Tourism organisations bullish on return of "Test and Go"; THA predict 300,000 foreign tourists in February

[webfact]

 

Channel 7 reported that various tourist organisations were bullish after it was announced that the Test and Go program for foreign tourists to enter the country would be resurrected on February 1st.

 

Chief of the Thai Hoteliers' Association Marisa Sukosol Nunphakdee reckoned that 200,000 to 300,000 foreign tourists would arrive in Thailand in February.

 

 

March would be even better.

 

This would all herald the country having turned the corner when it comes to both international and domestic tourism, she said. 

 

Meanwhile the Thailand Tourism Business Association echoed the optimism but cautioned against the government backtracking again. 

 

 

While a meeting at the Economic Situation Management Center sang the praises of the "Thailand Riviera" - centered around Hua Hin and Cha-Am - as a world class area for health and wellness tourism. 

 

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[ezzra]

Indeed, the less hassles and cumbersome procedures one has to go trough just to come for a holiday, the more tourists will come, simple commonsense really...

[John Drake]

Get rid of the quarantines and the insurance and you might be on to something, Marisa.

[RAZZELL]

Between 2-300k in February?

 

They'll lucky to get 100k which is 1/40th of pre-covid levels.

 

 

RAZZ

[DonniePeverley]

TEST but if you are positive go to Jail, then GO, but come back after 5 days, and test again. Because Thailand loves to community test vaccinated tourists, but doesn't test their own population where Omicron is most likely rife. 

[Spilornis]

No one will take a risk of two weeks in a medi hotel for a break of one month or less.

Omicron is the game changer. Chances of infection are just so much higher than earlier variants.

Egypt has no tests for the fully vaccinated. It has numerous Red Sea resorts.

Just one example of where Europeans will head.

[skorp13]

I feel the 5th day test and back in the hotel will put a lot of people off, were better off leaving it as it was!

[biggles45]

They have just doubled the quarantine nights from 1 to 2, and added another PCR test so what is there to be bullish about? 

[rupert the bear]

oh shut up everyones just tired of this never ending boasting thai nonsense,when do u ever stop telling people how wonderful they r .and so clever too,complete jackasses who wont shut up they just cant.this culture is full of this at every turn and the truth ohhhh dont go there youll get some very upset and angry cretins running round being violent,god help us. ive got t shirts with higher IQs than all of em.greed racism incompetence lies and incompetence,we want a day off from your arrogant idiocy ,a week even or just SHUT UP,do that then shut up and make the quality of everyones life better,

[Capella]

People are wary that the rules might change again at no notice, so I'd give it a few more months before tourists return. 

[dsj]

When thing they haven't taken into consideration is that the test and go doesn't resume until Feb 1 and if the first time it took over a week to get approval. It will take time for people to find hotel room, find airline tickets, get medical insurance, pre departure PCR test and most airlines have a limited flight schedules to Thailand. I would also imagine that people would have booked holidays someone else for February.

Edited January 22, 2022 by dsj

[RichardColeman]

I'd rather stay in a hotel room for 5 days and take 2 tests than risk going outside, mixing and running the gauntlet in he 2nd pcr test. 

[Pmbkk]

33 minutes ago, rupert the bear said:

oh shut up everyones just tired of this never ending boasting thai nonsense,when do u ever stop telling people how wonderful they r .and so clever too,complete jackasses who wont shut up they just cant.this culture is full of this at every turn and the truth ohhhh dont go there youll get some very upset and angry cretins running round being violent,god help us. ive got t shirts with higher IQs than all of em.greed racism incompetence lies and incompetence,we want a day off from your arrogant idiocy ,a week even or just SHUT UP,do that then shut up and make the quality of everyones life better,

 

What are you trying to say in English - non text speak please...

[worldview]

We have been hearing/reading these overly optimistic predictions every time something changes regarding the Covid restrictions.  Just because they say it is going to happen, doesn't mean that it will - and it probably won't.  If one faces the risk of testing positive on the first, or even the second test, and they run you into a hospital for 10 days - who wants to take that risk?  There are other places to travel that don't place one in that jeopardy.  Once again, we have a lot of wishful thinking in regard to a miraculous recovery for tourism in Thailand.

[tomyami]

Dream on, this is not a holiday its a mine field of pointless bureaucracy by deluded incompetents inflicting a potential expensive 10 day isolation on an asymptomic or false positive, some stupid will travel sure but not 200k.

Next week it will be some different,

higher numbers will come when they get rid of the TP but it wont be like before, its over.

