CHONBURI (NNT) - A contentious issue circulating online at present is the requirement for tourists traveling into Samet island in the Gulf of Thailand to possess medical facility-approved ATK Covid test results. The majority of tourists arriving at piers on the mainland to board ferries to Samet are unaware of this requirement, and some opt to cancel their island trip instead of spending 330 baht per person for the test at the pier.

 

Few people are now seen at piers for Samet island ferries in Rayong province, as many tourists decide against paying 330 baht for the ATK test despite having already made their way to the pier. According to a group of 10 tourists, people in their group called off the island visit after learning about the requirement for health facility-approved ATK results, saying that the group would have had to spend thousands of baht on the test. Members of the group added that everybody has been fully vaccinated against Covid and the non-Thai group members have already been quarantined and have been ATK-tested several times.

 

Sarinthip Thapsapmongkhon, president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samet, apologized for the inadequate communication about the ATK test requirement. She explained that people heading to Samet island are able to use ATK results from many issuers in the area, some of which offer the test for free. Tourists may also use health facility-certified ATK results from elsewhere but the results must not be older than 72 hours.

 

The operators of Kohkaew Phisadan pier and Tharuaphe pier indicated they have been greatly impacted after the provincial authority in Rayong implemented the ATK requirement on January 20. They said tourists were unaware of the measure, and almost all tourists who were looking to make day trips to Samet island would turn back instead of paying. The operators said they wanted the provincial authority to reconsider the measure, as the ferry operators are now facing losses.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-01-26

 

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Good, let them self destruct with 0 income from tourism. 

It's doubtful that it's the 330 baht the tourists are concerned about...

16 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The majority of tourists arriving at piers on the mainland to board ferries to Samet are unaware of this requirement, and some opt to cancel their island trip instead of spending 330 baht per person for the test at the pier.

Good choice as at 330 THB 'tourists' are being ripped off.

ATK kits cost, in bulk, less than 50 baht each. Somebody is cashing in making people pay 330 baht each. Most restaurants charge only 60B.

 

 

It must be well known around the world in Tourist circles by now about the controversy surrounding the Government's purchase of ATK test kits with their 50% failure rate. Given the high risk of a false positive with concomitant risk of enforced quarantine most tourists with half a brain will simply turn around and walk away. 

 

The stories of enforced hospitalisation and quarantine reported in even Thai media such as Bangkok Post with families separated and holidays destroyed must be in the forefront of every tourist's mind.

 

I certainly would avoid any and all imposed tests if it were possible if I was a tourist who has worked hard and saved for a year for a holiday. There is no way I'd willingly let a bunch of clowns enforce tests on me if I could avoid the risk. Who hasn't seen pictures of large tents with lines and lines of cardboard box beds in them? Scary! Thanks but no thanks! Better visit another temple or go play on the beach instead.

32 minutes ago, Thujone said:

It's doubtful that it's the 330 baht the tourists are concerned about...

A Thai family of six - makes a difference. Especially when they can be bought for 37 baht.

 

Forced testing and overpriced TIT only to be expected.

Thailand has become a no go tourist destination

 

 

18 minutes ago, Banana7 said:

ATK kits cost, in bulk, less than 50 baht each. Somebody is cashing in making people pay 330 baht each. Most restaurants charge only 60B.

 

 

Why is it even necessary at all??!!

If Thailand wants to attract any significant number of tourists, they really need to get rid of this insane and arbitrary testing.

 

Tourists simply don't want to get ambushed by medical teams, especially when testing positive could result in a lengthy stay at a quarantine facility.

 

Stories like this one, and of "Covid prisons" and whatnot could damage Thailand's tourism recovery long beyond the pandemic. Hardly the fun destination it used to be!

Jumped the shark

 

Crossed the Rubicon

 

Thailand is done. This is insane. You can go to any national park without ATK test. In fact, it's only some boat operators that will require a vax certificate.

 

Total mafia

1 hour ago, Thujone said:

It's doubtful that it's the 330 baht the tourists are concerned about...

