Thailand tourism situation

[Big Boy]

I would guess any international visitors in ASQ would be asking why they can't stay in 4* hotels costing 4,000฿ for 3 nights

[handdrummer]

If you look at hotel prices in Bangkok, you'll find some real bargains. 4 star hotels, under 4000bht. for 3 nights incl. breakfast.

That´s a good deal for those of you already in Thailand but any international visitors are probably going to be sick of the sight of hotel rooms after 14 days in ASQ!

I'm sure they will. Why would anyone come here now unless they had to?

[Stargeezer]

My old friend is 82 and is planning to come to Thailand in October for the Winter. I hope he is able
to get there with his 2 Pfizer shots, and get to Hua Hin, without any quarantine. His son was there until May
12th, and said that it sure was quiet for his stay. He spent 16 days in Vancouver BC in quarantine
when he arrived back in Canada. It was not cheap and was very boring. I may go back to Thailand in December
but I have to see how the Summer and Autumn goes and how the vaccines are working against the variants
of this COVID virus. Here in Alberta we are still locked down and have to buy our food and meals and eat
at home or in the vehicles as indoor dining and even patio dining is still not allowed. We may have good news soon
and are all looking forward to eating at a restaurant again. I hope all of you can get your 2 shots of your choice
before Summer is out. With all the lack of tourists, I hope that the street repairs are all done and the
driving conditions are great for all.

[buksida]

Country to reopen tourist provinces in October, minister says
Thailand will launch a quarantine-free travel program for its ten top provinces for tourism starting in October, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said on Wednesday.

The provinces are Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Chonburi, Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, Phang-nga and Buriram.

Phiphat insisted on opening Phuket this July as planned despite a resurgence of Covid-19 infections. Phuket must achieve a vaccination rate of 70 percent by this month, he said.

The first group of foreign tourists is set to arrive at Phuket on July 3 from North America, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The estimated number of foreign visitors in the third quarter is predicted to be around 129,000.

The minister said these ten provinces generated up to 1.5 trillion baht of tourism income, accounting for 75 percent of total income, and brought about 40 million foreign visitors in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

For domestic travel, Phiphat pointed out that incentive schemes will be rolled out after “the outbreak is under control.”

The campaign is called “Tour Tiew Thai” or Travel around Thailand for 1 million citizens to travel around the country under tour operators.

https://www.thaienquirer.com/28182/coun ... ster-says/

Really?! So now they're going to open up virus-riddled provinces without vaccinating the local population? Pie in the sky as usual.

[buksida]

Third wave stymies plan to lure Chinese
There is little hope of attracting Chinese travellers to Thailand under the sandbox scheme during Golden Week in October as long as the country continues to report more than 2,000 new infections per day, says the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta).

The group said vaccine diplomacy by China and the US may also affect the tourism situation.

In addition to the ongoing third wave in Thailand, southern Chinese metropolis Guangzhou imposed strict travel restrictions to curb the Delta Covid virus first detected on the mainland, said Atta president Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn.

"We can assume the Chinese government will prioritise safety, extending a 21-day quarantine for those returning to China from overseas," he said.

After detecting the first case on May 21, Guangzhou imposed a rigid lockdown against the spread of the Delta variant, which is known as a highly transmissible strain.

Even Phuket's quarantine-free tourism scheme for inoculated travellers is unlikely to lure Chinese to book vacations on the island if they have to spend a half-month in isolation at home, said Mr Sisdivachr.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... re-chinese

As usual, China is keeping very quiet regarding Covid activity on the mainland. A new Delta virus emerges but Thailand still wants the hordes back over here.

[hhinner]

In UK Pfizer and AZ vaccines are both reported to have reduced effectiveness against the Delta variant. If that variant is now in China it will be interesting to see how the Chinese vaccines fare.

[HHTel]

Copy of a post I made on 'Vaccines':

It's quite surprising based on a simple google search, just how much support there is for Sinovac/Sinopharm vaccines. Although their overall efficacy is lower, it does claim 100% against hospitalisation and death!
It also claims good efficacy against the various mutations. One explanation says that because of the use of dead virus as has been used in the past, the whole virus is included which gives cover for most of the variants.
It would appear at first glance that there are more articles that support Sinovac than don't, even if you disregard reports coming out of China.

[buksida]

Phuket seeks funds for app to track foreign tourists
Phuket is seeking funds and technical support from the government to develop a mobile application to track tourists visiting the island from next month under the Phuket Sandbox tourism reopening programme.

