TAT: Governor tells media there's been no slowdown to tourism due to Omicron

[webfact]

Yutthasak Suphasorn. File photo: Tourism Authority of Thailand

 

The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Yutthasak Suphasorn told Sanook that there had been no slowdown to tourist arrivals from fears connected to the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

 

Since the emergence of the concerning new strain a couple of weeks ago arrivals of foreign tourists showed no change.

 

He said that he stood by his earlier claims that 600,000 arrivals were likely in the last two months of the year. 

 

He stressed that the TAT's main priority was to spur domestic tourism and that measures were in place to try and grab as much of the international market as possible but that this remained problematic at this time. 

 

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[JoePai]

There is a word for him : Deluded

[Virt]

6 minutes ago, JoePai said:

There is a word for him : Deluded

 

I don't think a lot of people will cancel their already bought tickets, since it's not possible to get a refund in the current situation, so he might be correct if 600,000 already had bought their tickets, but it does sound a bit to optimistic.

[stigar]

And in a article in "pattayaonenews" CCSA says they migth have to lockdown if they cover the omicron virus.

[Kadilo]

Optimistic maybe but reports all around the forums of visible increase in numbers of tourists arriving to resorts. 
 

Can’t see anyone worrying about the new variant as it’s not even here here, unless you are one of those with a particularly nervous disposition. 

[tomyami]

https://twitter.com/zenjournalist?lang=en

[trainman34014]

'I see Nothing' says the Man with his Head firmly entombed in his Rectum !

[Greenwich Boy]

I am currently doing touristy things in Bangkok. Just seen my first tour group near Wat Pho. Snake of maybe 30 people. Bloke with a stick and a flag in charge. Eastern European or Russian from listening to them. Back in Chiang Mai there are a few new faces about. Not a lot I agree but some are still keen to travel whatever obstacles are put in front of them.

[Pedrogaz]

2 hours ago, Kadilo said:

Optimistic maybe but reports all around the forums of visible increase in numbers of tourists arriving to resorts. 
 

Can’t see anyone worrying about the new variant as it’s not even here here, unless you are one of those with a particularly nervous disposition. 

I think the impact on travel restrictions (like getting a 24hour PCR tests before flying or 48 hours before arrival) just adds to the hassle factor of flying. Then the sloth-like speed of easing alcohol restrictions, and controlling puritanicaI attitudes to anyone wanting to have a bit of fun would deter me. If I were not here already, I wouldn't come as a tourist.

[Guderian]

It's one of those Catch 22 situations. Thailand now looks like a safe haven from Covid compared with most Western countries, and combined with the WInter sunshine, restaurants in many places including most of the main tourist resorts now being allowed to sell acohol, plus the prospect of bars being allowed to reopen next month, why wouldn't you want to take a relaxing, warm break here? The trouble is that some of those tourists arriving will end up carrying Omicron and other variants into the country, the system to try and catch them is far from foolproof, and by next March things might end up looking like they did last July. they have to try, though, the big unknown is if they will have the nerve to stay open if they're recording 30,000+ new infections a day every day.

[xtof2]

Yeah yeah. The same guy who said a few months ago that millions of tourists will flock to Thailand by year end!

[paulikens]

11 minutes ago, Guderian said:

the big unknown is if they will have the nerve to stay open if they're recording 30,000+ new infections a day every day

@Guderian not a chance of holding their nerve.  

[klauskunkel]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

no slowdown to tourist arrivals

he is right, it's still the same epic crawl

[madmitch]

3 hours ago, Virt said:

 

I don't think a lot of people will cancel their already bought tickets, since it's not possible to get a refund in the current situation, so he might be correct if 600,000 already had bought their tickets, but it does sound a bit to optimistic.

I have no idea where that info comes from. Most hotels have free cancellation options and flights offer vouchers and refunds, dependant upon the airline. I don't know about pcr tests and insurance will depend upon the terms and conditions. 

