Phuket

70 wealthy foreign tourists will be the first to undergo “villa quarantine” at Phuket luxury resort

Published

2 weeks ago

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Caitlin Ashworth

70 wealthy foreign tourists will be the first to undergo “villa quarantine” at Phuket luxury resort | The Thaiger

PHOTO: Sri Panwa

Thailand is targeting a specific group of tourists. The rich. 70 foreign tourists are set to arrive on Sunday and a government spokesperson says they’ll be the first to undergo “villa quarantine.” They’ll spend their mandatory quarantine at a luxury resort in Phuket.

The group of 70 visitors from Brazil, Canada, France, Denmark, Ukraine and the United States are all rich, according to Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration spokesperson Taweesilp Visanuyothin. The group has been travelling together in a “bubble” and are flying to Thailand on a chartered aircraft from Indonesia.

For the first 5 days of their 14 day quarantine period, the tourists will stay in their rooms at the Sri Panwa Hotel in Phuket. For the rest of their stay, the visitors can use the facilities throughout the resort.

The Thai government approved the “villa quarantine” measure last year, but this is the first time tourists are undergoing the luxurious quarantine.

“If villa quarantine is successfully implemented, meaning there will not be a Covid-19 case, or infection can be effectively controlled, we will be a tourist destination in the new era.”

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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55 Comments

Toby Andrews

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 5:45 pm

70 tourists are not going to save them.
And the rich will not like cotton buds shoved up their noses

Reply
- Stefan Svensson
  
  Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:06 pm
  
  and when they get home it can be one in the “tube”
  
  Reply
- Geoff
  
  Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 7:25 pm
  
  Weird comment. Nobody said it was going to “save them”. And the rich don’t like their health pathology tests? Come on mate.
  
  Reply
  - Toby Andrews
    
    Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 10:04 pm
    
    They rich do not tolerate any inconvenience whatsoever, and they demand respect.
    Shoving cotton buds up their noses is likely to have them booking out.
    Thais are acting as though it is a triumph, and maybe they can have many more . . .
    I predict that the Thais will claim many of the rich are contagious, move them to Thai hospitals, where the Thai insurance will not pay for.
    The Thai insurance that the rich were forced to pay for.
    Wait and see the news in a months time . . .
    
    Reply
    - Geoff
      
      Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 5:51 am
      
      Funny view of people. The rich don’t mind life saving procedures eg colonoscopies, stents, gastroscopies and yes, nasal swabs, if it means their health is looked after and they can maintain their life style. The corruption side of things is another matter.
      
      Reply
- Telford Lee
  
  Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 8:51 am
  
  The author without knowing, in her article is alerting the thai criminals and scammers on these RICH tourists. I’m not surprised they are starting to search for the identities of these rich tourists.
  
  Reply
Me

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 5:47 pm

Are these the same Chinese tourists that WERE going to arrive in Phuket last year under the STV visa scheme, that are now disguised as Europeans etc ??

Reply
- Gosport
  
  Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:12 pm
  
  The show comes earlier.
  
  Reply
- Saxonia
  
  Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 2:09 pm
  
  You’ve hit the nail right bang on the head there Me. More complete and utter hogwash from the authorities. Pathetic really.
  
  Reply
EdwardV

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:07 pm

“ we will be a tourist destination in the new era.” – yes all Thailand has to do is round up even more ultra rich tourists who have an excess of free time. I’m sure the world is filled with them. At one or two groups a year Thailand will be saved! I’m sure all the business in Phuket will reopen in three weeks to cater to this deluged of new tourism.

Reply
Jesus Monroe

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:11 pm

70 Tight Ass Rich Tourists……It’s a joke right?……..Whether they like it or not they’re gonna have to crawl up the asses of those dirty backpackers in the end……..DUMB MOTHER F—–KERS

Reply
- Konstantin
  
  Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:13 pm
  
  Yeah, I agree
  
  Reply
- Slugger
  
  Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:28 pm
  
  Typical American attitude. Shame there are your Countrymen among them.
  
  Reply
  - Jesus Monroe
    
    Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:47 pm
    
    Sorry Tugger….not my countrymen
    
    Reply
- John is My Biggest Fan
  
  Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 8:44 pm
  
  Backpackers aren’t interested in Thailand anymore either. For backpackers Thailand is one the least cool destinations now. It’s considered over-touristed and tacky. It’s backpacking-light for those who are too scared to get off the beaten track in Africa or South America. Read the online forums – it’s a hipsters worst nightmare. This will be another rude awakening for the Thai government and TAT.
  
