By Cod Satrusayang

 

Thailand aims to remove remaining Covid restrictions by the beginning of July as economic pressures and inflation pushes forward the government’s timeframe for declaring an end to the pandemic, a senior government advisor said on Friday.

 

Thailand found nearly 5,000 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday but with booster shots readily available and the death toll lowering by the week, the country appears ready to declare the disease as endemic.

 

Anutin Charnvirakul, the Minister of Public Health, told reporters that there was no timeframe or pressure to rush the government on ending restrictions.

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/40464/economic-pressures-has-government-mulling-end-of-restrictions/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-05-27

 

- Cigna 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.

Mull away the Thai Pass etc and then you are almost there but probably too late to save much of this year.

Anutin Charnvirakul, the Minister of Public Health, told reporters that there was no timeframe or pressure to rush the government on ending restrictions.

 

This superclown would not know truth, if it bit him on the butt. His daily lies continue. Of course they are feeling the pressure. The economy is decimated. Unemployment is likely 15%. Tourists are barely coming, even with the end of the cowardly quarantine. On Samui right now, and it is very, very quiet. Low season yes. But, few are showing up. 

 

 

 

The naivety of the government is unbelievable. The belief that tourism and the economy can just be turned on again with a few new regulations more or less, like a light switch, is illusory. 

C19 measures, Putin's war in Europe, inflation, recession, China's border closure, etc. all result in the fact that the general data for vacation trips to Thailand are extremely bad. 

The government acts as if they are able to trigger an economic boom with their pompous announcements. The reality is rather that there is still a long dry way ahead for the countrys economy.

Edited May 27, 20224 yr by tomacht8

2 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

The naivety of the government is unbelievable. The belief that tourism and the economy can just be turned on again with a few new regulations more or less, like a light switch, is illusory. 

C19 measures, Putin's war in Europe, inflation, recession, China's border closure, etc. all result in the fact that the general data for vacation trips to Thailand are extremely bad. 

The government acts as if they are able to trigger an economic boom with their pompous announcements. The reality is rather that there is still a long dry way ahead for the countrys economy.

Nothing will ever be the same. Tourism will rebound. But, not to the extent they are dreaming about. Maybe as many as 5 million tourists a year, a few years from now. 

 

1. They simply got too far behind the curve, as usual. They waited too long. They were too timid. They behaved like scared little children. 

 

2. There is less money to go around, post Covid, for all but the top 10%, who have a dozen good reasons for NOT visiting Thailand. 

 

3. The Thailand pass still exists. Nobody wants to grovel for permission to visit. 

 

4. Thailand is a pale shadow of it's former self. None of the many problems that existed prior to Covid were addressed. None. Not one. And they have made alot of effort to pasteurize and homogenize and puritanize the place. The exact opposite of what most want. They want character. Thailand is NOT Monte Carlo, or Singapore. It never will be. Give up that stupid dream. Preserve the character, cherish the character, don't erase it! 

 

5. They still think Thailand is center of the known universe. No humility has been learned. None. 

the delay has little to do with CV19, they are trying save their own ### while maintaining maximum control over everything and everyone, they know their days are numbered - the people are fed up with this bunch of unelected ### running things and enriching themselves, I suspect that if the tide really turns against them they will suspend all future elections and maintain power by force - effectively dumping what was left of Thai style democracy, they will come out with some B S statement - "In the interests of people and country after this very challenging 30 months we have decided it is best for us all that we stay in office for a further 5 years and oversee the recovery"

Get rid of a Thai Pass

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Anutin Charnvirakul, the Minister of Public Health, told reporters that there was no timeframe or pressure to rush the government on ending restrictions.

And with Monkey disease on the horizon this could go on all year... 

3 hours ago, smedly said:

"In the interests of people and country after this very challenging 30 months we have decided it is best for us all that we stay in office for a further 5 years and oversee the recovery"

Don't forget Prayut has a 20 year plan.

5 hours ago, Thailand said:

Mull away the Thai Pass etc and then you are almost there but probably too late to save much of this year.

