Tourism minister pressing ahead with "Step by Step" reopening of Thailand

[LivinLOS]

7 hours ago, GStewart70 said:

Phuket expected 100,000 mugs got 25,000 only.

Watched a video of a motorbike ride around Phuket last week.

Zombie apocalypse.

Rows and rows of shuttered shops and bars.

No tourists are coming to Thailand under their stupid named little schemes.

The numbers are even worse.. The (drastically reduced at the last minute) numbers were 29, 50 and 50.. For July Aug Sept and >100k a month after..

They have got in total.. 28k in 2 months.. of which >14k came in July. July was the pent up demand of expats and returning Thais..  4000 of those 28k are Thai nationals BTW hardly 'tourists' in any normal sense. 

In fact when you look the breakdown for the 28k arrivals.. 17,000 moved on to other provinces, 4000 are still on Phuket and 9000 have returned / left Thailand. So 2 months of this gained 9000 'tourists'. The rest were simply Thais and expats coming back into Thailand who wanted to avoid ASQ in bangkok, taking away bangkok trade and giving it to phuket (at huge cost in organisation, vaccines, admininstation, checkpoint manning, etc) for a net - net of what ?? 

To obtain that 9000 'tourists' over 2 months, +- 150 people a day, they sacrificed 100% of the domestic tourism market. Costing them what ?? 

Screaming success as I a sure the TAT will tell you. 

[Scouse123]

3 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Good maybe get back to the topic of my post which was to open all businesses and schools in Thailand first. Then open up to to international tourists

Nothing can open and stay open long term until the population is vaccinated, the rest is smoke and mirrors.

 

The topic of the thread is about re opening the country.

[cape]

It's data not dates that counts.

The island needs to be 90% vaccinated.

200 cases a day, 3% are severe and 0.4% fatal. How long till hospitals are full? We don't know. Is the island vaccinated? We don't know.

When will the quarantine and health insurance requirements be knocked on the head? We don't know.

FINAL STEP: When can I walk in, show my passport and vaccine passport and walk on? We don't know.

When we get to that last step, shops and restaurants will re-open, Thailand will be open. Then the tourists will come back.

[Scouse123]

If any of us had done the sandbox as a private business enterprise, we would now be a laughing stock as well as skint!

 

It isn't a re-opening when the only thing you are allowed to do after being double vaccinated, pre Covid tests, $100K insurance, is to go to a pre-approved hotel for vaccinated people.

 

 You can then walk in the fresh air if you are wearing a mask and visit an empty beach with no facilities, no restaurants, no bars, no shops, or entertainment open, which is exactly what people want to do when they go on holiday.

 

It's been a failure which has only benefited those wishing to return to Thailand who do not want two weeks in a hotel room in Bangkok.

 

That's it, that's all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 6, 2021 by Scouse123

[jcmj]

If the tourists or people coming to reunite with their families already have the vaccine the Thais should not be worried at all it the one coming that are taking the risk. Why not let them in. This is ridiculous. 

[snoop1130]

Thailand’s Tourism Ministry Aims to Reopen Whole Country by Next January

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry is aiming to open the whole country, without quarantine, by January next year, depending on the level of nationwide herd immunity.

 

Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said Bangkok was scheduled to reopen in October, as part of the second phase, but this phase has been delayed to November as the majority of residents will not receive their second vaccine dose until the end of October. Meanwhile, Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin) and Chon Buri (Pattaya) will go ahead as planned on October 1st.

 

He said a meeting between the ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) agreed to add some provinces to the third phase of reopening, under the “7+7” extension program. As a result, from October 15th there will be 25 provinces which tourists can enter via the “sandbox” program, as second destinations after spending seven days in Phuket, Samui, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi or Bangkok.

 

Mr. Phiphat said the ministry needs to propose this list to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), in order to allocate a proper quantity of vaccines in time. However, if vaccination does not reach the required level in certain areas, select districts can be isolated or a sealed route is possible in the early stages.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-09-06

 

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

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

[Stocky]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

"Step by Step"

That'll be one step forwards, two steps back.

