ThailandTourism

First tourists in 7 months arrive in BKK today

Photo of Maya Taylor Maya TaylorTuesday, October 20, 2020
106 1 minute read
Chinese tourists in Thailand
FILE PHOTO

5pm today – that’s the time the first groups of “tourists” will arrive at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, announced the arrival of the first group of tourists to arrive in the Kingdom since borders where locked in March. He said they wouldn’t needn’t worry about the political unrest currently rocking the capital, pointing out that the protests are peaceful.

The tourists departing from Shanghai, China and arriving in Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) will only be in Thailand for 30 days, Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn says.

They’ll spend half that time locked up in quarantine for 14 days. Today’s flight today is reported to include 41 people who have applied for their visa through the new STV, Special Tourist Visa.

Phiphat says that in total, 400 international tourists, primarily Chinese, will arrive in Thailand by early November. All will be tested and whisked off for 14 day quarantine on arrival, in addition to having to endure copious amounts of paperwork before they even get here.

Related news

A plan to admit Chinese tourists earlier this month hit a small snag when it emerged not a single one had applied for the government’s newly-launched Special Tourist Visa.

The tourism minister says the first group to arrive are doing so as part of a “conditional entry” program and are arriving from a region in China that “has been free of the Covid-19 virus for several months now”. It’s understood the visitors have been specially chosen and approved for entry by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

Additional tourists are expected to arrive on October 26, when another group lands in Phuket. The later arrival in Phuket was to coincide with the end of this years Vegetarian Festival celebrations.

Phiphat says the October 26 arrivals are also coming from “very low risk” areas.

SOURCE: The Pattaya News

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Photo of Maya Taylor Maya TaylorTuesday, October 20, 2020
106 1 minute read

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49 Comments

49 Comments

      1. “It’s understood the visitors have been specially chosen and approved for entry by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.”

        First it was Phuket, now it’s Bangkok. Yeah right. Total BS-if anyone shows up, they’ll all have been paid plus all expenses paid. Thai tourism is saved! Yay!

        “they needn’t worry about the political unrest currently rocking the capital, pointing out that the protests are peaceful.” ?? the capital is being rocked by ‘unrest’ but it’s all peaceful? The ‘tourists’ will be safe in jail anyway right?
        buncha dingledongs running this scam

        1. Very disappointed with the decision in the favour of Chineese tourist. If Thailand need tourist it should not pick 1 countty if the quarantine and covid 19 rules and all other rules imply like medical insurance and special visa. Why welcome only 1 country why not other. This make me feel like if im not a chineese i will not choose a holiday in Thailand in future.. why not Russians are welcome who spend more days days than a chinnese tourist.It seems china is empowering Thailand like it empowering the river water for Me kong. Thais should study deeply if they start depending on China one day it will be a very dig peolem.

        2. If this is real. I have mixed feelings. I’m truly not xenophobic I have a Thai fiancée I haven’t seen for almost a year now. But seeing them all there smiling feels like a punch in the gut. I know it’s the Chinese governments fault not all of China’s people. But I makes me angry they are allowed back in. Hopefully they won’t balls this up like they did with the virus coverup. Because as much as I don’t want to cheer for them it may at some point in the exbidiate my return if this goes without incident. So please don’t mess up anymore China I want to see my family. Also boycotting using your airlines to get there.

      2. Haa! What a joke, propaganda stunt. Meanwhile the authorities are scaring 10s of 1000s of covid free, paying foreigners (who don’t follow someone with a flag in the front of the group) every time they have a pathetic attempt to ‘control’ the Farangs left her with their visa extention and amnesty failures. This country does not deserve tourists. There will only be Chinese tourists coming to Thailand for at least 3 years. Hey, ministers and self elected authoritarian leaders, the western world is watching how you are behaving and treating the Farangs. Your people are going to suffer for a long long time because of your behaviour.

  4. Nobody would even think of applying for such a harsh prison-like sentence, solitary confinement, being subject to experimental testing, paying exorbitant fees and insurances, spend 14 days in house arrest….

  5. After they have endured the quarantine, I wonder if they will be offered a organised tour to watch the protesters? And be advised they might be lucky and see some water cannoning.

