Thailand tourism situation

[handdrummer]

TAT hopes Sputnik V nod will lure Russian visitors
Thai tourism hopes to add 500,000 Russian visitors to its 1 million international tourists this year after the Sputnik V vaccine was endorsed for the sandbox programme, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

"Russia was one of our tourism sources with 1.4 million visitors prior to the pandemic. An influx of Russian tourists to Greece and Turkey amid the pandemic proves that there's demand from this market," said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn.

He said the agency made an earlier forecast of 1.2 million international tourists this year, but due to a resurgence of Covid-19 everywhere, the total number may drop to 1 million.

After the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) allowed tourists who have been vaccinated with Sputnik V to visit sandbox destinations, TAT hopes to lure at least 500,000 Russian tourists this year which will help beef up total foreign visitors to 1 million.

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

How times change. It wasn't so many years ago that they were trying to kick out the Russkies from Phuketski!!

In the meantime, Covid-19 cases in Russia are on the rise. How many will exported to Thailand?

[Dannie Boy]

TAT hopes Sputnik V nod will lure Russian visitors
Thai tourism hopes to add 500,000 Russian visitors to its 1 million international tourists this year after the Sputnik V vaccine was endorsed for the sandbox programme, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

"Russia was one of our tourism sources with 1.4 million visitors prior to the pandemic. An influx of Russian tourists to Greece and Turkey amid the pandemic proves that there's demand from this market," said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn.

He said the agency made an earlier forecast of 1.2 million international tourists this year, but due to a resurgence of Covid-19 everywhere, the total number may drop to 1 million.

After the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) allowed tourists who have been vaccinated with Sputnik V to visit sandbox destinations, TAT hopes to lure at least 500,000 Russian tourists this year which will help beef up total foreign visitors to 1 million.

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

How times change. It wasn't so many years ago that they were trying to kick out the Russkies from Phuketski!!

In the meantime, Covid-19 cases in Russia are on the rise. How many will exported to Thailand?

In theory it should be very, very, few if any - before travel they need to take a PCR test, upon arrival another test and then two more tests during quarantine so anybody with Covid should get picked up.

[handdrummer]

How times change. It wasn't so many years ago that they were trying to kick out the Russkies from Phuketski!!

In the meantime, Covid-19 cases in Russia are on the rise. How many will exported to Thailand?

In theory it should be very, very, few if any - before travel they need to take a PCR test, upon arrival another test and then two more tests during quarantine so anybody with Covid should get picked up.

Then why weren't the ones who came in with Covid, to Phuket, picked up until after they arrived?

Sometimes there's the should be, then there's the what is.

[Dannie Boy]

In the meantime, Covid-19 cases in Russia are on the rise. How many will exported to Thailand?

In theory it should be very, very, few if any - before travel they need to take a PCR test, upon arrival another test and then two more tests during quarantine so anybody with Covid should get picked up.

Then why weren't the ones who came in with Covid, to Phuket, picked up until after they arrived?

Sometimes there's the should be, then there's the what is.

I’m not a scientist so I don’t know, but assume they get it just before or during travel, but they get picked during testing so that’s the most important thing.


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[hhinner]

Sandbox satisfaction survey. Not so much about being there and enjoying the holiday, touristy things and accommodation; more about booking and arrival. I guess what you'd expect from returnees rather than tourists.

20210819_095412.jpg (86.72 KiB) Viewed 1271 times

[buksida]

Seeing as how they used to get scammed by Phuket's taxi mafia, the new shuttle service must be a breath of fresh air!

[buksida]

Tourism authority tests the water with rules for 7 destinations
For the upcoming tourism high season, which usually starts in early October, the country is likely to have five destinations taking part in reopening schemes and another two joining extension programmes.

Among those seven destinations, only Phuket has opened entirely to inoculated tourists, while the rest still restrict tourist routes to a few districts and mandate various conditions to maintain a health and safety balance.

Phuket and Hua Hin can be considered quarantine-free destinations as they don't require tourists to remain in their hotels, while Chiang Mai may insist on one day for quarantine, but all trips outside the hotel must be under the tour operator's arrangement.

After testing the waters with Phuket and Samui in July, then Krabi and Phangnga as extended destinations in August, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is poised to propose three more destinations in September -- Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Hua Hin -- to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to add to the reopening scheme.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... stinations

Yet Prachuap province remains buried in the dark red zone ... "you can leave your hotel, but don't bother because everything is f'kin closed".

[hhinner]

^^ Also, there are no curbs on entering or leaving Hua Hin.

[buksida]

Pattaya shifting towards quarantine-free travel
Pattaya is pivoting towards quarantine-free travel under sealed routes as it hopes to increase its appeal despite pricey Covid-19 testing.

Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, acting president of the Chon Buri Tourism Council, said potential markets for Pattaya consist of tourists from Russia, India and foreigners who have family, condos or factories in industrial estates in the province.

After a discussion with Russia-based tour operator Pegas Touristik, the council determined fees for three RT-PCR tests at 8,500 baht and Covid insurance spanning 3,000-5,000 baht represent a huge drawback for the country's reopening.

Mr Thanet said 12-day tourism packages for two people normally cost 30,000 baht. The additional Covid fees directly affect tour package prices.

Tourism operators proposed using antigen test kits, which are cheaper and provide a faster result, for the first two tests, then a RT-PCR test for the last check before tourists travel to other areas.

