Thailand tourism situation

[buksida]

TOURISM MINISTER SUGGESTS CUTTING TOURIST QUARANTINE TO 7 DAYS
The tourism minister on Friday said he wanted to shorten quarantine for foreign visitors to make it more attractive to spend a vacation in Thailand amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan said the proposal to cut mandatory quarantine from 14 to to seven days is likely to go forward mid-November given that none of the first batch of tourists arriving on “Special Tourism Visas” in October tested positive for the coronavirus.

“The tourism ministry is looking for ways to resume international tourism as soon as possible,” Pipat said. “If none of the incoming tourists caught the virus, we will propose to shorten quarantine to seven days, but they’re still required to take two swab tests.”

Under the current arrangements, tourists must agree to be quarantined for 14 days and take COVID-19 tests before they are allowed to travel freely around the country.

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/cri ... to-7-days/

[hhinner]

Perhaps the government should approach the situation from a different point of view. Instead of trying to push a STV it could be marketing a "Safe Haven Visa" valid for a year, or until the pandemic has passed. Overseas applicants still have to go through quarantine etc.

For those already in Thailand and don't want to go back to their disease ravaged homelands, offer a "Safe Haven Extension of Stay" also valid for a year. Charge 10,000 baht (or more?), and must have or buy sufficient health insurance.

[PeteC]

^ It makes sense, which means they'll never think of it.

[handdrummer]

You could send your proposal to the government, saying that you heard about it from a Thai. At least that way they may read it.

[buksida]

CCSA welcomes six groups of foreign travellers, hoping to stimulate Thai economy

The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said on Monday that it approved reopening the country’s borders to welcome foreign visitors, both short and long term, according to local media.

Dr Thaweesin Visanuyothin, CCSA’s spokesperson, said that all travellers permitted to enter the country must abide by the strict 14 days of state quarantine measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The six groups are as follows:

1. Foreign athletes who participate in the Chalerm Prakiat International Cycling Race from Samut Songkhram to Suratthani on October 6-16. The group will be under 14 days of state quarantine at the local hotel.

2. A group of 340 Thai Airways pilots and cabin crew on the repatriation flight to Thailand. The group will be under state quarantine as they operated in the US.

3. Holders of non-immigrant types of visa, who are businesspeople without a work permit and are willing to enter Thailand for business purposes by providing a six-month bank statement, equivalent to at least 500,000 baht.

4. Holders of Special Tourist Visa which the prime minister will discuss with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies for the policy.

5. Approximately 100,000 of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Cardholders from low-risk countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, China, and Hong Kong.

6. Foreigners who wish to stay in Thailand for 60 days can extend the duration for an extra 30 days by providing a six-month bank statement, equivalent to at least 500,000 baht, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for permission.

https://www.thaienquirer.com/18982/ccsa ... i-economy/


I have no idea where these politicians get the idea that people all over the world are itching to throw money at this country ...

[caller]

I don't get number 6. Okay, I'm not sure about number 3 either and it seems to me that 1 and 2 don't really count in the grand scheme of things.

But is No.6 to do with non-imm or tourist visas, or some of the categories above it?

[PeteC]

Reference #1. We have a post about that race on here somewhere. If I can find it I'll reference. This is a long race and what kind of condition are the participants going to be in after sitting in a hotel room for 14 days? Reference Migrant's quarantine experience. I don't think doing sit-up's and exercises in their room is going to keep them in race condition.

[buksida]

It is all just a gaggle of politicians trying to justify their jobs by coming out with a bunch of stupid ideas and statements on a daily basis. None of what the leaders in this country say or do will make any sense to anyone not of their ilk.

No business person in their right mind would come to a county where you can't do business with other countries because it is still totally isolated from the rest of the world, so that eliminates 3 and 5 also.

[Big Boy]

I don't get number 6.

It sounds like a regular Tourist Visa, but with NEW financial constraints tagged on to extension.

[Big Boy]

Reference #1. We have a post about that race on here somewhere. If I can find it I'll reference. This is a long race and what kind of condition are the participants going to be in after sitting in a hotel room for 14 days? Reference Migrant's quarantine experience. I don't think doing sit-up's and exercises in their room is going to keep them in race condition.

