Bill Heinecke: "Crazy to give vaccines to tourists"

[webfact]

Bill Heinecke. Photo: Minor International

 

BANGKOK: -- Tourism and hotel industry mogul, Bill Heinecke, has expressed concern over the Thai government's plan to offer COVID-19 vaccines to foreign visitors. He believes that the measure may not be enough to revive the country's struggling tourism industry.

 

Heinecke, who is the founder and chairman of Minor International, a company that owns and operates hotels and resorts worldwide, said that the government's plan to offer vaccines to foreign visitors is a step in the right direction, but it may not be enough to attract tourists back to the country.

 

He explained that many people are still hesitant to travel due to ongoing concerns about the virus and the possibility of new variants emerging.

 

Heinecke also highlighted that the vaccine rollout in Thailand has been slow, with only a small percentage of the population having received the vaccine so far. This means that there is still a high risk of infection in the country, which could deter potential tourists.

 

In addition, Heinecke pointed out that many countries have implemented strict travel restrictions, making it difficult for people to travel even if they have been vaccinated. He said that these restrictions are likely to remain in place for some time, and will continue to impact the tourism industry.

 

Heinecke suggested that the government should focus on other measures to revive the tourism industry, such as implementing strict health protocols and promoting domestic tourism.

 

He also urged the government to work closely with the private sector to come up with effective solutions to revive the industry.

 

In conclusion, while the government's plan to offer vaccines to foreign visitors is a step in the right direction, it may not be enough to revive the country's struggling tourism industry.

 

Heinecke believes that there are several other measures that need to be taken in order to attract tourists back to the country, such as implementing strict health protocols and promoting domestic tourism.

 

He also suggests that the government should work closely with the private sector to find solutions to revive the tourism industry.

 

Minor Group operates several fast food restaurant chains in Thailand:

• The Pizza Company
• Basil
• ThaiExpress
• Urban Pizza
• Coffee Journey
• Burger King
• Dairy Queen
• Sizzler
• Swensens
• Coffee Club, and others

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2023-01-27

 

- 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.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

[Tom H]

In addition: They offer vaccines which are not the updated ones.

 

When do they have the vaccine based on Omicron in Thailand?

 

I am more concerned about long covid effects than “death”.

 

The new updated M-RNA’s protects at least    more than nothing. Important for handicaped people with Diabetes, age etc.

 

The others, just get it and deal with it without any vaccines.

[ezzra]

Where have you been in the last 3 years Bill that you'r decided to speak now?... 

[billyo]

Where I'm from the UK they can't give the stuff away so I imagine there are huge supplies of near to expiry stock globally that needs to be used and developed nations will donate it as part of their aid packages.

[mran66]

Well, depends on implementation of free vaccine plan. As an example, give two free Moderna or Pfizer vaccines for all Chinese who stay here minimum interval for the two vaccines. That could well work if marketed in China where only local vaccines are available as far as I know. For sure cost of vaccines is a fraction of forex they would bring in. 

Could even charge a small fee from them 

Edited January 27, 2023 by mran66

[charmonman]

Struggling tourism industry? The country is crawling with them! Maybe not everywhere but certainly in Bangkok. What does he mean by strict health protocols? Quarantines and mask mandates? That’s what killed tourism in the first place.

With all due respect, I know he’s been here for a long time, is a Thai citizen and a successful businessman, but he’s starting to make as little sense as a typical Thai  government minister.

[peterkroll]

They don't have any clue why many tourists do not want to come to Thailand anymore, right?

[Xonax]

Bill Heinecke: "Crazy to give vaccines to tourists"

May I suggest to mr. Heinecke, that a lower price on junk Food and Hotels would be a much better solution, to bring the tourists back to Thailand.
 

[MikeN]

Aseannow Headline : “crazy to give vaccines to tourists”

 

What he actually said, according to the story a couple of paragraphs later, was : “ the government's plan to offer vaccines to foreign visitors is a step in the right direction”

 

 So, is it crazy to go in the right direction then ?

[Guderian]

I don't know about the rest of Thailand, but Pattaya is full of tourists. Makes a tear come to my eye when I think back to the quiet, halcyon days of 2021, lol.

[hotchilli]

48 minutes ago, webfact said:

Heinecke also highlighted that the vaccine rollout in Thailand has been slow, with only a small percentage of the population having received the vaccine so far.

He's on dodgy ground there..

I'm sure Anutin would disagree with him.

[roquefort]

7 minutes ago, MikeN said:

Aseannow Headline : “crazy to give vaccines to tourists”

 

What he actually said, according to the story a couple of paragraphs later, was : “ the government's plan to offer vaccines to foreign visitors is a step in the right direction”

 

 So, is it crazy to go in the right direction then ?

The whole piece is so nonsensical it's difficult to know if Heinecke was talking nonsense or they've just totally misreported what he said. I suspect it's the latter.

[hotchilli]

30 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Where have you been in the last 3 years Bill that you'r decided to speak now?... 

Counting his losses I expect.

[Jackbenimble]

Heinecke pointed out that many countries have implemented strict travel restrictions, making it difficult for people to travel even if they have been vaccinated. He said that these restrictions are likely to remain in place for some time, and will continue to impact the tourism industry.

 

Which countries is he talking about? Most, including my own, have lifted all Covid restrictions and did so some time ago. Is this a covert jab (no pun intended) at a particular country? 

