Thailand tourism situation

[buksida]

HOTELIERS LAMENT COLLAPSE OF TRAVEL SUBSIDY HIT BY SCANDALS
A popular travel subsidy program met an abrupt end on Tuesday after the government put it on indefinite hold, citing discoveries of corruption and bribery among participating hotels.

Over 300 hotels are under investigation for overstating the cost of accommodation and making up ghost bills in order to file for bogus reimbursement from the government, officials said. The news was a blow to many hotel operators who were hoping the subsidy would encourage travels in the peak month of December.

“This was a good project which led to an unexpected uptick in tourist arrivals. But what should we do now?” Kitti Tiessakul, an advisor to the Federation of Northern Tourism Associations, said by phone. “It’s a shame because the package resuscitates the economy.”

Kitti, who is also a hotelier himself, also warned that tourism in the northern region during the New Year holidays will definitely suffer without some version of the assistance program.

The first phase of the 22-billion baht “We Travel Together” was launched in July as a bid to revive domestic tourism amid the coronavirus pandemic and border shutdowns. Its second phase was supposed to launch on Wednesday, just in time for the New Year season, and last until April.

The program allowed registered Thai travelers to reimburse 40 percent of hotel costs, capped at 3,000 per night, as well as bills of restaurants and shops of 600 baht per day. Air tickets can also be reduced by 40 percent, up to 3,000 baht per round trip.

But the Tourism Authority of Thailand suspended the project on Tuesday and announced probes into 312 hotels for falsifying their financial records. The investigation will also look into 200 shops and restaurants suspected of similar wrongdoing.

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/cri ... -scandals/
More: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/20 ... us-delayed

Imagine what backhanders the ASQ hotels have had to hand out to the junta to get approval ...

[Big Boy]

Greed!! Many of these hotels were top end fat cats anyway. I've always said it - Thais feel free money is their right. It doesn't matter how far up the Hi-So chain they are.

[handdrummer]

Greed and corruption are the backbone of Thai society and business, they learned well from their Chinese ancestors.

[ahandpatsy]

Honestly, the prospect of being holed up in my house until at least January 15th with crap weather, crap tv and no prospect of a break in the medium future AND with what seems a complete disregarding of any personal responsibility to stop this thing (nobody on London tube wearing facemasks, people driving to lower tier areas to go to pub, large crowds getting pissed or shopping together etc etc) .

Compared to staying in the warm in a reasonable hotel for 2 weeks and then being relatively free to do what I want in Thailand and all its charms !

I am seriously thinking paying the money and taking the 2 weeks quarantine. I am lucky I have a job that that can be done remotely unless I have to meet clients (which of course is impossible at the moment).

So I guess what I'm saying is that people are at a tipping point and those that can will come over.

[falanglongtime]

I was on London tube this weekend and almost everybody was wearing masks.

[buksida]

Axe to fall on subsidy-cheating tourism operators
The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand on Wednesday asked police to prosecute operators of 312 hotels and 202 shops for fraud in the government's "We Travel Together" subsidy scheme.

Yuthasak Supasorn filed his complaint with deputy national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapat at the Royal Thai Police Office. He said the TAT found fraudulent transactions at 312 hotels and 202 shops, and some customers were also involved.

The government initiated the "We Travel Together" scheme to stimulate tourism heavily hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic. It paid 40% of room rates for travellers and offered e-vouchers worth 600-900 baht for their daily spending.

Instances of fraud found by the TAT included hoteliers and restauranteurs unusually raising their prices to increase obtained subsidies, and fake hotel bookings -- including at hotels that were no longer open.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -operators

[ahandpatsy]

Most edit: post removed, off topic

[Dannie Boy]

https://images.app.goo.gl/rtwq8yt1V8RzSPSU9

Having clicked on the link and getting directed to fake Covid protests in London- What on earth does this have to do with Thailand tourists?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[caller]

And still certain categories of visa holders can't readily gain access to Thailand. In 12 months time, there won't be a tourist industry.

[buksida]

Thailand is also cherry picking which nationalities can come here ...

Thailand eases curbs on travel
The government is easing travel restrictions for citizens from 56 countries to boost the country's pandemic-hit tourism industry, though visitors will be required to undergo a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine.

Tourists from countries including Australia, France and the United States can travel without visas, but would need a certificate to show they are free of Covid-19 72 hours before travel and a booking at a quarantine hotel, Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said.

Visitors would then be subject to a two-week quarantine period after arriving, he said, adding the normal 30-day visa would be extended to 45 days.

While in quarantine, arrivals would undergo three Covid-19 tests, up from two required previously, Dr Taweesilp said, adding that more testing could potentially lead to shorter quarantine periods in the future.

