The hard truth about traveling to Thailand
Only about three quarters of a year ago you could – even last minute – book a flight to Thailand and reserve a room in a hotel. In many cases you could get a stamp – an “Entry Permit” – in your passport on arrival and a few hours later you could be sitting on the beach with a drink in your hand. Now, several months later, a tourist visit to Thailand is very difficult, if not impossible, for most.
At this stage it is challenging to get to Thailand unless you have a very fat wallet, there are urgent reasons, or you fall into some of the exclusion categories currently allowed by the Thai government. Even if all of that applies to you, there are an almost endless number of rules that you must comply with before you are allowed to travel to Thailand.
Since the beginning of October, the government only recognizes certain types of visas to re-enter the country. But in practice, even if you meet the conditions, only a limited number of foreigners are allowed to enter the country. For example, holders of Thailand Elite visas have been able to “officially” re-enter the country since the beginning of August. However, the reality is that according to a source at Thailand Elite, no more than 50 people have actually returned successfully.
Around the world, information from Thai embassies in various countries has also been “clunky”. Such as conflicting information given by different officials regarding the same visa procedures.
But the sticking point, with just about any visa, is the mandatory 14-day quarantine period at a state-approved facility. This also applies to government-approved hotels, these hotel quarantines (ASQs) come at a high cost. And of course during that time you are locked in a room with little access to outside activities.
Even the recently launched Special Tourist Visa (STV) is very special. Candidates need a lot of cash and must have the intention to stay in Thailand for a minimum of 90 days, with the option to get an extension up to a total of 270 days. But when you take out the compulsory health insurance, which is only provided by Thai companies, arrange all bookings through the government's private travel company Thailand Long Stay, fly on specially chartered flights, etc., the costs really add up. Then you haven't even bought a beer or had a massage at this stage!
Calling this “tourism” is a misnomer. The willingness of big spenders, who are willing to fill out all the paperwork and pay for the pleasure of coming to Thailand, will do nothing for Thailand's tourism industry. Hotels cannot open and thousands of companies connected to the Thai tourism engine are already defunct.
Even if you are a tourist and officially free from Covid-19, what exactly are you going to do here? If your intention is to go on an island tour, visit the red light districts, or choose from a list of nice hotels, you're likely to be a little disappointed, to say the least.
There are currently few organized tours, the red light districts – at least in Phuket, Samui and Pattaya – are not very 'reddish' and many hotels, again in the popular tourist areas, remain closed. Okay, there's still plenty to do and you'll probably be able to score some great bargains from hotels that do open and taxi drivers waiting for a ride. But the 'Thailand' you expected is not here at the moment.
For now, there is a world of difference between the "almost back to normal" areas and the "almost deserted" locations across the country. Bangkok, with the exception of the really touristy areas, is pretty much back to its chaotic bustle. Even in Pattaya it is busy on weekends, but during the week it is difficult for “sin city”. Tourism in Chiang Mai is currently having a particularly tough time. A little domestic tourism is not enough to keep this northern city alive. The beaches on the west coast of Phuket are almost completely devoid of people. Companies on Koh Samui are threatened with bankruptcy. Hua Hin survives with some trickling weekend traffic from Bangkok. Some places or tourist attractions that you would like to visit are currently not accessible or not even open.
At some point, hopefully sooner than later, the Thai government will have to reopen its borders and find a way to "manage" the Covid-19 situation rather than remain in a bubble of its own. The longer the government does not open up to anything resembling normal tourism, the harder it will be to restart the former Thai tourism powerhouse.
You would think that with mandatory wearing of mouth masks, some respect for social distancing, good hygiene such as hand washing, most risk factors for Covid-19 could be contained. Testing before departure and on arrival also ensures prevention. There are more ways to beat a virus than simply closing the borders.
The mandatory 14-day quarantine, clearly a major barrier for many travelers, has been fabricated and appears to be just a money-making tool for a select group of wealthy hoteliers, rather than a well-founded public health policy. The appointment of a private government company as a travel arrangement provider also seems to make Covid travel a cash cow for some business friends. A 10-room guesthouse in Patong and the bicycle tour company in Chiang Mai have no use for this.
The two recurring themes behind any announcement about potential reopenings are “fear” of another wave of Covid-19 and “we are just waiting for a vaccine.”
While the Thai government's success in containing Covid-19 relatively early is something to be proud of, it has become an irrational fear and not a useful science-based plan to reopen borders. And while hopes for a Covid-19 vaccine are shared by millions, the history of successful coronavirus vaccines is not the best. In fact, there has never been a workable vaccine for any of the other five coronaviruses. The urgency and clear need for a vaccine for Covid-19 has forced scientists to accelerate their development and testing, clinical trials are currently underway. But even if they work, they will only be partially successful and many people will not get the vaccine, whether through choice, fear of the vaccine or lack of access. So waiting for a vaccine could be a very long time…or it may never come.