[CMBob]

Ol' Bill must have missed the pont that tourists don't go to any country to get any covid vaccine.  Doesn't happen and is basically irrelevant to the revival of any tourist industry here in Thailand; nevertheless, calling the idea of offering vaccines to tourists as "crazy" is, so to speak, crazy in itself.

[rudi49jr]

Isn’t this the guy who wanted to jack up hotel room prices to line his own pockets?

[thailand49]

????It seems to me the only concern Bill has is not enough money rolling in to Minor,  he wants maximum that will keep him silent  what he getting now is Minor! 

[shackleton]

When the Chinese tourists come in their masses give it to them 

I am sure they will be grateful ???? 

[Dukeleto]

What absolute twoddle! It seems Mr. Heinecke hasn’t stepped inside of an economy class cabin in a couple of decades so his view of tourism may be quite different to reality. Rather address the inadequate supply and availability of cheap airline tickets with shorter transit times for passengers to get to their chosen destinations. Vaccines and their availability or percentages of locals inoculated  has smeg-all to do with peoples current concerns about travelling. Personally I think the current policy is smack on. No testing and no compulsory insurance. If people aren’t coming to Thailand it’s because they didn’t want to in the first place.

[Patong2021]

The man should stick to running his monopoly of over processed junk food and leave healthcare to the professionals.

 

22 minutes ago, charmonman said:

Struggling tourism industry? The country is crawling with them! Maybe not everywhere but certainly in Bangkok. What does he mean by strict health protocols? Quarantines and mask mandates? That’s what killed tourism in the first place.

With all due respect, I know he’s been here for a long time, is a Thai citizen and a successful businessman, but he’s starting to make as little sense as a typical Thai  government minister.

Mask mandates did not "kill" tourism. The limiting factor was the limited number of  aircraft seats, and common transit restrictions. Not going to get any visitors from China if China doesn't allow people to travel. 

Once the outside travel restrictions were  lifted, tourism started to rebound. There was nothing Thailand could do in respect to the absence of Chinese and Indian tourists who were subject to  out of country travel restrictions.

[pp00]

Would you trust your life or heath to Thais? Fake vaccine? Expired vaccine? Wrongly stored vaccine? How about complications after vaccine? What are the Thai documents worth, if get, to prove vaccination? How will it be received when Thai population is not fully  vaccinated but the dirty farangs get it for free...

Why should vaccination help tourism when after receiving vaccination you can feel sick and have fever for some days, would you do that in yoir holidays in a corrupt and unsafe place like Thailand, not if you come from a better place like central Europe...

How will they sell it to yhe unvaccinated Thais?'The dirty farangs need to be vaccinated because they make us sick??'

[IamNoone88]

Crazy to let millions of Chinese in without a pre-covid check and double western vaccines .... how short peoples memories are ....

[paul1804]

Making statements like this I think this guy wants to become a Thai politician!!! He certainly has some of the right credentials to not look out of place as it were!!

[schweizer]

What confuses me is that even if you get the shot on your first day all evidence shows that you are only covered after 2 weeks, so most tourists would be on their way home.

Also add to that that many people suffer Covid symptoms from the shot so will be sick for a few days.

From my perspective if you are going to get a shot, do it at home and be covered when you get there

[PCUSHING]

35 minutes ago, billyo said:

Where I'm from the UK they can't give the stuff away so I imagine there are huge supplies of near to expiry stock globally that needs to be used and developed nations will donate it as part of their aid packages.

It's called getting on with your life.

Brits, Europeans and Yanks tend to be pretty good at that.

It's only the terrified and hypochondriacs of Asia that seem to struggle with the concept.

Not forgetting are merry band of expat pensioners on this board who wander down to the shops in a hazmat suit.

[FritsSikkink]

He is talking nonsense:

"Heinecke also highlighted that the vaccine rollout in Thailand has been slow, with only a small percentage of the population having received the vaccine so far."

More than 79.5% has at least 1 vaccination as of Sep-30 2022: Thailand: Coronavirus Pandemic Country Profile - Our World in Data 

[Pib]

 

Quote

Heinecke also highlighted that the vaccine rollout in Thailand has been slow, with only a small percentage of the population having received the vaccine so far. This means that there is still a high risk of infection in the country, which could deter potential tourists.

This Heinecke guy always seems to be out in left field...always saying something from a total business greed standpoint.   Where he says only a small percentage of the Thai population has received the vaccine is simply wrong.   In fact, over 80% aree fully vaccinated/received at least two doses.

 

And I know within my circle of close Thai friends/family most have received at least 3 dozes....and a couple 4 or 5 doses.  Heck, the Thai wife and I have had 4 doses all provided free by the Thai govt.   We could have already got a 5th dose but will wait another 6 months or so to get it. 

 

 

 

 

[PCUSHING]

6 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

The man should stick to running his monopoly of over processed junk food and leave healthcare to the professionals.

 

Mask mandates did not "kill" tourism. The limiting factor was the limited number of  aircraft seats, and common transit restrictions. Not going to get any visitors from China if China doesn't allow people to travel. 

Once the outside travel restrictions were  lifted, tourism started to rebound. There was nothing Thailand could do in respect to the absence of Chinese and Indian tourists who were subject to  out of country travel restrictions.

You will now be delighted to know that the Chinese are scuttling round Pattaya in their droves.

The tour groups arrive next month.

 

[vivananahuahin]

Winter sales ..... ineptocracy.

[warrima]

Old Bill must be suffering vaccine side effects. Only a month ago he was wanting to put a surcharge on hotel prices - perfect idea to entice tourists - rip them off. This guy has definitely assimilated.