The revisions come as the tourism-reliant economy struggles to encourage more domestic activity, but an ongoing travel ban continues to keep most foreign tourists away.

Earlier, each arrival was tested twice during 14-day quarantine, first three to five days days after arrival, and then again on days 11-13.

Each arrival is now tested three times, on day 0-1, day 9-10 and day 13-14, Dr Taweesilp said.

The changed testing process would continue until Dec 31. Health officials would then study the results and assess whether quarantine could be reduced to 10 days, Dr Taweesilp said.

The assessment will begin on Jan 1 and is expected to be finalised by Jan 15, he said.

A shorter quarantine is aimed at attracting foreign tourists, he added.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -on-travel

In other words, nothing has changed.

[buksida]

Travel industry faces ‘nail in coffin’ after new outbreak
As Phuket and other tourist destinations prepare for a slight bump in business from the countdown to 2021, a new virus outbreak among seafood factory workers in Samut Sakhon couldn’t come at a worse time.

The country discovered a record cluster of infections at the Central Shrimp Market in the province last week, prompting a 14-day lockdown of the industrial district. The government is mulling whether curbs need to be expanded to other locales.

Another nationwide lockdown or restrictions on domestic travel could be the “nail in the coffin” for many tourism-related companies, according to Phuket Hotel Association President Anthony Lark.

“Everyone’s losing money and just trying to break even,” Mr Lark said by phone Monday. “If the government can’t control the virus, and any domestic air travel or inter-provincial travel restrictions are introduced, then you will absolutely see hotel, restaurant and boat owners mothball their businesses.”

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Monday that he will take about a week to assess whether more stringent curbs are needed.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/20 ... w-outbreak

I'd be willing to put a sizeable wager on the junta bringing in a nationwide curfew, closing the bars, and banning alcohol again for new year.

[Ratsima]

I'd be willing to put a sizeable wager on the junta bringing in a nationwide curfew, closing the bars, and banning alcohol again for new year.

I agree. I find it frightening either way around. Luckily, I just ordered a couple of cases (cartons) of Thai craft beer (brewed elsewhere, of course). That should see me through the first week or so.

[PeteC]

Our Holiday Calendar continues to grow.

More holidays next year on the cards for tourism

The government is considering a proposal from travel agents for extra holidays next year to aid the ailing domestic tourism sector, which is being further savaged by the new coronavirus outbreak.

Vichit Prakobgosol, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said on Friday that the proposal was made in talks with Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam and other public and private tourism agencies, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Details have to be ironed out before it could be put to the cabinet for approval, he said. But additional holidays next year could be nationwide or region-wide, and be scheduled on a Friday so that people could take trips over the long weekend.

One option was the Chinese New Year, which will be on a Friday, Feb 12, and other regional celebrations such as the Rocket Festival, which could be a day off for the northeastern region, he said. (Continued at link)

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/20 ... or-tourism

[europtimiste]

And still certain categories of visa holders can't readily gain access to Thailand. In 12 months time, there won't be a tourist industry.

Anybody can enter if agree conditions as 14 days lockdown. A friend of mine is actually at a Bangkok hotel for 14 days at a cost of 50,000.00 Bhat.

[buksida]

Less work, more travel, the medicine for 2021 recovery
The government is considering a proposal from travel agents for extra holidays next year to aid the ailing domestic tourism sector, which is being further savaged by the domestic reemergence of the coronavirus.

Vichit Prakobgosol, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta), said yesterday that the proposal was made during talks with Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam and other public and private tourism agencies, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

The proposal details have to be ironed out before it can be put to the cabinet for approval, he said. But additional holidays next year could be nationwide or region-wide and be scheduled on a Friday so that people can take trips over the long weekend.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... 1-recovery

Thai logic at its finest, forget productivity and economic recovery, lets 'bai tiew' again. All these holidays do is give the Bangkok hi-sos a chance to clog the roads in their SUVs and throw some crumbs at the poor.

New Year spending to stay below B100bn due to fear
Spending during the New Year holiday is expected to stay below 100 billion baht for the first time in 10 years, attributed to the fresh surge of Covid-19 infections.

According to the latest survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), spending during the New Year festive season is estimated at 91.5 billion baht, a significant drop of 33.6% from 138 billion last year.

"With the fresh round of infections, people are very concerned about the pandemic," said Thanavath Phonvichai, president of UTCC. "The majority of people surveyed during Dec 14-23 prefer to stay home."

According to Mr Thanavath, average spending is 9,876 baht per person, a fall from 15,615 baht per person year-on-year.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/20 ... ue-to-fear

Really, the average Thai spends 10k each on holiday at new year? I wonder how that is possible if none of them are working.