Despite a delay to welcome the first batch of foreign tourists with the Special Tourist Visa (STV), the Ministry of Tourism and Sports promises to bring in 1.200 long-stay travelers in the month of October.
“The first two groups from China were supposed to arrive on October 8, but as we have to complete some entry processes, this will be a later date in October,” said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
Since this type of visa is relatively new, authorities need more time to ensure a smooth process at the origin location. The ministry will closely monitor the process for the first 30 days before deciding when to take the next step: potentially reducing the quarantine period to seven days.
Furthermore, Phiphat emphasizes that the local population should not worry about the number of infections rising: “International tourists who come through this scheme pose a small risk, as they have to fly to designated destinations with traceable flights. This is in contrast to illegal border crossings, which are more risky. We should do more to prevent possible infections through those channels.”
Mr. Phiphat understands that the private sector, especially the Association of Thai Travel Agents, is asking for the quarantine period to be shortened or removed for short-term visitors from low-risk countries. But he says it is still too early to comment on that idea.
“The so-called 14-7-6 formula (for 14-day, 7-day and 6-hour quarantines) is being studied, but we need to see how we can introduce it step by step.” We have to take into account that local communities do not want foreign tourists without quarantine.”
He reiterates that soon any province with alternative facilities for local quarantine (ALSQ) could be a destination for long-stay travelers, not just Phuket and Samui, as some media suggest.
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, deputy governor at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said that in October, only Bangkok and Phuket can host STV tourists as tourists must fly to a city with an international airport and ALSQ facilities.
“Phuket has already increased the number of ALSQ facilities from three to nine hotels,” said Ms. Thapanee. “But hotels in Samui are waiting for certification. The main destinations for now are only Bangkok and Phuket.”
Source: Bangkok Post
Thailand and a 'smooth process' – don't the linguists call that an oxymoron?
You are quite right that the norm is often to make it look smooth on paper, but in practice it gets stuck a lot because of bureaucracy and the often incomprehensible power of employees.
Still, I doubt what is or would have been better if I see the lockdowns return in the EU and the scaling up of measures because freedom is sacred. https://www.nu.nl/coronavirus/6081587/rivm-tweede-golf-waarschijnlijk-veroorzaakt-door-vakantievierende-jongeren.html
That freedom will now show what it will cost as the strict countries move back to a new normal where progress is made incrementally.
Twelve hundred in October, 40 a day, and already delayed. Will be something in the coming months.
Yes, and not even a tourist has arrived or people are already talking about shortening the quarantine. They continue to send confusing signals. Unpredictability creates uncertainty, which results in tourists staying away.
May need more time to find 1200 tourists willing to come under current conditions.
"The first two groups from China were supposed to arrive on October 8, but as we have to complete some entry processes, this will be a later date in October," said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
Doesn't surprise me. All official messages about the opening turned out to be little thought through . Eg access for the Thai Elite Members. First official message that they could come. Later heard nothing about it. That which will continue, including STV, was accompanied by announcements about how many had not already been registered and how {unlikely a lot of money} would enter Thailand as a result. Were really little thought-out numbers. This announcement, “it will be a bit later because there is still a lot to be arranged” is also rather transparent. Only a few hundred people would enter. The number of officials at the airport who have to process this number seems, when I see the photos, at least as large. Under pressure, too many promises are made that {yet?} cannot be fulfilled. But, be patient, it will be ok, although it will take a little longer
Living near the beach at Ban Phé / Rayong, I see quite a lot of new faces. Probably Scandinavians so possibilities for safe countries are already being used or would they all have subjected themselves to an expensive self-paid quarantine period? They are lucky that their governments have handled the virus hype better than what people are doing in Belgium and the Netherlands, among others. This period also works against me, but I am already adapting and will move and do a lot differently because I don't want to be dependent on the arrival of Western Europeans. When I read all the negative reactions on Facebook regarding the use of face masks, etc., I suspect that the problems are far from over and it is a good thing that Thailand keeps them outside its borders.
Cornelius,
If we now look at what has been decided and adjusted from Thailand in the last 3 months, how difficult they make it, would it be wrong to think that they are doing everything they can to keep tourists away.
In the recent past, the dirty farangs have been cited as causing the disease, Thailand wants to get rid of the reputation of being number 1 in prostitution, and now give false hope daily and make it practically impossible to get in.
With a lot of pain in my heart I feel that I will not be able to enter Thailand for a long time.
Regards, Joseph
I fear that even those who are willing to comply with all the requirements will not get in for the time being, especially with the current infection rate in a number of Western countries, for example, I just read that the Thai Embassy in London is informing applicants that the Special Tourist Visa does not apply to the British,
That will not be different for NL and Belgium, I suspect.
https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1185750-uk-visitors-denied-tourist-visas/
Cornelis, I'm afraid you're right, saw on the site this morning that only foreigners from countries with a low risk and few infections would be allowed to enter.
When I then look at the situation in Belgium and the Netherlands, I fear that we will have to grit our teeth for a very long time to be able to go back.
This is all so bad, how I miss that beautiful country so much.
Jozef
Yes Jozef, I miss Thailand and especially my partner there too. Talking to each other every day only makes that feeling stronger. If Thailand limited entry requirements to undergoing quarantine, I would seriously consider returning. But then there would have to be absolute clarity about the policy in the somewhat longer term and new/different rules or interpretations of them should no longer appear almost daily.
Completely agree, the heartache every day to see your partner but not be with her can eat at you, but that will be the worst for the government.
The worst part is having no perspective, nothing to count down to and pull yourself up to.
You would get sick of misery for less.
It will get better someday, but certainly never the same again, there will be a Thailand pre corona and a completely different Thailand most corona.
Am very worried how the Thais will look at us once we are allowed back in, because being allowed in and being welcome are not the same thing.
We have to stay strong, especially for our partner on the ground.
Good luck Cornelis and everyone else who is in the same boat,
Jozef