Tourism
Thailand tourism leaders come together to discuss the industry’s future

The following story was submitted by Bill Barnett, the managing director for C9 Hotelworks.
The Covid-19 pandemic is the biggest global crisis tourism has ever faced. Against this unprecedented upheaval, many of Thailand’s leading hotel operators and other key players came together under the #ThaiTourismUnited banner at an event in Bangkok, creating a single unified voice to drive the Kingdom’s recovery.
More than 400 tourism leaders and industry gurus gathered in Bangkok last month – in a safe and socially-distanced format – for the 10th annual Thailand Tourism Forum 2021 (TTF), Thailand’s premier travel, tourism and hospitality powwow organised by C9 Hotelworks hospitality consulting group and hosted at the Conrad Hotel Bangkok.
Despite the challenges faced by hoteliers and tourism providers in Thailand this year, registrations for TTF 2021 were full in 3 hours for the in-person event during which guests were presented with a content-packed agenda featuring some of industry’s most respected figures, including owners, presidents and chief executives.
The event kicked off with a “Thai Hotel Leaders’ Roundtable” discussion which saw the CEOs of Thailand’s biggest hotel groups discuss ways to revive the country’s tourism and hospitality sectors. The top-level debate included Thirayuth Chirathivat, CEO of Centara Hotels & Resorts; Stephan Vanden Auweele, Chief Hospitality Group Officer of Asset World Corporation; Bill Heinecke, CEO of Minor International; Dirk De Cuyper, CEO of S Hotels & Resorts; Marisa Sukosol, President of the Thai Hotels Association; and Salanroj Sutaschuto, Director of the Central and Eastern Regional Office of the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau.
Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks, kickstarted TTF 2021 in his own inimitable style, with an opening address entitled “Lost in Thailand, The Ultimate Survival Story.” Attendees were then able to choose from a series of quick-fire “Bang Bang” forums and discussions, including an economic assessment of Thailand’s tourism sector; an overview of the Kingdom’s beleaguered aviation industry; an insight into innovation and disruption within the hotel sector, and many more.
One of the most eagerly-anticipated sessions saw Jesper Palmqvist, STR’s Area Director for Asia Pacific, reveal the latest hotel performance data and analysis for Thailand, including forecasts for the future.
“After a particularly challenging January 2021, Thailand’s hotels at least end the first quarter with similar patterns as seen by the end of 2020. There are early signs of reservations in June but also some for November-December. In light of Thailand’s dependency on international arrivals… the STR forecast for Bangkok has been downgraded for the full year of 2021. We do foresee 2022 as a bigger comeback year on many fronts across the country.”
Barnett says Covid-19 has impacted almost every country around the. While Thailand has been considerably successful in controlling the spread of infections, Barnett says the “pandemic’s impact on tourism has been cataclysmic.”
“International visitors previously accounted for more than 70% of tourism spending in Thailand*, so this year’s border closures have left a huge hole in the economy. But the recovery starts here; TTF 2021 is a unique opportunity for the Kingdom’s travel, tourism and hospitality industry to unite, unify and usher in a bright future.”
TTF 2021 will be hosted in compliance with all necessary health and safety regulations. The host venue, Conrad Hotel Bangkok, is Thailand Safety & Health Administration (SHA) certified and all attendees will be required to follow SHA guidelines, including temperature checks upon arrival, the wearing of face masks, and social distancing.
The 10th annual Thailand Tourism Forum 2021, #ThaiTourismUnited, is a free-to-attend event, but advanced registration is required. To book your place, please CLICK HERE. For more information, please visit www.thailandtourismforum.com.
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Thailand
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority announces health and safety regulations

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand says airlines must continue to follow health and safety regulations as the country has seen a 3rd wave of the Covid-19 virus. The authority says new guidelines to take effect today include…
• Maintaining social distancing practises on passenger services at all levels of operations, from check-in and boarding and disembarking.
• Passengers are required to wear masks at all times during the flight, while using hand sanitiser and washing hands.
• Food and drinks cannot be served or consumed on board. Crews may offer drinking water to passengers in predetermined social distancing areas in the aircraft.
• Newspapers, magazines, or brochures provided on board are prohibited except for safety cards or pamphlets.
• Pilots are required to wear masks, while all cabin crew must wear both masks and gloves at all times when on duty.
• Flights longer than 90 minutes must set aside seats in the last 2 rows in case someone falls sick on board.
Today, Thailand has reported 965 people as infected with Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. The daily total is the first drop in daily numbers for 13 days. 28,288 people have fully recovered. The total deaths remains at 97 people since the start of the pandemic in Thailand. 6,190 people remain under hospital care or are being monitored. 654 of today’s cases are local community infections.
The country recently has seen a 3rd wave of the virus, with Bangkok entertainment venues being considered the epicentre. Thong Lor district in Bangkok has also seen the UK variant B117 in many of its infections. Now, it is the most prominent strain of Covid-19 in the UK.
Studies showed that the B117 strain is more deadly, with 1 study showing deaths from UK variant infections were 30 to 100% higher than earlier variants. The strain also has at least 23 mutations identified so far. However, a new study by The Lancet indicates that even though the strain has a higher reproductive and transmission rate, it is not more severe.
SOURCE: TAT News
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Expats
Thailand looks at proposal to make it easier for expats and long-termers

