Tourist-reliant boat operators less optimistic of success in country’s reopening

[webfact]

 

Locals working for tourism-related businesses on Thailand’s resort island of Phuket, most of them fully vaccinated against COVID-19, have expressed their readiness to welcome foreign tourists once again, after its official reopening on July 1st. The visions are, however, somewhat different among boat-business owners.

 

“We are ready to welcome both domestic and foreign tourists again, so that Phuket’s tourism will improve, everyone will have income and the economy will be revived,” said one staff member at Andaman Passion, a local catamaran operator in Phuket.

 

“We hope that foreign tourists will come, under the Phuket ‘sandbox’ project,” said the captain of the catamaran, “but we also have to control the further spread of the virus too.”

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tourist-reliant-boat-operators-less-optimistic-of-success-in-countrys-reopening/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-07-06

[RichardColeman]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

“We hope that foreign tourists will come, under the Phuket ‘sandbox’ project,” said the captain of the catamaran,

Yes, but they will then leave after 14 days to the mainland without spending a baht on your boat. 

[Espanol]

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Yes, but they will then leave after 14 days to the mainland without spending a baht on your boat. 

 

I suppose that, after some days bored at the island, with bars and most venues closed, some tourists will try some boat tours, even thinking that most popular islands (James Bond, Phi Phi and so) are out of limits.

 

On the other hand, may be that tourists don't risk getting infected from non vaccinated locals and prefer to stay at their resorts.

[Thailand]

Probably enough "tourists" to fill a small longtail?

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

“We are ready to welcome both domestic and foreign tourists again, so that Phuket’s tourism will improve, everyone will have income and the economy will be revived,” said one staff member at Andaman Passion, a local catamaran operator in Phuket.

The tourism business as it was pre-Covid is dead and buried.

Phuket was over-served before with operators tripping over each other for business... now they have to get used to the idea that hanging around for things to be the same as before is blatantly not going to happen.

Sell your boat and find a real job. 

[johng]

3 hours ago, Thailand said:

Probably enough "tourists" to fill a small longtail?

Bloody tourists !!!