Thailand tourism situation

[Spitfire]

It is clear that they are not interested in anyone arriving at the moment due to all the ludicrous requirements and I highly suspect the few Chinese "tourists" trickling in are more than likely business/government contract etc. people, hence all the opaque info surrounding their situation. The main question is, what they will do when the vaccine turns up and the pressure for tourist dollars gets really laid on? Will they go in a direction that resembles what was going on before or the opposite direction? Maybe a halfway house between the two? They might think it is a chance to reset the industry but have given scant thought to a load of things like will tourists go for it (not unless it's easy like before), how about the 3 star hotels/small guest houses/resorts that look like being collateral damage or what will the thousands of previous hospitality workers do? It is also clear that the government cares little for the multitudes that have already lost their jobs and the many more that will do so over the next few months. What happens generally here in Thailand could greatly depend on how much pitchfork waving the masses end up doing due to the ruthlessness of the lot in charge.

Either way, I foresee only the tightening of the screw further and further for expats and it could be argued that a western foreigner depopulation drive is currently active with all the erroneous changes that have come from nowhere plus all the people who have invested here in the past basically being blocked from returning and could have to just forgo their assets if they can't meet the new visa requirements ... yes, the Covid situation can give them a little veneer of cover for now but it's not going to keep. The true desired course of the authorities will out for all to see next year. It looks like if you are married to a Thai or have a work permit (and in the country), then you are good-to-go for now. Who knows what this bunch will announce next, at a moments notice, and once all the low hanging fruit has been dealt with ... who's next? As an aside, I would never recommend to anyone to invest anything here now really as the goal posts change so regularly at no notice with some absolute announcement that you can barely plan anything ... only the insane would invest here now.

[HHTel]

At income of £26k per year it rules out quite a lot of people in the UK, not just students/backpackers, especially this year with furloughs and layoffs.

According to 'stats', the average salary in the UK for 2020 is £31K

Medical insurance that covers COVID-19 with at least USD 100,000 in coverage for the entire duration of your stay.
Proof of alternative state quarantine reservation (ASQ) for the 14-day mandatory quarantine.
Proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR swab test taken within 72 hours prior to the flight.

Those conditions have been mandated for some time now. Expats have been arriving under those conditions. Very expensive with - the cost of the flight which is premium++, cost of Covid test, up front payment and proof of ASQ, up front payment for Covid tests whilst in quarantine, plus of course the required insurance.

The requirement of minimum income over the previous 6 months is new, I believe.

[dtaai-maai]

At income of £26k per year it rules out quite a lot of people in the UK, not just students/backpackers, especially this year with furloughs and layoffs.

According to 'stats', the average salary in the UK for 2020 is £31K

I'm not sure what point you're making. There must be an awful lot of people earning 50k, 80k, 100k and more, which means that to arrive at an average of 31k per annum, there must be an awful lot more pople earning less than that.

[Dannie Boy]

At income of £26k per year it rules out quite a lot of people in the UK, not just students/backpackers, especially this year with furloughs and layoffs.

According to 'stats', the average salary in the UK for 2020 is £31K

I'm not sure what point you're making. There must be an awful lot of people earning 50k, 80k, 100k and more, which means that to arrive at an average of 31k per annum, there must be an awful lot more pople earning less than that.

Yes, the top football stars earn that much every day, so there must be lots earning low £20k figures. But at the moment, only those with high incomes could contemplate traveling to Thailand with all the requirements that need to be met, so it’s a pointless argument - tourism is dead unless and until the vaccine becomes available and the silly restrictions are put in the bin.

[HHTel]

The point I was making was just that £26K is below the median. That said, to be able to visit here would require more than that. It's not just about proving your earnings over the last 6 months. That's probably the easy part. It's everything else that goes with it.

[Lev]

This thread is about tourism in Thailand (or the lack of it) - not expats or UK wages.

[HHTel]

Admin edit: post deleted - we do not expect argument when attempting to keep topics relevant - start a new one if you wish to discuss UK salaries.

[caller]

It might be too late for the tourist industry. It is dying at source.

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism ... or-sell-up

[HHTel]

My daughter having arrived back in Thailand but still in quarantine (another story) wants her husband to visit. Because he's married to a Thai, he's entitled to apply. However, because of the costs involved, it's a non-starter. He's not had a problem in the past, but as he says, his salary doesn't come close to absorbing the cost. In essence he would be here as a tourist. He would have to take out a loan to make it. Hopefully, when vaccines become available and restrictions are better, then that's one tourist who will be able to visit.

[ahandpatsy]

Same here. I earn decent money but the hassle and the ccost is not worth it. Easier and cheaper for my girlfriend to visit me which we are doing

[HHTel]

As I see it, the government here keeps coming up with unworkable ideas. They invent a 'special tourist visa' without putting any thought into it's chances of success. They need to identify their target audience then tailor a visa to fit that audience. It would require knowledge of the demographic of each country targeted. That would include understanding the ability of potential tourists that could afford to finance such a trip. By making it financially prohibitive for tourists, they are missing out on tourist 'dollars'. If they were to bring down the financial requirement, maybe by subsidising airlines and quarantine without sacrificing safety, then the scheme would be more attractive. Subsidies would reap benefits from the increase in applicants who would spend good cash in Thailand.

Instead, they make up the rules without any forethought or planning.

[handdrummer]

Instead, they make up the rules without any forethought or planning.

Specialty of the house.

[Big Boy]

I personally think they know exactly what they are doing. Telling businesses they are trying hard to stimulate tourism from overseas whilst deliberately making coming to Thailand unpalatable for most.

[Suua]

I think you credit them with too much nonse for that.

[handdrummer]

I think you credit them with too much nonse for that.

I agree, there's no evidence of intelligence or foresight in what the government does.