Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand's mainstream media - this time in the shape of Daily News - continued to act as public relations for the country's reopening on Monday. 

 

They were gushing in a report from Phuket about how wonderful it was that the country was finally open again.

 

In their headline they said that bars in Soi Bangla, Patong, were "Kheuk Khak" - words that make up an expression meaning exciting that they have been using a lot this week.

 

They even followed this up with "Khreuk Khreun" - joyful - to describe the scene. 

 

More direct flights from abroad were landing daily on the southern Thai island, they enthused after the initial Sandbox trial.

 

After ages of closure it was now all picking up.

 

Their reporters went to the scenic viewing point at Cape Phromthep where they said there were loads of Thais and foreigners.

 

Nearby at Nai Han beach the number of people froclicking in the Andaman was up!

 

Large numbers of Thai and foreign tourists were out in the nightlife area of Patong after dark, they claimed.

 

Backing up their report they quoted a Miss Thongma at a restaurant in Nai Han who said things were getting better as she encouraged tourists to come to Phuket. We're following all the Covid rules added the employee.

 

Meanwhile a business owner in Nai Han called Pranee was a bit of a wet blanket in comparison.

 

She said not much had changed though the country reopening was a positive step.

 

Was she concerned about the spread of Covid? 

 

Yes, she said, but we just have to get on with it and move on. 

 

The media didn't seem to have asked anyone in Soi Bangla anything but a picture showed scantily clad employees trying to entice customers in the street. 

 

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Meanwhile a business owner in Nai Han called Pranee was a bit of a wet blanket in comparison.       Ill say,the mid afternoon storms now seem the norm,puts more of a slant to a washout

Yes. They are busy looking everywhere and wondering where the TAT promised tourists are.

Can't find them.

Sure.

They ordered everyone on the island to be at a specific time at this place for a photo shoot.

Large number 5555

Even 20 tourists is now a very large number.

 

Large numbers of Thai and foreign tourists were out in the nightlife area of Patong after dark, they claimed.

Keep moving folks as we need to look busy.....

mate was there last week, Bangla very busy.

1 hour ago, sungod said:

mate was there last week, Bangla very busy.

Agree. Its only the people who are not here that say its dead. Its picking up rapidly , not that Im thrilled

I guess most of the posters on this site just sit at home in isaan and moan on the internet, as clearly none if you have been to phuket or Bangla in the last few days. Bangla is very busy again, as is the surrounding area. No 6 restaurant is full every time I pass it for example.

 

personally I much prefer it quieter but there you go! 

I can confirm that NAI HAN beach was extremely busy, nearly no space between all the occupied sun loungers, all occupied by 10's of thousands of genuine tourists from all over the world.

On the other hand, NAI HARN beach was practically empty of tourists.

They don't even know the name of the beaches, must have been there via META

1 hour ago, sungod said:

mate was there last week, Bangla very busy.

Am there now and can confirm, like you say, that it really has picked up and is busy. Nice to see the smaller soi's off Bangla opening up too.

34 minutes ago, Rhacsyn said:

Am there now and can confirm, like you say, that it really has picked up and is busy. Nice to see the smaller soi's off Bangla opening up too.

That will upset the habitual moaners in their rocking villages in the NE. , God forbid good news on the forum.

 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The media didn't seem to have asked anyone in Soi Bangla anything but a picture showed scantily clad employees trying to entice customers in the street.

No new model then, just the same old cat-house.

The girls are back in town.

15 minutes ago, sungod said:

That will upset the habitual moaners in their rocking villages in the NE. , God forbid good news on the forum.

 

 

Well, that photo isn't particularly encouraging...more Thai ladies hanging around than foreigners I think...not doing a lot are they?

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The media didn't seem to have asked anyone in Soi Bangla anything but a picture showed scantily clad employees trying to entice customers in the street. 

Ready to open-up in line with Prayuts plan.

Seems the only place that counts with posters is Soi Bangla.

The title says Phuket. Nothing has changed. Was just down Soi Ta-iad (Tiger Muay Thai).

I saw a single white face. All shops totally empty.

There just isn't enough tourists to make a difference.

12 minutes ago, TKDfella said:

Well, that photo isn't particularly encouraging...more Thai ladies hanging around than foreigners I think...not doing a lot are they?

I'd say it is encouraging if you are hansum man!

2 hours ago, sungod said:

mate was there last week, Bangla very busy.

My ex works where you say you were she tells me the businesses are struggling and that was 48 hours ago what do you call busy people standing in the street or people putting there hands in there pockets and spending as according to her it’s not the latter 

 

I live in Phang Nga and went to Phuket today.  Also went the past two Wednesdays.  It was noticeably more busy today, surprisingly so considering the foreign incoming tourists are not THAT many.  Definitely more traffic and as difficult to park in the old town/chinatown area as it used to be pre-covid.  Can't comment on Patong, almost never go there!

 

I'm check out some YouTube sites this evening and see if its actually as busy as they say.

 

In some provinces the government is acting as if the pandemic never happened.

 

Big change of Heart.

 

 

3 minutes ago, pollyog said:

Can't comment on Patong, almost never go there!

Well get on your horse and give us a report and some pictures!

Boots on the ground and the moaners from beyond. You know who to trust for real news. 

Phuket is flooded of tourists... especially in  the night(dreams)????????????????????

Zoom in and count the tourist and then count the  girls working. Unless it's a hen party and all the girls dressed the same 

27 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

My ex works where you say you were she tells me the businesses are struggling and that was 48 hours ago what do you call busy people standing in the street or people putting there hands in there pockets and spending as according to her it’s not the latter 

 

Sorry to hear that the business where your ex works is struggling. On the other hand, I guess we are lucky, and I am happy to report that the outlets we have there are most certainly busy along with a number of others. Beach road traffic is continuous. As posted earlier I am sitting there now watching the world go by as well as watching people eating and drinking and yes, spending money. It really is something to be thankful for and a huge but welcome relief after 18 awful months.

 

1 hour ago, sungod said:

That will upset the habitual moaners in their rocking villages in the NE. , God forbid good news on the forum.

 

 

I am certainly very happy about these news. Can't wait to finally get down there for a week or two from my NE village and have a good time.

 

 

Interesting.. BS

 

We just left Phuket and honestly it was a virtual ghost town.

Every place we stayed 4-5 star resorts were 50-75% discount.

The one we are at as I write this is usually 8500/night we walked in and paid 2000/night..

 

We are 1 or 4 families in total in a resort with 400+ rooms.

When we went to Blue Tree Phuket water park..

It was 300/person full access pass usually 800 .

And you could litrally count the people on your fingers in the park.

 

So to have an article  spouting how its heaving with tourists I find hard to believe...

5 hours ago, RafPinto said:

Yes. They are busy looking everywhere and wondering where the TAT promised tourists are.

Can't find them.

I think they meant “Busi-er”

There is very few tourist in that photo. Mostly bar girls ready to pounce on lonely forang.

Yep the post is accurate. Patong and areas all the way north to Boat Avenue BTao have definitely picked up. Patong early this morning for gym and there are definitely way more foreigners wandering about, and new tourist faces in the gym too. Not pre-pandemic levels but definitely not the ghost town it has been for over a year and a half.