Thailand must welcome back Chinese tourists now says leading tourism chief

[american2]

I am sorry,  aren't they quarentining cities  still  in China.  When the restrictions in Wuhan did not allow the citizens of (Wuhan) to  travel to other cities/provences in China.  They were still allowed them to travel out of the country.  Sure welcome them back.  This guy has a death wish.

[JusticeGB]

Speak to the Thai people in Pattaya the last tourists they want are the group Chinese tourists who only spend money in rich Thai Chinese owned places and businesses owned by Chinese nominees. The Japanese, Koreans and Russians at least frequent bars and restaurants. 

[DrTuner]

Here we go. Welcome SARS-Cov-3.

[jlwilliamsjr18]

Lets get a picture of that optimism.

[davidmann]

4 hours ago, CelticBhoy said:

"Much of the money ends up abroad and not in the hands of Thais."

 

Greed in full view here. Unbelievable comment .... ????

 

the whole. world is sick. due to the Chinese  ,how. much money has been lost how. many people are go hungry  how many people are dead. all due to the Chinese   eating wild animals. ,Bats. ,,,,,,,,,let them suffer.  ,  would you take. people that have killed millions. into your. home.  ,,,,,,some. people should keep there mouth shut if the short. of Brains.  ,,for sure this man is 

[Aussie Col]

3 hours ago, Surelynot said:

In a sense he has a point............no other nationalities are going to be coming here for a long time.

 

People are now more aware than ever of the politics and corruption in Thailand, they hear and read about all the safety 'mishaps' and they know a country flooded with Chinese tourists is not an attractive proposition.

A majority of the money that Chinese tourists spend here ends up back in China.

The money Farang tourists spend here stays in Thailand.

Stop expecting Farang tourists to jump through hoops to come here and they will return. Keep all these hoops in place and the Farangs will spend their money elsewhere creating jobs and wealth. in that country.

[gearbox]

2 hours ago, CNXexpat said:

All the people from Pattaya: "Nooooo, don´t let them come back, they spend no money and the buses block the roads".

All people from northern Thailand: "Yes, please let them in. They spend a lot of money at local businesses and mostly come as individual travelers."

Same in Samui - there are no tour buses. In fact the roads are not suited for tour buses ????

Most of the Chinese coming to Samui seem to be independent travellers, mostly young or families. Quite a few of gen X-ers seem to work in the high-tech sector, I've talked to quite a few...but not as many as the Israelis coming here.

The only place I saw the Chinese as package tourists with buses and flag bearers was Pattaya.  But Pattaya seem to attract the low income tourists, whether Chinese, Westerners or Indians.

 

 

[robert888d]

Thailand will be making a huge mistake if they let swarms of Chinese come back too soon..Corona virus is still rampant in China.It would probably cause outbreaks  here in various places  and lockdown would start all over again.They put too many eggs in the  Chinese basket. They should be more friendly with USA,UK, Europe, Canada, Japan, Taiwan,,etc

[DrTuner]

3 hours ago, CNXexpat said:

All the people from Pattaya: "Nooooo, don´t let them come back, they spend no money and the buses block the roads".

All people from northern Thailand: "Yes, please let them in. They spend a lot of money at local businesses and mostly come as individual travelers."

Might be some truth to both. Pattaya gets the very low end ones.

[ChouDoufu]

3 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

the problem is not organizing competing tours its persuading CHINESE booking agents to send their clients on them - its going to take one hell of a bung to make the chinese favor the non-chinese in a business deal, all else being equal.

really now?  the evil chinese booking agents are somehow preventing the thai airlines and tat and phuket from working together, designing tours the chinese tourists want, and selling them direct on their websites in chinese?

 

the chinese wanna go to thailand, and they want the best deal.  make 'em an offer they can't refuse.  if thai can't bother to offer the package tours customized with guides and translators in the format the tourists want, they'll keep losing out.

 

 

[jmacken306]

4 hours ago, anchadian said:

If and when the Chinese do come flooding back, will they be required to undergo a 14 day quarantine at their own expense?

 

No, I didn't think so.

What people have 14 days to Quarantine and the take a 7-14 day Vacation?????? They still have Covid, they aren't telling!!!