The travel and hospitality industry in Thailand, which are really big industries, is in a constant dilemma. While everyone is happy to see a new development like the Special Tourist Visa, it is not a sustainable model for Thailand's ailing tourism industry
It's time to replace fear with a professional approach to this nasty virus
Source: thethaiger.com/coronavirus/hard-truths-about-travelling-to-thailand-right-now
Thailand is an irrational country. Most of us know that. In Thailand, people often reason and act based on what the moment dictates.
But the irony is that Thailand also sees that all measures taken by countries in the free Western world do not help.
The article contains the following sentence: “You would think that with the mandatory wearing of face masks, some respect for social distancing, good hygiene such as washing hands, most risk factors for Covid-19 could be limited.” So all this turns out to be untrue. All these measures have not resulted in corona-free Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Boris J.'s country. Even: “Testing before departure and upon arrival also ensures prevention” is not 100% true. We won't talk about what's going on with our Donald on the other side of the ocean.
In short, I think the Thai has come to understand the phrase, “There are more ways to beat a virus than simply closing the borders.” carefully studied and decided to do just that.
Don't blame them: if borders were opened in Thailand, code red would prevail and their economy would have collapsed so badly. And if code red, no one will come in just as well. Plus an overwrought health care system as is the case with us, and a lot of excess mortality and other misery.
“You would think that with mandatory mask wearing, some respect for social distancing, good hygiene such as hand washing, most of the risk factors for Covid-19 could be mitigated.” All this turns out not to be true.
It works in Germany. Of course, something like this stands or falls with the amount of people who adhere to the rules.
In a response yesterday to someone I already quoted the attached article. Don't be under any illusions. If the Netherlands does not succeed, which country will. That also appears.
https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/waarom-niet-nederland-het-coronawonderland-is-maar-duitsland~b87dc6bd/
In Germany, people have also been dragged along with damage and shame by the first wave. But in tentation with Thailand, Germany is a rational country.
The only question is how long can you keep this up? 1 year ? 5 years ? Perhaps the world should just accept that in addition to the many infectious diseases, one more has now emerged. Each year, 2 million people die from mosquito-borne diseases. Will we ever be able to exterminate all mosquitoes? Millions of people die each year from flu viruses…infectious pneumonia. You don't really hear anyone worry about that.
Although I hope to be able to return home soon, I understand. I see it here in New Zealand where I am stranded, people act exactly the same as in Thailand. Here too, the entire tourist industry has taken a huge hit. I understand that with a 12% decline in the economy it has been hit very hard. But people are corona-free. The advantage of course is that they are two islands. The residents can only go on holiday in their own country. It is hoped to create a travel bubble with Australia in December. For now I'm fine here, summer is starting and life is as normal. However, the borders are closed.
Hi Ryan,
I agree with your reasoning, but you lose sight of an important observation, namely the large number of people who do NOT follow the imposed rules.
What disturbs me immensely is that many people, especially young people, still find it very difficult to limit their social contacts, keep their distance and wear their mouth / nose mask in a good way, even after 6 months.
Look at the sporting events on TV, the football players are like couples in love when they score a goal, with eleven in a pile, kissing and hugging each other, ditto with the volleyball players, after every point there must be a hug.
The secret rave parties, you read that every day that the police have to shut down such gatherings with more than 150 or more people, think of the number of parties that take place unnoticed.
Are those rules pleasant, no absolutely not, but maybe the second wave could have been avoided if everyone had adhered to the rules, which were simple for me.
Here with us in Antwerp and Brussels, there are still population groups that don't know what's going on (or pretend) and still find it necessary to shake hands and kiss each other.
Our governments are far too lax in enforcing the rules, and coincidence, the borders are allowed to open on July 1, and they have to close again at the end of August.
Let's all bite through so we can beat this nasty virus.
My heart bleeds that I cannot/may not go to my beloved Thailand. I miss it so much.
Regards, Joseph
If no one gets sick from covid19, but the economy breaks down completely, and there is no money left for food, medicines... people will get sick for other causes. Plunging millions into poverty is apparently also a solution for some. Valar morghulis.
A major problem in this whole matter is that the Thai government has so far proved to be completely unpredictable and unreliable. Today came the news that the STV scheme has been postponed again and that the announced charter flight with Chinese people will not take place for the time being. More meetings are needed again, and a 'special committee' will meet to look again at things like testing, quarantines, tracing and tracking, etc.
