Picture: Siam Rath

 

The government is rubbing its fingers again as foreign arrivals to the country pick up hugely and tourism shows signs that come the end of 2022 it'll be full systems go.

 

The Thai authorities are already delighted with the numbers. 

 

It's a case of bad Covid numbers DOWN, good tourism numbers UP everywhere you look, according to government spokesman Thankorn Wangbungkhongchana's comments reported by Siam Rath yesterday.

 

So much so that next month's return of the famed "Full Moon Party" in Koh Phangan (June 14th) is set to be something of a watershed moment for what the spokesman called the NEXT NORMAL.

 

Yes, it's out with the NEW normal and in with the NEXT in Thailand's Full Blown Reopening.

 

An opening picking up more and more pace since May 1st and the end of Test and Go.

 

Thanakorn said that 300,000 foreign tourists had registered for Thailand Pass this month.

 

And 10,000 tourists had been arriving daily.

 

The numbers have been ballooned by Thai tourists taking to the domestic road. 

 

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PM Prayuth Chan-ocha was happing with the numbers and took the opportunity to praise health services, Thailand's Covid response, safetyy and resilience. 

 

The spokesman also said that the next normal is very different when it comes to the shape of tourism - it's far more about small groups, families and FIT - fully independent travellers. 

 

China wasn't even mentioned. That's the past, all those big tour groups are history, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

As evidence for all this optimism Phuket saw 70,000 rooms booked for the long weekend just past with nearly 50% occupancy among places that have reopened post-pandemic.

 

Occupancy was 60-80% in Patong and Kamala, the principal tourism areas. 

 

Meanwhile in Koh Samui tourists were arriving by the bucketload with everyone gearing up for the "Back to the Roots" titled Full Moon Party.

 

Expect to see that particular event hyped to the max in the coming four weeks as a symbol that Thailand is once again ready to take its place in the pantheon of great tourism countries. 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-05-17

 

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The door is ajar but not fully open yet. That is what needs to happen to get real tourists.

Referring to Thailand's most popular & openly tolerated drugs-fueled "hippies" event by a government spokes person just makes me LMAO...

"according to government spokesman Thankorn Wangbungkhongchana's comments...the famed "Full Moon Party" in Koh Phangan (June 14th) is set to be something of a watershed moment for what the spokesman called the NEXT NORMAL."

 

So a maskless ecstasy and alcohol fueled super spreader event is Thailand's approach to rebranding as the "Next Normal"? This is after all the bla bla bla about restructuring Thailand's tourism industry around more affluent family travelers.  

 

The full moon parties and "normal" really don't belong in the same sentence ????

Full moon party !! Drunks , drugs , assaults, . A great image for Thailand as a family holiday destination.

 

Give it a year and we will be just dirty Falangs again., sex pats and bad guys.

2 hours ago, kcpattaya said:

Referring to Thailand's most popular & openly tolerated drugs-fueled "hippies" event by a government spokes person just makes me LMAO...

Attracting more of the Full Moon Party morons. Stupid enough to pay for worthless Covid insurance that should give you a hint of their brain power and drug/booze soaked brains

2 hours ago, Wuvu2 said:

"according to government spokesman Thankorn Wangbungkhongchana's comments...the famed "Full Moon Party" in Koh Phangan (June 14th) is set to be something of a watershed moment for what the spokesman called the NEXT NORMAL."

 

So a maskless ecstasy and alcohol fueled super spreader event is Thailand's approach to rebranding as the "Next Normal"? This is after all the bla bla bla about restructuring Thailand's tourism industry around more affluent family travelers.  

 

The full moon parties and "normal" really don't belong in the same sentence ????

Those morons are far from anything normal.

16 minutes ago, Mitkof Island said:

Those morons are far from anything normal.

Are you talking about the full moon partiers or the government spokesmen?

Full Moon Party with masks, ban on alcohol sales, available if you have a Thailand Pass, the allowed non THC cannabis use..  that will be a lot of fun, while the rest of the country has to deal with strict measures...the Full Moon party can do as they want for the sake of Thailand for 1 night instead of open up for the other 29/30 days

2 hours ago, PJPom said:

Full moon party !! Drunks , drugs , assaults, . A great image for Thailand as a family holiday destination.

