[QUOTE=EihTooms;2459473]In my case the Dr. said not to expect to notice any effects for about 2 weeks.
Where do you usually purchase your DHEA? Somewhere in Bangkok?[/QUOTE]Dr Olivier in Jomtien.
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[QUOTE=EihTooms;2459473]In my case the Dr. said not to expect to notice any effects for about 2 weeks.
Where do you usually purchase your DHEA? Somewhere in Bangkok?[/QUOTE]Dr Olivier in Jomtien.
Interesting article from IATA if you need to adapt your ticket purchasing strategy for your next long distance flights. Today there are relatively inexpensive tickets for BKK (probably from all destinations in the world). I think there is no point in rushing to buy tickets today. Unless you wish to use the possibilities of obtaining a credit or a travel deferral offered by the airlines. On the other hand it can move very quickly and strongly as soon as the countries will announce the "travel bubbles" from July, especially if the entrance conditions are favorable. But it is not sure because people seem very wait-and-see (cf the 2 graphics).
The current context allows to think the borders will soon open. First for certain categories of people in July (business, ....) then for tourists (probably since August). In France (therefore for Schengen I presume) from July 1 there will be a list of around 50 countries whose trips may be authorized as a destination. Thailand could be an eligible country because they have figures which show that they have well mastered the epidemic. Obviously it will be necessary to see what will be the conditions required by Thailand. There will be conditions of reciprocity which will undoubtedly be calibrated on the highest bidder.
In the article you will also see that the entrance conditions are becoming more precise and that there is a strong demand for homogenization of the processes with more or less rigid options. But we can see the trends (mainly recommendation to quit quarantine, statements of negative to covid or tests for departures and arrivals, masks, social distancing.... and maybe additional like health insurance).
These are just projections. They nevertheless seem to clarify and converge now.
[URL]https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2020/06/16/demand-for-long-haul-travel-remains-close-to-zero-iata/[/URL]
invalidated in the event of a new wave of covid-19.
Other opinions?
[QUOTE=XXL;2459670]Dr Olivier in Jomtien.[/QUOTE][URL]https://www.dr-olivier-clinic.com/[/URL]
[QUOTE=Pimpampoumpipo;2459755]Interesting article from IATA if you need to adapt your ticket purchasing strategy for your next long distance flights. Today there are relatively inexpensive tickets for BKK (probably from all destinations in the world). I think there is no point in rushing to buy tickets today. Unless you wish to use the possibilities of obtaining a credit or a travel deferral offered by the airlines. On the other hand it can move very quickly and strongly as soon as the countries will announce the "travel bubbles" from July, especially if the entrance conditions are favorable. But it is not sure because people seem very wait-and-see (cf the 2 graphics).
The current context allows to think the borders will soon open. First for certain categories of people in July (business, ....) then for tourists (probably since August). In France (therefore for Schengen I presume) from July 1 there will be a list of around 50 countries whose trips may be authorized as a destination. Thailand could be an eligible country because they have figures which show that they have well mastered the epidemic. Obviously it will be necessary to see what will be the conditions required by Thailand. There will be conditions of reciprocity which will undoubtedly be calibrated on the highest bidder.[/QUOTE]Right now Thailand is saying it will not open up to countries where there are relatively high levels of infections. If this remains in force it will be a long time before visitors from most Western countries are allowed in. It will not be possible for these countries to get to a situation where they are infection free for a period of time and will not happen until there is a widely available proven vaccine which means 2021. That's the current mind set but what happens when other countries are opening with less stringent conditions, countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar Malaysia Indonesia. The pressure on the uniforms will then grow to the point where they will have to change. Now the question becomes when will this happens? My own guess for what it's worth is October.
".... As a result, a large meeting has been scheduled with all relevant parties and the CCSA tomorrow, Sunday June 21,2020. This meeting is expected to directly address when and how entertainment venues can re-open. ".