[DrTuner]

3 hours ago, ChouDoufu said:

what's stopping tat or some thai tourism companies/groups/organizations from developing their own package tours to compete with the chinese-owned/operated tours? 

Too much work, easier to just sell it all to Chinese.

[ChouDoufu]

1 minute ago, DrTuner said:

Too much work, easier to just sell it all to Chinese.

 

or when business is down, double the prices!

[CNXexpat]

1 minute ago, robert888d said:

They should be more friendly with USA,UK, Europe

All the places where the cases are increasing and are on a high level?! These countries will be the last one on Thailand´s list.

 

4 minutes ago, gearbox said:

But Pattaya seem to attract the low income tourists, whether Chinese, Westerners or Indians.

Well, if you go in normal times in the Hilton or Siam@Siam hotels (and other expensive ones) you will see many of Chinese there. They come to famous Pattaya, look the Walking Street (like many tourists visit the red light district in by example Amsterdam without leaving money) and go to the islands. 

[DrTuner]

Quote

He was referring to companies - many of them Chinese owned or owned in Thailand through proxies - who are involved in organising group tours. 

 

Much of the money ends up abroad and not in the hands of Thais. 

Good that what we knew here at TVF years ago is finally acknowledged. First it was the blue zero dollar buses that got busted (can't remember the name, help?), then the Chinese got craftier and started using Thai proxies. Money still flows back to Motherland, all Thais are left with is ecological disaster.

[Aussie Col]

1 hour ago, ThailandGuy said:

And the rest of the world? Only the Chinese? Bizar. Has he not noticed that besides the covid-19 new virusses did arise in China the last 2 months? Anyway good luck with that. It is obvious they do not want the "farang" back in Thailand.

 

The money Farangs spend here stays here. The little bit of money that the Chinese spend here finds its way back to China. Farangs spending money here benefits Thais.

[Bender Rodriguez]

if no 100.000 us$ insurance and no 14 day quarantine for chinese, hell will break lose ???

[gearbox]

1 hour ago, LawrenceN said:

I disagree. This is a government agency that's responsible for encouraging tourism. Diverse businesses depend on tourism. Thailand competes with its neighbors, and countries throughout the world, for tourists, and not just the Chinese. This person was doing his job, which is to advocate for tourist-dependent businesses in Thailand. 

You are quite right but his words at the moment are wishful thinking. The Chinese run a massive trade deficit with the rest of the world in the tourist sector amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars. It is now in their interest to keep the citizens locked in and force them to spend that deficit locally to prop the economy.

[SuwadeeS]

That sounds very stupid!!!

China is the origin.

China lie to the WHO.

China cover up the real numbers.

China lie to everybody.

China has the biggest number of not announced CCP virus (covid 19).

I bet, Thailand will not require a 100.000 $ insurance or 14 days quarantine.

Because, the government has the same spirit when it comes to the truth.

 

[phantomfiddler]

Just look at the face ! Would you buy a used car from this man ?? ????

[eastendanto]

4 hours ago, madmitch said:

Totally disagree with you.

 

Foreign tourism is necessary to boost the economy. What's tthe point if most of the money is going elsewhere?

If they let any tourist nation access at the moment and as a subsequence your nearest and dearest  passes away due to being infected by Covid directly or indirectly due to opening of the borders would you still be of the same opinion? At the best of times Thai government officials constantly contradict eachother in the daily news (left hand/right hand) about what should be or not should be... perhaps rather than stumbling from one idea to the next they should have spent all the time since Covid putting a coherent plan together that supports the people and businesses    

[Isaan sailor]

A statement like that in America, would draw cries of racism from liberals.  Favoring one type of tourist over others...

[rtco]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

He said that if Thailand opened up its airspace the Chinese would come in good numbers

Along with new infections ... bring it on I say ... NOT

[chilli42]

4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

I posted this in another thread, but i think it is relevant to this discussion as well. BTW, a better statement from the tourism guy is to let long-term people in rather than a country-specific group.

 

I think it is time for Thailand to re-evaluate its Virus Response policy.

