Thailand Still Tepid on Tourists as Virus Fears Linger

[webfact]

Thailand Still Tepid on Tourists as Virus Fears Linger 

By Zsombor Peter

 

FILE - A man collects his umbrellas on an almost empty beach that's usually crowed with tourists, amid the global coronavirus disease outbreak, in Pattaya, Thailand, March 27, 2020.

 

Economists and industry insiders predict a slow rebound for Thailand's all-important tourism sector as one of the world's top travel spots slowly opens its borders after more than three months of virus-induced lockdown.   

 

While some European countries, with far more confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths, have already begun welcoming visitors from the rest of the continent and beyond, Thailand is moving with much more caution. 

 

The government says the first few thousand non-essential foreigners were cleared for arrival as of July 1 — mostly permanent residents and work permit holders, investors, teachers, students and those seeking medical care. 

 

Full story: https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/thailand-still-tepid-tourists-virus-fears-linger

 

-- VOA 2020 07-07

[RichardColeman]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

The government says the first few thousand non-essential foreigners were cleared for arrival as of July 1 — mostly permanent residents and work permit holders, investors, teachers, students and those seeking medical care. 

Looking at that photo it appears the few thousand must be in quarantine just planning the beach trip

[SVC Porter]

29 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

The government says the first few thousand non-essential foreigners were cleared for arrival as of July 1 — mostly permanent residents and work permit holders, investors, teachers, students and those seeking medical care. 

Teachers?  Here's one stuck at the other side of the world and not hopeful about taking up post late August!

[CLS]

“The government says the first few thousand non-essential foreigners were cleared for arrival as of July 1 — mostly permanent residents and work permit holders, investors, teachers, students and those seeking medical care.”

 

I wonder if there are any essential foreigners in their books.

Edited July 6, 2020 by CLS

[ezzra]

Many countries have found themselves to be in a situation that is between a a rock and a hard place, fight the epidemic by locking down everything and the economy implode on itself and ruin millions of lives or open up and pay the price by willing to sacrifice and contain certain number or casualties of both the sick and the dead...

[Mikeasq60]

Where are these people who are afraid of a CV rebound. Wheres this information coming from TV? Wake up people the govt is playing this for what purpose I dont know. Is it politicians gaining the power they've always dreamed of! Gather information about this virus outside of mainstream media and govt spokesman! Thailand is going down the drain!

[CorpusChristie]

3 minutes ago, Mikeasq60 said:

Where are these people who are afraid of a CV rebound. Wheres this information coming from TV? Wake up people the govt is playing this for what purpose I dont know. Is it politicians gaining the power they've always dreamed of! Gather information about this virus outside of mainstream media and govt spokesman! Thailand is going down the drain!

How would the Government benefit by keeping the borders closed ?

Thats about the only restriction still in place , have Governments always dreamed of having closed borders ?

  What is the reason for that ?

[Darkside Gray]

I would love to know the actual figures fo arrivals in to Thailand not the bogus rubbish that tAT produces but the actual figures at this time of the arrivals so called shut down? 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, Mikeasq60 said:

Where are these people who are afraid of a CV rebound. Wheres this information coming from TV? Wake up people the govt is playing this for what purpose I dont know. Is it politicians gaining the power they've always dreamed of! Gather information about this virus outside of mainstream media and govt spokesman! Thailand is going down the drain!

 

I have a choice between staying in Thailand, where the CV is apparently not spreading and no one's dying from it, vs. returning to the U.S. where the virus is spreading like wildfire in many areas, 130,000+ are dead already, and the new CV deaths are running about 600 day.

 

Frankly, I'm quite happy and would prefer to stay in Thailand -- if this is what you call "going down the drain."

 

[Deli]

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I have a choice between staying in Thailand, where the CV is apparently not spreading and no one's dying from it, vs. returning to the U.S. where the virus is spreading like wildfire in many areas, 130,000+ are dead already, and the new CV deaths are running about 600 day.

 

Frankly, I'm quite happy and would prefer to stay in Thailand -- if this is what you call "going down the drain."

 

 

People do not die coz of carrying the Chinese Virus, but coz of pre existing health issues. A healthy human being might not even be aware of carrying the Chinese Virus.

 

[The Barmbeker]

5 minutes ago, Deli said:

 

People do not die coz of carrying the Chinese Virus, but coz of pre existing health issues. A healthy human being might not even be aware of carrying the Chinese Virus.

 

Yeah...135.000 people in the US dead...all of them with pre- existing conditions!

Rrrrrrrright....

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

14 minutes ago, Deli said:

 

People do not die coz of carrying the Chinese Virus, but coz of pre existing health issues. A healthy human being might not even be aware of carrying the Chinese Virus.

