When will Thailand reopen?

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Gaybutton
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When will Thailand reopen?

Post by Gaybutton »

Do you think Thailand will reopen in about 120 days? Think again. According to polls, most Thais don't think so and due to Covid concerns, don't even want Thailand to reopen that soon.

I too don't see how Thailand can reopen that soon, but even if it does, as Barry Kenyon points out, who's gonna go?
(see: https://www.gaybuttonthai.com/viewtopic ... 78#p104478 )

And I still would like to know how and on what basis they arrive at those predictions of tourist numbers. I hope they're right, but I won't be holding my breath no matter when Thailand reopens.
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Most think reopening of the country in 120 days not feasible: Suan Dusit Poll

27 Jun 2021

A majority of people think reopening the country in 120 days as announced by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is not feasible, according to the result of an opinion survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, or Suan Dusit Poll.

The poll was conducted online between June 21-24 on 3,320 people across the country to compile their opinions on Gen Prayut's announcement to reopen the country in 120 days amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Asked whether it would be feasible to reopen the country in 120 days, 39.88% said this was unlikely and 21.64% said it was absolutely not possible. The rest, 30.26% thought it was likely to be possible and 8.22% thought it would definitely be possible.

A majority of the respondents, 58.22%, said they disagreed with the announcement; 25.90% agreed with it; and, 15.88% were uncertain.

Asked whether they would accept the risk of Covid-19 so that the plan to reopen the country in 120 days can materialise, 51.05% said "no"; 26.93% said "yes"; and, 22.02% were uncertain.

Asked what they were concerned about the pledge to reopen the country in 120 days, with the respondents allowed to tick more than one answer, the replies varied:

- 78.80% were concerned about new Covid-10 variants;
- 71.18% said there might be more clusters of infections; and
- 68.41% said there might be a new wave of pandemic brought from outside the country.

Asked what should be done in order to be able to reopen the country in 120 days, the answers were:

- 85.12% said vaccination must be expedited to build herd immunity;
- 77.06% quarantine and suppression of illegal border crossers should be tightened;
- 76.53% vaccination administration must be adjusted, with more brands of vaccines imported;
- 71.78% distribution of vaccines to various localities should be expedited; and
- 54.75% active case finding must be stepped up to prevent Covid-19 spreading.

Despite disagreement by most people with the announcement to reopen the country in 120 days, the respondents still found some benefits of it.

- 84.04% said it could push the economy to move forward;
- 61.73% said it could help accelerate vaccination; and
- 50.10% said it could draw tourists from abroad.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... dusit-poll
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Majority disagree with reopening the country in 120 days: Nida Poll

27 Jun 2021

A majority of people have voiced disagreement with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's announcement to reopen the country in 120 days amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, according to a survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.

The poll was conducted by telephone interviews on June 22-25 on 1,311 people aged 15 and over of various levels of education and occupations throughout the country.

Asked whether they agreed with the announcement, a large majority, 73.46%, disagreed. Of them, 53.55% were in total disagreement, reasoning that the country should not risk taking in foreigners while the pandemic had not been put under control, adding that the reopening should be delayed until most people in the country were inoculated; and 19.91% were in moderate disagreement, saying they were not confident in the government's preventive measures.

On the other side, 26.01% agreed - with 12.43% in total agreement, saying it would spur the economy and revive tourism-related businesses; and, 13.58% were in moderate agreement.

The rest, 0.53%, had no answer or were not interested.

To the question whether they believed the government would be able to reopen the country in 120 days, a majority - 71.62% - said "no"; 27.16% said "yes"; and 1.22% had no answer or were not interested.

Asked whether they were ready to share the risk of facing more severe outbreak of the virus with the government, 52.56% said they would not accept any risk and the government must take full responsibility while 11.29% said they would not accept any risk but would not put the blame on the government.

On the other side, 24.56% said they would accept the risk but the government must take the whole responsibility and 9.00% said they would accept the risk and would not blame the government.

The rest, 2.59%, had no answer or were not interested.

Asked what they attached more importance to between economic survival and health safety, 69.19% said they were for health safety; 18.99% said they were for economic survival; and 11.82% said both were equally important.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -nida-poll
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Re: When will Thailand reopen?

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State tinkers with reopening plan

Vow promises Bangkok is a priority

by Narumon Kasemsuk

15 July, 2021

The worsening Covid-19 situation in Thailand has led the Tourism and Sports Ministry to reconsider the country's reopening strategy, admitting some target destinations are still marred by soaring infections.

However, the ministry insists on reopening Bangkok by this year as the capital is the heart of the tourism industry in Thailand.

"With more than 9,000 cases per day, we cannot think of reopening the whole country or even 10 designated destinations as expected. We should adjust the strategy depending on the situation in each area and stay focused on provinces that have already reopened like the Phuket sandbox and Samui Plus schemes," said Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister.

