Thailand tourism situation

[buksida]

Call for a careful tourist reopening
The country's reopening needs to continue with a more cautious approach amid concerns over the new Omicron variant, says the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT).

After detection of the first Omicron case in the country, local communities should not panic, but instead follow advice from public health experts such as the World Health Organization and the Public Health Ministry, said TCT president Chamnan Srisawat.

He said the detection of the variant means screening measures remain effective and the reopening should be allowed to continue as vaccine rollouts in Thailand increase, while daily cases continued to drop.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/22 ... -reopening

[Dannie Boy]

Call for a careful tourist reopening
The country's reopening needs to continue with a more cautious approach amid concerns over the new Omicron variant, says the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT).

After detection of the first Omicron case in the country, local communities should not panic, but instead follow advice from public health experts such as the World Health Organization and the Public Health Ministry, said TCT president Chamnan Srisawat.

He said the detection of the variant means screening measures remain effective and the reopening should be allowed to continue as vaccine rollouts in Thailand increase, while daily cases continued to drop.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/22 ... -reopening

For once, a sensible comment!!

[hhinner]

A more cautious approach which can be used as an excuse for lower than expected numbers of tourists.

[buksida]

It can also be used as an excuse to extend the state of emergency/lockdowns/restrictions - just what the junta wanted for Christmas.

[Big Boy]

As with every previous year, my yardstick for measuring local tourism has been how many abreast I encounter people walking down Soi 94. On 2 occasions in the last week I have encountered 5 abreast. It does not equate to previous years, but it's only 18th December yet. I guess the signs are looking good.

[handdrummer]

As with every previous year, my yardstick for measuring local tourism has been how many abreast I encounter people walking down Soi 94. On 2 occasions in the last week I have encountered 5 abreast. It does not equate to previous years, but it's only 18th December yet. I guess the signs are looking good.

I've never been to Soi 94, what is the attraction there?

[Big Boy]

Cheap beer, OK food, ladies, massage and the opportunity to walk in the road to delay my journey .

Seriously, not much different to most entertainment centres in town, either Hua Hin ar anywhere in Thailand.

[buksida]

Weekend observations - a smattering of more farangs in HH, but most appeared to be expats (the most I saw was in Makro), the tourists are very easy to spot and few and far between. Most places still closed/shuttered, especially downtown. Nightlife still curtailed, bars and restaurants were opened in the early evening but not busy from what I saw at 6-7pm, total blackout by 11pm on 94/88 where we stayed.

Traffic was horrendous, Petchkasem a carpark for most of the weekend as the Bangkok hordes clogged up the place again.

I wouldn't call it a tourist revival by any means, a nightmare traffic revival, yes.

[Big Boy]

IMHO traffic this weekend was the lightest for 3 weeks, but I also noticed the idiot brigade on motorcycles are back. Or have I just been lucky enough to avoid them until now?

The worst I've seen on 94 this weekend has been 4 abreast, so thinning out a little.

[buksida]

IMHO traffic this weekend was the lightest for 3 weeks, but I also noticed the idiot brigade on motorcycles are back. Or have I just been lucky enough to avoid them until now?

Wow, I'd hate to be there when it is really busy then!

There was some big motorbike meet down south somewhere. We passed hundreds of kids on those fat scooters and souped-up Honda Waves heading north as we went home on Sunday.

[buksida]

Thai officials to review list of low risk countries, possibly ban travellers from high risk
In addition to discussing whether to cancel the Test & Go quarantine exemption scheme due to the uptick in Omicron cases, the Thai government will also review its list of countries considered to be at low risk for Covid-19 and consider whether to ban travellers from high risk countries.

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/th ... -high-risk

'Test & Go' rumour irking operators
Tourism operators are crying foul over a proposal to scrap the "Test & Go" scheme, as an immediate change would affect the international market during the high season.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) insisted no such decision has been made.

"We still have to hear from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration [CCSA] about the final decision this week. The CCSA has stated clearly it plans to listen to all stakeholders carefully before nailing down a decision," said Yuthasak Supasorn, the TAT governor.

"Thai tourism operators don't want to start over again with a mandatory quarantine," said Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA).

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/22 ... -operators

You can pretty much guarantee the UK will be on the red list.

[Dannie Boy]

It’s a pity that there still isn’t sufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Omicron strain, but in sheer numbers, I’d have to agree that the UK is destined to be at the top of the red list.

[caller]

It’s a pity that there still isn’t sufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Omicron strain, but in sheer numbers, I’d have to agree that the UK is destined to be at the top of the red list.

As will the US, where it is the predominant strain.

[buksida]

A bad case of déjà vu for Thai tourism
The emergence of the Covid-19 variant Omicron, which has tallied 104 confirmed cases in Thailand, is bringing back bad memories of last year when the second wave stomped on the festive season just a few weeks before the New Year holiday.

The tourism industry, which contributed up to 20% of GDP during boom years, plummeted to 1.79% of GDP during the first half of 2021, largely as a result of border closures.

The decision by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to suspend the "Test & Go" scheme nationwide means Thailand may take the same stance it had in the first half of 2021, with all new registrants for the Thailand Pass facing mandatory quarantine. Entry via the Phuket airport through the sandbox programme is another option, requiring at least a seven-day stay on the island.

The fate of tourism in the first quarter next year remains a mystery as the CCSA will decide on Jan 4 whether to extend the suspension or adjust the entry rules.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/22 ... ai-tourism

[Big Boy]

Yes, very sad. Certainly many places in Hua Hin have re-opened in anticipation of a tourism boost. Driving up Soi 94 a couple of nights ago, it was more like the Las Vegas strip with the inviting neon lights. I fear if tourists don't arrive, again, it could be the final straw for many. Expat trade alone, even if bars (restaurants) are allowed to stay open, can not sustain so many entertainment establishments.