Thailand is looking to make it easier for expats and long-term visa holders to stay in the country. The Immigration Bureau is hoping to boost investments and the economy once the pandemic is over. The proposed changes could do away with 90 day reporting requirements which have been well-received by expats.
Recently, the online website to report 90 day check-ins has been down, citing maintenance issues. Hotel staff have also been dealing with the TM-30 reporting system being down. Chayotid Kridakorn, a former head of JP Morgan Securities Thailand, told the Bangkok Post that immigration hoops are a key pain point for foreigners working in Thailand.
“We want to make it easier for foreigners to live and work in Thailand.”
Meanwhile, plans to help Thailand recover economically have been detailed in a framework to be proposed to the government’s economic panel in the next month. Improvements to immigration regulations, work permits for foreign experts, and visa applications are on the framework list. Relaxing location reporting requirements for foreign workers which is done through the 90 day reporting, is also slated to be amended.
The framework also will include inducements for foreign investors such as corporate income-tax cuts, relaxed property-holding rules and incentives for retirees and start-up companies. An adviser to Thailand’s Deputy PM, says he aims to bring in 1 million retirees or pensioners over the next few years. He says expats could collectively contribute as much as 1.2 trillion baht to the economy each year. But Thailand’s gross domestic product growth won’t return to pre-Covid levels until the 3rd quarter of 2022, according to the Bank of Thailand.
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Covid UPDATE: Daily infection number drops slightly on Tuesday

965 people have been detected as infected with Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. The daily total is the first drop in daily numbers for 13 days. 28,288 people have fully recovered. The total deaths remains at 97 people since the start of the pandemic in Thailand. 6,190 people remain under hospital care or are being monitored.
654 of today’s cases are local community infections.
Out of today’s infections, the CCSA announced that most were in the northern city of Chiang Mai (251) which has been hit particularly hard, followed by Bangkok (194), Chonburi (97), Prachuap Khiri Khan (73), Nakhon Ratchasima (67), Samut Prakan (49), Samut Sakhon (34), Rayong (25) and Pathum Thani (21). 8 new infections were officially reported in Phuket by the CCSA.
Regarding vaccinations, 578,532 people have now been vaccinated. Yesterday, 6,424 people received their first injection, 2,056 received their second Covid vaccine.
There’s now a total of 34,575 people who have now been infected with the coronavirus in Thailand.
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Tony Phuket
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 5:11 pm
Its always nice to see Bill dressing up so smartly as he does..
RA
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 5:42 pm
Bill, you’re dressed like a homeless person. Dress for success.
Hasse
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 6:16 pm
They can have 100 more meeting. I not come until 70% of Thailand population is vaccinated
Simon Small
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 7:24 pm
Looks like the same “tourism leaders” who signed the Open Thailand Safely petition. 90%+ farang plus a few token Thais.
toby andrews
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 8:57 pm
Yes all the men dress up a bit Tony, but the mister expert on tourism Barnet looks like a bar drunk in Pattaya.
Still he is not wearing flip flops . . .
John2
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 9:17 pm
Tourism is DEAD they need to forget about it and cut it loose.
Today 4195 people died in Brazil from the “Brazilian Mutation” they need to act fast BEFORE that or the “Double Mutation” version lands here.
BangkokB
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 9:54 pm
If Thailand opens up in its 3 phases, Apr, July and Oct. they might have a chance at a slow recovery. If the government decides to backpedal on this due to the “new variants/strains, whatever” it’s time for Thailand to find a new industry
funny coz its true
Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 6:38 am
Why not just declare Thailand to be the new hub of something else, build a hub and they will come, or not, who cares anymore?
Tom Atwill
Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 8:31 am
Its simple you must be vaccinated with approved vaccine and show negative covid rapid test.
Use the app to trace where you go and OPEN UP.
Covid will always be here now like the flu, measles, Dengue Fever and motorcycle accidents .
Live with it and move on. DO not bankrupt the country
BTW 99% of people survive just fine.
Overbuilt ConstructionLLC
Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 9:11 am
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
Roger Bruce
Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 9:16 am
Tourist Leaders??
Where are the Thais??? Really surprised to see this Pic …But they should all go pan for gold tourism will not take off again in Thailand now if ever too much bad publicity about Thailand now in world news apart from Virus …Now number 1 not to go to the listing
News about what your King is up to ..your support for Burma Military murderers…your crazy policies on coming to Thailand …You have no hope sorry
MMM That Pic… very strange set up this must all Pay Gov for their jobs yes?
Good Luck Thailand
toby andrews
Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 10:11 am
At the moment they are the Thailand hub snub.
TS
Friday, April 9, 2021 at 3:29 pm
The event kicked off with a “Thai Hotel Leaders’ Roundtable”
🤣lmfao- that’s code for circle jerk. are these nut jobs still on a payroll?