  Reply
  - James R
    
    Friday, February 19, 2021 at 3:11 am
    
    Thailand is not interested in backpackers anymore as they spend bugger all money.
    
    Thailand wants more upmarket short term tourists spending 5000 baht a day.
    
    Tourism is down in every country in the world but it will all be forgotten in a year’s time once the tourists are back, it will be like normal, in that the virus ‘never happened’.
    
    Reply
    - Robert Elliott
      
      Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 4:36 pm
      
      The backpackers will be replaced by hoards of mainland Chinese package tourists who also spend bugger all money
      
      Reply
      - James R
        
        Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 3:39 am
        
        Robert
        
        Yes, but you do get the pleasure of them barging into you en-masse on the pavement knocking you out of the way.
        
        And being messy in restaurants as they shout instead of talking to each other.
Ray

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:13 pm

Weird story. Rich people from diverse countries are unlikely to travel together in a bubble. The only thing I can think off, is these are well heeled people who are based in Bali where they own villas. Because of the high infection rates they want to get out of the country till things get better.

Reply
- Gosport
  
  Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 8:10 pm
  
  I think so. or maybe the rich met up online and had a super quarantee in Bali, then another hyper quarantee in Puket. We have to redefine Tourism. In future, solidarity confinement is the rich game.
  
  Reply
- Issan John
  
  Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 8:34 pm
  
  I think you’re absolutely spot on, Ray.
  
  “Rich” people from half a dozen countries don’t fly in a 70 person “bubble” in a chartered aircraft from Indonesia to Phuket.
  
  Far more likely, as you say, they have homes together in Bali and think they’ll be safer and better off in Phuket than as “naughty bule” (the Indonesian equivalent of “dirty farang”) in Bali where there are considerably more restrictions (mask wearing, drinking, etc) and more Covid cases.
  
  It won’t do any harm so, like the golf quarantine, “why not”,but it won’t do much good either.
  
  Reply
- Saxonia
  
  Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 2:13 pm
  
  Weird as hell Ray. Its just another pile of horse excrement that these people have dreamt up.
  
  Reply
just curious

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:20 pm

COVID-19 is currently widespread in Indonesia with continuing transmission across the country. The Indonesian government has instituted policies including mandatory compliance of mask use and social distancing. The Indonesian government has put measures in place to limit large-scale gatherings and non-essential travel. These restrictions can vary in each province, city, and/or regency.
seems like the right place to come from
https://id.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/

Reply
David

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:33 pm

Seems TAT concentrate on quality not quantity.
1 rich tourist = ??? normal tourist ?
Is there any chance for already vaccinated tourists to come without quarantine?
03 days quarantine may perfect for vaccinated tourists.

Reply
Jim kelly

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 7:57 pm

ONE WORD HERE… “CUNTS!!”

Reply
- Joe
  
  Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 8:50 pm
  
  I don’t think Tim will be mentioning your comment in his weekly comment.
  
  Reply
luca

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 8:33 pm

a government spokesman tells the lies of the government, it is not clear if those in government are stupid or the governed are stupid, what escapes me is who is the recipient of the propaganda, after a year of closure and another year ahead which will be same closed which Thai is still waiting for the arrival of foreign tourists? a fool?

Reply
James R

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 10:18 pm

Why does everyone get so angry about this.

So a hotel resort will receive 70 guests, they pay, the hotel gets some money and that is that, why are so many people against this?

Tourism is dead in most courses in the world so if a hotel with its own restricted facilities and is thus better equipped to contain its guests can make a few dollars then what has it got to do with the farang moaners on this site?

Is it something do with the fact they are rich and you are envious ?

Reply
- Frank
  
  Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 10:32 pm
  
  Word up James R.
  
  Reply
  - James R
    
    Friday, February 19, 2021 at 3:06 am
    
    Frank
    
    What does “word up mean”?
    
    Oh, maybe you are an American and I forgot to use the word Awesome in every sentence or were you referring to an obvious ‘courses’ and not ‘countries” typo?
    
    Reply
- Issan John
  
  Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 12:33 am
  
  Agreed, James R – what harm does it do? Why not?
  
