Thailand tourism situation

Local Hua Hin and regional Thailand news articles and discussion.
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STEVE G
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

Post by STEVE G »

Jim wrote: Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:34 pm I'm sure this will be a silly question, but does anyone know whether it is actually possible to get Hua Hin, as a "tourist", at the moment? If I go to Phuket and quarantine for 10 days, can I then get up to Hua Hin?
According to the UK Thai embassy website, a British citizen can visit Thailand as a tourist with 11 days in alternative state quarantine although I believe it's illegal to leave the UK without a valid reason at the moment.
https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/publi ... 236972c562
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

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^^ There are lots of exemptions that allow UK citizens to go abroad. Google "Stanley Johnson clause" for one.
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

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It really is beginning to look as if Thailand has made a major miscalculation with it's vaccination plans, not only with ongoing outbreaks but also with travel restrictions possibly placed on the Country by others.

Thailand, as we all know, has taken it for granted that 1000's of tourists will be queueing to visit as soon as Thailand gives the green light for them to do so.

But if the UK's plans for opening up access to Countries its citizens can safely visit for a holiday becomes the norm, then Thailand is in big trouble (I have only copied parts of the article relevant to Brits travelling abroad):

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/covi ... -7rj2ztf9n

Popular holiday destinations could be opened up to British travellers at the end of June under a government plan to ease restrictions in time for the peak summer season.

Ministers are expected to allow quarantine-free travel from May 17 to a small number of “green-listed” countries that have a high level of vaccinations. People returning from “amber” and “red” countries would still need to go into quarantine on their return.

The government has said that it will review the plan on June 28, when the rules on testing and quarantine could be relaxed for amber countries. These could include popular European destinations such as Spain, Italy and Greece.

Ministers are due to confirm the list of which countries will fall into which of the three categories early next month.

To the dismay of the travel industry, the government is also due to insist today that it is still too early to book overseas travel, instead urging people to wait until further details are released next month.

It is probable that quarantine-free travel will initially be reserved for a handful of countries with the highest vaccination rates, such as Israel, the US, Malta and parts of the Caribbean.

The government is understood to be considering prioritising travel to countries where 50 per cent of adults have had at least one coronavirus vaccination. That would initially limit travel to a small number of foreign destinations.

Other factors will also be considered, including countries’ infection rates and their capacity for genomic testing to detect mutant strains.

Paul Charles, founder of the PC Agency, a travel consultantcy, said: “Green countries are green for a reason, with lower virus and higher vaccination rates. Any testing for people travelling to and from the UK has to be minimal.”

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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

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^^
Other factors will also be considered, including countries’ infection rates and their capacity for genomic testing to detect mutant strains.
This probably means Thailand will be excluded. Also the lack of vaccination will possibly increase the likelihood of new variants emerging.
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

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Looks like a vaccine may be required for inter-provincial travel here soon ...

Phuket adds restrictions to curb virus
People from red-zone provinces will be required to show proof that they have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine before they will be allowed to enter the resort island, starting from Wednesday until April 30.

The meeting agreed to further restrict entry into the island, by requiring all visitors from 18 provinces which have been labelled as Covid-19 hotspots, to show evidence that they have completed the required rounds of vaccination -- in addition to having a Covid-free certification following an RT-PCR test, issued within 72 hours of arriving -- upon arriving at the airport or the Chatchai checkpoint.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... curb-virus

Its not only Phuket - we wanted a weekend in Chumphon before it all gets curfewed again so we called ahead. However, the hotel (which will remain nameless as I don't want to be sued) stated that we were not allowed to leave the room if we were from a red zone province, ie Prachuap. :shock: :shock: :shock:
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

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Well there's not many who qualify. There's relatively few people who have had both doses of the vaccine.
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

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And how will they decide from which province the visitor comes? The home address? But the visitor could have stayed somewhere else before.
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

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Suvarnabhumi Airport is in Samut Prakan province so anyone who sets foot in that airport upon arrival is from a Red Zone.
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

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Hua Hin may allow foreign tourists soon

Hua Hin is ready to follow the government's reopening plan and target vaccinated tourists without quarantine requirements in October under the Hua Hin Recharge campaign.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... UqboaRAwLU
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

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Big Boy wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:57 am Hua Hin may allow foreign tourists soon

Hua Hin is ready to follow the government's reopening plan and target vaccinated tourists without quarantine requirements in October under the Hua Hin Recharge campaign.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... UqboaRAwLU
And here's the killer caveat....
However, success will rely on 14 million doses to be given to 10 million people in Bangkok in May.


Told my brother not to book his flight just yet... :thumb:
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

Post by caller »

Big Boy wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:57 am Hua Hin may allow foreign tourists soon

Hua Hin is ready to follow the government's reopening plan and target vaccinated tourists without quarantine requirements in October under the Hua Hin Recharge campaign.
This was one of the comments made in response to the article. Anyone seen any evidence of this? I'm sure there would have been some foriegn tourists from elsewhere in Thailand over Songkran and generally at weekends, but otherwise, I haven't really seen evidence of this, but I've not been going out much!

"Hua Hin may allow foreign tourists soon" - from observation, some foreign tourists have already returned to Hua Hin (no, not expat retirees, or expats working in Thailand, Asian and Western tourists)."
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

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^^ The BP has many comments, many of which are trolling, lying, or just plain misinformation.
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STEVE G
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

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There may have been a few people who have made it, I know many people in Europe who are regular visitors to Thailand and there are some, either wealthy enough to not work, working from a laptop or retired on good pensions who are prepared to put up with the 10 day quarantine.
Until things started to open up here this month, a lot of people were stuck in apartments by themselves anyway.
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

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Phuket wants to buy its own jabs
Phuket's authorities have asked for permission to organise their own purchase of Covid-19 vaccines so they can expedite their plans to reopen the resort island for international tourism.

Thanusak Phungdet, president of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, said local bodies wanted the province to purchase its own Covid-19 vaccines and the right to search for vaccine makers at home and overseas to accelerate its vaccination rollout.

He said plans to reopen the island without visitors needing to quarantine, known as the Phuket Tourism Sandbox, has been approved by the cabinet but delayed by the latest Covid-19 wave.

If the government allowed the province to source its own vaccines it had a better chance of implementing its tourism plan, Mr Thanusak said.

Phoomkit Raktae-ngam, president of the Phuket Tourist Association, said the Sandbox plan had been hindered by the government's decision to divert vaccines destined for the island to other, worse-hit areas. The province therefore hoped the government would give the province permission to find its own vaccines to replace its lost quotas and help restore its vital tourism industry.

Kongsak Koopongsakorn, president of the Southern Thai Hotel Association, said a successful Phuket reopening would not only boost the province but the entire country.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... s-own-jabs
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Re: Thailand tourist slump continues

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Only yesterday, Prayut quashed hospital plans to buy vaccines privately. I don't see that Phuket's Chamber of Commerce will be treated any differently.
“The government has informed the Thai Chamber of Commerce that it has sourced enough vaccines to meet the requirement of every citizens, therefore the private sector does not need to buy any additional vaccines.”
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