Thailand tourism reopening should follow Sandbox model, vaccinations still key

[webfact]

REUTERS file photo for reference only

 

A key figure in tourism in Thailand has given a general thumbs up to the Phuket Sandbox and plans to reopen Thailand to foreign tourism.

 

Surawat Akrawaramas, deputy of Thailand Tourism Business Association, vice-president of ATTA and parliamentary advisor was speaking to the Thai media two months after Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha announced his controversial 120 day reopening plan on June 16th. 

 

With less than 2 months to go Surawat said that obviously the dire state of the pandemic in Thailand was drawing most of the focus away from tourism.

 

He said that everyone in the business of tourism should be using this period to work on plans and procedures for what they intend to do post-pandemic. 

 

Not surprisingly he said that the  vaccination rollout was key in this. 

 

He said that the Phuket Sandbox had had low numbers and generated relatively low income but that was always on the cards. He said it had been an excellent start.

 

No new strains of virus had been brought into the country contrary to fears and that as a trial it had gone well (apart from the murder of the Swiss tourist).

 

He described the "Sandbox" as a brand name that everyone had got familiar with and was critical of all the other names being bandied about like Hua Hin Recharge, Samui Plus Model, Phannga Phrom (ready) and Pattaya Move On.

 

He said that they should just be named Pattaya Sandbox, Hua Hin Sandbox and the like so everyone would understand.

 

And each area of the country - when ready - should follow the model of Phuket as it is clearly something that works. 

 

You may find a full directory of the SHA Plus+ Phuket Sandbox hotels here
 

 

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[starky]

Yeah. Ok. Sure ????

[Rampant Rabbit]

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

A key figure in tourism in Thailand

Would  that be th guy who  opens the door  first  everyday to do the  office  cleaning, probably come up with better  figures  than the rest of the numpties

[RotBenz8888]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said that they should just be named Pattaya Sandbox, Hua Hin Sandbox and the like so everyone would understand.

I suggest the following:

Hua Hin Get Real, Samui Give It A Rest and Pattaya Where You Go Sir? 

[aussiexpat]

Refreshing to hear someone finally say Phuket "had low numbers and relatively low income but that was always on the cards"

 

Eagerly waiting for the Pattaya Sandbox to start ????

 

Edited August 21, 2021 by aussiexpat

[internationalism]

they did plan to shut down sandbox, when total infection riches total 100.

Today alone were 102 positives. For the last week it also hoovers around 100 per day. Together they have already thousand at hospitals, hospitels.

So they had to shut down the whole island shortly sandbox started. Closed air port for domestic flights, bar charters to Utapao 3x per week. Tourists are stranded there and no domestic tourism allowed in.

Samui has only some 10 tourists per day. Again, airport closed.

 

Such copy of sandbox for pattaya, hua hin won't work at all. Completely different circumstances. It's not possible isolate those places from the rest of country - they are in a very middle of thailand, not in remote borders, as phuket and samui.

Lines drawn in sand.

 

Edited August 21, 2021 by internationalism

[Laughing Gravy]

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said that the Phuket Sandbox had had low numbers and generated relatively low income but that was always on the cards. He said it had been an excellent start.

Really why didn't they say that when continuously we were all pounded with how many tourists will come and how many billions of baht would be spent in Thailand. Now you have been touted out as fake news, its now considered "that it was always on the cards".

 

Shameful.

[Karma80]

Another day, another steaming ???? announcement. "If we vaccinate our population, tourists would probably come" - well done Sherlock.

[BangkokReady]

Quote

Thailand tourism reposing

Anyone know how they are using the word "reposing" here?  Is it a typo?  The definition seems to be about putting something to rest.  Freudian slip maybe?

[Emdog]

13 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Anyone know how they are using the word "reposing" here?  Is it a typo?  The definition seems to be about putting something to rest.  Freudian slip maybe?

dictionary says "a state of resting after exertion or strain especially : rest in sleep. b : eternal or heavenly rest pray for the repose of a soul.

I suppose tourism may be in a state of "eternal rest"

[GroveHillWanderer]

18 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Anyone know how they are using the word "reposing" here?  Is it a typo?  The definition seems to be about putting something to rest.  Freudian slip maybe?

Clearly a typo. The article itself uses the word "reopening," which is obviously what it should have been in the heading.

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He described the "Sandbox" as a brand name that everyone had got familiar with and was critical of all the other names being bandied about like Hua Hin Recharge, Samui Plus Model, Phannga Phrom (ready) and Pattaya Move On.

I think the Pattaya life-preserver would be better

[Eibot]

1 hour ago, aussiexpat said:

Refreshing to hear someone finally say Phuket "had low numbers and relatively low income but that was always on the cards"

 

Eagerly waiting for the Pattaya Sandbox to start ????