  6. Do they really realise it’s not 14 days quarantine has actually 17 it’s a scam they call the first two days zero days the one in the beginning and the one of the end it’s all about hotels making more money says:

    Do they really realise it’s not 14 days quarantine has actually 17 it’s a scam they call the first two days zero days the one in the beginning and the one of the end it’s all about hotels making more money

  7. China has “0” infections for the last 6 months (John Hopkin’s, WHO info), Yeah? There has been a total censorship on all recent information reported from China (try Googling Covid China) and foreign reporters sent packing! I would say that given Covid spreads by asymptomatic post-infection, Thailand is playing with fire letting Chinese in, in my opinion!!?!

  8. I think I remember reading that Pattaya alone had about 10 million tourists visiting in 2019.

    These several hundred Chinese visitors a month is similar to the answer to the question “Does an elephant feel a fly landing on his ass?”

    Not going to help the troubled cities or islands they visit. And these idiot test tube tourists will only get shuttled around to the major large tourist attractions and will not frequent the small businesses except to buy trinket souvenirs.

    Idiot tourists..STV Test Tube Tourists = Idiot Idea

    2. 1.4 billion Chinese “unleashed sickness and death onto the world”? You be assured that the vast majority of Chinese people are victims of this mess as well. Save your venom for the few politicians and medical personnel that may have been responsible for some early mis-steps, even alleged cover-ups. But not the rest of the Chinese people.

  11. Will believe it when I see it. But seeing the low acts the government has stooped to recently, I wouldnt be surprised if these were the Chinese that were caught in Chiang mai the other week crossing the border, being flown in from Chiang Mai to make it look like they were flown in from China, taken to the detention centre then sent back home. Sounds crazy but its Prayut we’re talking about here

  13. Good job, Thailand picks up right country for its tourism. I am sure more will come. Quarantine time will be shortened for local covid-19 free countries. It is time to trust science. With more tourists coming, Thailand will be the first countries emerging from the mess and prosper.

  14. Strange – why only tourists from China ??? China had and still has millions of corona cases – not reported. Are Chinese let in because of close relations between the Chinese/ Thai governments ?

    With the current isolation policy, Thai industry is doomed to collapse and with it – thousands of Thai people will be without income to feed their families.

  16. “He said they wouldn’t needn’t worry about the political unrest currently rocking the capital, ”

    ….ha ha… because they will all be locked in their hotel rooms, living off room service for the first 14 – 17 nights.

    Seriously, which TOURISTS, going on a holiday would seriously accept 14 nights locked in a hotel room as being part of their jolly?

  21. All persons entering China from abroad, regardless of their nationality, are tested for COVID-19 at the place of first arrival and are subjected to a quarantine of at least 14 days in central facilities. The province of the inner-Chinese destination may provide different regulations, such as additional quarantine times following the o.g. Period or the possibility of home quarantine.

  22. Farang countries do a lot of testing , so they manage to find lots of cases, and they dont hide the results.

    This is the main reason why Western countries are “high risk”, while countries like North Korea, Turkmenistan, China are ” low risk” .

    It is a big mistake to base any decision about tourist arrivals on this false data.

  23. These might be tourists in the technical terminology, but they are bought and paid for by one if not both countries. There is no way anyone would otherwise agree to 14 days of quarantine (really 15) on a 30 day trip. I would bet this trip is either fully paid for by one of the governments and it’s probably some type of gift to party officials type thing. Rest assured this and the rest of any further Chinese groups are part of zero dollar tourism. It might not help the tourist industry but it’s good PR all the same.

  24. I can’t think of anyone I know who even if offered a free holiday to Thailand at the moment with all expenses paid would want to go and sit in a hotel room for two weeks.

    I was in Phuket for seven months until August this year and it was dead, really boring as everything was closed, most of the working population had returned home to their part of Thailand.

    I remember driving through Patong, to Kata/Karon beach, I drove for a 40km circuit and I saw two tourists.

    Even when bars and restaurants, shops, etc could open again hardly anyone bothered to open so I can’t see why anyone would want to go to Phuket at the moment which is on the plans of the tourist authority of Thailand.

    And it is still Monsoon season, so why would anybody want to pay for it?

    It all sounds unbelievable to me.

