Analysis/Opinion: Pressure is on Thai Government from all directions to drop and ease Covid-19 restrictions but it won’t happen yet. Here is why.

[webfact]

 

By Adam Judd

 

Thailand-  It seems like every day another organization, association, group, business, or something similar is in the news suggesting/demanding/asking for the Thai Government to lift or ease Covid-19 restrictions, especially Test and Go and Thailand Pass.

 

In the past two weeks alone the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thai Tourism Council, Thai Hotel Association, Thai Entertainment Association including One Voice in Pattaya, and many more have called for the Thai Government to basically get rid of Thailand pass and Test and Go. Some have also asked for the almost year-long legal ban on nightlife and bars to be lifted.

 

These are not small-time players asking to ease the rules but powerful groups and corporations representing billions of baht. Several months ago the voices were mostly smaller groups and organizations but with nearly every government opposition group joining the chorus of voices and now well-regarded groups like FTI saying restrictions can go it isn’t a minor movement anymore.

 

Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

 

This comes as other countries surrounding Thailand also ease their rules and restrictions for entry, many making it much easier. This, in turn, has caused Thailand’s massive tourism industry to ask..what is going on?

 

To be fair, the Thai government has slowly eased some restrictions, including an RT-PCR test before travel and the number of days of quarantine for unvaccinated folks. They have announced a plan to treat Covid19 as endemic by June or July. This is not, however, fast enough for those who rely on tourism.

 

So, as countries like Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, and others ease restrictions and let tourists back in easier or fully open all business sectors, why is Thailand taking a much slower and cautious route? After all, tourism in Thailand is responsible for a significant (but often debated how much) percent of GDP.

 

Also, of course, the loss of many Russian tourists due to the current Russian-Ukraine war has led many voices to ask the Thai government to move faster in easing and lifting restrictions.

 

Well, let’s look at why Thailand isn’t moving faster. According to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, about 2 million elderly and vulnerable have still not been fully vaccinated. Yes, many of these folks are by choice but the Thai government is doing all they can to practically beg these folks to get vaccinated.

 

Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/04/01/analysis-opinion-pressure-is-on-thai-government-from-all-directions-to-drop-and-ease-covid-19-restrictions-but-it-wont-happen-yet-here-is-why/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-04-02

 

- Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Destiny1990]

Perhaps their focus needs to be on the vaccination of their own locals, instead of to complicate travel requirements for fully vaccinated insurance tourists who like to visit for a long sun holiday.

[ezzra]

Simple asthmatics: The harsher the restrictions are, the less would be tourist will bother with it, and if the TAT or the government don't get it, they should move aside and let someone who does understand it... ...

Edited April 1, 2022 by ezzra

[OKF]

well, well, well….ever thought what can happen if emergency laws going?

[daveAustin]

42 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Perhaps their focus needs to be on the vaccination of their own locals, instead of to complicate travel requirements for fully vaccinated insurance tourists who like to visit for a long sun holiday.

It is according to the article. They put it down to the old folks being unvaccinated. As if they care. All about elections and keeping the place sterile dead and easy to control. 

[fredscats]

Its a massive money maker for Thailand,the only one operating at the moment,probably into the distant future

[TheFishman1]

The government needs to drop all the restrictions and open up the country TIT

[CygnusX1]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

According to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, about 2 million elderly and vulnerable have still not been fully vaccinated. Yes, many of these folks are by choice but the Thai government is doing all they can to practically beg these folks to get vaccinated.

I’ve never understood why financial incentives to get people vaccinated never even seem to be discussed. If the Thai Govt gave every Thai citizen (sorry expats) say 5,000 baht for every shot they had at the appropriate time of a quality vaccine, I’m sure the number vaccinated would rapidly increase. Those citizens already vaccinated would also get the payments. Even if it had to be funded by printing money, that would cause far less damage to the economy than the continued devastation of the tourist industry, and a slightly lower baht might be a good thing anyway.

[4MyEgo]

Control, control, control, means we run things our way, besides we didn't like a lot of these businesses anyway, so if they went under our plan is working, we are looking after those 2 million unvaccinated mumma's and pappa's, yeh right, pull the other one.

[tlcwaterfall]

What a lot of <deleted>.  Government doesn't care for the nations health. This is all about maintaining power and control. They are <deleted>ting themselves about what will happen once and if they remove the emergency decree.

[keithkarmann]

18 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

I’ve never understood why financial incentives to get people vaccinated never even seem to be discussed. If the Thai Govt gave every Thai citizen (sorry expats) say 5,000 baht for every shot they had at the appropriate time of a quality vaccine, I’m sure the number vaccinated would rapidly increase. Those citizens already vaccinated would also get the payments. Even if it had to be funded by printing money, that would cause far less damage to the economy than the continued devastation of the tourist industry, and a slightly lower baht might be a good thing anyway.

200 baht would do it.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

These are not small-time players asking to ease the rules but powerful groups and corporations representing billions of baht.

Then I hope come the next election they vote wisely.

[RichardColeman]

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Well, let’s look at why Thailand isn’t moving faster. According to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, about 2 million elderly and vulnerable have still not been fully vaccinated. Yes, many of these folks are by choice but the Thai government is doing all they can to practically beg these folks to get vaccinated.