Oh oh so soon we will maybe know: [URL]https://thepattayanews.com/2020/06/20/ccsa-to-meet-with-leading-nightlife-entertainment-bar-alcohol-industry-representatives-and-musicians-on-sunday-to-discuss-unlocking-entertainment-venues/?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=350cadceefd087833b484b1a6b4590cc00577ac9-1592628182-0-AUkQ7D15dBrEAmq4u3j7YbHpheAi4NBIkeY7yO8cR_yGcrSXi4kxI-L1w50DaOHY0d7xTjhm-nHjkHjNXR5e7VgR57c2tOnSwCMTY31aC9S-JerluT6dn8oZMOlbpBoMtGkqFvIlfiRLoJg_tDYlaK1xQp2bftNoeyQPoiapzXK0LlmWvsdUNCwAKzHwIWGhdvNwBrXCV3mw5ijTIyTuH0EHSjOo22croZTDsEAIzU0tJCrqRLTSfmFFf7dwmoZcRCASF9tiBpuNr4byDCUWHiR4G099L6KE1U8V-EnP9FAYFflXy5cR9BdLeJSau69IigYEOsNftb-z-PR03z8HiULSABx8F0K0GASKQ8AKjeC6Zd4_cIO_oZB4YByQ3nBHs8poOXQRnj3G49pUoYkOWf0OfPbPV_bKZreWi1gKsgs0g_6j3rZlLeFwqz22ysseRmQ-0M5IxoXGpHC05uVQlvFZZ9uqGYargVsizBx1AynpASbMYX5zZhVi-dLTaMnJ57pud1PqDl6qRSBVfft4zWZirIZ_kjIADqdH8B8dj4i5HA2kEam3w9IX6qHkvfQY32nuDXq[/URL].
Note that for the moment there are still no tourists in Pattaya (no "customers" to be more precise). It therefore remains possible that if this announcement is confirmed it will converge with the opening (more or less) of the borders.
(invalidated in the event of a new wave of SARS-CoV-2)
[QUOTE=Pimpampoumpipo;2459979]Note that for the moment there are still no tourists in Pattaya (no "customers" to be more precise). It therefore remains possible that if this announcement is confirmed it will converge with the opening (more or less) of the borders.[/QUOTE]It would not be possible for bars to stay in business if they continue to be closed until after tourists are allowed to return. It's looking like only a tiny number of people will be allowed into the country for the rest of the year.
In any case, this is for all of Thailand not Soi 6, Pattaya. I'd guess that almost every bar in Thailand is for Thai's and a very tiny proportion is for expats or tourists.
[QUOTE=Downandup;2459987]In any case, this is for all of Thailand not Soi 6, Pattaya. I'd guess that almost every bar in Thailand is for Thai's and a very tiny proportion is for expats or tourists.[/QUOTE]People are forgetting the 66 million Thais that live in Thailand. Today the beaches of Pattaya were full of Thais. I do not even want to think how many went over to Koh Larn today. I have never seen so many cars parked around Bali Hai Pier in my life. All the traffic is back to normal here with the exception of not having tour buses.
[QUOTE=Pimpampoumpipo;2459755]Interesting article from IATA if you need to adapt your ticket purchasing strategy for your next long distance flights. <snip>
[URL]https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2020/06/16/demand-for-long-haul-travel-remains-close-to-zero-iata/[/URL]
invalidated in the event of a new wave of covid-19.
Other opinions?[/QUOTE]My two baht: Not to be a bummer, but IMHO, save for any "travel bubbles" in the short term that you mention (and even those are uncertain, and if and when ever put in place, could be rescinded at a moment's notice, IMHO), I'm of the view that until there's a coronavirus vaccine, then things on the travel front (internationally for sure, as well as on a country-by-country domestic basis), will simply be upended.
Additionally, looking ahead to November 2020, as this article focusing on the IATA does, is of no utility, IMHO (note that the IATA is an organization representing and promoting the interests of the global travel industry rather than those exclusively of public health, and that this article is but a momentary snapshot representing the IATA view that more of an IATA public relations exercise pushing resumption of air travel with lessened quarantine restrictions at arguably the expense of public health, and consequently IMHO isn't much in the way of real news), because even in countries that have made relatively good progress in flattening the curve of new coronavirus infections, there are continuing and periodic flareups currently, and notably, looking down the road to November, the northern hemisphere winter (geographic source of many international travelers) beginning around November is predicted by public health experts to be a time when new virus flareups (corona and common influenza) can be expected, and countries that are not allowing entry of most if not all travelers from other countries at this moment would consequently be hard-pressed to justify entry of those same travelers during a heightened infection northern hemisphere winter virus season, IMHO. The only predictable thing will be that things will be unpredictable, save for the aforementioned "likely" northern hemisphere winter flareup thing in the immediate short / medium term, until vaccines or miracle drugs are confirmed and become widely and easily available. Peace out.
[QUOTE=Pimpampoumpipo;2459979]".... As a result, a large meeting has been scheduled with all relevant parties and the CCSA tomorrow, Sunday June 21,2020. This meeting is expected to directly address when and how entertainment venues can re-open. ".
