Officials predict 600,000 tourists to Phuket following reopening

[Thaiger]

Despite recent predictions lowering expectations to between 9,000 and 10,000 international arrivals in July, and about 7,000 tickets booked in the latest available statistics, officials announced they expect more than 600,000 tourists to arrive between July and September after the reopening of Phuket. The ambitious prediction comes with an expectation of about 15 billion baht in revenue for the financially devastated island. The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects to pull off these numbers by attracting an estimated 129,000 international travellers arriving over the next 3 months as the Phuket Sandbox reopens the borders and a prediction of about half a […]

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[Poolie]

Perfectly achievable. 42,000 per month on 10 airlines plus domestic travellers. Other now restricted countries may contribute in the meantime too. 

Good luck with it.

[RGA]

Half a million domestic Thai tourists. How do they come up with that. They entry requirements haven’t been changed from the last 2 months. Still no domestic tourist to speak of.

[Saint]

Why are none of the news articles since the June 18 announcement not talking about alcohol in restaurants in Phuket? Is the ban lifted effective June 22 or not? 

[King Cotton]

51 minutes ago, RGA said:

Half a million domestic Thai tourists. How do they come up with that.

Yes, the quiz question of the day, for sure, pretty much like every other new announcement from this lost-at-sea government.

 

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[KaptainRob]

1 hour ago, Saint said:

Why are none of the news articles since the June 18 announcement not talking about alcohol in restaurants in Phuket? Is the ban lifted effective June 22 or not? 

Good question.  Perhaps waiting for confirmation as some of these Bangkok orders may be over-ridden by Provincial Governors.

 

[King Cotton]

1 hour ago, Saint said:

Why are none of the news articles since the June 18 announcement not talking about alcohol in restaurants in Phuket? Is the ban lifted effective June 22 or not? 

Hello, Saint and welcome to Thaiger Talk. A fair question and KaptainRob will offer an answer, as above.

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[Robert2020]

whats the difference between North Korea and Phuket?
they both track your every movement
they both restrict what part of the country you can visit
they both have horrible economies and very little options for eating out
The only difference is Phuket has nice beaches and North Korea has open bars
But they both don't care about happy tourists
 

[King Cotton]

3 minutes ago, Robert2020 said:

But they both don't care about happy tourists

Yes, valid comparisons, there.

 

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[EdwardV]

3 hours ago, Slugger said:

Perfectly achievable. 42,000 per month on 10 airlines plus domestic travellers. 

Why would your think that? Phuket to date has struggled to get more than a trickle of domestic tourists over the last year. Now they expect 500K over three months in the low season. You do know the definition of insanity right? Even just the 129K in foreign tourist while incredibly low is questionable. That’s just over 1,400 per day yet in other articles Thailand only expects about 100 in the first week. In addition, there is only about 7K signed up to date for the entire 3 month period. To be fair most people might still be waiting, but packages have been sold for for quite some time. Personally I’d rather just wait till mid October when the entire country will be open with few restrictions. Why jump all the hoops and pay extra to sit on a beach and get rained on when October is right around the corner?

[satpete]

if a region will get tourists there has to be special offers

and not special very expensive restrictions like 3 more PCR tests

[Bonanzo]

All very well but still nothing is decided and nothing is official.

The embassies know nothing about it, and so nobody can register for the COE under this scheme.

Also there is no indication anywhere as to what countries fall into the low and medium risk countries.

With so much in uncertainty so close to the kick off date,  and no possibility of getting the COE, where are all these thousands of tourists going to come from?

[satpete]

it may be decided on Monday
but next week it will change too,

you will go for COE but in the meantime
everything changed before you get it

[Dave]

I was planning on going to Phuket in early August with my Thai wife, as we are relocating to Chiang Mai and thought this would be less restrictive than other locations where a strict quarantine would be required.  Now we find out that the Phuket Sandbox cannot be used by Thai nationals,  As things have changed so much, we have given up on the idea of Phuket and will just quarantine probably in Bangkok.  We needed the certainty of our trip and the Phuket Sandbox could not do that.  We will hope things will change for the better by the time we travel but at least we know what the worst case scenario will be.

[satpete]

this is why Thai government likes its own citizens so much

[Micky]

I am hoping to fly to Phuket from the UK via Doha, is this classed in accordance with the Sandbox regulations?

 

Thanks

Micky

 

 

[BIGGLES]

I'm  afraid this "Sandbox"  idea is going to be a non starter.

It's  too complicated, over burdensome, bureaucratic, restrictive and plain stupid.

Fully vaccinated people do not need to jump through these hoops.

produce your proof of vaccination and one  negative test result taken within 72 hours of arrival, that's it.

So simple, but oh no, some inscrutable Thai bueruacrat thinks they have found a way to screw the "dirty farang"! That's  before the Taxi Maffia, double pricing etc.etc.

Remember, the place is DEAD,  just look at any youtube video. 

They should be giving the Farang tourist ( dirty or otherwise) incentives to go and give them our money, not restrictions.

How about pay for one night and get two nights free ( full board). LMAO!

 

[King Cotton]

9 hours ago, Bonanzo said:

With so much in uncertainty so close to the kick off date,  and no possibility of getting the COE, where are all these thousands of tourists going to come from?

Good question and one that will soon come to haunt the TAT.

 

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[RJBT]

If they have 60 thousand by September it will be a miracle

[Scotty]

Interesting. Another post today reports 129,000.  Seriously, if they get 5,000 they'll be doing well. I can't help thinking this (sandbox) will be the fiasco that will give them the excuse to close the country for the rest of 2021.  I hope I'm wrong.

[King Cotton]

12 hours ago, Dave said:

We will hope things will change for the better by the time we travel but at least we know what the worst case scenario will be.

Difficulties for sure, Dave. Let's hope your travel plans progress with no further worries.

 

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[King Cotton]

9 hours ago, Micky said:

I am hoping to fly to Phuket from the UK via Doha, is this classed in accordance with the Sandbox regulations?

Thanks

Micky

It looks like TJampman has some positive comments on your query.

 

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[King Cotton]

1 hour ago, Scotty said:

Interesting. Another post today reports 129,000.  Seriously, if they get 5,000 they'll be doing well. I can't help thinking this (sandbox) will be the fiasco that will give them the excuse to close the country for the rest of 2021.  I hope I'm wrong.

I hope you're wrong, too!

 

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[Grumpyoldman]

Not a word has been mentioned about the policy of enforced hospitalisation for positive cases irrespective of illness. 

 

If the potential visitors are aware of this policy they won't come. If they are not aware they will be furious if it happens and word will get out very quickly.

 

Apart from that..... the people in charge don't seem to understand the concept of a relaxing holiday and what Westerners look for. They don't  appreciate that to go through the coe process, covid test x2, extra insurance, restrictions on movement for various periods for various reasons, mask wearing 24/7, no entertainment, no alcohol, compulsory tracking, unpleasant isolation if tested positive all make for a stressful and unrelaxing HOLIDAY. The normal 12hr+ flight and 18-24 hours total travel time is bad enough.

 

A vaccinated visitor is probably the least risk to Thailand but they treat them like they are the highest.

 

This will be another FAIL.

[King Cotton]

45 minutes ago, Grumpyoldman said:

This will be another FAIL.

Yes, you may well be right, there are so many uncertainties bearing on the sandbox issue.

 

Hello, Grumpyoldman - I thought that was my role! - and welcome to Thaiger Talk

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