[Andycoops]

This guy is a sideshow, he doesn't make the conditions, he only makes suggestions, so anything that comes from his mouth is just speculation.

The real power lies, unfortunately for him elsewhere.

[Molly Malone]

OPEN THE GYMS you phenominal bunch of IDIOTS!!!!

Healthy people are WAY WAY less susceptible to death from COVID!

Or is that too hard a concept for you dullards to understand? Most gyms have a dozen or so people wiping down surfaces etc. And most gym users also do likewise, we care about our HEALTH which might just be why we PAY Thai BAHTS for doing so. Duh!!!!!!!!!   

[Golden Triangle]

These people are <deleted> clowns, open Pattaya 1st October, God give me strength, the whole of  Thailand opened by early January, I really do despair at their stupidity.

[biggles45]

So, if all the foreign tourists to Phuket have to be vaccinated and have multiple tests and the only road in has checkpoints.... Where have all these infected people come from? "

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

Nothing can open and stay open long term until the population is vaccinated, the rest is smoke and mirrors.

 

The topic of the thread is about re opening the country.

I'm quite aware of that and when vaccination levels are up businesses and schools should open before opening to tourists the whole point of my post

 

[3NUMBAS]

this wont end well ,u can see further curfews and lockdowns in future

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand’s Tourism Ministry Aims to Reopen Whole Country by Next January

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry is aiming to open the whole country, without quarantine, by January next year, depending on the level of nationwide herd immunity.

 

Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said Bangkok was scheduled to reopen in October, as part of the second phase, but this phase has been delayed to November as the majority of residents will not receive their second vaccine dose until the end of October. Meanwhile, Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin) and Chon Buri (Pattaya) will go ahead as planned on October 1st.

 

He said a meeting between the ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) agreed to add some provinces to the third phase of reopening, under the “7+7” extension program. As a result, from October 15th there will be 25 provinces which tourists can enter via the “sandbox” program, as second destinations after spending seven days in Phuket, Samui, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi or Bangkok.

 

Mr. Phiphat said the ministry needs to propose this list to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), in order to allocate a proper quantity of vaccines in time. However, if vaccination does not reach the required level in certain areas, select districts can be isolated or a sealed route is possible in the early stages.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-09-06

 

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

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

So he has gone from October 1 as Step 2 and within less than 12 hours discarded Bangkok, and decided to keep Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin) and Chon Buri (Pattaya) in Step 2 an scheduled to open October 1.  Have those provinces reached the 70% target rate yet or is this man dreaming again.  Looks like he has also decided to change Step 3 and starting October 15th will add 25 provinces to the 7+7 extension program.  Waiting until tomorrow when that will also be scrapped. Bubble and sealed is the only way he can open anything up.  I fear he is delusional and forgot to take his ear medicine, oh wait that was Chalerm.....

Edited September 6, 2021 by ThailandRyan

[kimamey]

7 hours ago, John Drake said:

Myanmar???

Perhaps that shows how bad it is in Thailand that travel to Myanmar is seen as a good option.

Either way I'm not sure they thought that through.

[kimamey]

'Step Two is the opening of the Thai capital Bangkok on October 1st along with Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Cha-Am and Hua Hin.'

 

Does anyone know what they mean by 'opening'? Will it be like Phuket where you quarantine but can leave the hotel or no quarantine if you are vaccinated and tested. That would be difficult to manage as Bangkok isn't an island.

Edited September 6, 2021 by kimamey

[tomacht8]

The world ticks much easier. As long as the GoGo bars are not fully open, there is an emergency and the desired number of tourists will always be 90% below expectations.

[kimamey]

24 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So he has gone from October 1 as Step 2 and within less than 12 hours discarded Bangkok, and decided to keep Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin) and Chon Buri (Pattaya) in Step 2 an scheduled to open October 1.  Have those provinces reached the 70% target rate yet or is this man dreaming again.  Looks like he has also decided to change Step 3 and starting October 15th will add 25 provinces to the 7+7 extension program.  Waiting until tomorrow when that will also be scrapped. Bubble and sealed is the only way he can open anything up.  I fear he is delusional and forgot to take his ear medicine, oh wait that was Chalerm.....

