PM says restrictions could be lifted next month amid signs of infection slowdown

[Gaybutton]

6 hours ago, vinapu said:

very few people would consider sandbox model viable to bring mass tourism

That is precisely the problem.  They keep coming up with these harebrained schemes, none of which have worked - no surprise to me.  I can hardly wait to see what their next scheme will be, especially since their announcement that Thailand won't be opening in October after all, along with the restaurant restrictions that so far are going to be imposed in October - none of which make any sense to me.

For the entire month of September the restaurants have been open to anyone who wants to dine in - with no restrictions about vaccinations or anything else.  As far as I know, not a single Covid case has been traced back to any restaurants at all anywhere in Thailand since they finally were allowed to reopen.  Why all that is supposed to change in October goes beyond me.

And don't forget the latest scheme designed to attract very wealthy foreigners.  I can't imagine that working either.  If they get any such foreigners coming to live in Thailand on that basis, I will be surprised

In my opinion, no matter what kind of schemes they come up with, not one of them will have a chance of working.  I believe the only thing that has a chance of working is opening Thailand, stop unnecessary restaurant restrictions, and let the bars and entertainment venues reopen. 

I think they also need to get rid of this nonsense about trying to recreate Pattaya to become a "family oriented" holiday spot.  WHY?  That is not what Pattaya is all about, has never been what Pattaya is all about, and the bars and nightlife is what attracts foreigners.  If they want an influx of foreigners, do they really believe a "G" rated city is going to do it?  What planet are they living on?    How many reading this would go to Pattaya if what is on offer only consists of things like tours of Big Buddha Hill and the Pattaya Sheep Farm.  Yeah, right.

They need to let Pattaya become what it has always been - without prudes involved in making the decisions.  I have yet to see a rational explanation as to why sex is considered something bad.  One of my favorites was trying to forbid girls to wear bikinis and boys to take their shirts off during the main Songkran water splashing day.  Again, WHY?   What was the harm in that?

I'm sorry if I am coming across as angry, but I am angry - at the stupidity of it all.

If sex and the enjoyment of it is truly bad, then I intend to be bad until the day I die . . .

[PeterRS]

44 minutes ago, Gaybutton said:

They need to let Pattaya become what it has always been - without prudes involved in making the decisions.  I have yet to see a rational explanation as to why sex is considered something bad.

@Gaybutton makes a persuasive case. I just do not see it happening. Either the prudes will get their way and, once they have cleaned up all the mess from the rains, start yet again trying to attract the family tourists or Pattaya will revert more to what it was like before the bars appeared - i.e. prior to the Vietnam War.

Never especially keen on Pattaya as a place to stay even for a holiday, I did visit a few times, usually with friends who wanted to see the nightlife. I enjoyed some of the bars, especially those offering more sleazy entertainment of a type that used to be common in Bangkok but had all but petered out. No doubt demand will create its own supply - up to the limits imposed by the authorities. What those limits will be, I doubt if any of us has a clue.

[vinapu]

12 hours ago, PeterRS said:

@Gaybutton makes a persuasive case.

+1

absolutely ! Pattaya without bars and night entertainment is very ordinary destination and even in best times with all that eye candy on streets  one finds challenging to occupy himself during daytime after initial day or two.

Converting it to a family destination is possible but not without years of construction, infrastructure upgrade and cleaning beaches. And even then it may be attractive only to Russians from Siberia and northern Chinese as closest affordable, clean and safe  and tropical destination

[vinapu]

13 hours ago, Gaybutton said:

I believe the only thing that has a chance of working is opening Thailand, stop unnecessary restaurant restrictions, and let the bars and entertainment venues reopen. 

 

of course it is but simplest things are hardest to implement.

For now, I'd say opening country to fully vaccinated as long as pandemic rages and I think that moment is coming soon.

Reason for my optimism is my local supermarket. For last 18 month we were herded in one line to cash registers. From today we are back to pre-covid situation when one can chose register of his liking and shop aisles are no longer one-way only , strong proof that world is returning to sanity.

[reader]

From Bangkok Post / Reuters

Govt delays plan to re-open cities to tourists until Nov

The government has pushed back plans to re-open Bangkok and some other major cities to foreign arrivals until November, due to vaccination rates falling short of targets, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Officials earlier this month said they planned to welcome vaccinated tourists without quarantine to major cities including Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya and Chiang Mai in October to revive the country’s crucial tourism sector.

"Cities we've targeted have not reached 70% vaccination rates and so we have to push out the date to November," Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn told Reuters.

So far, 44% of residents in Bangkok have received two doses, government data shows. Overall, the country has vaccinated 22% of the estimated 72 million people living in the country.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2186023/govt-delays-plan-to-re-open-cities-to-tourists-until-nov

[vinapu]

then they push it to December and we will have truly arrival of Santa Claus when they re-open then.