[HappyExpat57]

I have a friend here in Thailand, both of us want to fly back to the states to visit family. Neither of us are willing to risk buying damned expensive round trip tickets just to have these knuckleheads lock the country down while we're out of the country, stranding us in the US, losing our phone numbers, our retirement status, possibly all our worldly goods in LOS, etc.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Yutthasak Suphasorn told Sanook that there had been no slowdown to tourist arrivals from fears connected to the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Still very early days to be making statements like that.

But the emergence of a new strain isn't going to speed up tourism, that's for sure.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

There is a word for him : Deluded

Nice to see you cleaned that up first.????

[koratkarlos]

Yesterday I drove the car from Korat to Chiang Mai.  Lots of traffic.  I know it is a big weekend here in Thailand but it does seem that domestic tourism is picking up a bit.  Of course the new variant will have an impact on tourism as many countries are locked down.  And now it is reported that Omicron is here.  In my opinion there still is too much paperwork and uncertainity to travel to Thailand unless you are seeing family or doing business.

[Chongalulu]

How do you detect a slowdown in the barely perceptible movement of tectonics? ???? 

[Pib]

Quote

The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Yutthasak Suphasorn told Sanook that there had been no slowdown to tourist arrivals from fears connected to the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

I'm sure he's right as "dozens" of true tourists (vs expats) continue to arrive daily.

 

[ChrisKC]

He certainly looks smart - but don't judge a book by its cover!

[Almer]

4 hours ago, Kadilo said:

Optimistic maybe but reports all around the forums of visible increase in numbers of tourists arriving to resorts. 
 

Can’t see anyone worrying about the new variant as it’s not even here here, unless you are one of those with a particularly nervous disposition. 

Seems it is already here

[Thunglom]

So Thailand is different from the rest of the world? Is this based on evidence or wishful thinking?

[Almer]

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

I have a friend here in Thailand, both of us want to fly back to the states to visit family. Neither of us are willing to risk buying damned expensive round trip tickets just to have these knuckleheads lock the country down while we're out of the country, stranding us in the US, losing our phone numbers, our retirement status, possibly all our worldly goods in LOS, etc.

This is the big risk we all face

[ukrules]

They should stop worrying about something they don't have and deal with what they do have which is a Delta epidemic.

 

Omicron will come later, and it will come. Based on what I've been reading over the last week or two it's not going to be what people seem to expect.

 

Replacing Delta with Omicron is something they will wish they could do quickly and simply, but they can't - Delta continues to rage forward in Thailand.

[Thunglom]

4 hours ago, Kadilo said:

Optimistic maybe but reports all around the forums of visible increase in numbers of tourists arriving to resorts. 
 

Can’t see anyone worrying about the new variant as it’s not even here here, unless you are one of those with a particularly nervous disposition. 

Firstly it's already in Thailand.

but also it has caused MAJOR concern in Europe - restrictions are re-ontroduced. This includes travel restrictions - e.g. testing EVERYONE re-entering the UK. This is already impacting on venues in the K and travel agents are reporting cancellations. This is bound to impact on the already small numbers in Thailand. 

[3NUMBAS]

he talk with forked tongue

[geisha]

1 hour ago, madmitch said:

I have no idea where that info comes from. Most hotels have free cancellation options and flights offer vouchers and refunds, dependant upon the airline. I don't know about pcr tests and insurance will depend upon the terms and conditions. 

If you book properly with good airlines/ hotels etc, there are always refundable or similar conditions , not if you cancel for no reason tho, then you can change the date. No, from what I see, the evisa is a problem ( big delays in some countries) and  The THai Pass which FB is still reporting loads of stressed people who can’t get through, help line doesn’t answer, are missing flights. That’s the problem. And leaving a very sour taste in potential tourists !

[bkk6060]

In a year all the naysayers "Thailand is finished" will be eating their words. There is and always will be a big demand for this place especially for the millions of unhappy or adventuresome males in the world.

Places are busy with just local tourists wait until the hoardes of Asian foreigners and others start coming.

 

[Skeptic7]

Yet. I give a week or 2 at most and SLAM! Same ol' neverending ????show! It'll be 

 in no time. No alcohol. No travel. No fun. ????