Thailand tourism situation

[Dannie Boy]

I just read the list of rules for tourists traveling to Phuket. Apart from the full vaccination and testing requirements and others, they’re still insisting on tourists having a minimum of $100,000 Covid insurance cover - the queues will be........very short!!


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[handdrummer]

I just watched a youtube video about Pattaya, it's a ghost town; homeless people living on the the street and in broken into shops, no traffic, very sad.

[hhinner]

According to a report on the Thai Enquirer a senior (unnamed) doctor reckons Chinese tourists vaccinated with Sinovac shouldn't be allowed into the Phuket sandbox.


sinovac-should-not-be-considered-for-phuket-sandbox

[pitsch]

Are there any special rules for domestic tourists (Expats) to Phuket? If not, there will be much less tourists than before the sandbox.

[hhinner]

^^ Mods: This started with relevance to Phuket and tourism, but could maybe be moved?

[buksida]

^^ Mods: This started with relevance to Phuket and tourism, but could maybe be moved?

Yep - all the vaccine stuff sent to the vaccine thread - back to Thailand tourism, please.

[buksida]

Ironing out glitches in the sandbox
The Phuket sandbox scheme is still fixing inconvenient regulations, particularly regarding digital competency, in the buildup to its planned reopening on July 1. However, important short-haul markets are likely to be absent in the early months of the scheme.

Rules regarding verification and tracking systems still pose a challenge, including redundant apps as Thailand is using at least two now. Vaccine certificate verification is another stumbling block as many countries are issuing a paper and digital version, said Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, president of the Phuket Tourist Association.

Guests flying to the island hoping to rejoin friends or loved ones may be disappointed as the sandbox does not allow inbound guests to share a room with domestic guests, he said.

"There is much debate about this question. The health authorities are strongly opposed to the idea of letting visitors and local residents stay together in the same hotel room in the sandbox area as health remains a vital concern," Mr Bhummikitti said.

He said this is one of many rules where all sides have to seek common ground.

"No one option will please all tourists, tourism operators and health officials at the same time," Mr Bhummikitti said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... he-sandbox

This appears to be admittance that Thai IT is utterly useless, and the whole Sandbox idea is pretty much a waste of time.

[Big Boy]

This appears to be admittance that Thai IT is utterly useless, and the whole Sandbox idea is pretty much a waste of time.

[handdrummer]

However, it is a perfect example of what goes on here. A bunch of ditherers, incapable of thinking who are the arbiters of all that goes on.

[hhinner]

This appears to be admittance that Thai IT is utterly useless, and the whole Sandbox idea is pretty much a waste of time.

As long as it's not compared against UK IT.

I don't think this says anything about IT at all. I think it says much about the quality of governance, expertise, leadership, intelligence and planning of those who think they are in any way fit to lead a project such as Phuket Sandbox, never mind a whole country. No IT department could manage with the day-to-day change in plans that this shower keep coming up with.

They have an objective in mind but they just can't see the road to get there.

[buksida]

I don't think this says anything about IT at all.

It was this comment that alluded to Thailand's incompetence on the IT front: "particularly regarding digital competency"

The list of complaints on this forum alone regarding Thai websites and apps that simply do not function lends further weight to the argument.

Anyway, this thread is about tourism.

[Thailightzone]

Travelling in Thailand 2021.jpg (66.73 KiB) Viewed 448 times

[buksida]

Phuket's reopening kicks off
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has told the public that Thailand needs to accept the risk of reopening the country, kicking off with the so-called Phuket Sandbox scheme to welcome foreign tourists on Thursday.

The country is placing high hopes on a much-needed tourism revival via the sandbox, a model that allows vaccinated foreign travellers to visit without quarantine.

Gen Prayut was confident the country's tourism will be resuscitated if all parties involved succeed in pushing ahead with the scheme.

According to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), if more than 15 new infections are detected per 100,000 people in Phuket in one week, the sandbox may be delayed or even cancelled.

The prime minister, together with cabinet ministers and senior health officials, arrived on the resort island to meet officials and health volunteers.

They visited Phuket International Airport to welcome a group of 51 tourists from Singapore in the evening.

"Hello, welcome to Thailand," Gen Prayut greeted the incoming tourists who were unaware beforehand they would be welcomed by him.

A total of 347 passengers on flights from Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Singapore landed on Thursday.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -kicks-off

A sandflop I'd call that, wasn't TAT expecting tens of thousands? I reiterate, why would anyone in their right mind go on holiday to a place where 90% of places are shut, you can't have a drink, it costs a fortune to do so with all the added hassle of testing, paperwork and insurances, quarantine when you return home in some cases, plus restricted travel and state surveillance. Utter madness.

[Big Boy]

Did you see the video when he was asked why he and the cabinet was in Phuket whilst Bangkok was burning? It was hilarious, he just turned around and headed for the exit, signalling for the cabinet to follow him at a rate of knots.

[handdrummer]

Did you see the video when he was asked why he and the cabinet was in Phuket whilst Bangkok was burning? It was hilarious, he just turned around and headed for the exit, signalling for the cabinet to follow him at a rate of knots.

You know that generals are to be obeyed and not questioned.
Hope that's not off topic.