Thailand tourism situation

[handdrummer]

Everyone can show up, eat, and enjoy the entertainment, but can't gather for the countdown.
I suppose they could stand in the shops, and sit in the restaurants and still count down.
The stupidity is monumental.

[Scotch]

Has anyone heard any more about this. It’s all very sketchy. I have been hearing that bars were to close at midnight and firework displays have been cancelled.

[Big Boy]

There are always silly rumours by killjoys at this time of the year. AFAIK fireworks will go ahead, and bar closing time will be 2am.

This story is in several national publications today https://www.thaipbsworld.com/no-bans-on ... ebrations/

[buksida]

Booster jab urged for tourism staff
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is urging business operators to ensure their staff have received a booster of the Covid-19 vaccine to prepare for the return of Chinese tourists.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said staff of all businesses in the tourism industry, especially those who come into close contact with tourists, such as hotel receptionists, drivers and tour guides, should get a booster shot to protect them from infection.

Hotels, restaurants and tour operators must also strictly comply with Safety and Health Administration (SHA) standards, he said. The number of China tourists is expected to rise after Beijing reopens its borders next Sunday.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... rism-staff


Practically an admittance that they're about to open the floodgates to another surge of covid in Thailand.

[HHTel]

At least there's a bit of a U-turn.
Visitors from China will have to show a vaccine certificate and proof of insurance.

[Big Boy]

Not much of a u-turn. Still no requirement to be free of Covid.

[Suua]

"should get a booster shot to protect them from infection".

The vaccine doesn't protect you from infection.....just protects you from severe symptoms.
And this misinformation is coming from TAT.....Morons as usual.

[hhinner]

"should get a booster shot to protect them from infection".

The vaccine doesn't protect you from infection.....just protects you from severe symptoms.
And this misinformation is coming from TAT.....Morons as usual.

When COVID vaccines were first available in Thailand you may recall shops proudly showing their "we're vaccinated" signs (usually Sinovac). I remember thinking "good for you, but I'm not".

Now carriers of whatever new strains are to be welcomed as long as they're vaccinated.

[Dannie Boy]

"should get a booster shot to protect them from infection".

The vaccine doesn't protect you from infection.....just protects you from severe symptoms.
And this misinformation is coming from TAT.....Morons as usual.

Not necessarily so according to this article from the British Medical Journal (BMJ)
https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o298

[PeteC]

Chinese New Year is January 22 this year, and the total Spring Festival spans about 23 days. Thailand is not going to let that chance go by even if the people coming off the plane are too weak and sick to make it to baggage collection!

[Gregjam]

I wonder how many people are going to get caught out by the change back to the requirement to have been vaccinated before entering Thailand:
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... rs-revived
While many are vaccinated there are still quite a few who are not, some will have already had covid and thought they did not need a vaccination and may be in for a shock if they want to visit. It will definitely have an effect on tourism but I guess only time will tell.

[handdrummer]

As long as you don't have to be vaccinated to renew your retirement/marriage visa, I'll not be concerned about it.

[HHTel]

Because of Thailand's obsession for not appearing to target the Chinese, Thailand is now appearing on lists alongside China as having restrictions placed on travelers from Thailand. Our medical expert, Anutin will only alienate foreigners wishing to visit Thailand.

Oh, the stupidity of it all. TIT.

[hhinner]

I wonder how many people are going to get caught out by the change back to the requirement to have been vaccinated before entering Thailand:
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... rs-revived
While many are vaccinated there are still quite a few who are not, some will have already had covid and thought they did not need a vaccination and may be in for a shock if they want to visit. It will definitely have an effect on tourism but I guess only time will tell.

The vaccination record is not required. Whisper it softly, but BP was wrong. According to Bloomberg and Richard Barrow.

[Nereus]

Regardless of just how it happened, crap like this does not help at all:

Beautician breaks back falling from resort balcony in Thailand

https://au.news.yahoo.com/beautician-br ... 57797.html

A British woman may never walk again after falling from a two-storey balcony while on her dream holiday in Thailand.

Maddi Neale-Shankster, from Coventry, was celebrating the New Year with her boyfriend on the party island of Ko Pha-Ngan when she took the tragic tumble, which left her with a fractured spine. The 21-year-old beautician was in the room she was sharing with her partner when the accident occurred, UK newspaper Metro reported.

It's not known exactly how the incident took place, and Ms Neale-Shankster reportedly has no recollection of what happened. Her mum Karen Moseley-Neale, who flew to Thailand on Sunday, said the three-week holiday was "supposed to be the trip of a lifetime".

Ms Moseley-Neale said pictures of the balcony are "outrageous" and said, "you would never get away with that in the UK."

Following the accident, the young woman was transferred from a local hospital to Surat Thani International Hospital on the mainland — a torturous three-hour boat ride and an hour-long drive away. She also needs drains to remove blood and fluid from her chest before she can be operated on, her worried mum revealed.

"The prognosis isn’t good as she has fractures to her spine and there’s a chance she may never walk again. It’s devastating," Ms Moseley-Neale told Metro.

"Maddi’s partner hasn’t left her side and has been given two plastic chairs to sleep on. They’ve got no belongings with them, it’s horrific," she added.

Another tragic blow

To make matters worse, the young woman was allegedly pickpocketed earlier that night. She lost all her money and her cards, her mum claimed. She'd reportedly been carrying her belongings with her due to "horrendous" hotel security.

The ambulance reportedly took 30 to 40 minutes to reach the scene. Her friend, who was also travelling with them, woke up when paramedics were putting a neck brace on Ms Neale-Shankster.

Ms Neale-Shankster's mum said her daughter had a "promising year ahead of her" and the accident is "devastating".

"All I know is that she was on the phone to me only an hour before it happened and all seemed well," she said.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told Metro it is providing assistance to the family. The young woman remains in hospital.