Oh oh so soon we will maybe know: [URL]https://thepattayanews.com/2020/06/20/ccsa-to-meet-with-leading-nightlife-entertainment-bar-alcohol-industry-representatives-and-musicians-on-sunday-to-discuss-unlocking-entertainment-venues/?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=350cadceefd087833b484b1a6b4590cc00577ac9-1592628182-0-AUkQ7D15dBrEAmq4u3j7YbHpheAi4NBIkeY7yO8cR_yGcrSXi4kxI-L1w50DaOHY0d7xTjhm-nHjkHjNXR5e7VgR57c2tOnSwCMTY31aC9S-JerluT6dn8oZMOlbpBoMtGkqFvIlfiRLoJg_tDYlaK1xQp2bftNoeyQPoiapzXK0LlmWvsdUNCwAKzHwIWGhdvNwBrXCV3mw5ijTIyTuH0EHSjOo22croZTDsEAIzU0tJCrqRLTSfmFFf7dwmoZcRCASF9tiBpuNr4byDCUWHiR4G099L6KE1U8V-EnP9FAYFflXy5cR9BdLeJSau69IigYEOsNftb-z-PR03z8HiULSABx8F0K0GASKQ8AKjeC6Zd4_cIO_oZB4YByQ3nBHs8poOXQRnj3G49pUoYkOWf0OfPbPV_bKZreWi1gKsgs0g_6j3rZlLeFwqz22ysseRmQ-0M5IxoXGpHC05uVQlvFZZ9uqGYargVsizBx1AynpASbMYX5zZhVi-dLTaMnJ57pud1PqDl6qRSBVfft4zWZirIZ_kjIADqdH8B8dj4i5HA2kEam3w9IX6qHkvfQY32nuDXq[/URL].
Note that for the moment there are still no tourists in Pattaya (no "customers" to be more precise). It therefore remains possible that if this announcement is confirmed it will converge with the opening (more or less) of the borders.
(invalidated in the event of a new wave of SARS-CoV-2)[/QUOTE]Opening borders and opening entertainment venues I feel are separate issues. Agree it's pointless opening bars and gogo's in Pattaya unless you also open borders as there will be few customers for these business's but the majority so called entertainment venues are local. I can see pretty much everything back to the new normal in the country by July but with most western visitors still waiting for restrictions to ease.
[QUOTE=Pimpampoumpipo;2459755]Interesting article from IATA if you need to adapt your ticket purchasing strategy for your next long distance flights. Today there are relatively inexpensive tickets for BKK (probably from all destinations in the world). [/QUOTE]There may be tickets, but will there be flights? I've read plenty of accounts of people booking fights out only for them to be cancelled time and again (I think LittleBigMan had a relative who suffered this). Refund? Six months the airlines say.
[QUOTE=Pimpampoumpipo;2459755]The current context allows to think the borders will soon open. First for certain categories of people in July (business, ....) then for tourists (probably since August).[/QUOTE]There is a saying about the way things operate differently in Thailand "TiT" (This is Thailand).
Firstly you have a nation where from an early age the population are indoctrinated (some would say brainwashed) to be massively patriotic (some would say xenophobic) - as an example it is a mantra of many Thais that their country has never been invaded, conveniently overlooking the Burmese-Siam wars in the mid-18th century and events of December 1941. As an aside the English often claim not to have been invaded since 1066, overlooking the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688.
Secondly you have the structure of Thai society. Money and the power over decision making is vested in the military and a small cabal of "old money" families. The term "Elite" is often used, but I refuse to because the word means superior, and some of them are real buffoons. So what influences the decisions of these rich and powerful people? More money and more power! Both "old money" and "new money" people are tolerated so long as they play the game. If they buck the system they become persona non grata.
What do the above mean for travel? The first point is to illustrate that whatever becomes the "new normal" for International Travel, Thailand in so many ways didn't even conform to what westerners would view as the "old normal". The "never invaded" mentality will IMHO be applied to the virus and those in power will preen themselves at having seemingly prevented invasion by Covid, and will keep the drawbridge up and the portcullis down to keep it that way. Thai citizens are being repatriated slowly. I read that they have weekly flights booked for at least the next month from Egypt, so how long until the exercise is completed globally? Who knows. Then there are the foreign holders of marriage visas who are stranded abroad. Borders in the rest of the world opening up? Never mind, "TiT".
The second point is to emphasise that tourism, even though it is often cited as 18% of the economy (not all of that is International tourism), is not a huge earner for the decision makers. Far more to be made on infrastructure projects and monopolistic utilities. Just have a look at the ownership of the companies making up the consortium for the $9 billion UTapao airport expansion (which seems to be a Public Health project) and the hurdle being placed by the Navy who would have to provide most of the land for it and will demand a sizeable sum which is unlikely to be spent on ordinary seamen's salaries, ships or submarines.
Those in power have also seen that the drive for mass tourism from China brought relatively little money into Thailand, and particularly into their personal coffers. So much of it was so called "zero dollar" tours where the Chinese operator sells an all inclusive package and then screws down hotels, restaurants, bus and guide companies on price, particularly once they have become reliant on these tour groups for a high proportion of their business. Again no huge appetite to rush to open borders.
