2 hours ago, kimamey said:

I think Thailand is a bit behind the places you mention as regards Omicron infection as it entered the country later but that should still mean they should be in a similar position in a few weeks when they can ease the restrictions even more. Having said that I wouldn't be surprised to see the same restrictions in place or increased.

 

A test before you leave your country is fine. Once you get to Thailand another test is OK although there is a risk if you test positive. After that it gets a bit silly. Once you're out and part of the normal population you're no more risk than anyone else and probably less since you'll have had 2 tests in the last few days. The same goes for day 5 when you need your second test. Why do you need to stay in a hotel? If you're positive and you've been spreading it around anyway before you got to the hotel.

 

It doesn't give the impression they really know what they're talking about as far as I can see.

They never ever knew what they were talking abour

1 hour ago, HashBrownHarry said:

No, there are a few that milk this.

 

Does not need to be from a Thai company.

 

Agreed, for regular tourists it's stupid but for long term expats that travel regularly, it's not the end of the world, much easier than CoE and much better than either 7 or 14 day quarantine.

It's 5 or 6 day quarantine in all but name.

You think people are going to get involved in stress free mingling from day 1 to day 5?

At least you've been constant, as usual, in apologising for the Thai half wits.

If they organised lynchings at BKK for people who fail the first test, you could most likely try to put a positive spin on it.

1 hour ago, CG1 Blue said:

Looks like Vietnam are scrapping the Covid tests on arrival, removing the risk of tourists being quarantined for most of their holiday. Philippines possibly heading that way too. 

Thailand will lose all their tourism business to their SE Asia rivals unless they drop the testing on arrival. Testing on arrival is pointless now that Omicron is already among the population. 

I tried to explain that to one poster last week but he didn't seem to grasp the concept of domestic community spread.

Think he thought johnny foreigners were the only people who could carry covid.

As clear as mud.

 

Does this mean I can do first night Test & Go on arrival in Bangkok? Then if negative, fly to Samui, then book into SHA+ hotel on day 5 for second test?

 

Or must I stay in Bangkok for five days?

7 minutes ago, Cherrytreeview said:

It's 5 or 6 day quarantine in all but name

Can you walk about freely in quarantine, nah didn't think so......

 

8 minutes ago, Cherrytreeview said:

You think people are going to get involved in stress free mingling from day 1 to day 5?

It's up to them, did you not read my post where it mentioned it's likely not going to appeal to short term tourists? Long term expats would probably go home and be cautious of where they go between day 2 and 5, right?

 

9 minutes ago, Cherrytreeview said:

At least you've been constant, as usual, in apologising for the Thai half wits

I'm not apologising but for someone that has returned 3 times under CoE and twice with Thai Pass things are most definately improving, you cannot deny that.

 

OR

 

Are you one of these people that are an expert without even having travelled in the last 24 months?

Thailand doesn't seem to want tourists anymore. 

13 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Can you walk about freely in quarantine, nah didn't think so......

 

It's up to them, did you not read my post where it mentioned it's likely not going to appeal to short term tourists? Long term expats would probably go home and be cautious of where they go between day 2 and 5, right?

 

I'm not apologising but for someone that has returned 3 times under CoE and twice with Thai Pass things are most definately improving, you cannot deny that.

 

OR

 

Are you one of these people that are an expert without even having travelled in the last 24 months?

NO.

I'm one of the 39,600,000 people who decided to go elsewhere.

If you hadn't of chained yourself to Thailand you wouldn't have had to jump through all the ridiculous hoops to return.

People just cancel or reschedule their trip while you stare at a brick wall for a fortnight.

Congratulations.

12 minutes ago, Capella said:

Thailand doesn't seem to want tourists anymore. 

All those hundreds of women sitting out in front of their massage shops around Sukhumvit would beg to differ, having about 10% of the traffic they need...  but we know those women mean nothing to the people who really make the decisions.

15 minutes ago, Cherrytreeview said:

I'm one of the 39,600,000 people who decided to go elsewhere.