At least they have some measurable goal in form of 70% target  not just a whim

[Guest]

25 minutes ago, vinapu said:

then they push it to December and we will have truly arrival of Santa Claus when they re-open then.

At least they have some measurable goal in form of 70% target  not just a whim

Whether 70% has any scientific basis is of course another question.

Although I have no intention of visiting Thailand in October, I'm mildly disappointed at the delay. 

My preference was for them to open in October, discover all the rules are a major deterrent to visitors and then get rid of most of the stupid rules and restrictions for December. 

[reader]

From Pattaya Mail

Sigh of relief for Thailand Covid visa extenders

By Barry Kenyon

The immigration authorities have confirmed that the final date of applications for the 60 days special Covid visa extension is now November 26.   This replaces the former last date of September 27 and effectively prolongs the right to remain until well into the new year.

The Covid extensions were introduced 18 months ago and have allowed short-stay tourists to remain here, even though their initial permission had expired, on application to the immigration bureau.  The reason has always been dislocation of air travel schedules and the closure of land borders because of the pandemic.

The numbers in the Pattaya areas have shrunk as most Covid extenders have already departed.  But there are groups of long-holiday Europeans and even tourists from neighboring countries still holding out.  Immigration authorities declined to give the local numbers but said they were “hundreds rather than thousands”.

Most Pattaya expats are holders of non-immigrant visas, such as retirement or marriage, or have work permits or permanent residence status.  There are separately labourers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia with authorized permits.  None of these groups are covered by the Covid extension discretion which was devised strictly with trapped tourists in mind.

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/sigh-of-relief-for-thailand-covid-visa-extenders-372825

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, z909 said:

 

My preference was for them to open in October, discover all the rules are a major deterrent to visitors and then get rid of most of the stupid rules and restrictions for December. 

there's still hope for December being month of return to sanity

[Boy69]

5 hours ago, vinapu said:

there's still hope for December being month of return to sanity

Don't hold your breath everything is still unstable and uncertain . Anyway my next trip once the apademic madness is over will be first time in Colombia and not Thailand I just saw so many attractive Colombian boys in Chaturbate so decided to give it a try.

 

[vinapu]

4 hours ago, Boy69 said:

Don't hold your breath everything is still unstable and uncertain .

I'm not. Even my own country which I consider very sensible is not short of idiocies and contradictions when comes to covid rules so I don't expect anything from any country , I just watch development ready to jump when I feel it will make sense.

Only problem is , at one point me and not only me may actually lose interest or switch it somewhere else, Colombia for example, LOL although I prefer to travel to countries when I can walk at 3 am free of worries , wouldn't recommend it in Cali or Medellin.

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Shorter quarantine for some visitors

NONTHABURI: The National Communicable Disease Committee will propose shorter quarantine periods for some groups of visitors, from 14 days to 7-10 days, to stimulate the economy.

After chairing the meeting of the committee at the Public Health Ministry on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the committee resolved to propose to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration that the 14-day quarantine for foreign tourists visiting Thailand should be shortened to stimulate the economy.

The shorter quarantine would be implemented in some tourist areas and concerned officials were considering their readiness regarding vaccination coverage, local Covid-19 situations and hospital bed occupancy rates.

Such areas would first welcome Thai tourists next month to evaluate their readiness before receiving foreign tourists in November, Mr Anutin said.

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said the quarantine would be reduced to either seven or 10 days on a case-by-case basis.

The quarantine would be seven days for the visitors who had been fully vaccinated and they would be tested with the RT-PCR method for Covid-19 upon arrival and again on day 7 after arrival, he said.

The quarantine would last 10 days for the visitors who do not have a vaccination certificate. They will undergo two RT-PCR tests, first upon arrival and second before finishing the quarantine. Visitors in this category must arrive by air only.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2186579/shorter-quarantine-for-some-visitors

==============================

3,000 taxis to be fitted with partitions

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob sits in a taxi fitted with an acrylic partition as he opens a ceremony to launch the pilot project targeting 3,000 taxis by October this year. (Photo: Department of Land Transport)

The Department of Land Transport has begun installing acrylic partitions inside taxis to prevent the spread of droplets during the Covid-19 pandemic under a pilot project to install this device in 3,000 taxis within October.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob on Thursday chaired the opening ceremony to launch the first group of taxis installed with partitions under the ministry’s new-normal initiative to boost public safety and confidence in using hired passenger vehicles. 

he installation of partitions started on Sept 16 and all 3,000 participating taxis will be fitted with them by October, he said.

