Editorial Opinion | By Adam Judd

 

This morning, June 3rd, 2022, saw a notable “flip flop”, even for Thailand where decisions often change quickly.

 

First, for reference, a flip flop is a sudden reversal of a decision, sometimes even when mulled or announced for weeks prior.

 

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

 

Yesterday, June 2nd, the Phuket Governor announced a new order which contained a pilot decision in which masks could be removed on beaches, parks, and outdoor sports stadiums if more than two meters from someone else. On paper, especially to someone from western countries where mask mandates have been gone for months, this sounds reasonable.

 

However, by this morning, June 3rd, less than a day, the order was cancelled by the governor and mask mandates remained, even at the beach. The reaction from our English speaking audience was swift and almost universally negative on social media. To be fair, the mandate doesn’t seem to bother most of our Thai staff or many Thai readers. But it certainly bothers potential tourists from many countries, which is a huge focus for Thailand to recover the tourism industry. It also bothers many expats, at least reading our emails and social media comments.

 

It’s unclear what led to this quick reversal, although many people speculated possible Central government influence from the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, which runs the response for Covid-19 for the Kingdom.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/06/03/editorial-opinion-the-non-stop-flip-flopping-on-mask-mandates-is-hurting-tourism/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-06-04

 

- 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.

 

Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Why stop at masks ! They change like the weather on many things.Rarely consistency in anything.

27 minutes ago, webfact said:

However, by this morning, June 3rd, less than a day, the order was cancelled by the governor and mask mandates

ok I am talking about Pattaya but I assume Phuket is the same - the "people" have already dumped your mask mandate in the ##### - why would anyone walk down a street wearing a mask then take it off entering a bar ........................... more stupid nonsence 

 

I cannot express the stupid in any reasonable way 

 

more wood

Thailand puts May Lou Retton and Greg Louganis with their back flipping skills

12 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Why stop at masks ! They change like the weather on many things.Rarely consistency in anything.

Charlie - they have absolutely no clue what they are doing - they have been stuffing huge money into their pockets these last 2 years they will come up with any nonsense to keep it going - I hope that some day Thailand will have leaders with a collective IQ above my age and that the Thai people will actually understand what a bad deal they are getting and remove these goons from office - surely they must have realised by now,  they need to realise that they have the power 

The flipflopping makes everything uncertain in THailand... That is sure why there are many tourists choose other destinations.. What today is ok tomorrow could be different..Even for expats living here .You can leave the country but they never know what to do to come back, because rules ar changing every day

Just when you think these clowns have been as stupid or corrupt as humanly possible, they somehow come up with an even more absurd example of idiocy. Don't they read the news globally? 

 

Having just had 4 months around the beaches and coastal areas of Phuket and Koh Samui, barely saw a mask on a Westerner outdoors, so at least some have the sense not to shuffle along like sheep.

 

The brain dead leading the brainwashed.

Masks, pass, insurance........and these clowns predict people will come in the near 2 million a month to the golden kingdom, more sense from these two

3 hours ago, webfact said:

However, by this morning, June 3rd, less than a day, the order was cancelled by the governor and mask mandates remained, even at the beach.

Imagine the tan tourist could get on a beach with a mask ???? Would probably sell well in Thailand's whitener market

 

Sadly kidding aside we & others I'm sure are still waiting for some semblance of normality to return to Thailand before we ever do. Which is not easy for us as we are not classic tourists but also own a home & a condo in Thailand

 

But we will surely not return with such foolishness in place. The rest of the world has been great & we just returned from touring the Pacific North West. No masks required even on long flights. One thing is we really realized we should switch it up more often from now on even if Thailand reopens properly.

 

Because truthfully there are many really beautiful places to visit with great benefits

 

Again... IMHO no one in this country want to to be the one/first to order stopping using masks they know very well of the implications should this order will be found to be too soon or causing more people to be sick, so everyone looking to the scapegoat to do the dirty work...

Amidst the confusion the regime soldier on.

Could it be that someone who makes and sells masks sent a brown envelope to someone who makes decisions?

3 hours ago, smedly said:

I hope that some day Thailand will have leaders with a collective IQ above my age

Sorry but are you old enough to either post on here or drink in a bar?

????

Well you gotta have mask for 'face saving'!!

Now let's save lives by mandating helmets as well.

3 hours ago, smedly said:

remove these goons from office - surely they must have realised by now,  they need to realise that they have the power 

What power is that?  The goons have all the guns.

Quote

It’s unclear what led to this quick reversal, although many people speculated possible Central government influence from the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, which runs the response for Covid-19 for the Kingdom.

