Thailand Sold Itself as a Paradise Covid Retreat. No One Came

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, PatOngo said:

 

I think they have a Ministry For Stupid Ideas!

Yes indeed - it's TAT!!

[Katipo]

The days where you could sell a dream are, with a few exceptions worldwide, gone. We live in a much more interconnected world. One here people can and want to create their own dreams. This is peak social media. That some government officials think that they have the skill to deliver the fantasy, the dream, no way. They are still living in the early 2,000's.

 

[CharlieH]

Post removed in accordance with forum rules.

 

11) You will not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people or any other group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

[Khun Paul]

Maybe most saw through the hype and made reliable enquires and thought . No-way .., truth often hurts, now they have learnt that Tourists are NOT that stupid unlike their Govt employees that come up with this rubbish 

[BernieOnTour]

4 minutes ago, spiekerjozef said:

Europeans like to travel to places with plenty of Covid so they can spread it around in their own country and beyond.

Don't believe me? Look at the travel data from the past 7 months.

Thailand was not on their list because there was no Covid.

 

Interesting aspect ... I would love to see the statistics, you made to reach that conclusion.

But I assume a spurious correlation...

 

Main reasons, from what I heard:

- easy access ... no tests, no quarantines

- easy return ... no risk zone, no tests and quarantine when coming back

- open beaches, restaurants and pubs

- not expensive 

 

Add in to that: the biggest travel wave in Europe is in the summer holidays - at that time, Thailand was still discussing „bubbles“ for Chinese tourists 555

[spidermike007]

17 minutes ago, Jud Canada said:

Maybe, just maybe they should consider opening flights to those with negative Covid test in their own countries and negative upon arrival. 
This is where it gets fun. How about offering Covid vaccination to those people who have not or can not get a vaccine shot yet at home. “A medical holiday” . Is not this one of the market segments the government likes and wants? It kills two birds with one stone by drawing in holiday travelers to enjoy the country and get vaccinated at the same time. Hmmm!
Quarantine needs to be scrapped...agreed,  however tracking may be more easily embraced for all entering the kingdom and would further support the second shot requirements ( if required by vaccine mfg) 

This thought is just quick “off the cuff” however with some real creative thinking and innovative marketing, something to this end may be viable. Just saying.

 

Good ideas. But the creative thinking part eliminated Thailand (due to this administration) from contention. Bottom of the barrel appointments lead to poor performance and a dire lack of creativity, resulting in a devastated economy and millions out of work. 

[nausea]

The headline is golden, I must say.

[Niteowl45]

4 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Get it through your heads, NOBODY wants to sit in a quarantine hotel for two weeks!

And pay through the nose for the privilege, not to mention the unreasonable requirements and the expensive health care insurance.

Thailand was popular because it was cheap... it's becoming more expensive, the baht is out of control (for reasons I will never understand in a million years) and now they made it a lot more expensive...

I don't usually criticize the thai government as much as the average poster but some of the things they've been trying to do during Covid are just absurd.

[PEE TEE]

Thailand should think about the problems with other country's around the world . With what Covid has done to peoples financial and business problems . Other countries have travel problems as well . When Covid is no longer a danger then open the borders again as they were before or make it much easier for tourist to come back here. 

long stay people should be able to come back if they have wife property's etc., if they can afford the quarantine and have all the requirements needed . 

[PatOngo]

1 minute ago, Niteowl45 said:

the baht is out of control (for reasons I will never understand in a million years)

If you had a trough full of baht, would you not want to keep it high and then ship it out to buy cheap dollars for your offshore accounts???

[PatOngo]

1 minute ago, PEE TEE said:

Thailand should think about the problems with other country's around the world .

I'm sure it never crosses their minds!

 

 

[spiekerjozef]

11 minutes ago, BernieOnTour said:

Add in to that: the biggest travel wave in Europe is in the summer holidays - at that time, Thailand was still discussing „bubbles“ for Chinese tourists 555

And Europe is doing very well at the moment??

And they only have to thank themselves for the big mess they're in.

[Niteowl45]

1 hour ago, starky said:

Done quarantine 4 times now twice work related and twice to come to Thailand many people have and done quarantine multiple times I guess it really depends on how much you want to be somewhere doesn't it?

 

I love Thailand and I used to go every year.... I cannot for the life of me think of a single reason to go there now (unless you have family or property there)...

IMO, going there for tourism right now would be just idiotic. It's super expensive and it involves quarantines and  lockdown so not fun at all. It's cheaper and safer to find thai whores in our country.

Again, sure, if you have family there it's one thing... but going there for tourism right now is just lunacy.

[RR2020]

The "new normal" will likely be :

 

PCR negative before flight.

5 day quarantine on arrival and PCR test to release after 5 days.

 

The UK is introducing this on Monday.    Covid: UK to close all travel corridors from Monday - BBC News

Indonesia has introduced this and more are planning to do so.

 

I do believe this will become the "new normal" for most countries in 2021.  Some will remain wanting 14 days but most will implement a 5 day quarantine on arrival in 2021 once their vaccination program has begun for a month and most at risk are done.

[charmonman]

5 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Get it through your heads, NOBODY wants to sit in a quarantine hotel for two weeks!

I wouldn’t say nobody. I am doing it right now and there are plenty of others in my ASQ. More correct to say nobody coming on a short holiday, but there is more than a trickle of long term stayers.