Perfect, like the other 39,599,999 you won't be missed by me.

 

15 minutes ago, Cherrytreeview said:

If you hadn't of chained yourself to Thailand you wouldn't have had to jump through all the ridiculous hoops to return.

Thailand is my home, are you chained to your home? ridiculous hoops - it's the easiest it's been for 24 months, i can understand you must be one of the many that find uploading a couple of documents to a website too difficult - lol.

 

17 minutes ago, Cherrytreeview said:

People just cancel or reschedule their trip while you stare at a brick wall for a fortnight

Why am i looking at a brick wall, did you miss the bit about quarantine no longer being required, if that's what you're referring to.

 

You must have some interest in Thailand judging by  your frequency to this forum, perhaps it's becoming to expensive for you?

56 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Perfect, like the other 39,599,999 you won't be missed by me.

 

Thailand is my home, are you chained to your home? ridiculous hoops - it's the easiest it's been for 24 months, i can understand you must be one of the many that find uploading a couple of documents to a website too difficult - lol.

 

Why am i looking at a brick wall, did you miss the bit about quarantine no longer being required, if that's what you're referring to.

 

You must have some interest in Thailand judging by  your frequency to this forum, perhaps it's becoming to expensive for you?

Your funny Harry.

Always in the minority on this forum.

 

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism/thumbs-down-for-thailands-test-go-version-2

 

Now the best you can do is talk about money.

You've lost the argument already.

You keep your worthless Thai properties, i'll stick to my UK ones.

Post us a link to the Thailand property market increasing at 10% per annum.

UK rental income the strongest it's ever been.

Expats getting out of Thailand because the schools have been closed for a few years.

Taking their kids back to the UK to get a decent education.

Not only have you chained yourself to Thailand but you have flushed your money down the toilet and been brainwashed by the natives.

You employed by TAT to supplement your frozen state pension.

 

https://www.ft.com/content/fc33b109-0d7a-426d-ac64-d01a0fb89f12

 

Come on Harry where's the links to a booming Thai property market?

Send me a PM and i'll lend you a few quid.

So funny. ????

 

 

 

 

7 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Do they bother to do research on the feelings of the target people first, or don't they really want people to come in numbers? 

They are not expecting tourists. They are expecting bride seekers and orgy seekers who have sent a longtime solo gratification. 

4 hours ago, stigar said:

Must be the only country who you have to book and pay a covidest in advance..must be the only country you need incurance from a thai company..must be the only country with this kind of hotel bookings..everything in advance and fully paid.And they think tourists will come..i dont think so.

As much as I agree, it is perfectly logical… from Thailand’s perspective. Anyone who really knows the place can see why they have made such a song and dance over this. In short, they can’t help themselves… people MUST be seen to be doing something and the more complicated a process the cleverer it makes them look and gawd help those with half a brain that attempt to speak up and go against kraeng jai. As soon as covid was a thing, I just knew the kerfuffle they’d create and that folk would be in for a world of hurt… because they just can’t help themselves. 

7 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

They don't want cheap tourists anyway so why would any of that matter? Thailand is simply moving away from mass tourism destination for those who can't afford more up-class destinations for booze and bang... Wasted drugged youth at Full moon party and sleaze of Pattaya nightlife is not what country wants to be known for when trying to attract those high-spenders they are after.

That seems 180° backwards. 

 

Who can take a trip with entry rules that may land you in 14+ day quarantine jail? A person with a good job he has to return to after his few weeks of vacation time expire?

 

Backpackers and retirees are the only tourists they'll get under these rules. 

2 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Perfect, like the other 39,599,999 you won't be missed by me.

 

Thailand is my home, are you chained to your home? ridiculous hoops - it's the easiest it's been for 24 months, i can understand you must be one of the many that find uploading a couple of documents to a website too difficult - lol.

 

Why am i looking at a brick wall, did you miss the bit about quarantine no longer being required, if that's what you're referring to.