There's your answer. Another bureaucratic organization with it's nose in the trough of public funds, unwilling to hand over the power it's created from nothing.

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Masks, pass, insurance........and these clowns predict people will come in the near 2 million a month to the golden kingdom, more sense from these two

You only need a Pass if you aren't lucky enough to be born Thai. Thais are immune from Covid, so if they arrive back in the country they don't need the Pass. Only diseased foreigners have to have it, and the authorities have instructed all airlines to not allow such filth onto their flights without it.

The Golden Goose of tourism was shot 1400 times and was on life support already. And now?

 

Who wants to visit a destination where masks are required, and the population is still scared into submission? Very few nations are still using masks. They are being ridiculous. 

 

Who wants to go somewhere the nightlife is barely open, the bars are nearly empty, and the so called leaders are still trying to decide if beer and wine should be legal. 

 

Who wants to go someplace where they want to make dancing illegal? What is this, Dirty Dancing part III? 

 

A note to the goofballs at TAT. Who wants to visit a place that requires you to get an online pass, and is making every effort to pasteurized and homogenize it's culture, and water down the experience? Most people will continue saying no thanks. There are too many other destinations that embrace science, are rational, and reflect sanity. 

14 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

 

Who wants to go somewhere the nightlife is barely open, the bars are nearly empty

Well, it's not really that bad in Nana-Asoke Sukhumvit, but I know what you mean. And any walk around the area will exhibit hundreds of massage ladies eager to make your acquaintance, which might encourage a certain category of tourists. Of course all the really really beautiful ones have found sponsors and moved on, but I'm already enough off topic. The flip flopping affects everything.

It's not just Thailand, the silly Democrat Party boobs who run Alameda County (Oakland/Berkeley) in California have re-instituted indoor mask mandates due to a rise in Covid-19 infections. Governments never want to give up control...it has to be taken from them.

 

An indoor mask mandate returns to Alameda County, Calif., home to Oakland. https://nyti.ms/3ma8zcb

The non-stop flip flopping on mask mandates is hurting tourism

I'm not sure about that.  I've seen tourists in Chiang Mai without masks. In fact, most of them. The odd-ball farangs I see with masks on are generally older retirees like myself.  Has anyone heard of cops in places like Chiang Mai actually enforcing mask mandates? 

Until a change comes out of Bangkok, it's still the law. 

 

And if anyone claims it's not a legally enforceable mandate under the Communicable Disease Act -  it has been Thailand-wide since June last year

https://thailand.prd.go.th/ewt_news.php?nid=11406&filename=index

The OP photograph has a lot to do with why tourism is struggling to recover.

 

Off for a night out to be met by the goon squad from central casting!

 

That is the widely held perception of what Thailand is like nowadays.

3 hours ago, 2long said:

Could it be that someone who makes and sells masks sent a brown envelope to someone who makes decisions?

Almost certainly a large part of it.

When the whole Covid farrago started, the import and supply of masks was controlled by a cartel of well connected and deeply influential people, some of whom wore uniforms of various hues. A scandal which was quickly and efficiently glossed over. It is certainly probable that those same people of influence also control the domestic production of masks.

 

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Masks, pass, insurance........and these clowns predict people will come in the near 2 million a month to the golden kingdom, more sense from these two

Dress down Friday for big P and little P?

Yes, of course.

The mask thing. 

 

Out of a curious "what if" speculation scenario - wonder how they might react to a mass silent refusal movement by locals as well as visitors.........most of which are weary of the indecisiveness and fabricated paranoia brought on by the beloved authority figures, who seem to be hanging on to the established narratives or whatever. 

 

The time is now to get over ourselves.

 

These statements could easily apply everywhere, the world over. 

Had anyone here been fined for not wearing a mask? 

This is Thailand, just ignore rules if you want to fit in. 

13 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Yes, of course.

The mask thing. 

 

Out of a curious "what if" speculation scenario - wonder how they might react to a mass silent refusal movement by locals as well as visitors.........most of which are weary of the indecisiveness and fabricated paranoia brought on by the beloved authority figures, who seem to be hanging on to the established narratives or whatever. 

 

The time is now to get over ourselves.

 

These statements could easily apply everywhere, the world over. 

 

 

You have been here a long time, you know the score - if they sense control slipping through their greasy fingers...

 

As ever, the last resort:

 

"With a magazine of 30 rounds, load!"

4 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Had anyone here been fined for not wearing a mask? 

This is Thailand, just ignore rules if you want to fit in. 

Yep. And always seems to work. 

16 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Yep. And always seems to work. 

You have been fined?