Tourism minister admits his targets won't be met - blames surge in Covid cases

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

The penny has finally dropped for Thailand's billionaire tourism and sports minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan.

 

He has had to admit that the raging pandemic in Thailand has dealt a hammer blow to his plans and that of the government to welcome millions of foreign tourists. 

 

The voices have been loud and clear online and in "letters to the editor" that his predictions and that of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) were pie in the sky nonsense.

 

But he insisted they were going to happen nonetheless.

 

Until now. And of course he is blaming the pandemic situation in Thailand that is worsening by the day. 

 

"Yes," he told Daily News. "We won't be seeing three million foreign tourists by the end of the year.

 

"About 500,000 to 700,000 is the best we can hope for now". 

 

As far as the Phuket Sandbox predictions went, those too have gone out of the window though he expected the sandbox to press on regardless.

 

"100,000 tourists in Phuket in three months will not be met," he admitted. "July went as we hoped but targets for August of 40,000 will not be happening. There will be about 15,000 - about the same as July".

 

The first month of the sandbox saw 14,000 foreigners visit Phuket though many of these were returning expats or even Thais added to the figures, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Pipat told the media that if the situation in Bangkok does not improve by the last three months of the year many sporting events could be rescheduled to Phuket.

 

These include golf, E-sports, the 7-a-side Asian Rugby championships and the King's Cup football. 

 

A big event planned by the TAT to mark the 17th anniversary of the Asian Tsunami planned for Boxing Day December 26th will also have to be reassessed. 

 

The TAT were hoping to attract many Scandinavians in particular to that. 

 

For now Pipat said that he was working with the interior ministry on coming up with some "Sky Blue Zones" where foreign tourism could take place.

 

These would be announced in the next couple of weeks, he noted. 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2021-08-03

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[ThailandRyan]

Why don't you just admit that your buddies in the main cabinet, Prayut and Anutin, caused this debacle with a failed covid response which would include vaccination and then a lack of true lockdowns and travel which allowed interprovincial travel unfettered. It's okay to blame them.

Edited August 3, 2021 by ThailandRyan

[Thaiwrath]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

"About 500,000 to 700,000 is the best we can hope for now".

If they do not speed up the vaccinations, that will be a pipe dream !

[JoePai]

One has to wonder how a thicko like him made so much money

[SooKee]

There will be 7 tourists each spending 9 billion baht per day, solved.

[Ralf001]

2 minutes ago, JoePai said:

One has to wonder how a thicko like him made so much money

Greased palms grow no hair.

[ArcticFox]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

For now Pipat said that he was working with the interior ministry on coming up with some "Sky Blue Zones" where foreign tourism could take place.

How about "Pie In The Sky Zones" where TAT estimated foreign tourism maybe takes place.

[RotBenz8888]

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

"Sky Blue Zones"

Quaranteen hotel+smoking weed? 

[fondue zoo]

 

27 minutes ago, webfact said:

though many of these were returning expats or even Thais added to the figures

!4000/15000 tourists so far, they just can't help tell it straight, always padding the figures somehow it seems.

Nobody wants to see tourism here fail you wealthy dumb dumb, just state the facts.

 

[ChipButty]

If only he was a member on TVF We could have given him good advise months ago

[fondue zoo]

1 minute ago, ChipButty said:

If only he was a member on TVF We could have given him good advise months ago

Yeah, it's akin to screaming at characters on the television.

[djayz]

I have come to hate all these new phrases being thrown around these past new months. Sandbox, Sky Blue Zones, the new normal, etc. 

[ChipButty]

2 minutes ago, djayz said:

I have come to hate all these new phrases being thrown around these past new months. Sandbox, Sky Blue Zones, the new normal, etc. 

Get used to it, it's here to stay, I'll let you know if any new ones come along

[djayz]

If they had any sense, they'd simply write 2021 off as a flop and put their time, energy and resources into getting things sorted out now (i.e. getting the majority of people here vaccinated asap) so that they can begin to welcome people back - with confidence - in early 2022. 

[Mavideol]

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

"Yes," he told Daily News. "We won't be seeing three million foreign tourists by the end of the year.

 

"About 500,000 to 700,000 is the best we can hope for now". 

he can't just admit the failure and move on.... he still has to make another stupid/unreal Hope estimates comment

[djayz]

Just now, ChipButty said:

I'll let you know if any new ones come along

Please do. ???? 

[ChipButty]

1 minute ago, djayz said:

If they had any sense, they'd simply write 2021 off as a flop and put their time, energy and resources into getting things sorted out now (i.e. getting the majority of people here vaccinated asap) so that they can begin to welcome people back - with confidence - in early 2022. 

Some people are enjoying their stay in the sandbox 

[ezzra]

If he would have taken the time to read many of the posts on this site, he would see that his plans were nothing but a wishful thinking and a pipe dream, but a Thai minister would not be a minister if he didn't let some of those pipe dreams let fly...

[Bluespunk]

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

About 500,000 to 700,000 is the best we can hope for now". 
…

There will be about 15,000 - about the same as July".

Too many ”abouts” to make those statements credible. 

Edited August 3, 2021 by Bluespunk

[ThailandRyan]

12 minutes ago, djayz said:

I have come to hate all these new phrases being thrown around these past new months. Sandbox, Sky Blue Zones, the new normal, etc. 

Thailand the Hub of Phrases used by TAT

[fondue zoo]

I wonder what this period of time will be referred to as in the future? 

 

..assuming social gathering will be permitted outside of our covid silo bunkers of course.

[mtls2005]

I know he's the wealthiest member of the regime's cabinet.

 

And his wife is the wealthiest MP.

 

But gotta ask how he did so well given his apparent lack of, well just about about everything.

 

Am guessing old money, inherited, part of the "network".

 

 

 

 

[robblok]

19 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

I know he's the wealthiest member of the regime's cabinet.

 

And his wife is the wealthiest MP.

 

But gotta ask how he did so well given his apparent lack of, well just about about everything.

 

Am guessing old money, inherited, part of the "network".

 

I think its just a Thai government thing have you ever seen the TAT put up realistic numbers ?

[mahtin]

[carlyai]

54 minutes ago, djayz said:

I have come to hate all these new phrases being thrown around these past new months. Sandbox, Sky Blue Zones, the new normal, etc. 

You a bit Woke? ????

[AnotherFarang8]

The problem is not the virus, the problem is insane entry requirements. Other countries with more cases have been receiving millions of tourists. Like Turkey.

[Rampant Rabbit]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

One has to wonder how a thicko like him made so much money

Just  look at the bulk of  the govt, all similar.

[poskat]

1 hour ago, djayz said:

If they had any sense, they'd simply write 2021 off as a flop and put their time, energy and resources into getting things sorted out now (i.e. getting the majority of people here vaccinated asap) so that they can begin to welcome people back - with confidence - in early 2022. 

that would make sense, except here in thailand, done fast is more important than done right

[ChipButty]

13 minutes ago, AnotherFarang8 said:

The problem is not the virus, the problem is insane entry requirements. Other countries with more cases have been receiving millions of tourists. Like Turkey.

Zanzibar is thriving couple of my friends went there and said it's full of Russians I dont mind a few Russians birds walking up and down the beach

Edited August 3, 2021 by ChipButty

[Greenwich Boy]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Some people are enjoying their stay in the sandbox 

I have a mate there, although he is more ex pat than tourist. Has a moped hired and has found places for a beer. Reckons it is hugely better than ASQ in Bangkok so it does work for some.

Reading the news is not his strong point so no need to break it to him that he has to get a cab or drive back to Chiang Mai just yet. ????