Coronavirus (Covid-19)

World Tourism hotspots re-opening – success or failure? | VIDEO

Published

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 15:30

The world of tourism has been turned upside down, not just in Thailand but around the world. Globally, it’s certainly the hardest hit industry from the coronavirus pandemic, shutting down hotels, tour companies, grounding aeroplanes and putting millions out of work.

Before we look at the latest situation, and predictions for Thailand, let’s take a quick tour of some of the other world top tourist spots and their experiments with re-opening amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

DUBAI

MALDIVES.

COSTA RICA

BALI

THAILAND

In Thailand, the gravity of the impact on the country’s tourist sector appears to have eventually sunk in. After a year of hubris that the world’s tourists were ready to burst through Thailand’s doors, even the perennially-positive TAT governor Yuttthasak Suphasorn admitted that it will be another 2-3 years before any semblance of a tourism industry returns.

His comments were made at the same time as industry leaders urge the Thai government to save what is left of the shattered tourism sector, before it is too late and there is literally nothing for foreign tourists to return to.

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24 Comments

Jorma

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 4:07 pm

Cost benefit analysis…… How many people suffer because of lockdowns VS covid. For majority of people its just another flu.

Reply
- Jim Ferrante
  
  Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 10:49 am
  
  Indeed you’re right.
  Something much more sinister is at play in my view. Governments would not destroy their people’s prosperity unless they faced a greater evil.
  …the Chinese communists
  
  Reply
Toby Andrews

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 4:24 pm

Where is the tour, I only see Thailand.
What about Costa Rico?

Reply
Toby Andrews

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 4:34 pm

Oh it’s in the video.

Reply
- MichaelBKK
  
  Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 5:07 pm
  
  Little Johnny from issan could give you a tour if required Toby ?
  
  Reply
Ismail

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 4:35 pm

Cannot compare, Maldives to Thailand in Maldives we have separate islands as hotels, easy to quarantine and manage compared to countries like Thailand.

Reply
Ben

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 7:42 pm

The video’s shows not many people are traveling regardless of whether you’re open or not. If you’re open you get a small fraction of tourists you had the previous year plus some infection. Most people are not comfortable traveling during a pandemic.

Vaccination will change this as travelers will feel less anxious about acquiring the virus and becoming severely ill and host countries, who vaccinate their population, will feel less anxious about their people becoming severely ill. Everyone is moving in this direction now. Variants will pop up and be dealt with through vaccine tweaking.

This virus is diabolical because of its infectiousness and asymptomatic spread which kills the old and the sick at a rate that’s 2-3 times higher than the flu. This creates a situation where some people are scared to death and some just shrug depending on their circumstances and thus creates huge disagreement on how to deal with the virus.

All of us at our core are social beings and are tired of restrictions and the resultant negative economic impacts. Vaccines and treatments provide a light at the end of the tunnel where this can be managed. 2021 is the transition year to the new normal with this virus managing tool kit. 2022 and beyond might be a period like the post Spanish flu roaring 20’s – party time. It’ll be for me.

Reply
- Mel Burn
  
  Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 9:33 am
  
  Yeah, right. There will be another virus and people like you will be scared out of their pants. We are traveling wherever it’s possible and would come to Thailand if not for the quarantine _and_ smog.
  
  Reply
  - Ben
    
    Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 8:45 pm
    
    Mel, you mad bro?
    
    I’m getting my second jab soon and will be in Thailand next month. Yes the quarantine is a bit of a pain but after a few weeks I’ll be enjoying what Thailand has to offer until the pandemic subsides in the USA.
    
    Complaining about COVID, quarantines, smog, etc. isn’t going to make it going away. You enjoy living like that?
    
    Reply
    - Mel Burn
      
      Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 2:27 am
      
      I am not a sitting in one place type. Nine months in 2020 in Thailand was enough. I travel. And the current situation does not allow free travel. Just waiting for the warm weather in Europe and I’ll be on my way. It’s you who is scared of this “diabolical” virus. And I am saying, as well as many medical people and virologists, that there will more much deadly viruses soon. So there is no point to stop travelling and business for this Covid nonsense.
      