  25. It’s being reported in the BP the total number is now only 39, and the follow up group next week will only be 100. Of course there suppose to be more groups from China and even some mythical European snow birds are still expected at some point. It’s also being reported the second group will not be landing in Phuket but BKK instead. Wonder why considering this first groups is being shuttled out of Bangkok the second they finish quarantine. Wouldn’t it make more sense to send them to Phuket to begin with, after all that was the original plan. Strange. Does no one find it interesting that a country with over a billion people, all the reported pent up demand and love of Thailand they could only get 39 people to take the trip? Even the second group is a short of a full group of 120 – 150 at only 100 (if that many show).

  30. Have to wonder what they are going to do or where they are going too visit and stay after quarantine period is over?
    what will be the official requirements for travel back home to china?
    Plucky bunch and good luck too them all,hope they enjoy the trip.
    At least it’s a start.

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Maya Taylor

A seasoned writer, with a degree in Creative Writing. Over ten years' experience in producing blog and magazine articles, news reports and website content.

49 Comments

      1. “It’s understood the visitors have been specially chosen and approved for entry by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.”

        First it was Phuket, now it’s Bangkok. Yeah right. Total BS-if anyone shows up, they’ll all have been paid plus all expenses paid. Thai tourism is saved! Yay!

        “they needn’t worry about the political unrest currently rocking the capital, pointing out that the protests are peaceful.” ?? the capital is being rocked by ‘unrest’ but it’s all peaceful? The ‘tourists’ will be safe in jail anyway right?
        buncha dingledongs running this scam

        1. Very disappointed with the decision in the favour of Chineese tourist. If Thailand need tourist it should not pick 1 countty if the quarantine and covid 19 rules and all other rules imply like medical insurance and special visa. Why welcome only 1 country why not other. This make me feel like if im not a chineese i will not choose a holiday in Thailand in future.. why not Russians are welcome who spend more days days than a chinnese tourist.It seems china is empowering Thailand like it empowering the river water for Me kong. Thais should study deeply if they start depending on China one day it will be a very dig peolem.

        2. If this is real. I have mixed feelings. I’m truly not xenophobic I have a Thai fiancée I haven’t seen for almost a year now. But seeing them all there smiling feels like a punch in the gut. I know it’s the Chinese governments fault not all of China’s people. But I makes me angry they are allowed back in. Hopefully they won’t balls this up like they did with the virus coverup. Because as much as I don’t want to cheer for them it may at some point in the exbidiate my return if this goes without incident. So please don’t mess up anymore China I want to see my family. Also boycotting using your airlines to get there.

      2. Haa! What a joke, propaganda stunt. Meanwhile the authorities are scaring 10s of 1000s of covid free, paying foreigners (who don’t follow someone with a flag in the front of the group) every time they have a pathetic attempt to ‘control’ the Farangs left her with their visa extention and amnesty failures. This country does not deserve tourists. There will only be Chinese tourists coming to Thailand for at least 3 years. Hey, ministers and self elected authoritarian leaders, the western world is watching how you are behaving and treating the Farangs. Your people are going to suffer for a long long time because of your behaviour.

  4. Nobody would even think of applying for such a harsh prison-like sentence, solitary confinement, being subject to experimental testing, paying exorbitant fees and insurances, spend 14 days in house arrest….

  5. After they have endured the quarantine, I wonder if they will be offered a organised tour to watch the protesters? And be advised they might be lucky and see some water cannoning.

  6. Do they really realise it’s not 14 days quarantine has actually 17 it’s a scam they call the first two days zero days the one in the beginning and the one of the end it’s all about hotels making more money says:

    Do they really realise it’s not 14 days quarantine has actually 17 it’s a scam they call the first two days zero days the one in the beginning and the one of the end it’s all about hotels making more money

  7. China has “0” infections for the last 6 months (John Hopkin’s, WHO info), Yeah? There has been a total censorship on all recent information reported from China (try Googling Covid China) and foreign reporters sent packing! I would say that given Covid spreads by asymptomatic post-infection, Thailand is playing with fire letting Chinese in, in my opinion!!?!

  8. I think I remember reading that Pattaya alone had about 10 million tourists visiting in 2019.

    These several hundred Chinese visitors a month is similar to the answer to the question “Does an elephant feel a fly landing on his ass?”