Taxis with partitions will have a sign on windshields to let passengers know. Passengers can rate their experiences by scanning the QR Code on the partitions of all participating taxis, he said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2186583/3-000-taxis-to-be-fitted-with-partitions

 

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Firms rip reopening delay to Nov 1

Confusion over reopening timelines has spoiled the chance for the tourism industry to rebound during the coming high season as inconsistent policies damage the country's credibility and international tour operators refrain from planning packages until policies are confirmed.

The reopening plan for five areas -- Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Phetchaburi -- faced another setback after the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) decided to put off the starting date from Oct 1 to Nov 1.

For Pattaya, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai, this was the third postponement from an initial reopening schedule of mid-September, all attributed to a vaccine shortage.

Tassapon Bijleveld, executive chairman of Asia Aviation, the largest shareholder of Thai AirAsia, said the move affects both the private sector and nation's tourism image because a reopening timeline of October was already set, with people and companies adjusting their plans.

"Airlines had started to invest in service maintenance and recruit staff to prepare for new flow of tourists," said Mr Tassapon. "It costs a lot for any business to restart, particularly during a liquidity crisis when every baht counts."

He said the government should have evaluated the infection curve in Thailand, assuring residents of reopening areas a sufficient vaccination rate and having a risk management plan in place before nailing down a timeline for each destination.

"If the government announced earlier the country would be ready for inbound tourists in December or even January, we would have no objection. We would have shifted our focus to the domestic market in the final quarter with full force," said Mr Tassapon. "The flip-flop worsens a situation which is already somehow at its worst, particularly regarding our financial stability."

Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, acting president of the Chon Buri Tourism Council, said companies in Pattaya have worked hard for the past 3-4 months to complete all the tasks the government asked them to prepare.

The only action companies cannot take is procure vaccines, said Mr Thanet. In the past few months, authorities could not provide a realistic vaccination plan to provide local communities proper protection.

"In addition to the vaccine shortage, some rules don't match our situation. For example, people who work here but don't have a household registration in Chon Buri as well as foreign workers cannot receive a jab here, which is impractical," he said.

The postponement mars the country's reputation as local tourism operators have already settled agreement with agents overseas that have the potential to bring in tour groups from Russia and India, said Mr Thanet.

"Nobody will listen to us again. They will wait for an official announcement, which may occur in November at the earliest, too late to capture high-season traffic as international flights often need 2-3 months notice for air traffic permission," he said.

"It also takes that long to promote those packages."

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2186723/firms-rip-reopening-delay-to-nov-1

===========================

From The Thaiger

Contrary to Anutin, US says delivery of vaccines awaits Thailand

In a meeting with Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, founder of the new Thai Sang Thai Party, US Senator Tammy Duckworth stated that she is pushing for more vaccine donations from the US to Thailand, but that Thailand has yet to collect 1 million Pfizer vaccines waiting for them now.

The conversation took place in Washington DC on Wednesday. Duckworth was born in Thailand and has frequently advocated for her home country, including being instrumental in the donation of 2.5 million Pfizer vaccines agreed upon earlier this year.

At the end of July Thailand received 1.5 million Pfizer vaccines from the US with a second delivery of 1 million pending. Duckworth said she planned on advocating for more vaccines to be donated but her hands are tied as Thai officials have not responded to confirm the pending donation.

“All I can tell you is that I’ve been advocating for Thailand to get more vaccines … and Thailand has a million doses waiting to go. But because Thailand has not finished the paperwork … I know I told the ambassador a month ago that it needs to be completed. They said OK, they’re going to work on it.”

The US government has apparently been sitting on the 1 million vaccines awaiting Thailand’s response. Thailand needs to send official documents declaring their intention to accept the vaccine donation from the US, and until those papers are received the Pfizer vaccines from the United States cannot be delivered.

Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul has disputed these claims, saying that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handles the paperwork protocol and responds to notifications from the US Embassy in Bangkok. Anutin claims that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received any documentation from the United States.

They say that it is in fact Thailand that is waiting on the United States to submit paperwork and not, as Senator Duckworth claims, the United States waiting on Thailand to respond with confirmation documents.

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/contrary-to-anutin-us-says-delivery-of-vaccines-awaits-thailand

[vinapu]

47 minutes ago, reader said:

 

They say that it is in fact Thailand that is waiting on the United States to submit paperwork and not, as Senator Duckworth claims, the United States waiting on Thailand to respond with confirmation documents.

 

looks like new strain of Covid appeared in both countries at the same time and is attacking politicians first.

[Boy69]

On 9/23/2021 at 4:24 AM, vinapu said:

I'm not. Even my own country which I consider very sensible is not short of idiocies and contradictions when comes to covid rules so I don't expect anything from any country , I just watch development ready to jump when I feel it will make sense.

Only problem is , at one point me and not only me may actually lose interest or switch it somewhere else, Colombia for example, LOL although I prefer to travel to countries when I can walk at 3 am free of worries , wouldn't recommend it in Cali or Medellin.