I've watched the foreign footballers return to Thailand. Whilst in quarantine they have had various equipment installed, and have even had human trainers moved into the training environment. I guess they'll have a cunning plan for the cyclists.

[buksida]

More BS from the ministry of BS ...

TAT and Foreign Ministry collaborate for entry flow
As inbound demand to Thailand remains stymied, with processing of entry requests taking place at origination locations, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) plans to work more closely with the Foreign Ministry to facilitate the flow of tourists.

While hundreds of international travellers await permission to enter the country, including Thailand Elite Card members and those applying for a special tourist visas (STVs), TAT acknowledges the process to allow entry to these groups is going slower than expected, said Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT deputy governor for tourism products and business.

"Thailand is allowing more groups to cross the border, so more documents need to be approved by the Foreign Ministry to grant a certificate of eligibility [COE] to tourists," she said. "We will do our best to help facilitate foreigners."

At present, 14 Elite Card holders have arrived and completed a mandatory 14-day quarantine, while 34 members are undergoing quarantine.

Four members received the COE and are waiting for available flights.

None of the STV applicants have received a COE.

Mrs Thapanee said groups from China scheduled to visit Thailand in October are maintaining their plans, but arrival dates to Phuket must be postponed past Oct 25 following the prime minister's request to avoid coinciding with Phuket's famous vegetarian festival.

TAT will coordinate with the Chinese groups closely to see whether they will choose Phuket or opt for another destination instead.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/19 ... entry-flow

You can just visualize that queue of billionaires waiting to come to Thailand for their solitary confinement ...

[migrant]

I got it

Change the quarantine areas to bars in Nana and soi cowboy.

Visitors will flock
No arguments about quarantine (may have to kick them out!!)
Bonus, will also aid the struggling sex industry

I'm a friggin genius

[hhfarang]

"Ghost island' Phuket hunkers down in tourist-free Thailand



Phuket's go-go dancers sit playing on their phones in empty bars lining deserted streets as the Thai tourist island reels from the ravages of the pandemic with little sign of any recovery soon.

Swimming pools are empty, chairs are stacked high in deserted restaurants and normally packed beaches are so quiet they are even seeing rare species of sea turtle arriving to nest.

Last year, more than nine million tourists visited Phuket, the kingdom's second most popular destination after Bangkok.

Today, nearly all the island's 3,000 hotels are closed and the main town of Patong has become a "ghost town", says local tycoon Preechawut Keesin, who owns five nightclubs and around 600 hotel rooms. ..."

More here:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ghost-island ... 04394.html

[buksida]

Foreign visitors hit with more obstacles
Russian and European tourists started booking rooms at Alternative State Local Quarantine (ASLQ) hotels in Pattaya of Chon Buri province but were then blocked from organising flights to the kingdom after Thai Consulate-Generals said they were only allowed to quarantine in Bangkok and its surrounding areas.

Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, president of the Chon Buri Tourism Council, told media on Wednesday that the ASLQ hotels in Chon Buri had passed health standards, adding that Russian and European guests had already booked their rooms.

According to the consulates, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has blocked ASLQs altogether, so the large number of foreign tourists who booked the hotels in Pattaya to quarantine for 14 days and stay, failed, he said.

Mr Thanet said that the Special Tourism Visa (STV), initiated by the government to allow foreign visitors to enter the country as a way to offset the economic losses caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic, has hit a stumbling block once more. There are not enough rooms in hotels in the Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) category in Bangkok and its surroundings. This was a reason why ASLQs were launched in the provinces, yet the CCSA still blocked quarantines in provinces outside Bangkok.

In Pattaya, 13 hotels have currently applied to the quarantine programme, while only three have passed the state's criteria to control the disease; nonetheless, guests who booked in those three hotels will not be allowed to enter, he said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/20 ... -obstacles

They're making it painfully clear that only the Chinese are welcome back here.

[ahandpatsy]

Any news on the brave band of chinese millionaires that recently arrived

Pictures of pina coladas in quarantine?