You really wonder whether they still want tourists – although for me it is also questionable whether in the case of the first group of Chinese they are 'tourists'…..
Nothing is done for a very large group of long-stayers who are now excluded. For the Thai government, a valid – and paid – visa, a valid – and paid – period of stay and a valid – and paid – re-entry permit clearly mean nothing at all.
See also:
https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1186097-confusion-reigns-as-stv-arrivals-now-may-not-land-in-thailand-this-week/#comments
An STV visa is also only for the well-to-do, they still have to come from low-risk countries and then they have to want to stay for a long time. All in all, there will be few interested parties left and I think that is the reason why the first flights from China will not take place. The average Asian manages with a vacation of less than one week per year, making the STV unusable for them. In addition, you must have your own health insurance with a minimum coverage of USD 100.000 and you will be cost-burdened by a compulsory Thai health insurance policy that you must take with you with a price tag. In addition, you must show the prepayment of both the quarantine hotel and the prepayment of a rented place in a hotel or rented location over the entire period of stay or you must show that you have a condo in Thailand. That is why the STV scheme can go into the trash because then only a small group remains that wants to stay for a long time, has enough money and is willing to pay everything in advance with all the associated risks.
Well,
I think that Rianne does have a point when she says that “if” Thailand had simply kept the borders open, it would now have been code red and no one would have been able to travel.
This morning I had contact with the Thai consulate in Antwerp
There I received a phone call back pretty quickly with the message that we can just forget it for the next 6 months and especially the whole shengen area that turns red and orange.
Short and clear.
Hugo
Without commenting on the effectiveness of a closed country, I do have a few thoughts.
The ordinary Thai population in the country suffer enormously from the measures and they have no foreign account or income to survive that situation without or with little concern - the foreigners still residing in Thailand of course have that - - easily said that the situation so the best…
Closing the borders gives the country another, more important advantage for the Summit.
Just think of the crowds of students…..
If the country were to go down so far that the population had to undergo a famine, then as a foreigner with a monthly income and a little wealth I would rather not walk around in the country at that time. Crowds can never be contained and someone will always be damaged.
In short, the situation is what it is, we as foreigners cannot change that and in the end we cannot interfere – a visa is and remains a favor of the country that grants that visa….
So let's all hope that Covid-19 can soon come under sufficient control and the situation can return to more or less normal.
The post-corona time will never be the way it was before - I believe that is also a given.
Open to discussion, of course.
Ps- I can come to Thailand myself and do so. (Doable on the basis of marriage but with some inconveniences). It's not easy, but it's also difficult.
It should not matter to Thailand from which countries people are allowed to re-enter
Whether from a country with few or very many infections, everyone must submit a negative Covid 19 statement upon arrival at BKK, otherwise you will not be allowed into the country.
Conclusion : let everyone in the world just go back to their lover , house , condo , family or wathever !!!
Save yourself !!! I'm glad Thailand remains very strict on incoming traffic, I can't visit my daughters and grandchild but I'll take that on board ... I'll keep my teeth in the hope that they stay there well and good from that damn covid- 19.
“Time for a professional approach”. Is the conclusion of this article. But that's pretty vague. It doesn't have to be that difficult anyway. Test before you leave, test when you arrive. 14 days of quarantine, and go with that banana. And all that nonsensical ballast of designated quarantine hotels, only charter flights, etc. is gone.
I have already said goodbye to Thailand for now with all those ridiculous conditions they set for tourists. Go to Schiermonnikoog this year. Only place where there is no Corona in the Netherlands yet.
The fact that the “ordinary” Thai population is hit the hardest is the reason for many to go to Thailand. A country with social services comparable to the Netherlands is simply very expensive. The social security system in Thailand is quite clear: it is called family. It is a cheap holiday destination and that aspect is often a common thread through the many responses.
I am the last to say that I am a fan of Prayut, but when I look at the figures worldwide, Thailand scores very low under his rule when it comes to the number of infections. In the Netherlands the infection rate is high, in Thailand it remains low. . The Netherlands has 6.454 deaths from corona, Thailand "only" 59.
With these figures I can imagine that Thailand keeps its borders hermetically closed. That's why I think caring for the economy and the "ordinary" population of Thailand is a bit cheap.
Given the enormous amount of temperature measurements in Thailand, where no person has a too high temperature, the question is of course whether it is correct.
The serious measurements in eg 7/11 where a measurement is done on the hand.
Measurements in the neck or side of the head which is not a correct measurement.
What would the number of infections be if tested?
Go by mrt, bts, boat or bus.
There is no distance between people.
The screens to keep distance at the restaurants and street tents have also often disappeared.
The only thing that is thriving is the face mask trade.
But also in many places you see that this is already being done.