Phuket expects 1 million visitors in the coming six months
Phuket expects tens of billions of baht in revenue over the next six months thanks to 1 million foreign tourists, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which presented its reopening plan for the holiday island on Thursday.
The TAT's plan to promote Phuket as a top destination, aiming to generate 60 billion baht in the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2022, was given the go-ahead by the Center for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) on Thursday .
Phuket had 29 Thai travelers to the island on Sept. 7.494 since the start of the Sandbox regime in July, with 5.845 travelers from the US, followed by tourists from Israel (5.414) and the UK (4.758). Of the 37.978 travelers who participated in the scheme, 23.215 traveled to other destinations in the country after completing the mandatory 14-day stay in Phuket. The economic contribution of the Sandbox during the first three months was 2,25 billion baht.
“We expect the number of visitors to Phuket to increase significantly in the last quarter, partly due to the shortened quarantine period from fourteen to seven days. Furthermore, the daily number of new infections is also going well, which is steadily decreasing, "says TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn.
CESA has also approved the relaxation of travel measures, such as allowing group applications for a Certificate of Entry (COE) and allowing commercial flights from Russia from the end of October.
Yuthasak says the easing of restrictions should help generate at least 500.000 charter flight packages over the next six months. Of these, 295.000 trips come from the Russian market, totaling 2,5 million overnight stays, followed by 130.000 trips from the UK and Scandinavian countries, totaling 200.000 overnight stays.
The TAT also wants five other measures to be relaxed, including cutting the RT-PCR test price and mandatory Covid insurance coverage to be reduced from $100.000 to $50.000. Furthermore, the TAT wants visas and a COE to be applied for three months in advance, which is now one month.
Ultimately, the TAT wants to get rid of the CoE system, which should be replaced by a vaccination passport verification system, Yuthasak said.
Source: Bangkok Post
I find it admirable how optimistic people can be, but I fear that this is a bit too optimistic.
As long as there is still quarantine and restrictions attached to a visit and extra insurance and documents, it won't work, at least not for me, besides, I've pretty much seen Phuket after 10 times.
As soon as the other areas are also freely accessible for quarantine from November 1 and then from December 1, the enthusiasm for Phuket will certainly decrease considerably. Now it is a must for many to easily avoid a quarantine. And especially when it was locked in the room for another 14 days. Now you can even consider the 7 days quarantine (for vaccinees) in Bangkok or Pattaya with the freedom to go swimming, relax and exercise.
I don't see this happening any time soon either. Many airlines don't even fly frequently yet. In addition, the restrictions, quarantine etc etc. We'll see...
If I were to let my heart speak, I would only hope for the people who live off tourism that these numbers will become reality.
Only if I use my brain, I keep hoping that these 1 million visitors will not become a reality.
If these 1 million visitors are actually fulfilled under the current circumstances, it may take much longer before an already vaccinated person without a CoE procedure, expensive covid insurance, and a mandatory quarantine hotel can re-enter the country.
It is these last three things that most rightly see as the biggest obstacles to not visit the country for the time being.
To promote tourism as of old, is mainly the vaccination status of the Thai. population necessary.
And this mainly has to do with the vaccination policy of the Thai government, and much less with whether you can lure visitors with obstacles of a detailed CoE procedure, quarantine, and a mandatory and expensive Covid insurance, where the mandatory quarantine of 14 to 7 days is also not immediately the yellow of the egg.
So just wait and see, and if it's not necessary don't let yourself be lured by small things, it can't be very long before things get back to normal.555
Well, we know how things often go with making plans in Thailand, but they now also realize that they cannot keep things locked forever, although there will be quite a few people at the top who would not mind at all , but money and in this case the lack of it works wonders.
Do the new plans also mean that unvaccinated people can simply re-enter the country after November 1? or will those 2nd class citizens remain just like in the Netherlands?
Is it true that you are obliged to walk on the street with a face mask? and if so, are exemptions possible for this due to asta, lung problems, etc?
I think that the PCR test is also unavoidable for the time being.
Does anyone know if the oral mucus method is also used in Thailand? that seems less stressful to me.
In China they even have/had an anal test, imagine having to bend over on arrival in BKK or Phuket! I think the number of visitors could be counted on one hand, but I wouldn't be surprised if people wouldn't have a problem with this either, as long as the goal is reached, over mountains and valleys through the surf or through the desert. Thailand I'm coming! 🙂
Greetings Paul
Unvaccinated people in the Netherlands and Thailand are not second-class citizens. It is still the RT-PCR test (swab method). In Thailand itself, the antigen test is also allowed for domestic travel, etc.
RT-PCR vs old PCR TEST
The RT-PCR TEST is an improved rapid form and has nothing to do with the way of swab, the oral mucus method can also be used for that, the swab stick goes all the way back near the uvula, so no turning around in the cheek cavity .