Yes I know Colombia is unsafe country but I met on-line  a lovely 19 years old boy amazingly beautiful who is willing to do long term with me which I think is a good idea on visiting new country for the first days anyway so I am willing to give it a try.

[Guest]

On 9/23/2021 at 2:24 AM, vinapu said:

Only problem is , at one point me and not only me may actually lose interest or switch it somewhere else, Colombia for example, LOL although I prefer to travel to countries when I can walk at 3 am free of worries , wouldn't recommend it in Cali or Medellin.

I also value being able to walk around, where I like, when I like, without an unreasonable risk of getting mugged.

Here's someone's experiences of Colombia. https://thethaiger.com/talk/topic/4888-colombia-v-thailand/?tab=comments#comment-53726

 

[Boy69]

17 minutes ago, z909 said:

I also value being able to walk around, where I like, when I like, without an unreasonable risk of getting mugged.

Here's someone's experiences of Colombia. https://thethaiger.com/talk/topic/4888-colombia-v-thailand/?tab=comments#comment-53726

 

Here opposite comment for very positive experience ,I guess different people have different experience.

 

 

[vinapu]

8 hours ago, Boy69 said:

Here opposite comment for very positive experience ,I guess different people have different experience.

 

it's why it's always good to go and see for ourselves

[Gaybutton]

I would not be basing my own decisions based on the experiences of just one or two trip reports.  No matter where you go there are potential problems if you're not careful or if you're naive.  I believe most of you who have been to Thailand and read these boards are well aware of the potential problems.  And you are probably also well aware that the vast majority of people who travel to Thailand have a great time and encounter none of these problems.

I would need much more than a bad experience report from just one person before I would consider it as part of my decision whether to travel to Colombia or anywhere else.  I'm sorry that happened to him, but that doesn't mean the same thing is likely to happen to me.

Compare it to Thailand.  How many of you have been to Thailand and had a great time, without any serious incidents?   Considering how many read these boards and are longing to return to Thailand, I'd say probably almost all of you.

A taxi driver overcharging or getting short-changed at a restaurant is not my idea of a serious incident.   I don't even have to leave home for things like that to happen. 

 

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Gaybutton said:

I would not be basing my own decisions based on the experiences of just one or two trip reports.  No matter where you go there are potential problems if you're not careful or if you're naive.

I would look to read several reports before making a decision.

Also, if you search "mugging" on this site, most of the results are in the Latin America section.   That's probably not a coincidence.

 

[Gaybutton]

1 hour ago, z909 said:

if you search "mugging" on this site, most of the results are in the Latin America section.   That's probably not a coincidence.

Probably not.  As for me, I would be much more interested in how many people travel to these places and don't get mugged . . .

If I was seriously thinking about such a trip, those kinds of reports would not scare me off.  But I would make sure to take proper precautions, such as carrying only the amount of cash I might need, leaving important documents in the room safe, going from place to place by taxi rather than walking, staying in areas with plenty of people around, asking hotel staff about dangerous areas to avoid, etc.  I would probably do those things anyway traveling just about anywhere.

After all, you don't even have to travel anywhere for the possibility of getting mugged or falling victim to other crimes to exist.

[10tazione]

https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/thailand/bangkok/

https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/colombia/medellin/

https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/colombia/bogota/

https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/brazil/rio-de-janeiro/

 

[anddy]

11 hours ago, 10tazione said:

https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/thailand/bangkok/

https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/colombia/medellin/

https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/colombia/bogota/

https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/brazil/rio-de-janeiro/

 

what a crappy site, more about fear-mongering than useful, realistic advice. Reading it one gets the impression that Bogota is safer than Bangkok.

Quote

So... How Safe Is Bangkok Really?

Bangkok is somewhat safe to visit, though it does have its dangers.

Petty theft like pickpocketing or bag snatching is more than common and you should expect it at every step.

Violent crime has been on the rise during the past couple of years and muggings and robberies are not rare at all.

what nonsense.... sounds like these things happen ALL the time. Of course they do happen as everywhere, but they are certainly by far not as common as this wording makes it sound.

[Boy69]

13 hours ago, anddy said:

what a crappy site, more about fear-mongering than useful, realistic advice. Reading it one gets the impression that Bogota is safer than Bangkok.

what nonsense.... sounds like these things happen ALL the time. Of course they do happen as everywhere, but they are certainly by far not as common as this wording makes it sound.

Completely agree Thailand and Bangkok are safe to travel in my more than twenty years traveling there nothing  happened to me and never felt unsecure .

[vinapu]

23 minutes ago, Boy69 said:

Completely agree Thailand and Bangkok are safe to travel in my more than twenty years traveling there nothing  happened to me and never felt unsecure .

so why when going to Senso and Arena I always have goosebumps?😄