 

All those kids at the parties from families! Just families more tolerant and realistic than you.

That headline made me see Anutin with a pipe, raving like a beast.

2 hours ago, PJPom said:

Full moon party !! Drunks , drugs , assaults, . A great image for Thailand as a family holiday destination.

 

It does conflict somewhat with the image of quality, high income tourists they've been rattling on about for the past two years. 

"The spokesman also said that the next normal is very different when it comes to the shape of tourism - it's far more about small groups, families and FIT - fully independent travellers."

 

I dont think that TAT or any government agency really has much say in what the makeup of future tourists will be.

 

If they could really control this, the private jets full of the elusive high quality tourists would have been crowding the local airport's runways years ago.

I think they have moved full moon parties to the nearest weekend.

The previous one was taking place during Songkran with 10k participants. This month already done during the extended weekend. 

That indicates it's also thai youngsters taking part in them.

With many guesthouses still closed, islands tourist infrastructure is not in good shape to take care of that many visitors. 

For health reasons there should be limit for entering this island.

New TAT slogan: "Welcome to Thailand, your family-friendly, drug-binging paradise".

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

ban on alcohol sales,

Which "alcohol sales ban" is that, the one that you just made up that doesn't exist, perhaps?   

Yep, all those maskless Europeans looking forward to wearing one again in Thailand.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

So much so that next month's return of the famed "Full Moon Party" in Koh Phangan (June 14th) is set to be something of a watershed moment for what the spokesman called the NEXT NORMAL.

The old normal, a beach party full of drunk backpackers.

No lessons learnt at all for a brighter sustainable future.

4 hours ago, PJPom said:

Full moon party !! Drunks , drugs , assaults, . A great image for Thailand as a family holiday destination.

 

Well the affluent millionaires for some reason didn't materialise so back to the old ways.

A p*ss-up on a beach... I guess they can organise that.

Pass the blunt, bust the farang...Yo !

Things are back to normal now.

25 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Which "alcohol sales ban" is that, the one that you just made up that doesn't exist, perhaps?   

Don't know that bars and entertainment is closed and alcohol is not available if you don't eat???

There's me thinking the Thai tourist board were after more up market tourists families ect 

Now seem to be after hippies getting involved in full moon parties getting drunk ???? 

I think they need to review their future long term strategy in promoting  Tourism back to the beaches sight seeing  Temples restaurants.  ect 

 

So many old farts whining.. remember back in the day when you were still young? Let the kids have fun. It's great to see some things going back to normal. If you don't like full moon parties then don't participate, very easy. If you're still afraid of Covid, keep wearing that N95 mask and keep yourself isolated, but let the rest of us get back to our normal lives. 

ps. doubt I'll be joining either, starting to be a bit too old for that ????

Yes, it's out with the NEW normal and in with the NEXT in Thailand's Full Blown Reopening.

 

So how come the bars and nightlife aren't officially open yet? Ah - forgot - State of Emergency! So can a country have a "Full Blown Reopening" while there is still a State of Emergency in place? Yes, of course, when TIT!!! 

Change of Government policy keep entry restrictions and allow in back packers to attend the full moon party whilst the few high spending quality tourists and family tourists avoid Thailand for other countries 

55 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Which "alcohol sales ban" is that, the one that you just made up that doesn't exist, perhaps?   

The ban on alcohol sales that is still in effect in many provinces perhaps?

You know the night time curfews, the inability for restaurants and most enclosed bars to be able to sell alcohol between 11-1400 the bans that haven't been lifted throughout most of the country. Those bans?

Wait a minute.....I thought the TAT was now focused on 'wealthy Indians ' ? What has happened ?

4 hours ago, PJPom said:

Full moon party !! Drunks , drugs , assaults, . A great image for Thailand as a family holiday destination.

 

pass the puke bucket please, no thanks

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

It does conflict somewhat with the image of quality, high income tourists they've been rattling on about for the past two years. 

10 thousand people travelling  across Thailand and staying on an Island  is a lot of spending going directly  to the people.

The wealth that young  people, backpackers and economy travellers generate is enormous witness how the face of Banglampoo changed because of the KSR cash machine. Recreational drugs users are normal and wealthy or middle class. I personally dont like the FMPs but can't deny the fun and money they generate.