      Reply
    - Mel Burn
      
      Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 2:34 am
      
      And I do enjoy living _without_ fear of Covid, without smog and quarantines. Except in Thailand, I live on the ocean, in super clean air and among people who are not afraid of covid. There is not much Thailand can offer for long term stay now except food.
      
      Reply
Anna

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 8:53 pm

Thailand should open soon, social problems are exalting at alarming rate.

Reply
Wayne C

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 10:17 pm

Thailand will be lucky to see 100,000 visitors this year. Why should I go through all the headache the demands the quarantine the expense to go to Thailand. When I can go to islands in the Bahamas many countries in the Caribbean’s many countries in South America.
With just a negative Covid test and a 5 to 8 hour flight . Thailand right now it’s not even a consideration of course I would like to visit.
But the tourist industry right now in Thailand is nonexistent.

Reply
Patrick Kelly

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 11:32 pm

Tourism in Thailand & Draconian rules and regulations do not commingle. The golden goose that was tourism has been eradicated. Get used to abysmal numbers for the future. No schemes will limit the cowering and paranoia occurring in the Kingdom . The China Virus will damage your economy for years to come.

Reply
Ian

Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 12:10 am

What upsets me is Thailand makes it hard for farang yet cuddles up with China the country that gave us this nightmare, as we speak the Thai government are not looking at making it any easier for westerners to go to Thailand it’s like they want the country to collapse it’s so crazy it’s like your house is sinking and you just watch it’s not to late Thailand to save what you can but it’s getting thier if your country doesn’t open up by september

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 12:17 am
  
  So what’s harder about coming to Thailand now, today, for a farang, than someone from China?
  
  … and if you can’t think of anything, then what’s harder with anything that’s been proposed?
  
  … come on, there must be something …..
  
  Reply
  - Mel Burn
    
    Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 9:37 am
    
    I’ll tell you, you moron. For tourists on _vacation_ – the quarantine is not acceptable. For long term – like us, who like to have a base in Thailand and travel – it’s also quarantine – every time when you leave and want to come back. And the smog – which might be OK for Chinese on a 5 day tour
    
    Reply
    - Issan John
      
      Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 9:51 am
      
      You didn’t really understand the question, did you? 🙂
      
      Reply
Ian

Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 2:46 am

Your not a farang anymore ij you wouldn’t have a clue ,stay baracaded up in your wooden hut until the world comes to its senses

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 9:54 am
  
  So … you understood the question, but realised you were talking rubbish … well, that’s more than Mel B did, I suppose 🙂
  
  Reply
  - MichaelBKK
    
    Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 4:23 pm
    
    Was Mel B your favourite spice girl little Johnny ?
    
    Reply
Stephen Vaughn Kelly

Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 3:41 pm

A well put together though provoking feature with engaging graphics. My take away after watching focuses on the point that was made about, if Thailand remains closed for much longer, what will be left for people to come a visit when it does finally open up again for international tourists and long stay travellers such as myself? Hotels, restaurants, bars, taxi companies etc, etc, how many can financially survive and reopen? Then there is the construction industry, how many new build condos are sat empty and unsold? And what of the started but mothballed projects?

Reply
7.62mm of darwin

Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 6:36 am

I look at all these comments which dodge the obvious. Tourism in Thailand along with many other countries is simply finished, gone for good. Some other industry must take its place. Rice cultivation perhaps LOL

Reply
Nilsen

Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 6:47 pm

I was in Mexico during the november and december months, and from the middle of december Ciudad de Mexico went into red while the more touristy places around the gulf went from a max 60% capacity to 80% due to high demand – and at the same time having an outbreak keeping the regions lingering between orange and yellow. It is possible to travel and also to combine tourism and covid – but you cannot expect to have 0 cases. It’s all about keeping the number below the health care systems capacity. For Mexico they are not there but they have made the decision that more people will suffer if they would be in total lockdown than those suffering from Corona. A maintained lockdown would be catastrophic for the poorest – in a nation where 50% are considered to live in poverty. Alas – you could also ask if it is ethical to visit a country where 1500 people die every day and where some locals desperately drive their elders around for hours trying to find hospitals that will accept them. One thing is clear – this pandemic have made the divide between those who have and those who do not even wider.

Reply