Thailand’s international tourism could take years to recover

[webfact]

 

By Joe Cusmano 

TD Syndicated Partner

 

With tourism accounting for approximately 20% of Thailand’s pre-Covid crisis GDP, the partial reopening of the country’s borders to foreign tourists on November 1 was a dangerous step to turn the economy around.

 

The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) has made several guesses about how many visitors would visit Thailand in 2021 and 2022, all of which have been optimistically projected. However, they have been founded on hope rather than the reality of an uncertain tourist environment due to an increase in Covid-19 cases throughout the country and related border restrictions in most of the world.

 

The partial opening of borders to tourists from 63 countries comes when pubs, entertainment enterprises, and restaurants in most regions of the nation are either closed or not permitted to serve alcohol with meals.

 

Despite industry requests, Thailand’s government has declared that the reopening of night-time entertainment establishments would be delayed until January 15th. Concerns about ventilation and ineffective preventative measures in pubs, clubs, and karaoke venues were raised by a representative for the government’s COVID-19 administration.

 

The ostensibly quarantine-free admittance for fully vaccinated foreign tourists is false since it compelled travellers to remain in isolation for up to 30 hours in hotel quarantine until their Covid test results are received. 

 

Full story: https://www.traveldailymedia.com/thailands-international-tourism-could-take-years-to-recover/

 

-- © Copyright Travel Daily 2021-11-23

 

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[RichardColeman]

If a tourist has a positive Covid test when they arrive or a negative test but is seated next to someone who had a positive test, they will be quarantined for 14 days at their own cost. This was not announced at the time of border opening. According to local media accounts, this has cost some travellers between Baht 50,000 and, in one example, Baht 350,000.

 

I cannot help but think that if all your tests prove negative then it should be free, Paying 350,000 for possibly a dodgy kit on another person or being placed next to another person on a plane by an airline or put in a taxi with another occupant is hardly your fault. And as for why you cannot quarantine in your own home like most other countries on the planet is beyond words

[bendejo]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

The ostensibly quarantine-free admittance for fully vaccinated foreign tourists is false since it compelled travellers to remain in isolation for up to 30 hours in hotel quarantine until their Covid test results are received. 

Be assured there is some backhanding involved in that.

Refreshing to see something on this topic related to reality.

 

 

[Captain Monday]

If Thailand cannot come up with an entry app that can produce a QR code in 5 minutes like any other country in the world that already has such apps give up and scrap it.

 

Impossible but would like to see them maybe enforce existing laws and break up transport mafias 

 

 

• All alcohol and entertainment restrictions should be repealed. There is no way to "improve ventilation" by January 15 2022 or January 15 2029, and no number of vinyl signboards describing the 24 step process of how to drink in a bar will have any effect on public health. People are not going on holiday to Saudi Arabia either are they? For real most of the dreaded "bar beers" have perfect ventilation already, a roof with no walls!
• Coming to Thailand should be a complete cultural experience for open minded people Make  clear public statements through all travel industry channels that although it may not be scientifically essential wearing a mask at ALL TIMES EVEN OUTDOORS is part of most Asian cultures already and will be required for in Thailand many years under force of severe prosecution. OR PLEASE DO NOT COME HERE
• Build back better. The safest, world class, sustainable vacation destination. No more group tour hordes, sex-pests and crims. Require police checks for all foreigners who come to Thailand. Eliminate dodgy travel insurance. Require a 300 baht per day payment for all temporary visitors with discounts (example 4500 baht for 30 day stay). To fund comprehensive travel health and accident and medical repatriation insurance for duration of stay in Thailand. Also to fund facilities and environmental infrastructure improvements, and significant enhancement to Tourist Police in all major areas.
• Any rare case of a tourist requiring covid treatment or isolation should be free and at top facilities and hotels.

 

 

 

 

[Virt]

55 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

If a tourist has a positive Covid test when they arrive or a negative test but is seated next to someone who had a positive test, they will be quarantined for 14 days at their own cost. This was not announced at the time of border opening. According to local media accounts, this has cost some travellers between Baht 50,000 and, in one example, Baht 350,000.

 

I cannot help but think that if all your tests prove negative then it should be free, Paying 350,000 for possibly a dodgy kit on another person or being placed next to another person on a plane by an airline or put in a taxi with another occupant is hardly your fault. And as for why you cannot quarantine in your own home like most other countries on the planet is beyond words

That is probably the worst PR Thailand can get out in the world.

A lot of tourists are not going to take that chance.

[fredscats]

44 minutes ago, Virt said:

That is probably the worst PR Thailand can get out in the world.

A lot of tourists are not going to take that chance.

