D-day for Thailand to reopen next month: Area Quarantine hailed as foreign tourists set to return

[rooster59]

D-day for Thailand to reopen next month: Area Quarantine hailed as foreign tourists set to return

 

Image: Thai Rath

 

Thailand's billionaire minister for tourism and sports has reiterated his commitment to Area Quarantine saying that the scheme could start next month, certainly by May.

 

His brainwave is set to replace the Villa Quarantine that was a bit too pricey.

 

Area Quarantine - AQ for short - is all the rage right now in Thai tourism circles.

 

Under this scheme the foreign tourist will no longer have to endure 14 days of prison like conditions in their quarantine room.

That will only last for the briefest of periods - 72 hours.

 

Thereafter the tourist will have the total freedom of the resort.

 

Yes, they will be able to utilize the grounds and effectively go ANYWHERE they please so long as they don't go outside. 

 

When 11 more days have passed and health checks have been confirmed the tourist will then be free to travel absolutely anywhere in Thailand they wish.

 

The whole kingdom with its wonderful people and bounteous culture awaits to be discovered in total freedom. 

 

Pipat Ratchakitprakan, whose assets declaration suggested he has 2 billion baht, has been criticised for not having the intelligence to match his wealth. 

 

Some have cruelly suggested that his IQ does not match his AQ plan. 

 

But the minister and related agencies and operators are pressing ahead with the scheme in Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Surat Thani - where tourists will have quaratine facilities in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. 

 

When the Area Quarantine has run its course then it is hoped that the full scale of Thailand's vaccination program will kick in meaning that foreign tourists will not have to quarantine at all.

 

Pipat expects five million to flood into Thailand before the end of the year.

 

Long stay Russians and high spending Indians desperate to get married, will be in the vanguard of the rush to get back to the kingdom.

Many European tourists are expected to stay up to three months enjoying the great climate and escaping harsh conditions in their homelands. 

 

Book your tickets now, conditions apply.

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

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[Thaiwrath]

D-day for Thailand to reopen next month:

[YetAnother]

7 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Pipat Ratchakitprakan, whose assets declaration suggested he has 2 billion baht, has been criticised for not having the intelligence to match his wealth.

hahahaha; from what he says in public, appears true

[anchadian]

And yet another report.

[ThailandRyan]

Let the new variant of Covid-19 spread Pipat, you can handle the heat.  Go ahead push the big red button,  I dare ya....

[Taswegian23]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Pipat expects five million to flood into Thailand before the end of the year.

 

 

LOL. Right. Of course they will. They'll absolutely FLOOD into Thailand and we'll know just how many came come Xmas.

Edited March 6, 2021 by Taswegian23

[impulse]

One of my favorite weekend getaways from BKK was the Pinnacle Resort in Jomtien.  I could stay on their grounds for 2 weeks without feeling too imprisoned.  And the first couple of days, I'd be jet lagged and napping through anyway. 

 

But they had their own beach, many buildings and villas, half a dozen swimming pools, a couple of bars, a great breakfast buffet and a real nice restaurant for lunch and dinner. 

 

One of the boutique (more accurately "Tiny Box") hotels in town?  Nope.

 

Edited March 6, 2021 by impulse

[nkg]

Being confined to the grounds of a hotel is not a lot better than staying in my room. And how is it safe to have all the guests and staff mingling as they wander around?

 

 

 

[colinneil]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

His brainwave is set to replace the Villa Quarantine that was a bit too pricey.

Gawd here we go again, another brainwave from a brain dead government minister.

Surely even those plonkers are aware it aint gonna happen anytime soon.

[herfiehandbag]

Well done TAT, hearty congratulations - I just knew you could do it - a resounding 10 on the TATometer with the needle hard on the stops!

 

A great idea, the UK has had open prisons for years.

 

I did think the crack:

"Pipat Ratchakitprakan, whose assets declaration suggested he has 2 billion baht, has been criticised for not having the intelligence to match his wealth. 

Some have cruelly suggested that his IQ does not match his AQ plan. "

Is perhaps s little un-kind, although jolly funny!

Edited March 6, 2021 by herfiehandbag

[CRUNCHER]

Hoe can these tourists get to Soi 6.  Won't do anything for Pattaya's economy.  

[ThreeEyedRaven]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Pipat Ratchakitprakan, whose assets declaration suggested he has 2 billion baht, has been criticised for not having the intelligence to match his wealth. 

 

Some have cruelly suggested that his IQ does not match his AQ plan. 

That is actually a very generous way of putting things. Given the difference between dreamworld and reality, many would push the boat out way further on comments about his intellectual abilities, or lack thereof. Fool or genius (), only time will tell.

Were gambling legal, I would bet heavily against the genius.

[mr mr]

all hail the mighty quarantine. 

[Jotho]

Again the fact that europeans dont have unlimited vacation holidays does not seem to get into the head of those who arrange those loony projects ????

[gearbox]

"Many European tourists are expected to stay up to three months enjoying the great climate and escaping harsh conditions in their homelands. "

 

Spring is coming in Europe, they are a bit late... In 2 months the Mediterranean beaches will start opening, and with the vaccination full on there won't be any "area quarantines".

[mr mr]

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

bounteous culture

 

make sure you check out a gem store in bkk during your  tuk tuk ride

grab a taxi from phuket airport

enter a national park

brave bkk traffic

endure the smog season

stare in awe at the bounteous amounts of garbage all over the place

 

[bermondburi]

47 minutes ago, nkg said:

Being confined to the grounds of a hotel is not a lot better than staying in my room. And how is it safe to have all the guests and staff mingling as they wander around?