  Reply
  - James R
    
    Friday, February 19, 2021 at 3:13 am
    
    Issan John
    
    It gives some of the farangs something to moan about.
    
    Some of them are so miserable I wonder why they want to stay in Thailand, why don’t they mope off back to their own country?
    
    Reply
London Al

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 10:27 pm

This has to be a freebie because I don’t believe a single rich person is going to be confined in a room anywhere for 5 days then be trapped in a resort for the next 10 days, also as John says they’re not going to fly in a 70 person bubble in a chartered aircraft from Indonesia to Phuket.

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 12:57 am
  
  Wow – we agreed on something, London AI 😮
  
  I doubt it’s a “freebie”, and I still see nothing wrong with it at all as it’s win-win, but any suggestion that these are “70 wealthy foreign tourists” who have “been travelling together in a “bubble”” winging their merry way around the world together in a chartered aircraft, last stop Bali next stop Phuket, falls apart as soon as you scratch the surface.
  
  How did the “70 wealthy foreign tourists” get into Bali in the first place when Bali’s been closed to “foreign tourists” for nearly a year? 😮
  
  Reply
  - Andre
    
    Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 4:26 am
    
    It is bubble of 70 businessmen coming to Phuket to get inoculated by the first delivery of vaccines to Thailand. Just to spin the conspiracy further. First shipment of vaccines arriving soon and some very wealthy people arriving at the same time – it cannot be coincidence?
    
    Reply
    - Issan John
      
      Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 9:35 am
      
      Arriving from a country that is already in the second phase of its vaccination programme, coming to one which has no vaccines yet.
      
      A minor point …
      
      Reply
  - Ray
    
    Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 4:51 am
    
    There are rich people from many countries who live all year round in Bali. Numerous swanky villas are owned by foreigners. It is not unlikely that they socialize with each other and thought it to be better to stay in Phuket when the virus is rampant in Indonesia. Moreover, the health care system on Bali is perhaps not as good as in Phuket. A travel bubble from Bali with a charter flight to Phuket is not strange at all.
    
    Reply
Arizona

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 10:59 pm

Now vaccination against
covid is becoming widely available in the USA, well those people be allowed to enter Thailand with their documents showing their vaccinations?

Reply
Ian

Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 1:27 am

How do we define wealth
If you are super rich you have your own aircraft these people are just business men and women at best so notes let get excited it’s just another false hope in a country of false hopes

Reply
Mr cynic

Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 3:51 am

I agree,the real wealthy have their own private jets and they would also have their private yacht’s sat in the harbour awaiting their arrival.
70 rich people club together,rent a jet then broadcast to the world exactly were they are sitting for the next fortnight safe in the knowledgeable they are surrounded by destitute starving peasants and ineffective police,don’t think so.

Reply
- Toby Andrews
  
  Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 9:49 am
  
  They might bring their private doctors with them to stick cotton buds up their private noses.
  
  Reply
EdwardV

Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 4:33 am

It’s not anger or jealousy, it more about the fun in poking more holes into what is clearly a fictional story out of the government. It’s similar to the first set of tourists to return. You remember, the 50 or so tourist out of China that were flying to Phuket. Only to turn out and be about 40 people returning to their businesses and families while landing in BKK. After all this group isn’t really doing anything anyone else can’t do right now. Maybe not with as much style, but pretty much all of us can travel to Thailand right now if we wanted. However, the idea there are some 70 multinationals traveling the world in their “bubble” group on private charters is hard to believe. No doubt some parts of the story are made up for public consumption. They want the locals to not worry as Thailand begins the process of re-introducing mass tourism. Might have been better to not scare the crap out of them to begin with, but that bridge has already been crossed.

Reply
Andre

Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 4:56 am

Now that is interesting: Guess which luxury resort they are visiting? Sri Panwa – now for anyone following Thai news for some time that should ring a little bell.

Reply
- Andre
  
  Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 5:01 am
  
  For those not following the news it’s just to google around a bit, and don’t miss those parts about the owner being a royalist. How can he NOT get an approval from CCNA administered by Pinocchio himself? And that is leaving out all about the land enroachment case. Now imagine how much more fun it would be reading Thai news if Thailand had some really good investigative journalism.
  
