Omicron: Tourism leader most concerned by possible government flip-flopping over opening

[webfact]

Chamnan Srisawat. File photo

 

Thailand's business media in the shape of reporters for Bangkok Business News had a phone call video with Chamnan Srisawat, chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand.

 

They started by asking Chamnan if there was shock in the industry at the emergence of the new variant now on everyone's lips, Omicron.

 

Chamnan said that his and the industry's greatest fear was that the country could be closed again to foreign travellers. 

 

He returned to this theme again later saying that now that genuine improvements had been made this "pit pit, pert pert" (opening and closing) was what worried business people the most.

 

In a report from the cabinet yesterday Daily News quoted the Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha as saying that closing the country was not on his radar.

 

In general Chamnan said that the government was doing a good job especially with its measures at the airports and he was in favor of returning to RT-PCR tests.

 

He called for more inclusivity in domestic tourism benefit packages.

 

He praised the government for the extent of the vaccine rollout and called for them to continue to press ahead as this would create confidence and help the tourism industry.

 

He pointed to good bookings in key tourism places like Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi for New Year.

 

But the main theme was - we're back on some sort of right track now, don't flip flop and send us back to square one.  

 

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[Blumpie]

The problem will not be so much getting to Thailand.  It will be how to get home and how much $$$ it will cost with testing, isolating, etc.

 

Omicron is in its infancy and it will be months before the dust settles.  

 

Flip flop?  Yes, Thailand has done that.  Once or twice.  

[Gsxrnz]

As in every country, governments will follow the opinion polls and make decisions based on the media fueled neuroticism of those polled.

 

Arguably Prayut can be less attentive to polls as re-election is a formality. Western politicians have one aim in mid following their election, and that is re-election.

 

 

[Geoffggi]

40 minutes ago, webfact said:

He pointed to good bookings in key tourism places like Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi for New Year.

Notable observation the absence of Pattaya as a key place for tourism .................LOL 

[ArcticFox]

We can only hope so. Just keep the bull in a china-shop model chugging along for all things covid.  I wonder how much economic damage needs to be done before the population really tires of it.

[fredscats]

Worst case would be re-open,then shut it down again

[RichardColeman]

shutting down again and closing borders will kill tourism in thailand for 5-10 years, simply and nobody would risk travelling anymore for fear of more variants and ALL countries of the world flip flopping  - not just thailand, as seen by introducing pre departure return pcr;s and arrival home ones

[arithai12]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

this "pit pit, pert pert" (opening and closing) was what worried business people the most.

No need to use Thai, he could have just said it in English which is so well understood by the Western governments doing exactly the same.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, fredscats said:

Worst case would be re-open,then shut it down again

Some places, notably Pattaya hasn't had the chance to open yet.

[jacko45k]

7 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Some places, notably Pattaya hasn't had the chance to open yet.

There are some places open now.....

[shackleton]

If the Prime Minister is that confident the new Omicron virus is not a threat

To the Thai Tourist industry 

Why are they not opening bars and clubs in Pattaya and Bangkok now 

[fvw53]

Yes this flip flop by the Covid-19 virus cannot be accepted ...now it is omicron....what will it do next .....this virus must be refused entry to the country

[HappyExpat57]

Join the club, we're ALL wondering about the pit pit, pert pert. Many of us have travel plans both in and out placed on hold for this very reason.

[Knocker33]

Just focusing on the main tourist areas while the rest of Thailand is forgotten. All about the money yet again

[MrJ2U]

I'd be more concerned with new restrictions on tourists returning back to their home countries.

 

No reason to come if you can't get back.

[Oblomov]

36 minutes ago, Knocker33 said:

Just focusing on the main tourist areas while the rest of Thailand is forgotten. All about the money yet again

So many Thais from the rest of Thailand work, or once worked, in thriving tourist areas, then send money home to families in the rest of Thailand.  I know most of my Thai friends worked or had businesses in tourist areas but would mostly call Isaan or other regions home.

[thailand49]

"This is Thailand"  They Flip and always Flop!????

[mikeymike100]

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

There are some places open now.....

You are correct, the question is are they "legally" open?

[daejung]

4 hours ago, fvw53 said:

Yes this flip flop by the Covid-19 virus cannot be accepted ...now it is omicron....what will it do next .....this virus must be refused entry to the country

Let's flip-flop this general

[Virt]

11 hours ago, fredscats said:

Worst case would be re-open,then shut it down again

Yeah that totally sucks big time and it's not fun for those having restaurants, bars, hotels etc.

 

Here in Denmark we just got used to living a normal life and we had some lovely months with no restrictions at all,

but now we are back to face masks in public transport/shopping malls, and we can expect some more restrictions later this week.

 

it's getting annoying living like this.

[keysersoze276]

16 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

As in every country, governments will follow the opinion polls and make decisions based on the media fueled neuroticism of those polled.

 

Arguably Prayut can be less attentive to polls as re-election is a formality. Western politicians have one aim in mid following their election, and that is re-election.

 

 

Especially in China, Russia, Vietnam, African countries, etc. lol. Think before you type. 

[jacko45k]

10 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

You are correct, the question is are they "legally" open?

Is that really the question? I suspect they are in gray areas and have made a small donation that will see them left alone.

[NoshowJones]

21 hours ago, arithai12 said:

No need to use Thai, he could have just said it in English which is so well understood by the Western governments doing exactly the same.

"he could have just said it in English".  I doubt if they teach English in a Thai Military Academy.

[Harveyboy]

On 12/8/2021 at 10:20 AM, Geoffggi said:

Notable observation the absence of Pattaya as a key place for tourism .................LOL 

yep because Pattaya is for quality tourists only... ha 

[billd766]

On 12/8/2021 at 9:37 PM, daejung said:

Let's flip-flop this general

Better still, flip-flop ALL Military and ex-military from any government position. Get them back in the barracks where they belong and perhaps to the borders to stop the illegals.