 

 

[Pedrogaz]

I think the authorities haven't understood that a major cause of not selecting Thailand as a tourist, is the sheer uncertainty of the rules of getting in here. There seems to precious little chance of Test and Go still being in effect at the end of February. Plus given that the right to enter Thailand is a lottery at the best of time, and give Prayut's determination to change the COVID laws every month in the most confusing way possible, and given the crappy translation of all the laws and procedures: then Thailand would not be on my list for a vacation at this time.

[Jack West Jr]

You couldn't be more right , Pedrogaz. No-one in their right mind will pick Thailand as their holiday destination as long as these stupid rules are in place . Just get rid of Prayuth and his moronic regime already .

[tomyami]

end of masking wearing in my country next month and many more to follow how will thailand deal with that

[Donbanpho]

We’re just leaving after 7 weeks here in Bangkok Buriram and Hua Hin many things closed. Had our beer bottles put on the floor to hide from police and everything closes after 9 PM. As much as I love Thailand if it wasnt for visiting family I would say Thailand isn’t really ready for tourist. Feels like they don't want tourist here but commercially everyone miss the money. I came in the original test and go before many stories of people testing positive, I would not return here with the revised test and go (now three tests to pass, before arrive day 1 and now day 5) just as omicron starts to take a hold I think a big chance of testing positive whilst everything remains closed or slow running there isn’t much fun to be had. Friend in Koh Chang said they had to eat in the hotel everyday as nothing open where they were. Let’s hope it’s all recovered for next high season. That said.  for those still planning to visit I do understand nowhere like amazing Thailand - but remember I told you many things closed and you might be the only person in your hotel. 

[Millcx]

5555555555555

[PEE TEE]

Samui was busy over the new year but now the beaches are almost empty again . i cant see with all the hassle of paperwork insurance test and go and test will bring them back . will see by the end of Feb 

[248900_1469958220]

Its so ridiculous its just comical. I love the place but certain people in positions of power needed the kick up the butt reality pill that is being served. Thailand has shot itself in the foot. The second ruined high season in a row is about to pass us all by....Come May...April...June many Europeans will choose less troublesome spring/summer destinations. Maybe the Chinese will come??? Indians? How about the Russsians...We all love the Russians!

 

Small businesses have been ruined here and elsewhere....supply chain issues, Covid insurance....getting a stick shoved up your nose for the umpteenth time..

 

No thanks. 

 

Plan for end of 2022...with some rose colored glasses. 

[Caldera]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Chief of the Thai Hoteliers' Association Marisa Sukosol Nunphakdee reckoned that 200,000 to 300,000 foreign tourists would arrive in Thailand in February.

I very much doubt it. The new rules are insane. Two spells in quarantine are bound to ruin a holiday, even if you aren't unlucky enough to test positive.

 

Great for returning Thais and expats, but still too much hassle for most tourists. 

[jaygino]

Hmm, so 250,000 tourists visited in December, high season, 31 day month, when the T&G only required quarantine and testing on the first day. Yet they are now expecting the same or more in 28 day Feb, high season over, an extra days quarantine on the 5th day with another expensive  PCR test and an increased risk of incarceration if found positive !!  Added to that increased uncertainty over the ever changing rules this government imposes, seemingly every week or so !!!!

If I were a betting man, I'd wager more than a few baht that they are not going to see those predicted numbers ????

[Jiggo]

Here we go again, next the TAT predictions, close those boarders....please 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Chief of the Thai Hoteliers' Association Marisa Sukosol Nunphakdee reckoned that 200,000 to 300,000 foreign tourists would arrive in Thailand in February.

Please not the predictions game again...

I got sick of hearing how many tourists arrived each day and how much they spent down to the last baht.

How come we don't get the same daily finance report from the other 80% of Thailand?

 

[Misterwhisper]

My hunch is that the only place where these 300,000 will appear in February is in TAT's doctored arrival statistics. 

[crazykopite]

It’s okay to dream but dreams rarely come true as for the Test and Go it’s a joke as you have to be tested on day one and day 5 or 7 plus you still have to go through all the other hurdles 300,000 better chance of seeing pigs flying above you ????????????????

[CLW]

I give the new 1+5 hotel and testing requirement 1 month until it will be scrapped and reverted to the old Test&Go scheme.

Personally I have no problem with being tested as many times as they want but the hotel requirement on the 5th day is just ridiculous.

[tomyami]

7 minutes ago, CLW said:

I give the new 1+5 hotel and testing requirement 1 month until it will be scrapped and reverted to the old Test&Go scheme.

Personally I have no problem with being tested as many times as they want but the hotel requirement on the 5th day is just ridiculous.

Where i am covid is done and dusted lots more to follow EU end of feb it will be thailand masks and all they need to plan for not flip flopping tell the people the truth stop lying