I don’t know about that.. I think that if everything is removed — and it’s well advertised, I do think thailand has a good shot at a decent high season…. 

 

but… they’ll have to hurry as many holiday makers will start to either begin their holiday planning or might be even be looking to finalize it by late summer or even as late as early fall… so… there’s some time— but not a whole lot… In addition,  while air fares to Europe and North America are at very high levels, fares to Asia, relatively speaking aren’t as rich — just yet…. so people might find that the air fare part of the total equation makes Asia a better choice… but they’ll have to compete against places like Bali, KL etc ,, who’ve all be “ open” to varying degrees, well before thailand and may have already been chosen as the spot for this years year-end trip. 

 

Edited May 27, 20224 yr by new2here

An American expat neighbor of mine built a nice big house for his Thai gf and her two young daughters. Then COVID hit.  We haven’t seen him in almost two years—but he keeps sending her money.  She waits patiently…

This exemplifies some of the problems in Thailand.

They'll be hitting panic mode soon when the summer tourists dont come

The European holiday season (mid-June to late September) has been largely missed by the hesitant Thai government amateurs. 

A friend, family with 1 child booked 3 weeks Greece in April for the beginning of September. Another friend, family with 2 children booked Turkey all inclusive for 3 weeks in early May for July. Both friends are usually Thailand fans. Due to the loss of Russian tourists, there are currently very cheap holiday packages for Turkey.

 

If Thailand had managed in time to attract an additional 500,000 European holidaymakers for the summer season and each spend 50,000 baht: that would have been 25,000,000,000 baht.

 

Money that may could have been generated by faster, bolder and clearer entry policies.

 

 

 

 

5 hours ago, tomacht8 said:

The naivety of the government is unbelievable. The belief that tourism and the economy can just be turned on again with a few new regulations more or less, like a light switch, is illusory.

Tourism honestly seems so passive when it comes to Thailand.  They're used to basically sitting back and letting beaches, islands and party towns attract visitors.  It's obviously challenging to them to think that they need to actively do anything to try to attract tourists or facilitate their arrival.

1 hour ago, Isaan sailor said:

She waits patiently…

Is this irony?  If not, I'm relieved that that was the ending.  Most users would have you believe that the minute your back is turned your Thai wife or girlfriend is cheating on you.

It's a pretty tough predicament. 

 

How do you ensure that you send a clear message that covid is a foreign disease, brought to Thailand by foreigners, and that all foreigners have covid, while still attracting tourism?

7 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Anutin Charnvirakul, the Minister of Public Health, told reporters that there was no timeframe or pressure to rush the government on ending restrictions.

 

This superclown would not know truth, if it bit him on the butt. His daily lies continue. Of course they are feeling the pressure. The economy is decimated. Unemployment is likely 15%. Tourists are barely coming, even with the end of the cowardly quarantine. On Samui right now, and it is very, very quiet. Low season yes. But, few are showing up. 

 

 

 

Samui always quiet. Deservedly so. 
what a dump …decaying as you watch ! 

38 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Is this irony?  If not, I'm relieved that that was the ending.  Most users would have you believe that the minute your back is turned your Thai wife or girlfriend is cheating on you.

Actually, FYI, our neighbor (the gf) waits patiently.  Her family lives on the same lot, with relatives on either side.  Her mom is very proud of her daughter, for bringing such wealth into the big farm family.  She couldn’t cheat even if she felt so inclined.  Sanguine yet sad story.

Not to mention the cost of living crisis which is engulfing Europe, I suspect that alone will reduce the number of tourists who may have come here.

9 hours ago, tomacht8 said:

The naivety of the government is unbelievable. The belief that tourism and the economy can just be turned on again with a few new regulations more or less, like a light switch, is illusory. 

C19 measures, Putin's war in Europe, inflation, recession, China's border closure, etc. all result in the fact that the general data for vacation trips to Thailand are extremely bad. 

The government acts as if they are able to trigger an economic boom with their pompous announcements. The reality is rather that there is still a long dry way ahead for the countrys economy.