 

Thailand has been following a 'Zero-Tolerance' policy, but I think it is time to move to a 'Managed-Tolerance' policy. I make this suggestion based mainly on two factors; I think it is inevitable that the virus will return to Thailand and a calm, managed response is more effective than hysteria. Secondly, the economic damage being done to millions is more harmful than the virus itself and needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

 

We recently saw new cases in Vietnam, and I think that we are going to see new cases in Thailand soon; like most people I take the government's claim of zero cases with a grain of salt, although it seems like they have done a very good job overall. However, I don't think it can last. A better policy is to prepare, both medically and in terms of public opinion/education, for the return of the virus. Is this a radical idea? No, not really. Members will recall the phrase "flatten the curve", but perhaps a reminder is needed that the idea is to manage the virus so that the health system isn't overwhelmed; a policy of Zero Tolerance is incompatible with an open society and/or open economy. It is time to re-enforce the precautions needed, but also to allow for an economic re-start which includes outsiders/foreigners. A final point; humanity's best minds and a boat-load of resources are being thrown at the problem. This global effort, propelled by the power of competition, is expected to produce a vaccine either this year or early next year while treatments are being developed and refined daily; we as a species are going to beat this scourge, and relatively soon.

 

The economic damage being done to Thailand is immense. Yes, I know that we don't hear about it too much, but there is a reason for that. The people talking in the (not quite free) Media are almost all in a 'Virus-Proof' economic situation; they aren't directly affected so they don't feel the urgency of fixing the problem. Firm numbers are difficult to come by, but it seems around 6-9 million Thais are very badly hurt by the economic fall-out of the virus, and those people need to be both helped and heard. The damage done to these people is egregious and growing worse; some government support is being withdrawn, the option of 'Go Back to the Farm' isn't really possible anymore (and not a great idea regardless), and they will soon need more food and rent support to survive. Further, many aren't well-educated and don't have transferable skills, so their options are limited. Finally, even before Covid-19, their economic situation was in decline; it is in free-fall now and they can't be ignored. Simply put, plans for their economic regeneration must to be formulated now and implemented soon.

 

When people are hungry, all bets are off.

 

How to proceed?

 

It is the beginning of August; continue/speed up the current repatriation policy 'as is', but ramp up the public education aspect of change. Announce that by October 1st (perhaps Nov. 1st?) that the airspace around Thailand will be open to commercial air travel, long-term tourists (Snow-Birds who 'winter' here), remaining residents and retirees will be allowed to return with a few restrictions (test before boarding or on arrival, reasonable insurance, self-isolation at home on arrival, etc. BUT no mandatory state quarantine), implement common sense visa issuance (sorry Floridians and Texans!) and most of all prepare the Thai people for the idea that although there will be cases of the virus, they will be managed, and the benefits of re-opening are a risk worth taking. Yes, the end of mandatory state quarantine is essential if this is going to work; I believe that the long-term visitors will respect the self-isolation policy and Thailand's million strong public health volunteers can monitor them, but they won't come if they are going to be locked up. Moreover, the selection of the residents/retirees and 'Snow-Birds' as an initial group isn't accidental; these people already know the Kingdom and understand life within it, are good 'testers' of a new system, have a lot of money to spend, and can be excellent examples of a working policy of re-opening. Finally, allowing these kinds of visitors would build confidence, test whether short-term tourists could actually visit (I think not yet, but...), and help protect the tourism infrastructure from further and/or irreparable damage.

 

There are those who will argue that it is better to keep the borders closed and wait this out, and I honestly have trouble arguing against that idea (I don't want to catch the <deleted> thing). However, those who make that point rarely take the next step; what do you do with the 6-9 million people damaged by the current policy? Will those that advocate for closed borders take in homeless people? If so, how many? One family? Two families? Three? Will those that advocate for closed borders give up a percentage of their salaries/pensions to help? If so, how much? 25%? 35%? 45%? Will those that advocate for closed borders pay school fees and related costs for all the children of unemployed/underemployed parents? How many kids? One? Five? Twenty? The question isn't merely an intellectual exercise, it has real-world implications and consequences. 

 

If you want those 6-9 million people to sacrifice for you, what are you going to sacrifice for them?