My question remains, is the oral mucus method also used in Thailand? or just the nose poke method?
And can unvaccinated people also go to Thailand?
Is it true that you are still obliged to wear a face mask on the street? and if so, are exemptions possible for this due to asta, lung problems, etc?
according to you (Willem) unvaccinated people are also full citizens, and yes they are, but you do not answer the question further.
It's sad but the reality is that today without bigbrotherpas unvaccinated people are no longer welcome in social life in NL
The new lepers! I don't know how it is in Thailand.
I'm curious if anyone here has real knowledge and answers to comments I have nothing.
Kind regards, Paul
I'll help you Paul,
To your question whether unvaccinated people are also allowed to Thailand.
answers; is NO, and count on NEVER NOT.
For a PCR test, a cotton swab is necessary in your nose and throat.
answers; this will always be the case, but better systems will be developed.
And yes, a face mask is worn on the street and everywhere, just not at home.
Face masks are worn throughout Asia, only not in Europe. (how stupid can they be there)
We do not yet know proof of vaccination in Thailand, but I expect this will certainly come.
Hoping you realize that only if everyone is vaccinated can we get this virus under control and I think we have to get a "shot" every year to keep it under control.
Incorrect – as an unvaccinated person you are allowed to enter Thailand, albeit under different quarantine conditions than a vaccinated person.
@Paul
Comparing unvaccinated people (and to be clear: with the exception of those for whom vaccination is not possible on medical grounds) with lepers is extremely unreasonable and totally unjustified.
After all, there was no vaccine against lepria.
Fortunately, against Covid-19 and in various variants. And everyone can get it (in Europe and recently also in Thailand) completely free!
I think people would have launched a rush for a vaccine back then, if they were lucky enough to have had a vaccine available.
And those who didn't want that vaccine would probably be treated like real paratroopers.
Just think of the way Florence (successfully, by the way) kept the plague outside the city walls: doors and windows of houses where people lived with the plague were simply bricked up…
So people who deliberately don't get vaccinated shouldn't complain, right?
Color
Unvaccinated people can 'just' go to Thailand, the only difference is 10 days of quarantine instead of 7.
From the Thai Embassy website:
From 1 October 2021 onward, all Thai and non-Thai visitors arriving in Thailand are required to complete the quarantine period of no less than 7 or 10 days :
fully vaccinated in accoradance with all requirements set forth by the Thai government >> quarantine for no less than 7 days
NOT vaccinated or vaccinated but fails to meet all requirements set forth by the Thai government >> quarantine for no less than 10 days
It says nothing about future changes.
Thailand wants to promote tourism again at all costs. How can this be reconciled with the fact that an appointment at the Thai embassy in The Hague for a (mandatory) visa COE application takes more than 7 weeks before you can come by… 'we can't make it more fun (easier)'.
What about if you only want to go for 21 days, do you have to make that request 7 weeks in advance?
No Danny,
Then you simply get the 30 day stamp in your passport in BKK
Welcome to Thailand
And why would you apply for a visa if you are only going for 21 days?
A CoE is necessary, but you do not need an appointment for that. This is done online and requesting 3 weeks before departure is sufficient.
If you have everything in order, it will also be a matter of a few days.
I just read that you can apply for a COE 3 weeks in advance. I hope this is not correct as my visa application is requested 2 weeks before departure. 5 days later I can apply for my CoE, so one week before departure. I was informed that a CoE is issued within 3 days
Checking the websites of the embassies yourself in good time can also help.
** Travelers are required to apply for the COE 2-3 weeks before their intended departure day. If visa is necessary, applicants must submit visa application at least minimum 45 days before the intended travel date. They must also expect approximately 2 weeks for the COE request. However, the visa application can be submitted at the earliest three months before your departure date. After the receipt of the visa, travelers will then be able to begin the COE procedure.***
https://www.thaiembassy.be/2021/07/14/travelling-to-thailand-aq-for-non-thais/?lang=en
There are at least 30 days from the date you submit your visa application until the date of your travel.
https://hague.thaiembassy.org/th/publicservice/making-an-appointment-for-visa-application-at-royal-thai-embassy-the-h
Embassy/Consulate-General takes 3 working days to process the application
Please upload proof of payment for AQ or AQ booking confirmation or pre-paid SHA+ accommodation booking into the system within 15 days after application has been pre-approved.
Embassy/Consulate-General takes 3 working days to process the application
https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/regis/step?language=en
If deadlines are set for requests or deliveries, you should read that as the deadline that you may have to take into account.
It may well be that everything can be delivered and handled within the period you set, but that will also depend on how busy it is when you submit those applications.
And having everything in order will also help with that.
You say yourself “I hope this is not correct since my visa application is requested 2 weeks before departure. ”
You know now. Then perhaps no longer wait until 2 weeks before departure…
Success.