I can tell you from a country with no restrictions whatsoever other than being vaccinated to enter our numbers are nowhere near what they used to be.  The thing is opening up is only half the answer - where tourists come from often have significant restrictions upon return, including mandatory quarantines, or testing before leaving, or both.  The sediment with travellers who are returning is one of stress over the testing they must do and they worry that they will have to quarantine here for ten days before returning home at a COVID hotel which is not cheap.  

Tourism is not a tap that will be turned on and I foresee the downturn to be significant for the rest of this year and perhaps next year too.  (of course I cannot be certain)

Pent up demand?  Sure, there is some.  After the initial surge you will see it drop like a rock again.  And let me assure you, you won't see Chinese tourists for many many many many many years to come.

2 hours ago, TropicalGuy said:

Samui always quiet. Deservedly so. 
what a dump …decaying as you watch ! 

Yep, Samui sucks big time.  

13 hours ago, Blumpie said:

Yep, Samui sucks big time.

Are you guys being straight about this? Because I've been thinking seriously about a trip there in June for a change of scene, to get out of Dodge (Bangkok) for a while. I've been in LOS about half time for over 10 years and never even been to Hua Hin, let alone anywhere further south. 

My gf has a bar-girl friend there who is unhappy with it at this time, but that doesn't tell me much.

51 minutes ago, Enzian said:

Are you guys being straight about this? Because I've been thinking seriously about a trip there in June for a change of scene, to get out of Dodge (Bangkok) for a while. I've been in LOS about half time for over 10 years and never even been to Hua Hin, let alone anywhere further south. 

My gf has a bar-girl friend there who is unhappy with it at this time, but that doesn't tell me much.

No I'm not kidding.  Samui sucks monkey balls and of all the places on earth I'd go again that would be dead last.  

You have to pay to get to a beach, it's flat, it's awful.  There is nothing to do unless you just want to sit around and get drunk.  

17 hours ago, TropicalGuy said:

Samui always quiet. Deservedly so. 
what a dump …decaying as you watch ! 

It is actually a very beautiful island. Especially when near some of the finer beaches, or up in the hills. The primary issue is that many of the transplanted locals, and most of the officials possess very little in the way of pride. So, they have allowed the island to get run down, they have not developed progressive public transportation options, the island had gotten over developed, and nobody has had an interest in going to war with Bangkok Air, to wrestle away their monopoly concession, which no doubt was granted due to massive corruption, etc. 

 

But, physically it can be quite stunning. 

One of my good buddies already booked a 2 week vacation for  Italy for his family..

Thailand is an afterthought 

Shouldn't there be a well paid staffed gvernment agency to smooth penetration in all markets.

Called it Travel In Thailand TIT 

 

Get a new catchy slogan 

 

The Land of Whys?

 

Amusing Thighland soething to grab the hublines in the wrest of the whirl

 

Lop Thaiass and compuslory assurances

 

Give all new vacationer arrivals free Sim loaded with 300 baht $10 as a welcome rather than charge fees to enter

On 5/27/2022 at 4:09 AM, Thailand said:

Mull away the Thai Pass etc and then you are almost there but probably too late to save much of this year.

Thai Pass finishes on 1st June, or have I got that wrong?

On 5/27/2022 at 8:07 AM, TheFishman1 said:

Get rid of a Thai Pass

Come 1st June, no more Thai Pass. Has it changed again????

21 hours ago, Blumpie said:

And let me assure you, you won't see Chinese tourists for many many many many many years to come.

Excellent. 

So, the dead-line of 1st June has now been pushed back a month to 1st July...  On 1st July pushed back to 1st Aug?  and so on...

Anything to avoid making a decision or opening up Thailand.  It seems very clear that the present Junta do not want dirty farang tourists coming to Thailand and spending money that they cannot get their hands on

I note that despite the most draconian immigration laws, the number of Covid cases keep rising. 

How many of these are due o tourists?  Probably none, but do not let Thais know.

Thai Pass to stay for ever?  Why not?  It is too good a way of keeping out dirty farangs, and the Junta in control.

I have just seen that Thai Pass no longer needed for Thais.  Great, they no longer need permission to visit their own country.