[PatOngo]

1 minute ago, charmonman said:

I wouldn’t say nobody. I am doing it right now and there are plenty of others in my ASQ. More correct to say nobody coming on a short holiday, but there is more than a trickle of long term stayers.

How's the food?

[Fex Bluse]

5 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Get it through your heads, NOBODY wants to sit in a quarantine hotel for two weeks!

Such clowns. Common sense, even that amongst a typical adolescent in a developed country, escapes all the top officials. 

 

Highly predictable. Next high season will be nearly as bad. 

 

People's lives have been ruined financially 

 

People are still afraid of the virus 

 

People who are fortunate to still be employed are highly concerned about the stability of work

 

Countries are incentivizing people to spend in country, even China with its "dual circulation" 

 

It will be years before any substantial numbers of tourists are back to normal travel. It was all highly predictable to anyone with even a little brain. 

[gearbox]

4 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Check out airfares as well. They have tripled,quadrupled or more for economy class seating, because tourists can't be crammed into aircraft like sardines anymore. Tourists are now better off spending their tourist cash at home.

Qantas has floated the concept no-one can get on their aircraft unless they have been vaccinated, how long before other airlines have the same requirement? And how long before every potential tourist is vaccinated?

 

Certainly the airfares to go back to Australia are outrageous,  but from Europe to Thailand in many cases the prices are very reasonable, in some cases cheaper than pre-Covid.

 

I flew back a few days ago with Qatar from Istanbul to Bangkok with Qantas FF points,  I think it comes at around $400-450 one way in equivalent of taxes plus frequent flyer points. Both legs of the journey had a row of four seats for me, as everyone else around.

[XJPSX]

Thailand will go the easy fix on this one and open up to China when they want to which will instantly fill the coughers of the tourist islands.

It just goes to show us what the Thais think of these tourist areas frequented by farangs. They are certainly not flocking to the islands to capitalize on cheap accommodation...the Chinese will!

[PatOngo]

13 minutes ago, Niteowl45 said:

It's cheaper and safer to find thai whores in our country.

I thought exports were down? ????

[BangkokReady]

I think one major thing they fail to realise, is that anyone wealthy enough to "wait out covid" in a 5 star Thai hotel without having to worry about work, is almost certainly living in a big house in a nice area, probably suburbs or countryside, with access to private medical services so covid and its associated inconveniences aren't actually that big a deal.

Someone going stir crazy in a small apartment isn't going to be able to afford a 6 month holiday in Thailand.

[trainman34014]

2 hours ago, Christie Paul said:

My friend traveled from UK to Cancun, Mexico a few days ago.

 

It all went smoothly, no certificates, no quarantine and they have moved into a lovely place for a very reasonable cost.

 

I understand they got a 180 day no hassle visa.

 

 

I hope they have a lovely time; the problems will start when they want to re-nter the UK !

[trainman34014]

4 minutes ago, XJPSX said:

Thailand will go the easy fix on this one and open up to China when they want to which will instantly fill the coughers of the tourist islands.

It just goes to show us what the Thais think of these tourist areas frequented by farangs. They are certainly not flocking to the islands to capitalize on cheap accommodation...the Chinese will!

That is when China allows its citizens out of the country again as they are not allowed to go anywhere at the moment.

[dcnx]

5 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Correct, no one wants to but should you wish to return to Thailand as it stands there's no other option.

 

Stupid for tourists to come i agree but for long term expats with families at the current time there's no other choice.

There’s nothing in Thailand worth sitting in a 2 quarantine hotel for unless you are returning for your family.

[rumak]

NEWSFLASH  !!!!    LATEST TOURIST VISA SCHEME ANNOUNCED TODAY !!!

 

For all those not wishing to be held  secluded in a room for two weeks ,  a committee of 24 ministers have teamed up with the Hard Rock Corporation to offer a truly Unique and Amazing alternative.

It will be announced World Wide under the catchy name   "  Rock on Thailand "  and have publicity ads such as  " Don't sit ,  Get fit "  in one of our Rock Solid Centers .

First 200 to sign up will get a FREE   mental health examination .

 

 .  

 

[starky]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Confined to two weeks inside a hotel and they think that's a luxury holiday... seriously deluded.

Well if you have your own pool and courtyard in a private villa it's better than quarantine in 95% of the rest of the world.

[starky]

38 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

How's the food?

Was awesome for me but then again I stayed in 5 star accommodation had a menu tailored to my specifications and had the head chef checking in every couple of days to make sure the food was as expected. You would be second only to ThailandRyan as the most negative poster on this whole forum imo.

Edited January 16, 2021 by starky

[natway09]

The high end resort option was never going to work.

however if you had got "stuck" overseas on a work roster or needed to get back to "home"

& families the ordinary hotels are available & appear to offer a quarantine solution.

I know of 6 guys that have done it with no complaints

[starky]

29 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

I think one major thing they fail to realise, is that anyone wealthy enough to "wait out covid" in a 5 star Thai hotel without having to worry about work, is almost certainly living in a big house in a nice area, probably suburbs or countryside, with access to private medical services so covid and its associated inconveniences aren't actually that big a deal.

Someone going stir crazy in a small apartment isn't going to be able to afford a 6 month holiday in Thailand.

Bingo.

[PatOngo]

2 minutes ago, starky said:

Was awesome for me but then again I stayed in 5 star accommodation had a menu tailored to my specifications and had the head chef checking in every couple of days to make sure the food was as expected. You would be second only to ThailandRyan as the most negative poster on this whole forum imo.

You are pretty popular yourself!  Hiso also, so it seems!