I think they should do exactly the same as I think all other countries should do for the unvaccinated  - give them all a recorded letter stating that if you do not take the vaccine and get covid, you will be last in the queue for covid health care after all the vaccinated.  Your choice to have the vaccine or not, but you gamble with the last in the line. I firmly believe all should have a choice, but all should live with the consequences of that choice

Edited April 2, 2022 by RichardColeman

[pomchop]

If not fully vaccinated jump through hoops with tests and quarantines...IF fully vaxxed with boosters welcome to Thailand.  Your choice.  Unfortunately those who have followed the recommendations are being penalized.

[Pattaya Spotter]

Thailand's current tourist entry requirements pretty much match those of its peers in SE Asia, with no quarantine and testing on arrival for vaccinated travelers.

[tlcwaterfall]

8 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Thailand's current tourist entry requirements pretty much match those of its peers in SE Asia, with no quarantine and testing on arrival for vaccinated travelers.

Really? Thailand insists on a one night quarantine and PCR  test and a further antigen test on day 5.

[itsari]

9 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Thailand's current tourist entry requirements pretty much match those of its peers in SE Asia, with no quarantine and testing on arrival for vaccinated travelers.

Vietnam relaxed there entry rules on the 15th of March 2022 . 

It will be interesting to see if there will be a surge in the number of visitors after a month .

Somehow I doubt it due to the continued problems with covid around the world .

Health wise and financially will keep the numbers way down . 

Do not forget that China continues to have travel restrictions .

[ChrisY1]

IMO, with 90+ deaths from Covid just reported for yesterday......there is something going very wrong here.

The BP has reported this morning, that BKK medical facilities cannot cope with covid cases, and are asking surrounding regions to take the overflow of patients.

Is the reported 25K cases each day anywhere near close to the real figure?  We do know they don't include RAT test +ives, in the count.

Should tourists be encouraged to visit the country if Covid is out of control, as the BP suggested?

[wombat]

Here we go again.

Surin were going endemic in the first of April...that turned out to to be an early April 1st joke on the optimistic.

So what happens now?

[pokerface1]

I'm sure the government has been doing opinion polls on what people think and plan to do at the next election or when they lift the emergency decree.

A <deleted> storm is what they are facing and hence keeping the masses under the thumb is a must until they all secure there exit plans.

Meanwhile the HiSo are buying up hotels and bossiness that are falling off the financial cliff with a winner take all outlook. 

[thonglorjimmy]

I think the word has probably got out that the arrival tests carry the risk of a positive result, without having any actual symptoms, and then being carted off to hospital for a miracle cure at great expense.

 

I know a number of regular visitors to Thailand along with a number of potential tourists, who are just not prepared to risk it. Likewise I know a number of local businessmen who really should be travelling, but also can't risk being caught up in the current debacle.

[sammieuk1]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Then I hope come the next election they vote wisely.

They will for 300bt ????

[kcpattaya]

Having control by emergency decree is sooooooo convenient for this administration...
Why would you give it up?

 

[shaff]

clueless inept stubborn and idiotic

[RandiRona]

Well...why it is so difficult to understand that covid is already here and incoming tourists wont make it any worse. Actually incoming tourists are taking a bit risk by visiting a covid infested city. They need to make it easier so that more are able to come and spend.

[LALes]

1 hour ago, itsari said:

Vietnam relaxed there entry rules on the 15th of March 2022 . 

It will be interesting to see if there will be a surge in the number of visitors after a month .

Somehow I doubt it due to the continued problems with covid around the world .

Health wise and financially will keep the numbers way down . 

Do not forget that China continues to have travel restrictions .

I'm in Danang now and its quite empty.  Of course, its only 2 weeks into the re-open so its too early to tell what it will look like in the future.  The last time I was here in  2019, the place was full of Korean, Japanese and Chinese.  They are all gone.  Some Americans living here but only a smattering of tourists.  Plane was half full coming over from BKK and not all of them were tourists.

Not much different in Ho Chi Minh.  I was the only white face around much of the time.  I kinda like this.

Vietnam is easier to get into than Thailand but not by much.  Only difference is no quarantine.  I still needed vax card, insurance, e-visa and negative Antigen 24 hr test.

[petermik]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Then I hope come the next election they vote wisely.

They can vote how they like...but it will not change the outcome.

[IamNoone88]

The world has learnt a powerful lesson from this pandemic. Firstly, no-one was even remotely ready for it. Secondly, it cannot be eradicated, the best hope is to lessen and treat the symptoms. Thirdly,  you cannot confine a population for ever and deprive them of their right to work. There will be repercussions.

[vinci]

Quote

Yes, many of these folks are by choice but the Thai government is doing all they can to practically beg these folks to get vaccinated

the dumbest reason i ever heard, it's like yeah! there are abundant of vaccine but these people won't take it so we are holding the country capture.

[shackleton]

A lot of the businesses are only thinking of the money they are losing 

Priority should be given to getting the 2 million people not vaccinated 

More quicker

Here we are coming up to the Songkran holiday and the Corivirus numbers are on the increase 

No proper Tourist is going to come to Thailand until the procedures getting in are relaxed plus the Corivirus numbers decrease