  Reply
- Andre
  
  Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 5:01 am
  
  For those not following the news it’s just to google around a bit, and don’t miss those parts about the owner being a royalist. How can he NOT get an approval from CCNA administered by Pinocchio himself? And that is leaving out all about the land enroachment case. Now imagine how much more fun it would be reading Thai news if Thailand had some really good investigative journalism.
  
  Reply
  - Issan John
    
    Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 9:14 am
    
    “Approval” for what?
    
    It’s ALSQ, it’s as simple as that, and it’s been available at a price since the system started at hundreds of hotels and resorts.
    
    As Ed V says, it’s easy to pick holes in the story but the idea that it has anything to do with “the owner being a royalist” so it must be about corruption or nepotism isn’t just missing the whole point and seeing something that isn’t there, but it’s absurd.
    
    Reply
    - Andre
      
      Friday, February 19, 2021 at 1:07 am
      
      It’s absurd, but so is Thailand
      
      Reply
Grumpy John

Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 4:58 am

“Definition of skepticism
1: an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object
2a: the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain
b: the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism characteristic of skeptics
3: doubt concerning basic religious principles (such as immortality, providence, and revelation):” Merriam-Webster

After a year of waffling on by various government officials and questionable academics my bullshit meter and attitude are in the Red zone when it comes to any new news release and what they say. Of course things started looking shaky when the chosen one….”Prayut” started out offering the people more hope for the future then quickly turned more Gangster than Grandeur. Now I wear skepticism like armour !

Reply
Baroness

Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 4:58 am

S.E Asia is not a playground for rich people. Houses in Ubud are for wealthy but not for rich people. At this time of the year they are jet setting to Hawaii, the Caribbean, Palm Beach to Mar-e-Lago and the Breakers. For those who practice winter sports, they are in Aspen, Vail, St. Moritz and Gstaad. Then early May they’ll move to Monaco, Ibiza and St. Tropez. No quarantaine for them, it’s against their “religion”.

Reply
lawrence Archuleta

Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 5:08 am

Just look in the bali newspapers headlines 90% of mask rule violators in badung regency are foreigners am not saying all are bad here in phuket ther are good people but plenty of the eastern block tourest on extented visas dont wear mask here in phuket and when you say somthing they repley that that dont apply to them with ther nose up, the bali people are great hosts but ther tired of them look out here they come to phuket !!!

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 9:19 pm
  
  I’m just waiting for the BiB to follow the Bali police example and have them doing press ups on the spot in the street if they don’t wear masks.
  
  Reply
Andy W

Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 4:43 pm

I’m pleased if this happens but as it’s been agreed for the main part of a year and only now are they getting (possibly) 70 people, I hope they understand this isn’t going to change the face of tourism in Thailand.

Reply
Issan John

Friday, February 19, 2021 at 11:41 am

The only danger with the “villa quarantine” as it’s now reportedly to work is their use of not just “spa and sport facilities” but “the facilities throughout the resort” =bars, restaurants, etc) that bring them into contact with hotel staff who aren’t quarantined themselves – the potential issues should be obvious.

Reply
Amy Sukwan

Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 6:49 pm

Thai thinking from the TAT amazes me daily. Wow. They’re rich! Are you going to publish their names on the internet too? Surely these 70 people (who I’m assuming, had to be cobbled together from all over the world due to low demand for this scheme) in a closed environment, will generate the same demand as 700,000 or 7 million in an open environment. The souvenir seller on the corner needs to open shop again for them! Surely they can buy enough t-shirts…once they’re out of quarantine…or do they just go back to their home country once they’re done?

Reply
Jeremiah Scanlon

Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 10:33 pm

Screw the rich tourists, what about the many people like myself, married 25 years in Thailand, Pink Falang ID card, home, wife and family (and my whole life there) and because I was on a business trip to UK, wound up in hospital (heart attack), by the time I got fitness to fly clearance we were in lockdown. 15 months later still in UK.
Seriously thinking of pulling my family out of Thailand.

Reply

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Caitlin Ashworth

Caitlin Ashworth is a writer from the United States who has lived in Thailand since 2018. She graduated from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies in 2016. She was a reporter for the Daily Hampshire Gazette In Massachusetts. She also interned at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia and Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida.