Operators also urged the government to reduce landing fees or jet fuel prices for chartered flights because this could help tour vendors set an affordable price to attract more tourists.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... ree-travel

Not even open yet and they're already scheming how much to fleece tourists on covid tests ...

[Dannie Boy]

I thought quite the opposite - they’re looking at how they can reduce the cost of testing to help increase tourism? Ok once there they might look to rip you off, but that’s no different to how it’s always been!!


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[buksida]

Tourism ministry sets January date to reopen
The Tourism and Sports Ministry vows to open the whole country without quarantine by January next year, but such a move largely depends on nationwide herd immunity.

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said Bangkok was scheduled to reopen in October as part of the second phase for the country, but this phase has been delayed to November as the majority of residents will not receive their second vaccine dose until the end of October.

"The plan for Bangkok is more challenging as it has extended territory covering vicinities that require more elaborate standard operation procedures [SOPs]," he said.

Meanwhile, Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin) and Chon Buri (Pattaya) will go ahead as planned on Oct 1, as well as Phetchaburi, which hasn't yet started its SOPs and needs to speed up this month, said Mr Phiphat.

At a meeting between the ministry and the Tourism Authorities of Thailand (TAT) on Friday, he said they agreed to add some provinces to the third phase of reopening under the 7+7 extension programme.

As a result, from Oct 15 there are 25 provinces tourists can enter via the sandbox programme as second destinations after spending seven days in one of these destinations: Phuket, Samui, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi and Bangkok.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... -to-reopen

[handdrummer]

Tourism ministry sets January date to reopen
The Tourism and Sports Ministry vows to open the whole country without quarantine by January next year, but such a move largely depends on nationwide herd immunity.

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said Bangkok was scheduled to reopen in October as part of the second phase for the country, but this phase has been delayed to November as the majority of residents will not receive their second vaccine dose until the end of October.

"The plan for Bangkok is more challenging as it has extended territory covering vicinities that require more elaborate standard operation procedures [SOPs]," he said.

Meanwhile, Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin) and Chon Buri (Pattaya) will go ahead as planned on Oct 1, as well as Phetchaburi, which hasn't yet started its SOPs and needs to speed up this month, said Mr Phiphat.

At a meeting between the ministry and the Tourism Authorities of Thailand (TAT) on Friday, he said they agreed to add some provinces to the third phase of reopening under the 7+7 extension programme.

As a result, from Oct 15 there are 25 provinces tourists can enter via the sandbox programme as second destinations after spending seven days in one of these destinations: Phuket, Samui, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi and Bangkok.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... -to-reopen

"SOPS" That sounds about right.

[HHTel]

Phuket sees a spike in cases but officials bullish on keeping sandbox model

Phuket is seeing a shortage in hospital beds as the Delta variant ravages the island, health officials said Monday, throwing the Phuket Sandbox into question and jeopardizing short-term gains for the tourism industry.

Despite the rising number of cases, officials said that the sandbox will continue.

Over the past weekend, Phuket recorded more than 200 new daily cases, taking the total number of infections to 5,495 cases.

Phuket’s hospital bed capacity now has reached 80 per cent, said Dr Chalermpong Sukhonthaphon, the director of Vachira Phuket Hospital.

With the majority of cases identified as Delta variant, Chalermpong warned that two shots of vaccines for Phuket residents, mainly the Chinese-made Sinovac, could not help control the spread anymore and called for booster shots immediately.

“The current vaccine has low efficacy in preventing the spread of the virus,” said Dr Kusak Kukiattikul, Phuket Provincial Public Health Doctor.

https://www.thaienquirer.com/32263/phuk ... box-model/

[handdrummer]

Phuket sees a spike in cases but officials bullish on keeping sandbox model

Phuket is seeing a shortage in hospital beds as the Delta variant ravages the island, health officials said Monday, throwing the Phuket Sandbox into question and jeopardizing short-term gains for the tourism industry.

Despite the rising number of cases, officials said that the sandbox will continue.

Over the past weekend, Phuket recorded more than 200 new daily cases, taking the total number of infections to 5,495 cases.

Phuket’s hospital bed capacity now has reached 80 per cent, said Dr Chalermpong Sukhonthaphon, the director of Vachira Phuket Hospital.

With the majority of cases identified as Delta variant, Chalermpong warned that two shots of vaccines for Phuket residents, mainly the Chinese-made Sinovac, could not help control the spread anymore and called for booster shots immediately.

“The current vaccine has low efficacy in preventing the spread of the virus,” said Dr Kusak Kukiattikul, Phuket Provincial Public Health Doctor.

https://www.thaienquirer.com/32263/phuk ... box-model/

If 2 shots didn't work, why would he think a 3rd. shot would make any difference? Sandbox, another feather in the PM's cap. Maybe that's why he survived a 3rd. vote of no confidence.

[buksida]

Hotel operators consider closing amid weak demand
Amid tepid tourist demand, 52% of hotel operators are considering closing temporarily, while 9% want to shut down permanently if the Covid-19 pandemic lasts longer than expected.

A joint survey by the Bank of Thailand and Thai Hotels Association (THA) found that 62% of hotel operators planned to reduce labour costs in order to deal with the financial effects of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, 61% said they planned to cut other expenses.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... eak-demand

When they do ever open the country again, there will be nothing left to come for; hotels, restaurants, spas, tour agents, bars, attractions, national parks ... closed or highly restricted. Thailand has definitely lost all of its 'sanuk' aspect.