 

To sum up, I think that the question of whether or not to keep the border closed is incomplete. The question should be: if you keep the border closed, then what will you do for the 6-9 million people economically-eviscerated by the response to the virus? Opening the Kingdom to visitors in November for the high season would likely see a few cases of the virus, but the Thai medical system can handle that (it did before, right?) until a vaccine is widely available. It would begin the process of re-starting the tourism industry in Thailand (20% of GDP!!!), begin the process of building trust again, re-start the employment of huge numbers, give Thailand a 'leg up' on future tourism business in the region, and alleviate some of the damage done to the poorest in the Kingdom. The alternative is a policy of rot, idleness, atrophy and decline with an indefinite timeline. 

 

History is replete with examples of people hiding behind walls for protection, but it rarely ever works (especially against something the size of a virus); see the 'Maginot Line', the Great Wall of China, the Berlin Wall, and more. History shows that a combination of pro-active tactics coupled with reasonable, layered defenses provides a better outcome to almost any problem.

 

You have submitted a long post reflecting your opinion.  Why not use facts to support you opinion.  Is that just too difficult?  Perhaps it’s that facts don’t support your opinion.  

[NB1986]

So the people who are working in Thailand, are married in Thailand, living as retirees in Thailand will have to go 14 days quarantine, and have insurance covering 100.000$, while Chinese hordes will go as tourists with probably one PCR test before departure from China and one before e tering China well done Thailand, it is obvious that the government is in real trouble, the economy is in big trouble, you dont do that if you are not desperate. 

[warcy]

5 hours ago, anchadian said:

If and when the Chinese do come flooding back, will they be required to undergo a 14 day quarantine at their own expense?

 

No, I didn't think so.

Who would want a 14 day quarantine if you have only 2 weeks holiday?

[kiwikeith]

4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

I posted this in another thread, but i think it is relevant to this discussion as well. BTW, a better statement from the tourism guy is to let long-term people in rather than a country-specific group.

 

I think it is time for Thailand to re-evaluate its Virus Response policy.

 

Thailand has been following a 'Zero-Tolerance' policy, but I think it is time to move to a 'Managed-Tolerance' policy. I make this suggestion based mainly on two factors; I think it is inevitable that the virus will return to Thailand and a calm, managed response is more effective than hysteria. Secondly, the economic damage being done to millions is more harmful than the virus itself and needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

 

We recently saw new cases in Vietnam, and I think that we are going to see new cases in Thailand soon; like most people I take the government's claim of zero cases with a grain of salt, although it seems like they have done a very good job overall. However, I don't think it can last. A better policy is to prepare, both medically and in terms of public opinion/education, for the return of the virus. Is this a radical idea? No, not really. Members will recall the phrase "flatten the curve", but perhaps a reminder is needed that the idea is to manage the virus so that the health system isn't overwhelmed; a policy of Zero Tolerance is incompatible with an open society and/or open economy. It is time to re-enforce the precautions needed, but also to allow for an economic re-start which includes outsiders/foreigners. A final point; humanity's best minds and a boat-load of resources are being thrown at the problem. This global effort, propelled by the power of competition, is expected to produce a vaccine either this year or early next year while treatments are being developed and refined daily; we as a species are going to beat this scourge, and relatively soon.

 

The economic damage being done to Thailand is immense. Yes, I know that we don't hear about it too much, but there is a reason for that. The people talking in the (not quite free) Media are almost all in a 'Virus-Proof' economic situation; they aren't directly affected so they don't feel the urgency of fixing the problem. Firm numbers are difficult to come by, but it seems around 6-9 million Thais are very badly hurt by the economic fall-out of the virus, and those people need to be both helped and heard. The damage done to these people is egregious and growing worse; some government support is being withdrawn, the option of 'Go Back to the Farm' isn't really possible anymore (and not a great idea regardless), and they will soon need more food and rent support to survive. Further, many aren't well-educated and don't have transferable skills, so their options are limited. Finally, even before Covid-19, their economic situation was in decline; it is in free-fall now and they can't be ignored. Simply put, plans for their economic regeneration must to be formulated now and implemented soon.

 

When people are hungry, all bets are off.

