How does that correlate with the average Thai wage of 20,00 BHT a month?
Thailand tourism situation
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handdrummer
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Really, the average Thai spends 10k each on holiday at new year? I wonder how that is possible if none of them are working.
How does that correlate with the average Thai wage of 20,00 BHT a month?
How does that correlate with the average Thai wage of 20,00 BHT a month?
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
What follows is a letter that was in today's Bangkok Post:
Impossible dream
Bangkok PostJanuary 2, 2021
STEPHAN KARLSSON
Why aren’t tourists flocking back to Thailand?
I am a frequent visitor to the country. I’ve travelled there some five times a year for the past 15 years. I’m familiar with the airports, immigration, the BTS, Metro etc. Airport workers, immigration officers often say hi to me “oh you’re here again?” etc.
On Dec 8, the Bangkok Post said: “Thailand now open to the whole world”. I said great! I always spend January and March in Thailand, now I can go. There’s only a “few” new restrictions/hoops to jump through.
1. They require a 14-day quarantine period in a choice of what’s called “ASQ” hotels, complete with meals etc.
2. They require a Covid negative test within 72 hours of travel.
3. They require special travel insurance that covers Covid-19.
4. I’ll also need a special tourist visa to stay 60 days.
So, here we go: I start to apply online for the visa but I’m stopped at the space for “ASQ hotel” booking reference number, the insurance policy number and flight details. Now as a seasoned traveller, I am hesitant to purchase a flight ticket for a trip that may or may not take place.
I go online and apply for an ASQ hotel but I’m stopped at the space for “travel insurance policy number” and flight details.
I attempt to apply for the insurance ... but they first want the flight details.
I now book a ticket on Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong, using mileage points. This way the trip is refundable. The trip is scheduled for Dec 30 at 12.05am.
I purchase the insurance for $200 and book the ASQ Hotel with 50% deposit of 30,000 baht.
Now here comes the fun part. On Dec 9, I go online to apply for the visa, see approx 15 screens of questions, including some that cannot be answered. “Person you know in Thailand and their phone and passport number”?
I attempt to call the Thai consulate and continuously get a “this message bank is full” recording. Redial for a few hours, I get a staff member who suggests put the name of the hotel in the space for person you know, and put “none” in the passport space.
Continuing on, I fill in all the blanks and “Submit”.
I don’t receive any email confirmation. I wait until Dec 15, start the phone call marathon to the consulate again to ask them what do I do next. I get the visa staff member who says: “No, you must print out the application.”
“
But I already submitted online.” “No, you must print out and send in with your passport.”
“OK, I have a FedEx envelope ready.” “Do not send FedEx, send USPS [United States Postal Service] overnight, with return envelope inside.”
“Ok got it.”
Back to the application, I find out that 1) you can’t recall the previous application, and 2) you can’t redo it either. I have to make a new application with a “different name” (the system rejects any attempt to reapply with the same name) that I will clarify on print-out an one screen page at a time, I print out this application.
On or about page 15, there are four simple “ticks” to check off. I do this and hit next. Oh no, I forgot to print that page! Now I must start all over again, with another “new’ name” and redo all the details page by page and print.
All done, I stack the papers with my passport, and hurry down to the post office. Now it’s Xmas time and the lines at the USPS are akin to Disneyland, Six Flags, or LAX security. Then it hit me! No one said if and how much this application will cost!
I go back home and start the phone call procedure again, then ask how much is this, and were you ever going to tell me this small detail? The staff member says US$40. There’s a pause. I’m waiting for them to tell me how to pay them. “So, how do I do this? Cash, Cheque? Credit Card?”, I ask. “No you must use Post Money Order”.
Back to the post, send it all out. Done! Or so I thought.
Wednesday Dec 16, overnight envelope is received by Thai Consulate at 12 noon. I figured they would look it over, insert the visa and send it right back. I’d have everything within the next couple of days.
Dec 21 (8 days until travel date): I start calling the consulate at 10am, finally reaching someone at 11.45 to inquire as to my status.
“You must print out application.” “I did.”
“No, you send wrong one, go to website and see application download.”
“I’m on the site now, and it’s not there.”
“Wait, I’ll check, where are you now?” “3 hours away by car.”
“OK, not far, you can come today?” “Leaving in 10 minutes, I’ll be there by 3.30.”
3.30pm I arrive and in the lobby is a stack of these one-page applications, not to mention that the information requested on this form is exactly the same as the details on the papers I already sent in. I’m shown to the visa office, the same staff member, all smiles, says “not to worry, I already do it for you”. As he hands me my passport with the visa attached inside, I see the stamped return envelope sitting on the desk. Wait, he could have simply put the passport in the overnight post? OK, whatever.