..and when they take that chance,what are they met with?  closed shuttered abandoned bars/restaurants ,hardly any women,masked population  Mid afternoon storms that sweep everything away     yeah   just right

[Thujone]

They could have picked a more tempting picture of what tourists can expect to enjoy on a visit to Thailand.

Maybe a pic of the vibrant nightlife.

Oh, maybe not...

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

And as for why you cannot quarantine in your own home like most other countries on the planet is beyond words

People would not comply and stay home. 

[ezzra]

To put it bluntly, Thailand has lost the plot as to what to do in regard to bringing back tourists, while polls showing that the majority of Thais are not happy or yet ready to have tourists coming in, the government need the money so they plot all sorts of schemes to appease the people and bring tourists in at the same time, let's just say that Thailand could have handheld the issue of tourists coming back a lot less confusing and cumbersome but this is Thailand, nothing is simple here...

[ThailandRyan]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

However, they have been founded on hope rather than the reality of an uncertain tourist environment due to an increase in Covid-19 cases throughout the country and related border restrictions in most of the world.

Hope springs eternal but for Thailand, but it appears they are very desperate. However, they still keep things in place and keep shooting themselves in the foot.

[zzaa09]

30 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Hope springs eternal but for Thailand, but it appears they are very desperate. However, they still keep things in place and keep shooting themselves in the foot.

Both feet.

[findlay13]

Especially if they keep all the hoops required to jump through to visit.

[Clarkey611]

53 minutes ago, Thujone said:

Maybe a pic of the vibrant nightlife.

At the Krystal Club Thailand?

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

And as for why you cannot quarantine in your own home like most other countries on the planet is beyond words

But not beyond Thailand...

The idea of your visit is to spend money.. if you're found to be positive or sitting next to someone positive you'll be quarantined at your expense so Thailand still makes some revenue out of you while you're here.

Home isolation does not bring in the baht for Thailand.

[GeorgeCross]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

 

Home isolation does not bring in the baht for Thailand.

it does for Grab ????

[Thailand]

A completely new approach, a completely new non military government and maybe Thailand will start to recover sometime late next year but neither of those things are likely to happen.

[Cake Monster]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The ostensibly quarantine-free admittance for fully vaccinated foreign tourists is false since it compelled travellers to remain in isolation for up to 30 hours in hotel quarantine until their Covid test results are received. 

And on top of this, it has just been revealed that some of the SHA+ Hotels are " accidently " omitting to book the required Limousine service that is mandatory upon arrival for all Air Passengers to their Hotel, where they are to be tested, and have to remain until the test is known.

The same SHA+ Hotels, are also " forgetting " to book, and to charge for the testing required when the Customer books their stay.

All of this of course means that the Traveler has to purchase a whole new SHA+ package deal, or be denied entry to the Country

This scam is even bigger than people anticipated, and the Tourists need to be fully aware of this issue when booking their Hotel Package for the 1 day Quarantine

Another Day in the Land Of Scams.

[thaibook]

5 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

If Thailand cannot come up with an entry app that can produce a QR code in 5 minutes like any other country in the world that already has such apps give up and scrap it.

 

Impossible but would like to see them maybe enforce existing laws and break up transport mafias 

 

 

• All alcohol and entertainment restrictions should be repealed. There is no way to "improve ventilation" by January 15 2022 or January 15 2029, and no number of vinyl signboards describing the 24 step process of how to drink in a bar will have any effect on public health. People are not going on holiday to Saudi Arabia either are they? For real most of the dreaded "bar beers" have perfect ventilation already, a roof with no walls!
• Coming to Thailand should be a complete cultural experience for open minded people Make  clear public statements through all travel industry channels that although it may not be scientifically essential wearing a mask at ALL TIMES EVEN OUTDOORS is part of most Asian cultures already and will be required for in Thailand many years under force of severe prosecution. OR PLEASE DO NOT COME HERE
• Build back better. The safest, world class, sustainable vacation destination. No more group tour hordes, sex-pests and crims. Require police checks for all foreigners who come to Thailand. Eliminate dodgy travel insurance. Require a 300 baht per day payment for all temporary visitors with discounts (example 4500 baht for 30 day stay). To fund comprehensive travel health and accident and medical repatriation insurance for duration of stay in Thailand. Also to fund facilities and environmental infrastructure improvements, and significant enhancement to Tourist Police in all major areas.
• Any rare case of a tourist requiring covid treatment or isolation should be free and at top facilities and hotels.

 

 

 

 

Requiring police checks on all foreigners will kill tourism faster than covid.

[Bluetongue]

Just how many times can we do this topic? Yawn.

[Enzian]

Look at it this way: what they are doing is offloading all the risk of entry on those non-Thai entering the country, because they think they deserve to and it's only right and moreover that's what regular Thais want them to do they believe. But it leads to absurdities and they can't see it. They need to split the risk with tourists, or better, to assume the risk themselves on behalf of the country because the resulting revenues will dwarf the drawbacks--although the people who gain are not the people they think they should please, or even recognize. 