 

You must have some interest in Thailand judging by  your frequency to this forum, perhaps it's becoming to expensive for you?

You obviously can't even bother reading this forum before posting your Thai hugging pearls of wisdom.

 

 

 

You must have enjoyed counting the bathroom tiles for your first 14 day quarantine.

????

 

 

8 hours ago, Cherrytreeview said:

Cancun tourism hitting record numbers while Thailand's tourism is down 99%.

Mexico has done a pretty good job capitalizing on the opportunity in the last 12 months at least.  Was in the Cancun area last month, and things were pretty solid.  (One spot we went had essentially just re-opened and was having major re-opening pains, but that is to be expected.)

 

If Thailand wants to learn from this all, they need to get enough tourists in to restart businesses and build the employment base, and slowly grow from there.  That process is going to take over a year judging by other places… better start now if you don’t want to lose big in next year’s peak season.  

8 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

They don't want cheap tourists anyway so why would any of that matter? Thailand is simply moving away from mass tourism destination for those who can't afford more up-class destinations for booze and bang... Wasted drugged youth at Full moon party and sleaze of Pattaya nightlife is not what country wants to be known for when trying to attract those high-spenders they are after.

Now that Phillipines has issued Feb  8th, with only predeparture test, Thailand will have to drop most of these rule's or they will lose billions of ฿. They want any tourist willing to pay for entry.

2 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

…one of the many that find uploading a couple of documents to a website too difficult…

I live in a tourist destination that requires a few documents to be uploaded prior to boarding an airplane.  *That* level of complexity, while hated, has not reduced tourist numbers.  (It hasn’t keept COVID at bay either.)

 

The problem is really in the mandatory hospitalization.  In Mexico, I asked at our hotel what happened if we tested positive (for return flight home) and the response is “We have a special discount for that and we will take care of you for the week of isolation.”  Compare and contrast to Mandatory Hospitalization.

Am I correct in assuming the Test and Go again applies only to Phuket (and Ko Samui) and none of the other Sandbox destinations, but that you can arrive at BKK for the first night (as I could in December)?

4 hours ago, phetphet said:

As clear as mud.

 

Does this mean I can do first night Test & Go on arrival in Bangkok? Then if negative, fly to Samui, then book into SHA+ hotel on day 5 for second test?

 

Or must I stay in Bangkok for five days?

You don't have to stay  5 days in Bangkok if you don't want to.

You have to stay the first night in a SHA+ hotel of the city where you land with the int'l flight, in your case BKK. Then you are free to go where you want, and day 5 you need another booking for a SHA+ hotel in whatever city you plan to be on that day.

 

1 hour ago, tjo o tjim said:

I live in a tourist destination that requires a few documents to be uploaded prior to boarding an airplane.  *That* level of complexity, while hated, has not reduced tourist numbers.  (It hasn’t keept COVID at bay either.)

 

The problem is really in the mandatory hospitalization.  In Mexico, I asked at our hotel what happened if we tested positive (for return flight home) and the response is “We have a special discount for that and we will take care of you for the week of isolation.”  Compare and contrast to Mandatory Hospitalization.

I understand that Thailand is going in that direction too - at least I read some thread about hoteliers lobbying with the gov't but did not follow up. Accordingly, there are/will be hotels that you can book for the test&go, and that can double as isolation if needed.

8 hours ago, delerium said:

Interestingly Phuket hoteliers seems to already have raised their prices... that will surely help them getting them fully booked, can't beat their logic.

You mean when there's unlimited supply and almost zero demand, you don't raise the prices??   lol

5 hours ago, Cherrytreeview said:

NO.

I'm one of the 39,600,000 people who decided to go elsewhere.

If you hadn't of chained yourself to Thailand you wouldn't have had to jump through all the ridiculous hoops to return.

People just cancel or reschedule their trip while you stare at a brick wall for a fortnight.

Congratulations.

I think most of those 39.6M people actually decided not to go anywhere. For example, the largest visitor groups pre-covid were Chinese and Malay.