Four destinations -- Bangkok, Chon Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phetchaburi -- are still reporting a high number of new cases daily, so the ministry will propose a plan to help tourists in the Phuket sandbox visit safe areas nearby such as Koh Phi Phi and Railay Bay in Krabi and Khao Lak in Phangnga, he said.

Under this plan, tourists will see their compulsory stay in Phuket reduced from 14 days to seven if they opt for sealed route tours to destinations as part of a programme called "island-hopping".

This proposal still requires the approval of the prime minister.

Mr Phiphat said the ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will not restrict reopening to certain provinces, but will extend it to other provinces that have been left behind.

He said some provinces in the Northeast with low infection rates such as Bueng Kan, Nong Khai and Ubon Ratchathani have the opportunity to join the programme as they have unique landscapes, culture and characteristics to attract the Western market.

Chiang Mai and Lamphun in the North can be promoted as golf destinations, said Mr Phiphat.

"Reopening should occur in areas that can control the virus and have 70% of the population vaccinated. This scheme should also win public consensus to welcome inoculated international tourists," he said.

The Phuket sandbox scheme has been open for two weeks, but Mr Phiphat said it is still premature to discuss reducing the compulsory 14-day stay on the island as the whole country is grappling with record high infections and fatalities.

"I have to visit the Tokyo Olympic Games in Japan this month and will return via the Phuket sandbox, completing 14 days on the island. This rule won't change for the time being," he said.

However, the government plans to keep its goal to reopen Bangkok by this year if 70% of its 10 million inhabitants are vaccinated, said Mr Phiphat.

"We must reopen Bangkok because it represents the whole nation. The capital is the heart and centre of tourism. If the city can reopen, there's no need to worry about other places," he said.

PATTAYA CONCERNS

Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, acting president of the Chonburi Tourism Council, said despite 513 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the province is committed to its reopening plan for vaccinated international tourists starting in September, dubbed the "Pattaya Move On" programme.

The province just cleared some hurdles as the TAT officially endorsed the provincial reopening plan, allowing the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to allocate enough vaccines for its population of 450,000 in two districts: Bang Lamung and Sattahip.

However, he said tourism operators acknowledged they must closely monitor the situation in the coming months. If cases rise in the area, Chonburi might have to postpone the plan.

"Even if we cannot reopen as planned, we still need to achieve herd immunity to ensure confidence as a destination for travellers," Mr Thanet said.

He said more than 40% of small and medium-sized businesses in the hospitality sector in Pattaya have permanently closed since the first lockdown last year. Only 20-30% of remaining businesses are open.

"The initial return of guests might be business travellers from industrial zones in the eastern provinces. However, we hope to achieve 30% of 2019 tourism numbers by the end of this year," said Mr Thanet.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... ening-plan
gerefan
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Re: When will Thailand reopen?

Post by gerefan »

The situation is so fluid that no realistic predictions can be made.

As regards returning tourists, I am one.

Last year I did the 14 days quarantine and spent a great 110 days afterwards in Pattaya. That was because everything was open when I booked up. And was while I was there.

I intend to do the same again next December providing:

1. Bars and entertainment are open (as they were last year)
2. The quarantine requirements are reasonable.

If not I shall go elsewhere.

That’s probably me and thousands of others. As I have said before it isn’t predictable and so all bookings need to be made at the last minute.

It’s pointless discussing it now as things change at a moments notice.
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Re: When will Thailand reopen?

Post by Gaybutton »

Even if Pattaya does reopen in December, what will Pattaya have become? What will the gay scene be like? Will there even be a gay scene?
To paraphrase Thomas Wolfe, "You can't go to Pattaya again."
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Former go-go dancer declares ‘Open Pattaya by year-end or I go home’

By Jetsada Homklin

August 20, 2021

A former go-go dancer will give Pattaya until year-end to reopen. If not, she’s going home.

Nearly all of her friends and coworkers at a Walking Street bar have gone back to the Northeast. But “Nong Anna” remains, living off support from her British overseas sponsor. The longer Pattaya remains closed, the greater the chance her “boyfriend” stops sending money.

So Anna is laying plans to sell Issan food back in Udon Thani if foreign tourists don’t return by December.

The prospects look dim. Pattaya saw 221 new coronavirus cases on Friday, with Chonburi reporting 1,348 total and ten deaths. Thailand, meanwhile, crossed the 1 million mark for Covid-19 cases.

Pattaya officials said they’ve received 30,000 of 100,000 doses of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine they ordered and are giving 2,000 baht to every Pattaya-registered household, but Anna doesn’t qualify for either, as Pattaya is simply where she worked, not lived permanently.

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... ome-368495
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Re: When will Thailand reopen?

Post by jimnbkk »

Aek of Connections Bar in Bangkok has posted a video of his walk through parts of the city. It's sad:


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