 

 

 

I did ASQ back in December. It is way better. Staff will be wearing hazmat suits, mask, gloves, and faceshield like in ASQ. Self service buffet food etc. Be interesting to see if alcohol is allowed. They haven't mentioned that yet. 

 

But ultimately it won't appeal to genuine tourists. 

[ThailandRyan]

2 minutes ago, mr mr said:

 

make sure you check out a gem store in bkk during your  tuk tuk ride

grab a taxi from phuket airport

enter a national park

brave bkk traffic

endure the smog season

stare in awe at the bounteous amounts of garbage all over the place

 

And Spend Spend Spend.  Adopt a bargirl, help her sick Buffalo, and let's not forget you are a Hansum Man in the wifebeater and eggstainer shirt with that big belly.

[smedly]

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Yes, they will be able to utilize the grounds and effectively go ANYWHERE they please so long as they don't go outside. 

 

and risk infection from others at this resort - how stupid is that

[ThailandRyan]

2 minutes ago, smedly said:

 

and risk infection from others at this resort - how stupid is that

Bingo Smedly, nailed it, but wait there will be a basher along soon to tell you how wrong you are and how safe it is since Covid is under control in Thailand.

[Airalee]

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Area Quarantine - AQ for short - is all the rage right now in Thai tourism circles.

Sure it is.

 

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Many European tourists are expected to stay up to three months enjoying the great climate and escaping harsh conditions in their homelands. 

Harsh conditions?  From April to June?  Where?

[DJBenz]

If I want two weeks confined to a resort I can fly to the Med from the UK in four hours or less and go all inclusive. I may even venture outside if the mood takes me.

 

No way I'm flying 11+ hours to Thailand for the same, with the first 3 days in room confinement.

 

I guess they have to try the stupid ideas to realise they won't work.

Edited March 6, 2021 by DJBenz

[Phuketshrew]

1 hour ago, CRUNCHER said:

Hoe can these tourists get to Soi 6.  Won't do anything for Pattaya's economy.  

Maybe they will need to get the Hoe's from Soi 6 to the tourists instead ....

[RichardColeman]

So, the bright idea, is STILL 14 days of quarantine in the same place, but you can walk about a bit ! Laughable.

 

They should make the people that make these decisions low paid people with little savings that fear losing their jobs but come up with sensible ideas

 

[Justgrazing]

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

 

Area Quarantine - AQ for short - is all the rage right now in Thai tourism circles.

 

Under this scheme the foreign tourist will no longer have to endure 14 days of prison like conditions in their quarantine room.

That will only last for the briefest of periods - 72 hours

 

If IQ stands for intelligence quotient does AQ stand for amoeba quotient ?

Geezer just ain't getting it is he .. 

attach the word quarantine and it has all the appeal of camping in a graveyard .. 

 

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

 

Long stay Russians and high spending Indians desperate to get married, will be in the vanguard of the rush to get back to the kingdom.

 

More chance of Suvarnabhumi getting swamped by Martians before that'll happen ..

[onebir]

1 hour ago, gearbox said:

In 2 months the Mediterranean beaches will start opening, and with the vaccination full on there won't be any "area quarantines".

If we're not taking 'European' geographically, Brighton's probably the closest place to the Med where vaccination can be described as 'full on'...

 

Unless we're mean 'European' as in 'Eurovision', in which case there's Tel Aviv (comes with free oil :)

Edited March 6, 2021 by onebir
Added fun

[impulse]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

So, the bright idea, is STILL 14 days of quarantine in the same place, but you can walk about a bit ! Laughable.

 

They should make the people that make these decisions low paid people with little savings that fear losing their jobs but come up with sensible ideas

 

Need to invest in that new ride sharing app...  Hober.   

 

Kind of like Uber, but a different kind of ride...  Delivered to your ASQ.

 

[alyx]

2 hours ago, nkg said:

Being confined to the grounds of a hotel is not a lot better than staying in my room. And how is it safe to have all the guests and staff mingling as they wander around?

 

 

 

Not saying that the idea is overwhelming but I definitely disagree with your statement: grounds may mean resort and a lot of tourists are quite happy with spending an all inclusive stay at a hotels. Not my type of vacations but I have seen this from Mexico to Cyprus and people really enjoy it. As for the staff I guess that they will stuck with the guests and will not be allowed outside either or, at least, not before being tested ( don't ask me how...I am not a health professional )

[impulse]

5 minutes ago, alyx said:

Not saying that the idea is overwhelming but I definitely disagree with your statement: grounds may mean resort and a lot of tourists are quite happy with spending an all inclusive stay at a hotels. Not my type of vacations but I have seen this from Mexico to Cyprus and people really enjoy it. As for the staff I guess that they will stuck with the guests and will not be allowed outside either or, at least, not before being tested ( don't ask me how...I am not a health professional )

 

They need to look up Club Med...  Some of them were located in places where there's nothing to do outside of the resort.

 

And it's not as if cruise liners weren't a popular vacation option...

 

Edited March 6, 2021 by impulse

[AnnieSeek]

This method makes no scientific sense. 

 

If you have a new visitor who arrives on day one and has the virus, then surely he can effect someone who has been at the resort for nearly 14 days - who is then released and effects others.