 

 

You're so mis-informed it's almost beyond belief. Yes, people with pre-existing conditions are more likely to die, but someone with no pre-existing conditions doesn't get some kind of guaranteed free pass.

 

People of all ages, ethnic groups, and those with no pre-existing conditions have died and continue to die and get seriously ill around the world from the CV.... The numbers are not as great, but the risk is still there, albeit lower risk, on a case to case basis.

 

And, as the medical community learns more about the CV, it's not just about those who actually die, but also those who survive and are left with serious lifelong medical issues/disabilities because of the aftereffects of the CV.

[86Tiger]

1 hour ago, The Barmbeker said:

Yeah...135.000 people in the US dead...all of them with pre- existing conditions!

Rrrrrrrright....

Actually, he is closer to correct than you give credit.  In vast majority of those deaths persons were already suffering some malady if be it only old age.  There will always be the one off healthy athlete held up as example it can happen to anybody, but population statistics say risk to young healthy individuals is slim.  And more data and study published reinforces this.

 

Recent article here https://medium.com/@vernunftundrichtigkeit/coronavirus-why-everyone-was-wrong-fce6db5ba809  a noted immunologists states:

 

"....... young and healthy people who currently walk around with a mask on their faces would be better off wearing a helmet instead, because the risk of something falling on their head is greater than that of getting a serious case of Covid-19......"

 

 

But I am sure there will be TV experts along shortly to discredit the good doctor and disparage this poster.  All expected for TV as another thread will depreciate into petty insults and bickering.

 

 

YMMV

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, CorpusChristie said:

How would the Government benefit by keeping the borders closed ?

Thats about the only restriction still in place , have Governments always dreamed of having closed borders ?

  What is the reason for that ?

Any reason this government has for anything will be power , financial or both.

[Zikomat]

3 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I have a choice between staying in Thailand, where the CV is apparently not spreading and no one's dying from it, vs. returning to the U.S. where the virus is spreading like wildfire in many areas, 130,000+ are dead already, and the new CV deaths are running about 600 day.

 

Frankly, I'm quite happy and would prefer to stay in Thailand -- if this is what you call "going down the drain."

 

It is a majority of the Thai population who will go down the drain, not you personally. But you don’t really care, I know.

[CALSinCM]

Care to venture a guess as to why tourism in Thailand is a thing of the past and will never recover?

Start here and then expand the gauntlet of rules, regulation, restrictions, forms, documents, clearance, and quarantines for anyone wishing to visit.  And it won't be just Thailand.  Any country which saddles prospective tourist with these restrictions will kill it's tourism industry.

However, the filthy rich and connected will be presumed to be Covid-free by the ptb and allowed into the country without the same restrictions as will be imposed on the rest of the dirty commoners. 

Tourism is dead; long live tourism.

 

[CorpusChristie]

29 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Any reason this government has for anything will be power , financial or both.

How does this Government benefit financially when the borders are kept closed and what extra powers have they gotten ? 

[DrJack54]

Opening borders may have just had kick in guts. All governments keep eye on what is going on in other countries. 

Australia month or so back was being held up as success story.

Then from quarantine hotels in melb that were security poorly managed, it all turned to poo. Today positive cases up to 200 for the day.  Few hours ago state governments closed land and air borders to Victoria.

Melbourne in many areas is in lockdown for next SIX WEEKS. 

Gone from chocolates to boiled lollies.

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, CorpusChristie said:

How does this Government benefit financially when the borders are kept closed and what extra powers have they gotten ? 

I am not a financial expert, but do you think the borders would be kept closed if it was having a negative effect on certain financial income streams?

Never forget This is Thailand run by an ex soldier who was never even elected.

 

They have got all the extra powers they want, and they do what they want, why? Because they can.

[CorpusChristie]

3 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I am not a financial expert, but do you think the borders would be kept closed if it was having a negative effect on certain financial income streams?

Never forget This is Thailand run by an ex soldier who was never even elected.

 

They have got all the extra powers they want, and they do what they want, why? Because they can.

Yes, I do think that the borders will be kept closed if it means some people are losing money .

OMG, do you honestly think this whole Coruna virus thing is just a smokescreen for Prayruth to earn more money !!!!!!!!!!!

  And the borders are closed .....................just because they can close the borders !!!!!!!!!

Get real 

[NoshowJones]

2 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

Yes, I do think that the borders will be kept closed if it means some people are losing money .

OMG, do you honestly think this whole Coruna virus thing is just a smokescreen for Prayruth to earn more money !!!!!!!!!!!

  And the borders are closed .....................just because they can close the borders !!!!!!!!!