[RafPinto]

Here you go.

 

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-raises-covid-19-travel-warning-germany-denmark-2021-11-22/

[RafPinto]

Or change the publicity:

 

"If you are Covid positive, please don't worry, we still love you too much. Thailand welcomes you with open arms".

 

We put you 2 weeks in an overpriced-quarantine hotel and send you back home.

 

Win win.

[fredscats]

2 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

And on top of this, it has just been revealed that some of the SHA+ Hotels are " accidently " omitting to book the required Limousine service that is mandatory upon arrival for all Air Passengers to their Hotel, where they are to be tested, and have to remain until the test is known.

The same SHA+ Hotels, are also " forgetting " to book, and to charge for the testing required when the Customer books their stay.

All of this of course means that the Traveler has to purchase a whole new SHA+ package deal, or be denied entry to the Country

This scam is even bigger than people anticipated, and the Tourists need to be fully aware of this issue when booking their Hotel Package for the 1 day Quarantine

Another Day in the Land Of Scams.

...and gives 6000 baht tip to whoever does the testing for 'right" result

[NotYourBusiness]

"Two weeks to flatten the curve" they said.

[johng]

Just now, NotYourBusiness said:

"Two weeks to flatten the curve"

Two years to flatten the working and middle class and  filter all that wealth up to the top.

[DrPhibes]

9 hours ago, johng said:

Two years to flatten the working and middle class and  filter all that wealth up to the top.

Sounds like they took their game plan from Auric Goldfinger.

[connda]

They'll need to ditch the Covid paranoid before things return to normal.  These people are more interested in power than renewed tourism, so it will never recover.  Personally I like new normal tourism - empty streets all to myself.  I'm happy with this new status quo.  This people reap what they sow.

[Hanuman2547]

"If a tourist has a positive Covid test when they arrive or a negative test but is seated next to someone who had a positive test, they will be quarantined for 14 days at their own cost. This was not announced at the time of border opening. According to local media accounts, this has cost some travellers between Baht 50,000 and, in one example, Baht 350,000.

The relatively high costs of Covid tests at the airport, the 500Baht entry fee that will be implemented in 2022 and collected from a booth upon arrival, are putting people off from planning a trip to Thailand."

 

Additionally, "To visit Thailand, you must complete a slew of paperwork and processes, including full vaccination certificates, a pre-paid hotel reservation, a USD 50,000 health insurance coverage covering Covid-19, and an online application for the Thailand Pass. Applicants have complained about difficulties and approval delays on the Thailand Pass website."

 

In regards to the above, I cannot advise anyone to plan a holiday to Thailand at this point in time.  Who would want to risk being quarantined for 14 days at a minimum of $1,500?  Not to mention the cost and inconvenience of being tested at the airport and the required health insurance covering Covid-19.  Only certain hotels are used and at over inflated prices.  This includes the one night mandatory stay for 12-30 hours and could possibly be two nights depending upon when your flight arrives.  It seems that this is nothing more than a cash grab by the Thai authorities. In addition, the country is not fully open to tourism.  My suggestion is to choose another destination until Thailand is ready to enter the global tourism market.

[timendres]

On 11/23/2021 at 4:48 AM, Captain Monday said:

• Coming to Thailand should be a complete cultural experience for open minded people Make  clear public statements through all travel industry channels that although it may not be scientifically essential wearing a mask at ALL TIMES EVEN OUTDOORS is part of most Asian cultures already and will be required for in Thailand many years under force of severe prosecution. OR PLEASE DO NOT COME HERE
• Build back better. The safest, world class, sustainable vacation destination. No more group tour hordes, sex-pests and crims. Require police checks for all foreigners who come to Thailand. 

Contradictory statements. The "complete cultural experience" of Thailand is not some "corporate experience" that provides "the safest, world class, sustainable vacation destination". It is certainly not why I fell in love with the country. Of course, improve sustainability and safety, but we have already seen the destruction of too much of what makes Thailand unique and desirable. "Open minded people" understand there are many reasons people love to vacation here, and not all of them are coming for temples and beaches. There are already plenty of destinations providing the "western standard" of tourism. Thailand needs to retain its character, or tourism will dwindle. Police checks for all foreigners entering the kingdom? They are already doing what is reasonable. Anything more is likely to turn people away. "Severe prosecution"? For masks? Get a grip Anutin Jr. Simple reminders and 500 baht fines will work just fine.

[freedomnow]

Why does the mandatory covid insurance not cover this 14-day quarantining if they positive covid tes result on arrival ?

 

Is it due to not needing hospitalisation...confused on this.