Don't you just wish Chalerm was still around to amuse us. I'm beginning to miss Robert Amsterdam as well. 

[ThailandRyan]

7 minutes ago, kimamey said:

'Step Two is the opening of the Thai capital Bangkok on October 1st along with Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Cha-Am and Hua Hin.'

 

Does anyone know what they mean by 'opening'? Will it be like Phuket where you quarantine but can leave the hotel or no quarantine if you are vaccinated and tested. That would be difficult to manage as Bangkok isn't an island.

Bangkok has been scrapped from Step 2.  No opening until they reach 70% total vaccinations, then it will be like the Phuket Sandbox, and learning to live with Covid, well maybe, things change daily lately.

Edited September 6, 2021 by ThailandRyan

[kimamey]

Just now, ThailandRyan said:

Bangkok has been scrapped from Step 2.  No opening until they reach 70% total vaccinations, then it will be like the Phuket Sandbox, and learning to live with Covid.

Yes I saw that after I posted.

 

When you're trying to make complex travel decisions there's nothing like a bit of military precision planning to smooth the way is there?

[Blumpie]

The real question is... who's going?  

[mettech]

Coming to Thailand from another country and having this so call passport as a proof of having been vaccinate written in a language other than Thai will be a real problem , so what happen next they send you back out of the country??

 

[2long]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Step Four is the creation of travel bubbles with Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia and Cambodia between January 1st and 15th 2022.

I'm sorry, but was I wrong to be under the impression Thailand would be open to travellers from Europe, North America and countries including India THIS YEAR / 2021? If travel bubbles with neighbouring countries is all we have to 'look forward to' until mid January, then pass me a loaded pistol!

[ikke1959]

A few days ago there was an article in a newspaper that scientist said that there was no herd immunity possible at this moment only if 100% was fully vaccinated.. The reason was there were too many different virus at the moment and not every vaccination was working against every variant ....

[DoctorB]

2 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

These people are <deleted> clowns, open Pattaya 1st October, God give me strength, the whole of  Thailand opened by early January, I really do despair at their stupidity.

What is really stupid is crashing the economy and making people destitute, in a country without an effective social security system, for what is, for most people, a relatively mild illness, with a death rate on a par with influenza. Infectious it may be, but it's not Ebola or the Black Death. 

[AnotherFarang8]

Full wind to the sails, good minister. Keep pressing ahead ????

[DogNo1]

Herd immunity is a fiction.  It is not possible.  Vaccinating the entire population of Thailand would protect them from severe illness and hospitalization if their vaccinations were up-to-date.  By the time that the authorities get everyone vaccinated, those who were vaccinated early on will be needing boosters.  COVID is destined to be an endemic disease with everyone needing periodic vaccinations.  The supply of vaccine throughout the world needs to be greatly increased.

[cncltd1973]

13 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

"Move on"?

 

Certainly a welcoming tag-line.

 

Honestly who comes up with this idiocy?

Sounds like what police tell a crowd that gathers at an accident - move on, nothing to see here????. Unfortunate they don't run it by an english speaker before they print it, but that would take a job away from a thai person????

[Seeall]

14 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Step by Step, doing the two step boot scooting boogie Pipat is.  He can attempt to take the steps, but he is not the one n control.  The man is just trying to justify his lofty position I do believe.  Not much for the Tourism minister to do with no tourism and the borders still sealed.....

Bubble with Mynmar?   lol.... do they even know about the c19?   nuts

[tomyami]

Fine reopen but since april you only vacinated 12% fully some with a low effacy one, where other countries have achieved 40-50% in that time frame and more.

Nobody will tour areas that dont have control phunket failed and samui never got going

vaccine certs to enter venues can only work on 70% and above.

Thailand and much of SEA is not deemed safe as a destination so well into next year before any real opening any speculating before is just distraction and saving face.

 

Edited September 6, 2021 by tomyami