Get real 

Maybe you should get real, I would not trust this government about anything, they had the country in a mess where expats and tourists are concerned even before this virus.

[Grumpy John]

"Because they can"  While I won't disagree with you on that point there has to be more too it.  Could it be some higher-ups are manipulating the money market?  The share market?  Looking to break a series of companies to acquire them for pennies on the dollar.  There has to be a plan of some sort...not that we will ever find out...till it's to late! 

Edited July 7, 2020 by Grumpy John
Smelling

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

4 hours ago, 86Tiger said:

 

Recent article here https://medium.com/@vernunftundrichtigkeit/coronavirus-why-everyone-was-wrong-fce6db5ba809  a noted immunologists states:

 

"....... young and healthy people who currently walk around with a mask on their faces would be better off wearing a helmet instead, because the risk of something falling on their head is greater than that of getting a serious case of Covid-19......"

 

 

The issue with young people without any health conditions is -- while they are less likely to have serious health consequences themselves -- they are just as likely to catch the virus, become infected, and then spread it to anyone around them... including relatives and other older folks with or without health conditions.

 

So the younger folks themselves in general may not directly suffer as much, but they end up being the potential cause of a lot of other people suffering because they're too careless or stupid to take sensible precautions to protect themselves and everyone else around them.

 

And any "noted immunologist" who can't figure out the risks that kind of behavior creates for society at large doesn't deserve to be very "noted."

 

 

Edited July 7, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[DavisH]

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Opening borders may have just had kick in guts. All governments keep eye on what is going on in other countries. 

Australia month or so back was being held up as success story.

Then from quarantine hotels in melb that were security poorly managed, it all turned to poo. Today positive cases up to 200 for the day.  Few hours ago state governments closed land and air borders to Victoria.

Melbourne in many areas is in lockdown for next SIX WEEKS. 

Gone from chocolates to boiled lollies.

It doesn't take much to screw up all that good work. Singapore's foreign worker dorms had the same problem. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

This is what's going on in the world, according to Johns-Hopkins latest daily CV update:

 

Quote

 

July 6, 2020

 

EPI UPDATE The WHO COVID-19 Situation Report for July 5 reports 11.13 million cases (203,836 new) and 528,204 deaths (5,195 new). The WHO reported more than 200,000 new cases in a single day for the first time on July 4, and it took only 6 days for the global cumulative incidence to go from 10 million to 11 million cases. The pandemic has been ongoing for more than 6 months, and it continues to accelerate. 

 

That's 5000+ new CV deaths per day and more than 200,000 new confirmed cases per day out in the big wide world.

 

I'm just waiting for the next TVF poster to come along and explain that they're all old people with health conditions so it doesn't really matter whether they died or not.... 

 

Quote

 

UNITED STATES

The US CDC reported 2.84 million total cases (52,228 new) and 129,576 deaths (271 new). The US has reported more than 50,000 new cases for 4 consecutive days, including a record high of 57,718 on July 4. 

...

The current daily incidence in the US is more than 50% higher than its first peak in mid-April. The daily incidence has more than doubled since June 9, up from 20,338 new cases per day to 47,389 yesterday (7-day average).

 

https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/resources/COVID-19/index.html

 

Edited July 7, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[NoshowJones]

17 hours ago, Zikomat said:

It is a majority of the Thai population who will go down the drain, not you personally. But you don’t really care, I know.

and certainly not the big wigs in the Thai government.

[mommysboy]

On 7/7/2020 at 6:16 AM, ezzra said:

Many countries have found themselves to be in a situation that is between a a rock and a hard place, fight the epidemic by locking down everything and the economy implode on itself and ruin millions of lives or open up and pay the price by willing to sacrifice and contain certain number or casualties of both the sick and the dead...

And most countries are looking to strike a balance.  Countries like Thailand are inviting an even bigger recession by concentrating solely on disease prevention (as noble as that is).  The problem is the Thai Government has gained much political capital due to its stance on covid19, and would be very reluctant to shift focus on to the economy.  It's also scared its people silly, such that most can not make an informed decision.  So, it's a very bleak outlook for Thailand.  History books may judge this a defining moment for the wrong reasons.

[from the home of CC]

unfortunately not only the stupid are dying..

Edited July 8, 2020 by from the home of CC

[from the home of CC]

keep the door closed Thailand, save yourselves for as you can see in other countries foreigners just don't have a clue..

[bbi1]

Maybe Thailand should do more to keep and encourage the virus-free tourists it has in it's country to spend money and travel here, rather than only focusing on Thai tourists. Go ahead and extend the visa amnesty until 31st December and don't lose one single tourist who's putting money into your economy and Thai business' pockets.