So, Christmas comes and goes, and now I need a Covid test in the next 3 days. So I’m all set to go ... or so I thought.
(This anecdote has a similar rhythm to Arlo Guthrie’s Alice’s Restaurant.)
Monday, Dec 28, midnight: I get an email from the ASQ Hotel requesting something called
“Certificate of entry”? I call and let them know:
“I have this already, it’s called a visa, that’s what a visa is.”
“No, it’s a different form altogether.” “And where does one obtain such a form?”
“You get it at the Thai Consulate.” “The same place I got the visa?” “Yes.”
(Remember, this is the hotel reservations clerk I’m speaking to now.)
“I was just there last week, Any reason why no one there mentioned this ostensibly required document?”
“No.”
“OK, I guess I’ll ring the consulate in the morning and see what happens.”
Now I’m starting to really think that this trip was not going to happen.
Tuesday Dec 29, 9.45am I’m ringing the consulate to inquire about this oversight. They straight away said they would email this to me in 5 minutes, which they did. I sent this back to the hotel (Its now midnight in BKK, and the reservations office is closed).
Tuesday Dec 29, 9pm: I arrive at the airport 3hrs ahead of gate time, of course it’s empty, as there are only 30+ people booked on the flight, which has some 350 seats. The gate agent looks over all of my papers and after 10 minutes asks me for another form, something called “fit to fly”.
“What is that?”
“Fit to fly.”
“Yes, what is that?”
“Special form from a doctor indicating that you are fit to fly.”
(I’m now thinking, I am actually a commercial pilot, but I am not working this trip, I’m not going to physically fly this plane.)
“Wait, that’s what these are.”
“No, that’s Covid test papers.” “Yes, fit to fly.”
“No No No, that says OK, you do not have Covid which is good, but you also need a paper that says you are healthy enough to fly I can see you are healthy but we need this paper that says so”. “So I guess I’m not going then, right?” “No, cannot, so sorry nobody tell you before”.
So, in the end, what did we learn?
1. These procedures are to ensure that anyone who wants to visit Thailand must first prove that they really want to go!
2. A visa, which is in fact an entry document is not the same as a certificate of entry.
3. A negative Covid test is no indication that you are fit to fly.
MODERNA, please make your vaccines available soon!
Impossible dream
Bangkok PostJanuary 2, 2021
STEPHAN KARLSSON
Why aren’t tourists flocking back to Thailand?
I am a frequent visitor to the country. I’ve travelled there some five times a year for the past 15 years. I’m familiar with the airports, immigration, the BTS, Metro etc. Airport workers, immigration officers often say hi to me “oh you’re here again?” etc.
On Dec 8, the Bangkok Post said: “Thailand now open to the whole world”. I said great! I always spend January and March in Thailand, now I can go. There’s only a “few” new restrictions/hoops to jump through.
1. They require a 14-day quarantine period in a choice of what’s called “ASQ” hotels, complete with meals etc.
2. They require a Covid negative test within 72 hours of travel.
3. They require special travel insurance that covers Covid-19.
4. I’ll also need a special tourist visa to stay 60 days.
So, here we go: I start to apply online for the visa but I’m stopped at the space for “ASQ hotel” booking reference number, the insurance policy number and flight details. Now as a seasoned traveller, I am hesitant to purchase a flight ticket for a trip that may or may not take place.
I go online and apply for an ASQ hotel but I’m stopped at the space for “travel insurance policy number” and flight details.
I attempt to apply for the insurance ... but they first want the flight details.
I now book a ticket on Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong, using mileage points. This way the trip is refundable. The trip is scheduled for Dec 30 at 12.05am.
I purchase the insurance for $200 and book the ASQ Hotel with 50% deposit of 30,000 baht.
Now here comes the fun part. On Dec 9, I go online to apply for the visa, see approx 15 screens of questions, including some that cannot be answered. “Person you know in Thailand and their phone and passport number”?
I attempt to call the Thai consulate and continuously get a “this message bank is full” recording. Redial for a few hours, I get a staff member who suggests put the name of the hotel in the space for person you know, and put “none” in the passport space.
Continuing on, I fill in all the blanks and “Submit”.
I don’t receive any email confirmation. I wait until Dec 15, start the phone call marathon to the consulate again to ask them what do I do next. I get the visa staff member who says: “No, you must print out the application.”
“
But I already submitted online.” “No, you must print out and send in with your passport.”