I was able to travel out of Thailand and then back in without too many hoops, but yes the risk of what might happen if I was tested positive was a concern.

28 minutes ago, arithai12 said:

You don't have to stay  5 days in Bangkok if you don't want to.

You have to stay the first night in a SHA+ hotel of the city where you land with the int'l flight, in your case BKK. Then you are free to go where you want, and day 5 you need another booking for a SHA+ hotel in whatever city you plan to be on that day.

 

Do you mean you can do he Test and Go anywhere?  It is not limited to Phuket and Ko Samui?

9 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Thailand has moved away from ALL tourism. High rollers are even less likely to put up with these backward, illogical entry rules than cattle class visitors. 

Totally agree Dave Austin,, I used to visit Thailand 3-4 times a year for a 5 week stay each time, and always came during December & January,  however this year I went to Antigua,  simple entry procedure, must be fully vaccinated, PCR test 72 hours before boarding, temperature check on arrival in the airport,, hey bingo that's it, 

None of the silly games that Thailand wants to play... 

In a few days it will change again

Have you ever felt a sucker punch coming your way? Right ... do one day quarantine on arrival and if 1st test is negative, release you out into the community where omicron is already well in circulation. Then after 4 days, make you come back to quarantine at a hotel and wait for the results of the 2nd test. And if positive, its off to the hospitel for you. No thank you, I think I'll pass on that wonderful opportunity.

16 hours ago, Jingthing said:

, or don't they really want people to come in numbers? 

I fail to understand why so many continue to pursue this sort of comment.

Thailand has been saying on a regular basis they are looking to reduce the dependency on mass tourism.

Time people woke up  to the fact that things will never be as they were.

9 hours ago, Cherrytreeview said:

You keep your worthless Thai properties, i'll stick to my UK ones.

And stick to a UK forum while you are at it.

14 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Thailand has moved away from ALL tourism. High rollers are even less likely to put up with these backward, illogical entry rules than cattle class visitors. 

Off topic as it relates more to long stayers cum retirees:

 

I had petty issues with my extension in Bangkok no less.

 

I've given up on not getting but merely renewing my five year drivers license in Bangkok.

 

90 day reports. We shouldn't even be doing these. Broken. Half day away from work and b400.

 

The hassles of obtaining a blue / yellow book.

 

The hassles of buying, selling a car

 

The hassles of buying selling a boat.

 

The hassles of opening a legitimate bank account on an O visa and extension.

 

Racist multi tiered hospital billing.

 

Racist national parks fees.

 

The often rudeness of government officials. We are not poor, uneducated immigrants.

 

The insanity of leaving and re-entering the country.

 

The taxes - yes, the taxes. 15% off the top of bank account and now Bitcoin.

 

Inability to openly work despite income is derived outside of country.

 

No serious path to PR.

 

This is not a good place to retire any longer.

 

It's not even a good place to holiday.

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Registration for the Thailand Pass "Test & Go" scheme will resume at 9 a.m. on February 1, 2022, with the following changes:

- There are no registration limitations for any country or region.

So there is no more "whitelist" of countries that are eligible for Test & Go?  In the previous T&G iteration, Mexico was not on the list of eligible countries for T&G.  Starting Feb. 1, as a Mexico resident I won't need to sandbox?

 

Quote

Meanwhile, the CCSA has approved the opening of two new sandbox areas in Chonburi province (Bang Lamung district, Pattaya City, Sriracha district, Koh Sichang, Na Chom Thian, and Bang Saray subdistricts in Sattahip district) and Ko Chang in Trat Province on February 1. Travelers will be allowed to move between the new and original sandbox locations within seven days of their sandbox stay, but they must book a seven-day SHA Extra Plus or AQ hotel with a two-time RT-PCR examination (on day 1 and day 5-6), with a limit of three hotels in the Sandbox area.

Soooo, if there is no more restrictions on which countries can T&G, who, exactly are the new sandboxes for?