Thailand tourism situation

[Ratsima]

[buksida]

So, we've got three hospitality businesses with three very different interpretations of the alcohol rules:

• The hotel was openly serving any alcohol you wanted.
• The craft beer bar was serving, but seemed uncertain about whether or not they could.
• The restaurant was not serving booze at all.

Is it any wonder that tourists are avoiding the place when even those involved in the hospitality industry don't have a clear idea of what the rules are?

Likewise, just returned from a long weekend in Khao Sok. This is usually a bustling little place for farangs but I counted about 15-20 in total. All of the bars were closed/boarded up or had for sale signs on them. Confusion ruled at the restaurants with regards to alcohol, some would serve and some only in coffee mugs, all closed early - there was only about 4 open.

The hotel was busy on Saturday night with Thai weekend warriors, but empty the rest of the time. This place, like many others, has been completely decimated by the junta's massive overreaction to the pandemic and utter loathing of alcohol. If I was seeking a holiday destination in the region, I certainly would not choose Thailand at the moment.

[caller]

And right on time from Bloomberg, this article touches on the effects of Thailands alcohol rules on tourism. It ain't looking good!

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... ty-streets

[buksida]

Testing hobbles tourism recovery
Hotel operators are clamouring for RT-PCR testing upon arrival for foreign visitors to be eliminated from requirements to avoid a tourism collapse as the resumption of the Test & Go scheme alone is not enough to create momentum.

Adding perspective at "Bangkok Post Conference 2022: Omicron Crisis", a chief economist believes the tourism industry will take longer to recover than other sectors.

Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said feedback from the new Test & Go scheme is slower as the current programme cannot compare to its initial launch last November because the high season is close to ending.

Another critical obstacle for the industry is tourists are required to take a second RT-PCR test at hotels five days after arrival, which means additional costs for travellers and results in a higher burden for hoteliers.

Speaking at the conference, Mrs Marisa said RT-PCR tests upon arrival should be removed to entice tourists and enhance the country's competitiveness after the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Australia all moved to simplify travel rules.

Many countries, particularly in Europe, haven't mandated RT-PCR tests.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/22 ... m-recovery

The junta doesn't want foreigners coming here. Either that or the numptys making these rules haven't figured out that the majority of holidaymakers aren't willing to jump through all these hoops and risk quarantine/massive bills for a couple of weeks in the sun.

[Ratsima]

We’re in Rayong again and I’m very sad to have to report that the wonderful craft beer bar, Kuad, seems to be permanently closed. Another victim, I suppose, of what seems to have become a wildly inappropriate response to the ongoing Covid situation.

So, instead of enjoying a nice draft IPA we sat in the hotel bar and drank bottles of Chang.

[buksida]

Tourism Ministry plans to propose scrapping 2nd RT-PCR test
The second RT-PCR test required by the Test & Go scheme should be scrapped by March if the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) agrees with the proposal, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Friday that the ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will propose a relaxation of entry requirements by replacing the second RT-PCR test with an antigen test kit, making the request at the next CCSA meeting on Feb 23.

If the proposal is approved, the new rule will be applied from next month, he said.

"The plan to eliminate all RT-PCR testing upon arrival will be made once the country officially declares Covid-19 an endemic disease," Mr Phiphat said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/22 ... t-pcr-test

Thats a start, but they also need to scrap the insurance scam if they really want tourists to come back here.

[Big Boy]

A new yardstick for me................ I pass 2 'Farang' breakfast places most mornings. They've been full for a couple of weeks, but this week back to about 1/3rd full. High season seems to have managed 2 weeks this year.

They have both been back into Marie Celeste mode this week

[buksida]

Yep, I reckon "high season" was about ten days where we are - every resort empty again though our beach bar has finally opened after a 2-year hiatus.

[Nereus]

Yep, I reckon "high season" was about ten days where we are - every resort empty again though our beach bar has finally opened after a 2-year hiatus.

Ah, they are all in Phuket you see:
..........................................................................................................
B43bn generated from Phuket Sandbox

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... et-sandbox

PHUKET: The government's Phuket Sandbox scheme, which is aimed at revitalising the economy and tourism, has generated about 43 billion baht in revenue since its launch on July 1 last year.

The island province had seen growth in tourist arrivals. On Monday, it had 3,350 tourist arrivals from 24 flights operated by 18 airlines, Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket Office director Nanthasiri Ronnasiri said on Tuesday.

Last month, 86,282 tourists arrived in Phuket. It had received 61,202 tourists so far this month, Ms Nanthasiri said.

There were about 70,000 rooms available in Phuket, with an average of eight nights per person, she said.