“OK, I have a FedEx envelope ready.” “Do not send FedEx, send USPS [United States Postal Service] overnight, with return envelope inside.”
“Ok got it.”
Back to the application, I find out that 1) you can’t recall the previous application, and 2) you can’t redo it either. I have to make a new application with a “different name” (the system rejects any attempt to reapply with the same name) that I will clarify on print-out an one screen page at a time, I print out this application.
On or about page 15, there are four simple “ticks” to check off. I do this and hit next. Oh no, I forgot to print that page! Now I must start all over again, with another “new’ name” and redo all the details page by page and print.
All done, I stack the papers with my passport, and hurry down to the post office. Now it’s Xmas time and the lines at the USPS are akin to Disneyland, Six Flags, or LAX security. Then it hit me! No one said if and how much this application will cost!
I go back home and start the phone call procedure again, then ask how much is this, and were you ever going to tell me this small detail? The staff member says US$40. There’s a pause. I’m waiting for them to tell me how to pay them. “So, how do I do this? Cash, Cheque? Credit Card?”, I ask. “No you must use Post Money Order”.
Back to the post, send it all out. Done! Or so I thought.
Wednesday Dec 16, overnight envelope is received by Thai Consulate at 12 noon. I figured they would look it over, insert the visa and send it right back. I’d have everything within the next couple of days.
Dec 21 (8 days until travel date): I start calling the consulate at 10am, finally reaching someone at 11.45 to inquire as to my status.
“You must print out application.” “I did.”
“No, you send wrong one, go to website and see application download.”
“I’m on the site now, and it’s not there.”
“Wait, I’ll check, where are you now?” “3 hours away by car.”
“OK, not far, you can come today?” “Leaving in 10 minutes, I’ll be there by 3.30.”
3.30pm I arrive and in the lobby is a stack of these one-page applications, not to mention that the information requested on this form is exactly the same as the details on the papers I already sent in. I’m shown to the visa office, the same staff member, all smiles, says “not to worry, I already do it for you”. As he hands me my passport with the visa attached inside, I see the stamped return envelope sitting on the desk. Wait, he could have simply put the passport in the overnight post? OK, whatever.
So, Christmas comes and goes, and now I need a Covid test in the next 3 days. So I’m all set to go ... or so I thought.
(This anecdote has a similar rhythm to Arlo Guthrie’s Alice’s Restaurant.)
Monday, Dec 28, midnight: I get an email from the ASQ Hotel requesting something called
“Certificate of entry”? I call and let them know:
“I have this already, it’s called a visa, that’s what a visa is.”
“No, it’s a different form altogether.” “And where does one obtain such a form?”
“You get it at the Thai Consulate.” “The same place I got the visa?” “Yes.”
(Remember, this is the hotel reservations clerk I’m speaking to now.)
“I was just there last week, Any reason why no one there mentioned this ostensibly required document?”
“No.”
“OK, I guess I’ll ring the consulate in the morning and see what happens.”
Now I’m starting to really think that this trip was not going to happen.
Tuesday Dec 29, 9.45am I’m ringing the consulate to inquire about this oversight. They straight away said they would email this to me in 5 minutes, which they did. I sent this back to the hotel (Its now midnight in BKK, and the reservations office is closed).
Tuesday Dec 29, 9pm: I arrive at the airport 3hrs ahead of gate time, of course it’s empty, as there are only 30+ people booked on the flight, which has some 350 seats. The gate agent looks over all of my papers and after 10 minutes asks me for another form, something called “fit to fly”.
“What is that?”
“Fit to fly.”
“Yes, what is that?”
“Special form from a doctor indicating that you are fit to fly.”
(I’m now thinking, I am actually a commercial pilot, but I am not working this trip, I’m not going to physically fly this plane.)
“Wait, that’s what these are.”
“No, that’s Covid test papers.” “Yes, fit to fly.”
“No No No, that says OK, you do not have Covid which is good, but you also need a paper that says you are healthy enough to fly I can see you are healthy but we need this paper that says so”. “So I guess I’m not going then, right?” “No, cannot, so sorry nobody tell you before”.
So, in the end, what did we learn?
1. These procedures are to ensure that anyone who wants to visit Thailand must first prove that they really want to go!
2. A visa, which is in fact an entry document is not the same as a certificate of entry.
3. A negative Covid test is no indication that you are fit to fly.
MODERNA, please make your vaccines available soon!
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
It would be funny if not so sad. I hope the Thai media pick it up and translate it for enjoyment by the Thai language reading public.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
My daughter recently flew back from the US and first obtained a list of all things required. Something which would have prevented your subsequent problems. A farang has also recently returned from California. Again, he had a list of everything required.