Drugs

Early morning drug busts in Phuket yield 9 arrests

Published

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Friday, March 5, 2021

Ann Carter

Early morning drug busts in Phuket yield 9 arrests | The Thaiger

An early morning drug bust in Rawai, Phuket has yielded 9 arrests. The first raid yesterday consisted of 30 task force members who raided a sea gypsy shack near the beachfront in Rawai.

43 year old Saroch Homhuan, and 34 year old Juree Bangjak, were arrested and charged with posession of a Category I drug with the intent to sell, after police found 9 pills of methamphetamine, or yaba in Thai, over 6 grams of crystal meth, or ya ice in Thai, and 3 other “items of evidence.”

31 year old Suriyan Na Takuathung, and 29 year old Prathip Areerop, were arrested and charged with possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell, and possession of a Category 5 drug respectively. Police say they found 20 pills of methamphetamine, 0.92 grams of dried marijuana and 5 items of drug paraphernalia.

Police also raided 2 houses in Moo 2, arresting 5 suspects, named as 21 year old Vikrom Kongwiriyakul, 32 year old Narunat Chanthamuwong, 18 year old Chanchai Damrongkaset, a woman named Chantha Hansaithong, and 21 year old Warut Rodphan.

Warut was allegedly found with a bottle containing 500 millilitres of kratom juice. Police also say they seized 150 grams of kratom leaf dregs which are used to boil leaves in order to make the juice. Police charged him with posession of a Category 5 drug.

Police say they confiscated a total of 13 litres of kratom juice from 4 other suspects, which was contained in 10 bottles along with other ingredients and equipment to produce the drug cocktail called ‘4×100.’

All 9 suspects were taken to the Chalong Police Station in which only 1 agreed to undergo drug rehabilitation.

The raids come after the Phuket Provincial Government ordered officers of the Muang District Office to target villages where drugs are prevalent. A spokesman for the government said police will continue to remove drug traffickers from the community while working to improve the quality of local people’s lives so they don’t have to use drugs anymore.

SOURCE: The Phuket News

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Tourism

Thailand to introduce “area quarantine” for international visitors from April

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PHOTO: Andreas M on Unsplash

From next month, foreign visitors to the Kingdom will be able to experience the delights of “area quarantine”, after the government confirmed the scheme for 5 provinces. Following a meeting with the Public Health Ministry, the Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed that Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri (Pattaya), and Surat Thani (Koh Samui and Koh Pha-ngan) have been chosen to pilot the scheme.

Foreign tourists opting for area quarantine will be required to remain in their hotel rooms for the first 3 days of their stay. They will be tested for Covid-19 and, if negative after 3 days, will be allowed to leave their room and roam freely around the resort for the remainder of their 14-day quarantine. At the end of the 14-day period, they will once again be tested for the virus and, if negative, allowed to travel around the quarantine area.

In order to avail of the scheme, tourists will still need to fulfil the other requirements for travel, including obtaining a Certificate of Entry, a negative Covid-19 test 72 hours prior to travel, and adequate health insurance. Nation Thailand reports that the area quarantine plan will be run by 29 travel agencies, under TAT supervision.

The area quarantine scheme comes as the TAT hails the success of the first “golf quarantine” scheme, which operates in a similar manner. Travellers from countries considered “low-risk” for Covid-19 can come to Thailand for a golf holiday at approved golf resorts in the Kingdom. Conditions are similar to those attached to area quarantine, with the golfers having to spend the first 3 days in their room, test negative for the virus, and then enjoy free rein of the resort, with a few rounds of golf thrown in.

Thailand’s economy has been decimated by the fallout from the pandemic, in particular the loss of international tourism. The current mandatory 14-day quarantine period is seen as the biggest hurdle to overcome in order to re-ignite the sector. In 2019, international tourism contributed 2 trillion baht out of a total 3.01 trillion baht tourism trade. In the same year, tourism made up 17% of Thailand’s GDP.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand

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Tourism

Phuket’s nightlife. Yes, bars and clubs are still open | VIDEO

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There was the original Covid-19 outbreak and lockdowns back in April and May in 2020, then again just before Christmas and New Year when the new clusters emerged in Samut Sakhon and the eastern coastal provinces, Patong’s nightlife was quiet enough, almost non-existent.

Now when the restrictions are lifted, Nimz will take you through Phuket’s famous nightlife spot Bangla Road, Patong Beach and Phuket Town. It’s quiet, but there are still clubs open and operating and ready to welcome you.

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