Since the launch of the scheme, there had been 331,365 tourist arrivals in Phuket. Their average spending was 55,000 baht per head per trip, or 7,000 baht a day per person, she said.

Phuket earned 18.32 billion baht from tourism, and a total of 43.52 billion baht had been put in circulation, she said.

The TAT, Phuket Office, had organised tourism campaigns and conducted roadshows in different provinces. It had joined hands with the private sector and other agencies to hold the Thailand Travel Mart+2022 Phuket fair, which will take place between June 8 and 10.

Ms Nanthasiri said there will also be more campaigns to attract Thai tourists.

Currently, the hotel occupancy rate in Phuket was about 35% to 50%. It was expected to reach 60% to 70% during this year's Songkran festival, said the tourism official.

Ms Panatchakorn Jaiyen, vice president of Phuket Tourist Association, said the "Phuket Ded Tang Koh" tourism promotion scheme was launched in all regions and was well received by Thai tourists.

[buksida]

Tourism operators slam Level 4 announcement
Tourism operators have thrashed the government announcement increasing the Covid-19 alert to Level 4, insisting state policy should enable people to live with the virus instead of limiting travel activities.

Most business operators are ready to comply with the new rules, but will not agree if the government imposes strict lockdown measures again.

Chamnan Srisawat, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said the new Covid-19 alert will increase anxiety among people and inconsistency in business operations as demand fluctuates.

This is the most worrisome situation for the tourism sector, he said.

The new alert encouraging people to avoid non-essential inter-provincial travel is no different from previous semi-lockdowns, which also impacted the industry, said Mr Chamnan.

"As tourism largely depends on confidence and the government's policies, any action from the authorities should be consistent and avoid frequent flip-flops to let the tourism industry recover in the long run," he said.

Decisive action that allows economic activities to run as usual is needed after the country dealt with the pandemic for two years, said Mr Chamnan.

He said Thailand can learn from other countries that allowed people to live normal lives and simultaneously rebound from the crisis.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/22 ... nouncement

That last sentiment is all well and good, but Thailand isn't another normal country, it is a military dictatorship that thrives off of lockdowns.

[buksida]

Tourism reboot faces risk from Ruble slump, sanctions
A plunging ruble, flight cancellations and money-transfer difficulties are prompting Russian and European tourists to cancel trips to Thailand, a blow to the Asian nation’s tourism-revival efforts.

The exclusion of many Russian banks from the SWIFT payments network has resulted in tour operators running into problems when making transfers, according to Charintip Tiyaphorn, co-owner of Pimalai Resort & Spa in Phuket. Some flights have been cancelled following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and many European airlines are re-routing to get to Southeast Asia, she said.

Russians were the largest group of travellers to Thailand in January and top applicants for new visas under a quarantine-free entry programme relaunched last month. About 1.5 million Russians visited in pre-pandemic 2019 and spent US$3.3 billion, the third-highest source of tourism revenue for the country, according to official data.

Particularly in seaside destinations such as Phuket and Pattaya, it’s common for restaurants, spas and even property developments to have signs in Cyrillic characters in an effort to make Russians welcome in a country that before Covid-19 generated about a fifth of its gross domestic product from tourism.

But war and sanctions have once again disrupted Thailand’s efforts to jump-start the vital sector.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/22 ... -sanctions

Great compassion there - making money literally is the only thing Thailand cares about.

[buksida]

Bloomberg video on the lack of tourists, mass business closures, and entry hassles:

Where Are Thailand’s Tourists?
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2 ... ists-video

[Stargeezer]

My old 80 year old plus, friend just got back from being in Hua Hin for 2 months.
He said that if he did not have his own motorbike, and was able to travel around
to get rid of boredom, he would not have enjoyed his stay very much. Only 2 other expats that
he knew and talked with were still around. Three of his European friends had died since the last time he
was over in Thailand, and many others did not come as they were old and it was going to cost them too much
for insurance, so they stayed in their countries. I agree that all the restrictions, and rules have to be
gone, if Thailand wants to see the senior aged people, who have the money to travel. The working aged people only get a month off per year for holidays, and if they have a threat of having to spend any time stuck in a hospital
they will not take the chance to go anywhere for their holiday. At least the smart thinking part of their age group.
There will always be people that will take the chance, but most of them have Thai GFs or wives, and have
a big reason to go to Thailand. If the rules and restrictions are gone I will try to plan for my trip at the end of 2022, but am willing to wait until the end of 2023, if Thailand has not changed.

[caller]

More of the same about Russia/Ukraine & travel to SE Asia from Al Jazeera:

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/ ... m-recovery

[Big Boy]

Russian TV discussion moved here viewtopic.php?f=35&t=40397