Right, what they worried is a positive result and imagine if you are a foreigner.. Hell no..

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

A Thai family of six - makes a difference. Especially when they can be bought for 37 baht.

 

And all locked up if a member of the family comes up positive.. That would be a great holiday..

As said by others, it's not the 330Bht, it's the possible 10's thousands if you happen to test positive and you're a foreigner. This is looking more like a tourist trap/scam to boost the hospital/hospital income. Just look at social media on the subject and most people are saying the same thing, "no thanks". The longer this witch hunt on tourists carries on whilst ignoring the resident population, the more damage they are doing to their tourism image.

Complete shambles as usual! TIT! Bring in a rule but don't tell anyone about it! Mind you, it's nothing new as it goes on at provincial and governmental level. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen a new rule published where the article says "it came into effect a week ago", or thereabouts but nobody had a clue about it!

12 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

A Thai family of six - makes a difference. Especially when they can be bought for 37 baht.

 

I think it's the risk of being put in Chinese flu prison that's the problem

The solution to this debacle is very simple : abolish all these superfluous requirements or face the total absence of foreign tourists . Already, my friends have decided to spend their hard-earned money elsewhere . And they are not the only ones . The nightlife section of Ayutthaya , Soi Farang had better be renamed Soi Thai as it is 99% frequented by Bangkok youth escaping the tight Bangkok regulations. 

Get my drift , Thai regulators ?

This place has gone off the rails with covidiocy. 

13 hours ago, Thujone said:

It's doubtful that it's the 330 baht the tourists are concerned about...

It is doubtful that no tourists are concerned about 330 baht,  but then again I've not spoken to any of the concerned parties, so my comment has little merit.

They are trying every way possible to money gouge tourists ....

Tourism in thailand is dead and now they're stripping the carcass    

If you do not want to make a test, use a speed boat to the island. 

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The majority of tourists arriving at piers on the mainland to board ferries to Samet are unaware of this requirement, and some opt to cancel their island trip instead of spending 330 baht per person for the test at the pier.

Good, vote with your feet.

Stop this ridiculous nonsense.

13 hours ago, TheScience said:

Why is it even necessary at all??!!

Gouging.

An ATK should cost around 30-40 baht...

330 baht is a rip-off.

Imagine if you are a family of 4+...

13 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Gouging.

An ATK should cost around 30-40 baht...

330 baht is a rip-off.

Imagine if you are a family of 4+...

I took one of those ATK test to get into bars in Pattaya. Gouging in more ways than one. Sooner or later we'll probably find out you have brain cancer from cotton swabs touching the back of your sinuses.

Does Thailand actually deserve to have any tourists at all ?

12 hours ago, Petey11 said:

As said by others, it's not the 330Bht, it's the possible 10's thousands if you happen to test positive and you're a foreigner. This is looking more like a tourist trap/scam to boost the hospital/hospital income. Just look at social media on the subject and most people are saying the same thing, "no thanks". The longer this witch hunt on tourists carries on whilst ignoring the resident population, the more damage they are doing to their tourism image.

... And it's the principle of the whole thing, looking forward to a day out on a ferry boat across the sea, remote island and all that, only to be faced with this inconvenience once you arrive on the pier, regardless of the cost, I think most people would simply be 'Pee'd" off and would leave the Pier on principle ... 

Just another iceberg for SS Thaitanic. Goodbye tourists.

Feel sorry for the resort, hotel, restaurant operators on Samet. They were struggling before this stupid edict from Rayong provincial "authority", and to be fair, the lady from the Tourism Association of Koh Samet had been fighting other ridiculous commands from the same junta stooge previous to this also.

Will be a bleak season for Samet now. Especially with all that oil on the way..

And Thailand slowly strangles the last remaining breaths of their once vibrant tourist economy. Articles reporting this kind of thing is appearing increasingly often in World press. The results will be well deserved although sympathy for the unemployed workers just trying to make a living .

Nothing to do with price but over the top control…people are tired of it when it is no longer a rational request but attacks one’s principles and common sense…