 

Key word here is relative. It all depends on one's expectations. I never expected much people to come, but I'm positively surprised.

[ikke1959]

Call it what you want.. The world will not come in a big mass to Thailand, because of the paperwork, the extra costs for tests, the insurance, the low vaccination grade, the alcohol bans, the quarantine that always be possible if some one in your airplane test positive, the control by your app, and the possible quarantine if you come back in your home country. Besides a lot of country tell the people NOT to go to Thailand unless it is really necessary... So How you call it doesn't matter, only the ones who maybe will come in the sandbox, region quarantine, prison with walking space or whatever 

[djayz]

Was that not a flop, or am I confusing it with another box? 

[Amdesign]

Can we get Walking Street Sandbox with bars with infected vaccinated personnel?  ????

 

[kimamey]

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I think the Pattaya life-preserver would be better

What about the "Rayong Rubber Ring"?

[EVENKEEL]

I'm leaving Thailand soon for a trip home. Alot of red tape to get to the Phuket sandbox but I'm looking forward to 2 weeks at the lovely beaches. I'm not sure I'd do it as a tourist each to their own ideals. 

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Beaches are packed in Mexico and in the Med right now, no stupid Corona insurance,  you will not be face raped multiple times to enter, no overpriced hotels or silly hoops and those idiots in charge here think this sandbox model is generating money. They must be on an other planet or completely out of their minds. 

[fondue zoo]

9 hours ago, internationalism said:

they did plan to shut down sandbox, when total infection riches total 100.

https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/phuket-sandbox-order-revises-rules-to-cancel-or-modify

[impulse]

The Phuket Sandbox proved that vaccinated, tested tourists (and their sweaty tourist cash) don't make the Covid situation any worse. 

 

If they opened up all of Thailand to vaccinated, tested tourists, it wouldn't make the Covid situation any worse in Thailand.  If they do it in time for the high season, it may make a tremendous difference in the economic welfare of millions of Thai people.

I think the tourists are finally snapping to the fact that they're just as likely to get the 'rona sitting in their bleak home town as on a nice beach in the tropics.  And just as likely to get held in some kind of quarantine if they test positive for their flight home after their Med or Mexico holiday with the unvaccinated, untested. 

 

Let's see what happens when they get that first gonad shriveling cold front blasting through Europe...

[brucegoniners]

Do they really think anyone will want to come here? This is the covid capitol of the world.

[Pedrogaz]

What rustle up a few cheapo tourists and go bankrupt?????

[Stargeezr]

Yes follow the sand box model. restrict the beaches, do not allow alcohol to be sold or drank on the beaches, or anywhere.

  Keep all the restrictions in place until at least January of 2022. Quarantine, stays in effect. COE stays in effect, etc.

Good luck with your high season Thailand as it will be pretty dismal. Just a reminder it is only 90 days until mid November,

and isn't that in High Season?

Geezer

[newnative]

   So, to sum up, the Phuket Sandbox generated 'low numbers' and 'low income' but was 'clearly something that worked' and should be followed elsewhere.  Hmm.  In my book low numbers and low income are clearly pointing to something not working.  Back to the drawing board and here's a hint:  Keep it simple.  

[Anton9]

Menwhile other tourist destination in Caribbean,S.America,Europe etc are open as normal without any bs sandbox schemes

Why it is so difficult to understand people don't like to go on holiday in a place full of restricitons, no nightlife and tonnes of paperwork required?

 

Edited August 22, 2021 by Anton9

[onekoolguy]

On 8/21/2021 at 12:06 PM, internationalism said:

they did plan to shut down sandbox, when total infection riches total 100.

Today alone were 102 positives. For the last week it also hoovers around 100 per day. Together they have already thousand at hospitals, hospitels.

So they had to shut down the whole island shortly sandbox started. Closed air port for domestic flights, bar charters to Utapao 3x per week. Tourists are stranded there and no domestic tourism allowed in.

Samui has only some 10 tourists per day. Again, airport closed.

 

Such copy of sandbox for pattaya, hua hin won't work at all. Completely different circumstances. It's not possible isolate those places from the rest of country - they are in a very middle of thailand, not in remote borders, as phuket and samui.

Lines drawn in sand.

 

I think that the important part to note is that virtually none of the new positives were caused by the vaccinated tourists!

[hotchilli]

On 8/21/2021 at 11:43 AM, webfact said:

A key figure in tourism in Thailand has given a general thumbs up to the Phuket Sandbox and plans to reopen Thailand to foreign tourism.

Delusional... to keep it short.

[hotchilli]

On 8/21/2021 at 11:43 AM, webfact said:

He said that the Phuket Sandbox had had low numbers and generated relatively low income but that was always on the cards. He said it had been an excellent start.

But but but the predictions were thousands and thousands?

[utalkin2me]

The worst disasters through all of this are all of our solutions. Open it up.