Another aside. Some use the volume of visitors from China (and particularly Wuhan) as a reason why Thailand "must" be lying about infection numbers, overlooking (or being completely ignorant of) the situation where Chinese tour groups generally only get near enough each other, hotel staff, tour guides and bus drivers to pass any lurgy that they are carrying. There were cases of infection in the last two of those categories. Get more than 5 metres from the guide with a flag on a radio aerial or umbrella? Nah.
So to summarise, IMHO inbound mass tourism, with the possible exception of countries with zero or near zero recent infections and with significant hurdles, is not on the Thai agenda for the next 3 months. For those willing to pay significant amounts for testing, quarantine, etc things may be different (Cambodia this week announced a $3,000 deposit from which will be deducted testing fees, transport fees, hotel & meal fees whilst awaiting test results and you still have to have $50,000 of medical cover for Covid on top). Beyond that? My view is that hard hit countries (of which sadly there are now so many) will not be visiting before high season (say November) and it may be far longer than that.
I don't claim to fully comprehend the Thai psyche and culture. However, I have learned enough to understand that I will never fully comprehend the Thai psyche and culture!
I understand your keenness to get back to Thailand, but you really cannot apply the world view of IATA to this country, now or ever. After all, "TiT".
And finally. Your biggest mistake? You asked for opinions! "Be careful what you wish for, you may receive it".
[QUOTE=Franciscass;2460133] back to the new normal... [/QUOTE]This sounds like a complex grammatical scenario of getting back to how is didn't use to be. Rather like the passage in The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy dealing with the grammatical problems of time travel. Extra participles are needed to describe things that one has already done but in a future time and also things that one has not yet done but when one does them they will be done in the past.
Sorry, I digress.
Bars and nightlife to open 1 July, subject to endorsement from the full CCSA (for which read the PM) next Friday, and also subject to the proviso that Provincial Governors still have the option to tighten restrictions beyond the National rules. [URL]https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1938576/ccsa-promises-reopening-of-nightlife-venues[/URL] . And of course a lot can change between now and then.
Public health guide for the wearing of masks in entertainment venues attached (and no, I don't have her contact details to pass on).
[QUOTE=GettingFedUp;2460211]
Public health guide for the wearing of masks in entertainment venues attached.[/QUOTE]And that's a very thoughtful gesture indeed!
[QUOTE=GettingFedUp;2460156]
I don't claim to fully comprehend the Thai psyche and culture. However, I have learned enough to understand that I will never fully comprehend the Thai psyche and culture!
I understand your keenness to get back to Thailand, but you really cannot apply the world view of IATA to this country, now or ever. After all, "TiT".
And finally. Your biggest mistake? You asked for opinions! "Be careful what you wish for, you may receive it".[/QUOTE]Can't argue with any of that GFU. Good assessment. Even November / December is overly optimistic for Farang visitors IMHO. Hope I am wrong.
[QUOTE=GettingFedUp;2460211]This sounds like a complex grammatical scenario of getting back to how is didn't use to be. Rather like the passage in The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy dealing with the grammatical problems of time travel. Extra participles are needed to describe things that one has already done but in a future time and also things that one has not yet done but when one does them they will be done in the past.
Sorry, I digress.
Bars and nightlife to open 1 July, subject to endorsement from the full CCSA (for which read the PM) next Friday, and also subject to the proviso that Provincial Governors still have the option to tighten restrictions beyond the National rules. [URL]https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1938576/ccsa-promises-reopening-of-nightlife-venues[/URL] . And of course a lot can change between now and then.
Public health guide for the wearing of masks in entertainment venues attached (and no, I don't have her contact details to pass on).[/QUOTE]Agree using the phrase getting back to something new is an obvious contradiction in terms. Lets leave it as just getting to whatever the new normal is. Incidentally I was also a fan of the The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy science fiction at its trippy best.
[QUOTE=GettingFedUp;2460156]The second point is to emphasise that tourism, [b]even though it is often cited as 18% of the economy (not all of that is International tourism)[/b], is not a huge earner for the decision makers. [/QUOTE]Listen man. You said that shit. I am at Jomtien Beach right now. I have never seen so many damn people here. Cars are lined up end to end on the street and people are lined up from end to end on the beach. (I do mean end to end because I drove the entire length.) And it was the same at Pattaya Beach before I drove over here.
Now I see why they were worried about people crowding the beaches if the had stayed open. I never saw near this many people when the place was open to foreigners. They have the banana boats and jetskis out for rent and the water is full of people. For mfs that think people are starving around here and these people can not make it in life without their money, then congratulations on fooling yourself.