Thailand tourism situation

[handdrummer]

I don't think Thailand will give a shit if Europeans come back or not - there are millions of Chinese that will replace them.

The Chinese are not known for spending a lot of money here then, there are their "habits."

[Big Boy]

That is not the view of TAT. I think the perception is 'The Chinese are not known for spending a lot of money in bars'. Thankfully there is a lot more to Thailand than bars.

[buksida]

TAT wants vaccine passport policy
Thailand should have a clear-cut plan on a vaccine passport by June if plans to reopen the international market by the fourth quarter are kept, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, said the government policy would have a tremendous effect towards international market plans, particularly on the long-haul market, which is progressing rapidly in terms of mass vaccination programmes.

The opinions of overseas agents and recent surveys in key markets showed tourists are ready to be inoculated or participate within a vaccine passport policy if this would allow them to travel abroad once again, he said.

"TAT plans to bring back international tourists by the fourth quarter but that will depend largely on our policy development too," Mr Siripakorn said.

In order to achieve the target, the country should start soft launches in two phases -- marketing campaigns launched before the third quarter, followed by the introduction of an area quarantine policy within the third quarter, he said.

The two phases have started to take shape as the first batch of arrivals landed in Phuket and went into "villa quarantine" on Feb 21. This quarantine concept is similar to the area quarantine proposal.

He said Qatar Airways requested the relaxation of the 14-day quarantine at beach destinations during the third quarter. The airline is ready to operate international flights to Phuket if Thailand loosens mandatory quarantine by March.

But the policy on vaccinated tourists is seen as a more critical condition as the survey TAT conducted among 4,127 British people found that 75% agreed to be inoculated if it became a mandatory requirement among destination countries.

However, 41% of them disagreed with inoculation if a quarantine policy remained in place.

A similar result showed up in a survey among Finnish people as 99% said vaccines were important in relation to traveling abroad, while 68% indicated they would not take any trips if a country still had a mandatory quarantine policy.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/20 ... ort-policy

No brainer really, people are going to vaccinate if it makes travelling easier, they simply wont go to Thailand if these expensive hurdles are still in place.

[dtaai-maai]

TAT wants vaccine passport policy
But the policy on vaccinated tourists is seen as a more critical condition as the survey TAT conducted among 4,127 British people found that 75% agreed to be inoculated if it became a mandatory requirement among destination countries.

However, 41% of them disagreed with inoculation if a quarantine policy remained in place.

A similar result showed up in a survey among Finnish people as 99% said vaccines were important in relation to traveling abroad, while 68% indicated they would not take any trips if a country still had a mandatory quarantine policy.

Jesus, I don't know whether to laugh or cry! You'd hope that at least 75% of any population would "agree to be inoculated" on the grounds that it's common sense, irrespective of it being "a mandatory requirement among destination countries".

41% of Brits surveyed disagreed with inoculation if a quarantine policy remained in place? Surely not. This must be a case of lost in translation, and they mean 41% "indicated they would not take any trips if a country still had a mandatory quarantine policy". I certainly hope so, as surely your average Brit can't be quite that stupid.

Either way, the one thing this survey shows me is that Finns are much more sensible than Brits.

[buksida]

That's how I read it - basically, a large number of people will not travel to countries that still have mandatory quarantine in place even if they have been vaccinated. Why would you spend half your precious holiday incarcerated at ridiculous expense when there are many alternatives?

TAT seems convinced that Thailand is the only tourist destination on the planet.

[centermid7]

TAT wants vaccine passport policy

I certainly hope so, as surely your average Brit can't be quite that stupid.

Oh yes they can!

[handdrummer]

TAT wants vaccine passport policy

I certainly hope so, as surely your average Brit can't be quite that stupid.

Oh yes they can!

Of course they can, why should the "average Brit" be any less stupid than the average (fill in the blank)?

[usual suspect]

I have as yet not heard any confirmation about the UK's NHS issuing any form of 'Vaccine Passport'..In fact quite the reverse.. all the reports I've read say there will be no passports issued!
So where does that leave UK tourists wishing to visit Thailand? Are there any other 'Western; nations that will not be
giving out V.P.s..?
Just another hurdle that potential Western tourists have had thrown in front of them by the powers-that-be in the LoS..Create a new ruling without consulting/checking things thru' first..

[dtaai-maai]

I think the issue of vaccine passports is under consideration in the UK, not for foreign travel so much as for going to pubs and the like. One of the many considerations is discriminating against people who can't (as opposed to idiots who won't) have the vaccine. The bottom line is that all governments have a long list of higher priorities than enabling people to visit Thailand...

[HHTel]

As DM says, the push back against vaccine passports is just regarding the UK policy. The government don't want to discriminate against people who have not had the vaccine from going to the pub, theatre etc.

The UK government will of course issue vaccine passports for anyone travelling outside the UK

Will the UK create vaccine passports for travellers?

It seems so, yes.

Health Secretary Hancock has said that in future, some countries will require proof of vaccination to allow entry and the government "obviously want to make sure that Brits can fulfil that".

https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-55718553

[lomuamart]

Meanwhile, vaccination passports and entry requirements aside, many people just might think about getting their own house in order first before they consider an expensive trip abroad.

That's what TAT and this country generally fail to understand, IMHO. People, in general, don't have the money any more.

[Dannie Boy]

Although the UK press is reporting a significant increase in holiday bookings once the restrictions are lifted


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[buksida]

Everyone is going to want a getaway this summer (hell, I do and I live here) - what they don't want is to spend thousands they can't afford and be incarcerated in quarantine for two-thirds of their holiday.

They won't be coming to Thailand in other words - TAT simply does not comprehend this premise.

[Dannie Boy]

Of course, as more and more holiday destinations open their doors, then unless Thailand does the same, it will be completely overlooked and getting them back in the future will be an uphill battle (against a force 10 Gale)!!


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[caller]

I read an article the other day that said the UK tourist industry is expecting a record breaking year for the number of people holidaying in the UK. Understandable really.