With regards the vaccine, Thailand will not give any extra concession because you have been vaccinated. The vaccine, like other vaccines, is not 100% protection. You can still be infected and although you are unlikely to suffer serious symptoms, you can still pass on the virus to others. With that in mind, the quarantine procedures and the like are unlikely to change.
With regards the vaccine, Thailand will not give any extra concession because you have been vaccinated. The vaccine, like other vaccines, is not 100% protection. You can still be infected and although you are unlikely to suffer serious symptoms, you can still pass on the virus to others. With that in mind, the quarantine procedures and the like are unlikely to change.
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Not entirely on topic, but I follow the Juntanagarn sisters (Golfers) on social media, and they have flown back to Thailand from the US after playing tournaments there with daily bubble testing etc , even they are having to 14 day quarantine in an ASQ hotel in Bangkok and they are practically royalty.
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Dannie Boy
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Simply put, there are no more tourists coming to Thailand in the foreseeable future!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Yep - it has all been orchestrated to discourage tourists and foreigners in general from coming here and, looking at recent developments, 2021 will be a redux of 2020.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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handdrummer
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
All of which begs the question; Why would anyone want to come to Thailand if they didn't have family or business here?
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Tourism fee to help insure foreigners visiting the kingdom
The National Tourism Policy Committee has approved the proposed guidelines for the collection of a 300-baht tourism fee from each international visitor for the management of local tourist destinations.
The money will also be used to provide insurance benefits to international tourists visiting the country.
A national artist is determined to put his home province of Chaiyaphum on the tourist map with a museum to show the glory of the old days. | Jetjaras Na Ranong
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said each foreign visitor will be charged US$10 (300 baht) per visit. The details of the fee collection will be announced in the Royal Gazette once the policy has taken effect.
According to Mr Phiphat, Thailand expects to receive some 10 million visitors this year.
He said the merit of the 300-baht tourism fee is that foreign tourists who fall sick or are injured will be taken care of and given adequate medical care.
The ministry will have to discuss the details with the Finance Ministry and the Office of Insurance Commission.
Of the 300-baht fee, 34 baht is expected to be used for the insurance coverage, Mr Phiphat said.
The fee collection is in line with the revised National Tourism Policy Act, which authorises the ministry to impose a tourism fee for use in developing local destinations and providing insurance coverage to foreign tourists.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... he-kingdom
Now they want to charge these non-existent tourists in addition to forcing them to take insurance - if this wasn't Thailand, articles like this would be totally unbelievable.
The National Tourism Policy Committee has approved the proposed guidelines for the collection of a 300-baht tourism fee from each international visitor for the management of local tourist destinations.
The money will also be used to provide insurance benefits to international tourists visiting the country.
A national artist is determined to put his home province of Chaiyaphum on the tourist map with a museum to show the glory of the old days. | Jetjaras Na Ranong
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said each foreign visitor will be charged US$10 (300 baht) per visit. The details of the fee collection will be announced in the Royal Gazette once the policy has taken effect.
According to Mr Phiphat, Thailand expects to receive some 10 million visitors this year.
He said the merit of the 300-baht tourism fee is that foreign tourists who fall sick or are injured will be taken care of and given adequate medical care.
The ministry will have to discuss the details with the Finance Ministry and the Office of Insurance Commission.
Of the 300-baht fee, 34 baht is expected to be used for the insurance coverage, Mr Phiphat said.
The fee collection is in line with the revised National Tourism Policy Act, which authorises the ministry to impose a tourism fee for use in developing local destinations and providing insurance coverage to foreign tourists.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... he-kingdom
Now they want to charge these non-existent tourists in addition to forcing them to take insurance - if this wasn't Thailand, articles like this would be totally unbelievable.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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oakdale160
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
34baht for Health insurance that puts my mind at rest.
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Also mind-boggling that they still think 10 million people are going to flock from their own locked down countries to this locked down country, parting with a small fortune for the privilege. 
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Yes, I had several friends considering suffering the ASQ because at the end of 15 days they'd have been a lot better off than in their own country. However, now they see the likes of Prachuap with 0 cases being locked down, can't legally buy a drink with their meal, etc, they have very quickly changed their minds.
Championship Stoke City 3 - 0 Plymouth Argyle 
Points 48; Position 20
Points 48; Position 20
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
And before even half the population has been vaccinated?
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
With a half effective vaccine ...
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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handdrummer
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
"Hello, we're from the government and we're here to help you."