The app will be connected to the database systems of state agencies, including the local immigration, labour and public health offices, to provide a Covid-19 surveillance system, provincial governor Narong Wunsiew said on Wednesday.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicts 129,000 foreign tourists will visit Phuket in the next three months, he said, adding the province has also asked the TAT to attract Thai tourists to Phuket as well.

Foreign tourists are required to have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 at least 14 days before arriving in Phuket under the Sandbox programme. They must stay in Phuket for at least 14 days before being allowed to travel to other provinces.

"We're trying to get as many people as possible to come to Phuket while controlling Covid-19 at the same time," he said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... n-tourists

Thailand loves its tracking apps ... that never function properly ... Anyway, good enough reason not to set foot on the island again for me!

[handdrummer]

Phuket seeks funds for app to track foreign tourists
Phuket is seeking funds and technical support from the government to develop a mobile application to track tourists visiting the island from next month under the Phuket Sandbox tourism reopening programme.

The app will be connected to the database systems of state agencies, including the local immigration, labour and public health offices, to provide a Covid-19 surveillance system, provincial governor Narong Wunsiew said on Wednesday.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicts 129,000 foreign tourists will visit Phuket in the next three months, he said, adding the province has also asked the TAT to attract Thai tourists to Phuket as well.

Foreign tourists are required to have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 at least 14 days before arriving in Phuket under the Sandbox programme. They must stay in Phuket for at least 14 days before being allowed to travel to other provinces.

"We're trying to get as many people as possible to come to Phuket while controlling Covid-19 at the same time," he said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... n-tourists

Thailand loves its tracking apps ... that never function properly ... Anyway, good enough reason not to set foot on the island again for me!

Does "fully vaccinated" mean both shots or do they not know what they mean?

[Dannie Boy]

Phuket seeks funds for app to track foreign tourists
Phuket is seeking funds and technical support from the government to develop a mobile application to track tourists visiting the island from next month under the Phuket Sandbox tourism reopening programme.

The app will be connected to the database systems of state agencies, including the local immigration, labour and public health offices, to provide a Covid-19 surveillance system, provincial governor Narong Wunsiew said on Wednesday.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicts 129,000 foreign tourists will visit Phuket in the next three months, he said, adding the province has also asked the TAT to attract Thai tourists to Phuket as well.

Foreign tourists are required to have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 at least 14 days before arriving in Phuket under the Sandbox programme. They must stay in Phuket for at least 14 days before being allowed to travel to other provinces.

"We're trying to get as many people as possible to come to Phuket while controlling Covid-19 at the same time," he said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... n-tourists

Thailand loves its tracking apps ... that never function properly ... Anyway, good enough reason not to set foot on the island again for me!

Does "fully vaccinated" mean both shots or do they not know what they mean?

I think we all know what “fully vaccinated” means - even the Thai authorities


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[handdrummer]

"I think we all know what “fully vaccinated” means - even the Thai authorities."

"We all" may know but I don't. Is it 1 or 2 shots?

[Dannie Boy]

"I think we all know what “fully vaccinated” means - even the Thai authorities."

"We all" may know but I don't. Is it 1 or 2 shots?

Other than the Johnson & Johnson vaccine which is a single shot, all the other vaccines are two doses.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[buksida]

I think we all know what they mean by 'fully vaccinated'

Tourism.

[huahin4ever]

"I think we all know what “fully vaccinated” means - even the Thai authorities."

"We all" may know but I don't. Is it 1 or 2 shots?

Other than the Johnson & Johnson vaccine which is a single shot, all the other vaccines are two doses.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Or you have had Covid 19 illness and taken one vaccine shot 3 months after the infection. Only this shot required if you have had Covid, so now I have to wait 2.5 months since I have just finished 3 weeks with Covid 19!!

[handdrummer]

"I think we all know what “fully vaccinated” means - even the Thai authorities."

"We all" may know but I don't. Is it 1 or 2 shots?

Other than the Johnson & Johnson vaccine which is a single shot, all the other vaccines are two doses.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Or you have had Covid 19 illness and taken one vaccine shot 3 months after the infection. Only this shot required if you have had Covid, so now I have to wait 2.5 months since I have just finished 3 weeks with Covid 19!!

Thanks for the clarification and I hope you are feeling better and there are no lingering affects of the virus.