Thailand tourism situation

[STEVE G]

Xenophobia 101 - Thailand will always blame evil foreigners for all of its self-manifested ills.

This is the major failing of dictatorships and one party governments, they can never be wrong so they blame everything on outsiders. In a democracy, a government can fail but be replaced by another one within the system , Thailand has no way of doing that at the moment.

[handdrummer]

Xenophobia 101 - Thailand will always blame evil foreigners for all of its self-manifested ills.

This is the major failing of dictatorships and one party governments, they can never be wrong so they blame everything on outsiders. In a democracy, a government can fail but be replaced by another one within the system , Thailand has no way of doing that at the moment.

It's not just the government, it's the general population. Thais rarely take responsibility for their failings. It goes back to the loss of face syndrome. I'm surprised that Thais have mirrors in their houses for fear of seeing nothing when they looked in the mirror.

[buksida]

Oh dear, doesn't seem like they're learning much ...

'Andaman Sandbox' next on govt agenda
Phangnga and Krabi are preparing to welcome back foreign tourists under the "Andaman Sandbox" scheme, which is scheduled for launch on Aug 1, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on Tuesday.

If the scheme goes according to plan, the provinces, which lie along the Andaman coastline, will be the next to reopen to foreign tourists. Phuket debuted its sandbox model on July 1, while the Samui Plus model was launched officially last Thursday.

The proposal for the Andaman Sandbox scheme will be submitted to the Centre for Economic Situation Administration for further consideration on Wednesday, said TAT governor, Yuthasak Supasorn.

TAT Phangnga office director, Chuchart Oncharoen, said if approved, tourists who have already spent seven days in Phuket, followed by seven days in Phangnga or Krabi, will be allowed to visit Koh Yao, Koh Panyee as well as the Khao Lak coastline.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... ovt-agenda

[Robinhood]

Hi, I'm coming back to Hua Hin through the Phuket sandbox scheme in August. I've read that I need a return flight out of Thailand (or is it out of Phuket?). For info, I have a non B Visa and a re-entry permit.
Can anyone elaborate, or point me to a reliable source of information to confirm if I will need to purchase a return flight for the Thai Certificate of Entry (COE) document?

[caller]

Can anyone elaborate, or point me to a reliable source of information to confirm if I will need to purchase a return flight for the Thai Certificate of Entry (COE) document?

If you are staying for more than 14 days, with the intention of visiting other areas of Thailand, as you are, I can't see any requirement, on this list of requirements, to arrange an outward flight. That only seems to apply, if staying less than 14 days.

https://www.thaiembassy.com/travel-to-t ... ndbox-plan

Good luck.

[buksida]

Tourism to hit all-time low in 2021
Thai tourism this year is likely to be at an all-time low as international arrivals may reach just 1 million, while domestic tourism could plunge to 50-60 million trips if the worsening Covid-19 situation demands lockdown last for up to three months, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Despite reopening for vaccinated international tourists via the Phuket sandbox scheme and Samui Plus Model, Thailand may receive just 1 million international tourists this year, down 82% compared to 6.7 million last year when the country was able to receive a large number of foreign travellers during the two months prior to the outbreak of the pandemic in March.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said even though the agency has maintained its target of 3 million international visitors, there is a likelihood it could be just one third of the goal with revenue of 85 billion baht, down 74% from 2020.

Domestic tourism will also experience regression as the base number of local trips this year is set at 100 million trips.

However, due to the severe outbreak which prompted a lockdown and rigid travel restrictions in many key destinations, including the epicentre of pandemic, Bangkok, local trips may be lower than the forecast, particularly with the scenario that Thailand needs three months of lockdown to curb record high Covid-19 infections.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... ow-in-2021

TAT are still posting pie in the sky numbers ... they'll be lucky to get 10% of that estimate. Most of the arrivals to Phuket/Samui are not tourists but those looking to stay longer-term and avoid Bangkok's strict incarceration/quarantine measures.

[Big Boy]

TAT are still posting pie in the sky numbers ... they'll be lucky to get 10% of that estimate. Most of the arrivals to Phuket/Samui are not tourists but those looking to stay longer-term and avoid Bangkok's strict incarceration/quarantine measures.

I can relate to that. I know 7 people in Phuket at the moment - all returnees to live in Thailand.

Additionally the Olympians returning to Thailand are coming through the Sandbox scheme.

[buksida]

Yep, also know of a couple. Anyone that wants to return to Thailand is taking that route, and the pelicans at TAT think tourism is up.

[handdrummer]

Yep, also know of a couple. Anyone that wants to return to Thailand is taking that route, and the pelicans at TAT think tourism is up.

The pelicans know it isn't up and as usual, they're just spouting numbers in hopes that someone will believe them. When is the next election scheduled?

[bigston]

Well we will be boosting the Pelicans numbers
as we are planning to use the " Sandbox " mid August
to finally get to our new house in Pranburi
thats unless its too full of XXXX and they have to close it down for health reasons

[buksida]

Looks like they're already starting to close it down:

The Phuket COVID-19 Provincial Committee ordered the following new restrictions effective today in the province:
.
Central department stores, schools, and sports fields will be closed today until Aug. 2. Public assemblies should be limited to less than 100 people, and markets should have only one person per four square meters.
.
The province recorded 24 new infections over the past 24 hours, including one person arriving from overseas.

Source: Khaosod English FB feed

[bigston]

Thanks, yes i saw that
With the ever increasing numbers it was / is on the cards

[Big Boy]

Yes, they set a figure of 90 new cases in any week, which if reached they would reconsider measures. They're well past the 90 with a couple of days to go.

[hhinner]

Yes, they set a figure of 90 new cases in any week, which if reached they would reconsider measures. They're well past the 90 with a couple of days to go.

Ah but... They're only counting whole weeks not necessarily a straight 7 day period. Actually there were other conditions apart from the 90 cases per week.

They can make senseless arguments as to why the project should continue whether or not anyone believes them. It's what this government does all the time.

[buksida]

Phuket tourism experiment risks suspension as Covid cases surge
A flareup in coronavirus cases in Phuket, the country’s first tourism hotspot to waive quarantine for vaccinated foreign visitors, is threatening to scuttle the experiment seen as a model for other tourism-reliant nations to reopen borders.

The resort island reported 125 new Covid-19 cases during the week ending July 27, higher than the government-set threshold of 90 weekly cases that could trigger a temporary suspension of the program. In response, local authorities closed public schools and shopping malls and banned gatherings of more than 100 people from Tuesday to stem the virus from spreading further.

The majority of new cases were among local residents, and all the high-risk contacts on the island have been isolated to prevent further spread, officials said. Only 26 vaccinated visitors out of the more than 11,800 have tested positive for the virus since the so-called Phuket Sandbox was launched on July 1, they said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ases-surge