The following is our exclusive weekly feature in which we ask our readers a news topical question and then give you a week to answer it on our various channels, compiling a diverse range of answers and opinions to present.
Last week, we asked you the following:
Some context around the question:
Do you think Thailand will truly open to foreign vaccinated tourists without quarantine in Quarter 4, likely mid to late October, as “promised” by the Thai Prime Minister?
First, you can read about this promise by clicking right here. Second, you can read about the Phuket Sandbox, which is a “test model” here. It’s important to remember this is a test and rules will likely change and loosen over time.
Now, we want to know what you think. Will Thailand open in October as promised? Keep in mind, the Prime Minister didn’t say pre-covid style, fly in and go where you want, rules are certain to be in place, but will it be easier than the sandbox? Should it even open if the Covid-19 situation is much the same as it is now? If it DOESN’T open, can the tourism and hospitality industry survive a second lost high season in a row? We want to know what YOU think.
Here is what you, our readers, had to say as our editors selected some of the most diverse responses to highlight different points of view. Some of the opinions were quite spirited!
Do you still want to chime in? Here is how:
Let us know in comments, on our social media, or mail us at Pattayanewseditor@gmail.com. Please keep in mind all comments below are those of the reader, and may not reflect those of The Pattaya News Company Limited.
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Jimmy R-This scamdemic and vaccination is one big joke. If you get vaccinated can you still contract covid, yes you can, can you still spread it? Yes, you can, can you travel without a PCR test which is another scam no you can’t so what’s the point of all this? More money for big pharma that’s the sum total of it. We all need to wise up the end of the story.
Ric U-Yes it will if 70% of Thais can be vaccinated by then… It is not about vaccinated tourists, it is about herd immunity here in Thailand IMO
Keith E-This Government is TOTALLY out of its depth in controlling this virus. They blame everybody and everything instead of getting on with the job of controlling it. The colorful graphs they put up every day are fooling NOBODY. I know HONESTY and THAIS are two words that don’t sit very well together in one sentence, but how about each province prints out by their Chief Health Officer a Daily number of infections ( NOT suspected infections ) but confirmed infections and where they are. The recovery rates are of NO importance ( a simple maths equation ) and the deaths by covid. By that, I don’t mean( old people with multiple health problems who are going to die shortly anyway ) but healthy people with no health problems who contract Covid, go into ICU and die from the virus. Also, the total number of Vaccinations carried out. That way we would get a transparent, HONEST picture, province by province of the REAL situation in Thailand. STOP THE LIES.
Andy H-We can live in hope for tourists this year.
The positive thing for us is that the prime Minister has announced it as his goal to open during Oct/November.
It’s really down to getting the vaccinations out there, which has had a few hitches, but I think we’ll have tourists without quarantine by November.
I’ve always been an optimist, so I’m used to being wrong. (smiley)
Alan S-I lived here for 6 years from 1965 -1971 and permanently from 2004 through the present. I never felt as though Thailand was a 3rd world nation. Until now. They have totally bungled the vaccination program more than any 3rd world nation. They just can’t get it together. Every day they say something different and the only normal here is change…even more so than the weather. The vaccination program has gone FUBAR. Sites that don’t open or are closed. Told to register at hospitals that know nothing about it when you get there. So sad that a nation like Thailand has fallen to such lows.
Huw J-Thailand did SO very well with its lockdown, closed border policies in the first 75% time period since this awful global pandemic. Certainly WAY better than my country UK, or many others. However, I’m not convinced it’s doing very well with the roll-out of vaccines in this hopefully final quarter chapter. Vaccines rollout for its own population and a vaccine passport for tourists is clearly the best way forward. Unfortunately, being able to explore some of the vaccine providers, and arising political issues is at best discouraged and/or illegal.
Kevin B-In America you can walk into a pharmacy and request 1 of 3 types of vaccinations. A stadium is set up for mass vaccination. In China, they are vaccinating 1 million people per day. Until the government takes this seriously then people will continue to suffer.
Somchai C-We can see now that border closures cannot stop the virus, even countries with very, very strict entry rules have all the new variants present and spreading locally.
No matter what we do, the virus will get in somehow, and it is enough to have one infected person to start a mass epidemic.
Only mass vaccination can stop covid.
Pete S-No. They will find a way to screw it up. Probably as soon as next week in Phuket – there will be a major disaster because of unhappy or unruly tourists and the whole “sandbox” notion will blow up. Meanwhile, if they just vaccinate people more quickly and let the people already here have a bit of fun and a beer in open-air bars then their bad planning would be a lot easier to accept.
Robert G-There’s not going to be enough tourists for 10-20% of businesses to open. I pray that I am wrong!
Aron- I do believe Thailand will open up in quarter four of this year. What rules will be in place is the real area of concern. As with the Phuket Sandbox scheme, the back and forth and uncertainty until the week of or days before has to go. All the rules and policies should be in talks now that way they can be provided to the masses well in advance and if need be, revisions can be made. Sure, revisions are not always bad and they usually adjust to the situation. Covid-19 is here to stay and vaccines are rolling out. Get an adequate vaccine plan rolling for those who want it and for those who are most vulnerable. In most countries with an adequate plan, the cases are dropping and I know this may shock some, but, the country is opening up, e.g., the USA where the epicenter of Covid-19 was just last year. It’s already been one gloomy year for the tourism and hospitality sector in Thailand. Irrevocable effects are where those two sectors are heading if there is no high season this year.
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