    Not going to help the troubled cities or islands they visit. And these idiot test tube tourists will only get shuttled around to the major large tourist attractions and will not frequent the small businesses except to buy trinket souvenirs.

    Idiot tourists..STV Test Tube Tourists = Idiot Idea

    2. 1.4 billion Chinese “unleashed sickness and death onto the world”? You be assured that the vast majority of Chinese people are victims of this mess as well. Save your venom for the few politicians and medical personnel that may have been responsible for some early mis-steps, even alleged cover-ups. But not the rest of the Chinese people.

  11. Will believe it when I see it. But seeing the low acts the government has stooped to recently, I wouldnt be surprised if these were the Chinese that were caught in Chiang mai the other week crossing the border, being flown in from Chiang Mai to make it look like they were flown in from China, taken to the detention centre then sent back home. Sounds crazy but its Prayut we’re talking about here

  13. Good job, Thailand picks up right country for its tourism. I am sure more will come. Quarantine time will be shortened for local covid-19 free countries. It is time to trust science. With more tourists coming, Thailand will be the first countries emerging from the mess and prosper.

  14. Strange – why only tourists from China ??? China had and still has millions of corona cases – not reported. Are Chinese let in because of close relations between the Chinese/ Thai governments ?

    With the current isolation policy, Thai industry is doomed to collapse and with it – thousands of Thai people will be without income to feed their families.

  16. “He said they wouldn’t needn’t worry about the political unrest currently rocking the capital, ”

    ….ha ha… because they will all be locked in their hotel rooms, living off room service for the first 14 – 17 nights.

    Seriously, which TOURISTS, going on a holiday would seriously accept 14 nights locked in a hotel room as being part of their jolly?

  21. All persons entering China from abroad, regardless of their nationality, are tested for COVID-19 at the place of first arrival and are subjected to a quarantine of at least 14 days in central facilities. The province of the inner-Chinese destination may provide different regulations, such as additional quarantine times following the o.g. Period or the possibility of home quarantine.

  22. Farang countries do a lot of testing , so they manage to find lots of cases, and they dont hide the results.

    This is the main reason why Western countries are “high risk”, while countries like North Korea, Turkmenistan, China are ” low risk” .

    It is a big mistake to base any decision about tourist arrivals on this false data.

  23. These might be tourists in the technical terminology, but they are bought and paid for by one if not both countries. There is no way anyone would otherwise agree to 14 days of quarantine (really 15) on a 30 day trip. I would bet this trip is either fully paid for by one of the governments and it’s probably some type of gift to party officials type thing. Rest assured this and the rest of any further Chinese groups are part of zero dollar tourism. It might not help the tourist industry but it’s good PR all the same.

  24. I can’t think of anyone I know who even if offered a free holiday to Thailand at the moment with all expenses paid would want to go and sit in a hotel room for two weeks.

    I was in Phuket for seven months until August this year and it was dead, really boring as everything was closed, most of the working population had returned home to their part of Thailand.

    I remember driving through Patong, to Kata/Karon beach, I drove for a 40km circuit and I saw two tourists.

    Even when bars and restaurants, shops, etc could open again hardly anyone bothered to open so I can’t see why anyone would want to go to Phuket at the moment which is on the plans of the tourist authority of Thailand.

    And it is still Monsoon season, so why would anybody want to pay for it?

    It all sounds unbelievable to me.

  25. It’s being reported in the BP the total number is now only 39, and the follow up group next week will only be 100. Of course there suppose to be more groups from China and even some mythical European snow birds are still expected at some point. It’s also being reported the second group will not be landing in Phuket but BKK instead. Wonder why considering this first groups is being shuttled out of Bangkok the second they finish quarantine. Wouldn’t it make more sense to send them to Phuket to begin with, after all that was the original plan. Strange. Does no one find it interesting that a country with over a billion people, all the reported pent up demand and love of Thailand they could only get 39 people to take the trip? Even the second group is a short of a full group of 120 – 150 at only 100 (if that many show).

  30. Have to wonder what they are going to do or where they are going too visit and stay after quarantine period is over?
    what will be the official requirements for travel back home to china?
    Plucky bunch and good luck too them all,hope they enjoy the trip.
    At least it’s a start.

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