 

How to proceed?

 

It is the beginning of August; continue/speed up the current repatriation policy 'as is', but ramp up the public education aspect of change. Announce that by October 1st (perhaps Nov. 1st?) that the airspace around Thailand will be open to commercial air travel, long-term tourists (Snow-Birds who 'winter' here), remaining residents and retirees will be allowed to return with a few restrictions (test before boarding or on arrival, reasonable insurance, self-isolation at home on arrival, etc. BUT no mandatory state quarantine), implement common sense visa issuance (sorry Floridians and Texans!) and most of all prepare the Thai people for the idea that although there will be cases of the virus, they will be managed, and the benefits of re-opening are a risk worth taking. Yes, the end of mandatory state quarantine is essential if this is going to work; I believe that the long-term visitors will respect the self-isolation policy and Thailand's million strong public health volunteers can monitor them, but they won't come if they are going to be locked up. Moreover, the selection of the residents/retirees and 'Snow-Birds' as an initial group isn't accidental; these people already know the Kingdom and understand life within it, are good 'testers' of a new system, have a lot of money to spend, and can be excellent examples of a working policy of re-opening. Finally, allowing these kinds of visitors would build confidence, test whether short-term tourists could actually visit (I think not yet, but...), and help protect the tourism infrastructure from further and/or irreparable damage.

 

There are those who will argue that it is better to keep the borders closed and wait this out, and I honestly have trouble arguing against that idea (I don't want to catch the <deleted> thing). However, those who make that point rarely take the next step; what do you do with the 6-9 million people damaged by the current policy? Will those that advocate for closed borders take in homeless people? If so, how many? One family? Two families? Three? Will those that advocate for closed borders give up a percentage of their salaries/pensions to help? If so, how much? 25%? 35%? 45%? Will those that advocate for closed borders pay school fees and related costs for all the children of unemployed/underemployed parents? How many kids? One? Five? Twenty? The question isn't merely an intellectual exercise, it has real-world implications and consequences. 

 

If you want those 6-9 million people to sacrifice for you, what are you going to sacrifice for them?

 

To sum up, I think that the question of whether or not to keep the border closed is incomplete. The question should be: if you keep the border closed, then what will you do for the 6-9 million people economically-eviscerated by the response to the virus? Opening the Kingdom to visitors in November for the high season would likely see a few cases of the virus, but the Thai medical system can handle that (it did before, right?) until a vaccine is widely available. It would begin the process of re-starting the tourism industry in Thailand (20% of GDP!!!), begin the process of building trust again, re-start the employment of huge numbers, give Thailand a 'leg up' on future tourism business in the region, and alleviate some of the damage done to the poorest in the Kingdom. The alternative is a policy of rot, idleness, atrophy and decline with an indefinite timeline. 

 

History is replete with examples of people hiding behind walls for protection, but it rarely ever works (especially against something the size of a virus); see the 'Maginot Line', the Great Wall of China, the Berlin Wall, and more. History shows that a combination of pro-active tactics coupled with reasonable, layered defenses provides a better outcome to almost any problem.

 

 Very well written,  but opening up is not working, if all the Thai’s in quarantine had

strolled in without it there would now be a massive outbreak, same would have happened in NZ,  bit to early yet, I think a vaccine will probably be rolling b4 Xmas 

[chilli42]

4 hours ago, Matzzon said:

What is greedy with a comment like that. His meaning is that if other countries accepts tourists then Thailand are losing economically on the situation. Same as all countries look at the tourism and the economy that follows it.

That I do not agree to a quick and irresponsible opening just for that reason is a totally different thing.

This is not really what he is saying.  You have misunderstood the quote

[Xaos]

Chinese 9 dollars follow the flag tours

[warcy]

5 hours ago, AndrewMciver said:

CHINA CHINA CHINA CHINA 

 

The countries obsession with China is horrendous. This economic disaster Thailand is facing is because of China. Yet there they begging them to give them more. 

Do not blame any country for the virus. Virus doesn't differentiate between races or nationalities. 

 

let's not go into conspiracy theory on who released the virus on China in the first place. Would China release the virus on its own citizens? No, it was a foreign country.