will be a watershed moment to gauge by...

 

Do you think Thailand lost its status as the tourism hub of South East Asia? Maybe for a year or two, they wouldn't see as many tourists as before, but I think starting 2023 or 2024 Thailand may reclaim its place as the tourist hub of South East Asia.

 

But I do think that many businesses dependent on tourism in Thailand will face harsh reality for sometime and most likely close down.  Also, I feel like many other places in the region are quickly becoming more attractive as tourist destination.

 

I also feel that Thailand has been taking tourists for granted. They weren't nice to tourists, period. Thai businesses constantly overcharged tourists, and it became an ugly habit. The gov also took tourists for granted too, I've often felt like they wanted me to understand that I wasn't welcome in Thailand, and that they don't need tourists coming to Thailand, because they'll be totally fine without tourists, because they have enough of everything, and they don't need anything from tourists. When in fact 30% of Thailand's economy depends on tourism industry.

 

Any government's first responsibility is to protect their citizens.

 

Somewhat like a doctor's pledge to First do no harm.

 

Most countries have miserably failed to do this. Thailand included.  In fact, they have done irreparable harm to people like this who only want to pay their bills and have food on their table.

 

Disgusting.

36 minutes ago, lolalol said:

 

Do you think Thailand lost its status as the tourism hub of South East Asia? Maybe for a year or two, they wouldn't see as many tourists as before, but I think starting 2023 or 2024 Thailand may reclaim its place as the tourist hub of South East Asia.

 

But I do think that many businesses dependent on tourism in Thailand will face harsh reality for sometime and most likely close down.  Also, I feel like many other places in the region are quickly becoming more attractive as tourist destination.

 

I also feel that Thailand has been taking tourists for granted. They weren't nice to tourists, period. Thai businesses constantly overcharged tourists, and it became an ugly habit. The gov also took tourists for granted too, I've often felt like they wanted me to understand that I wasn't welcome in Thailand, and that they don't need tourists coming to Thailand, because they'll be totally fine without tourists, because they have enough of everything, and they don't need anything from tourists. When in fact 30% of Thailand's economy depends on tourism industry.

 

The writing was on the wall before Covid. Thailand was increasingly relying on one single country to prop up its tourism numbers. The many traditional countries that had been the mainstay of Thai Tourism since the mid 70's were turning to other holiday destinations. Your last paragraph is 100% correct.

Good Luck Thailand, I do hope that the people all get their 2 shots of AZ vaccine or something even a bit better.

  I have Thai relatives living in Bangkok and else where who have not gotten their jabs yet, as only the Chinese

vaccine was being offered, and they do not want to be only a little protected.  This is the same for my Thai family and friends in

Pattaya area and Hua Hin, and Phuket.  Lately some of them have been lucky to get the AZ jab for their first shot, and are hopeful

that they can afford to get either Pfizer or Moderna for their 2nd jab.  They feel that the risk is large to wait a bit for their 2nd jab, but are

being as careful as they can be until they are fully protected. Getting the country vaccinated will be the best that the Thai government

can do to their population.  Trying to restart the tourism too soon may bite Thailand in the butt once again.

  I hope I am wrong.

Geezer

As has been said before they have two hopes and one of those is Bob, they put most of their eggs in one basket ,the Chinese one ,guaranteed to keep others away ,still never mind those at the top all made loads of cash from them ,who cares about the little  people?

6 hours ago, HeijoshinCool said:

Any government's first responsibility is to protect their citizens.

 

Somewhat like a doctor's pledge to First do no harm.

 

Most countries have miserably failed to do this. Thailand included.  In fact, they have done irreparable harm to people like this who only want to pay their bills and have food on their table.

 

Disgusting.

 

 

That pledge from my experience of UK doctors has morphed into " First do f..k all "

 

And governments in general it is as its always been " First take all you can"