General Reports

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2606596]Thanks for the clarification there are so many ideas being thrown out by these leaders tough to keep track I guess they got so much criticism with the word bubble they started to be creative with names like " sandbox " I remember now about that particular program what I do know that was in fact the program a few days prior to the first plane arriving which they were making successful claims the had to admit they had no application yet a week or so later the first arrived with a bit over 100 passengers?

While they favor the Chinese so much everyone else had to jump through hopes for a see. O. E. Even for those like myself have investments here and carry an IMMG-O for 15 years, even Elite Visa had pretty much done the same how is that program going? A year back it was much tougher to obtain the see. O. E. There was nothing in place from my conversation with other Expat the Thai Embassy didn't even answer the phone? It is also a head-scratcher for a country that didn't create the Virus and put forth a vaccine in record time with very little data approved by the W. H. O. Still demands so much caution when returning to China? Thanks.[/QUOTE]You keep saying this but it isn't true. Chinese people still have to do a COE. I talked to a Chinese person in Phuket and he had to do it. It only took me two days to get my COE. It goes through the embassy so maybe the Thai Chinese embassy is just efficient or has little to do right now. But they do have to do COEs.

And I say this as someone who pretty much hates everything that has to do with China. I think they will destroy everything that is good about SE Asia if given the chance.

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2606599]Nothing personal but that is what I'm trying to express everyone's situation is different. For the record, I here in Pattaya call it stuck whatever? I usually make a trip home to S. F. Once or twice a year particularly during the start of Chinese New Year, the last trip was at the beginning of 2020 as noted two weeks max I was lucky to leave when I did because by March it got bad and the lockdown. In reverse pretty much I owned in the States is gone particularly a resident so if a deadline isn't met by the Thai Embassy or a positive test prior to leaving for my scheduled flight that will cause a scramble to reset everything which includes the flight, hotel, etc.

My major reason for going home was to see my mother who passed away this March right after her 103rd Birthday, my little brother who is mentally challenged then my two nieces' financial Trust. My greatest resentment due to the pandemic I wasn't able to return and bury her personally with all the inconsistent obstacles in returning to Thailand. Leaving and not being able to return freely back to Thailand in a timely manner with a Thai family and its own problems not complaining puts things in reverse.[/QUOTE]I'm sorry about your mother, but it sounds like she lived a long life. 103? Wow.

I also understand hardship from this pandemic. I won't go into it here, but suffice to say my life was turned inside out.

Reports are that quarantine will be reduced to 7 days for vaccinated individuals on October 1.

[QUOTE=Explorer8939;2608920]Reports are that quarantine will be reduced to 7 days for vaccinated individuals on October 1.[/QUOTE]Hmmm, early 2022 is looking like a possibility.

[QUOTE=Turgid;2608951]Hmmm, early 2022 is looking like a possibility.[/QUOTE]It's 3 days to that the-day, it's not going to happen.

The Thai government still doesn't get it. A double vaccinated person is significantly less likely to test positive than a local Thai person at the moment. Any quarantine is pointless at the moment. Any Thais or foreigners with long term visas should be able to return to Thailand without quarantine. It is costly, a waste of time and achieves nothing.

The matter of whether to let tourists comes in is a more complicated. However the economy here is terrible right now. You would think it would be sensible to allow at least a small number in that have been double vaccinated. However, if there is even a 7 day quarantine those tourists are going to go somewhere else that has no quarantine. Thailand is not exactly the best place to go to at the moment, most tourists attractions are closed down or gone for good.

[QUOTE=MaxBkk;2608998]Thailand is not exactly the best place to go to at the moment, most tourists attractions are closed down or gone for good.[/QUOTE]That is why it doesn't really matter to the Thai economy if the quarantine is 14, 7, or 0 days. Even just curfew hours will keep many away.

I’ll come back when almost everything is open full hours and the primary restriction is proof of full vaccination.

[QUOTE=MaxBkk;2608998]The Thai government still doesn't get it. A double vaccinated person is significantly less likely to test positive than a local Thai person at the moment. Any quarantine is pointless at the moment. Any Thais or foreigners with long term visas should be able to return to Thailand without quarantine. It is costly, a waste of time and achieves nothing.
[/QUOTE]From my perspective the entire thing is pointless. I frequent countries such as Dominican Republic and Colombia where not even a test or vaccine is required to enter. There is no rash of tourists or locals returning home spreading covid in these places.

[QUOTE=MaxBkk;2608998]The Thai government still doesn't get it. A double vaccinated person is significantly less likely to test positive than a local Thai person at the moment. Any quarantine is pointless at the moment. Any Thais or foreigners with long term visas should be able to return to Thailand without quarantine. It is costly, a waste of time and achieves nothing.

The matter of whether to let tourists comes in is a more complicated. However the economy here is terrible right now. You would think it would be sensible to allow at least a small number in that have been double vaccinated. However, if there is even a 7 day quarantine those tourists are going to go somewhere else that has no quarantine. Thailand is not exactly the best place to go to at the moment, most tourists attractions are closed down or gone for good.[/QUOTE]I understand what you're saying about quarantine, but these decisions are also political and it's more complicated than you are making it. Forcing people to quarantine basically allows the govt to say that the foreigners didn't bring it with them. They got it in Thailand just like the locals do. Having no quarantine makes it so that Thais could say the foreigners are bringing it in and then the politicians get blowback. Even a double vaccinated person can still get sick and carry the virus and all it would take is one super spreader event for the politicians to get hammered. They are in a no-win situation, so they are trying to have some kind of quarantine to keep sick people from brining in more virus while also allowing enough freedom to lure tourists. It obviously isn't working, but it's not as simple as just saying "No Quarantine!" That said, I think they should make it easier for long stay visas and those kinds of things. Those people have been long-term supporters of the economy.

I really don't know what the answer is, but I get the issue is complex and very political. I would personally love to see them vaccinate everyone by mandate and open everything. The lack of tourism money really is a national emergency at this point. They have to get people here.

Let's get it!

[URL]https://aseannow.com/topic/1233166-thailand-to-scrap-quarantine-for-vaccinated-visitors-from-nov-1/[/URL]

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2609207]Let's get it!

[URL]https://aseannow.com/topic/1233166-thailand-to-scrap-quarantine-for-vaccinated-visitors-from-nov-1/[/URL][/QUOTE]This is good news, but be aware of what is being allowed and what's not. You still have to be double vaccinated, get a COE, stay in an approved hotel for seven days, get a PCR test before travelling and two while you are there, use a tracking app for the first seven days too. And the bars, clubs and gogo's will stay shut. Restaurants cannot serve alcohol too.

I'm also hearing chatter about the COE getting scrapped. But as usual the devil is in the details, even if the cabinet approves this nothing is final until it is published in the Royal Gazette.

[QUOTE=Downandup;2609294]This is good news, but be aware of what is being allowed and what's not. You still have to be double vaccinated, get a COE, stay in an approved hotel for seven days, get a PCR test before travelling and two while you are there, use a tracking app for the first seven days too. And the bars, clubs and gogo's will stay shut. Restaurants cannot serve alcohol too.[/QUOTE]If I was a vacationing visitor then I would not go anywhere near that place. It would be like taking a trip to 6 Flags when all the rides are shut down. Like an article that I read yesterday that they want Pattaya to be for business and leisure when it reopens, and not entertainment. I can not understand why these people are trying so hard to turn a golden goose into an old age regular egg laying hen. They refuse to acknowledge what draws people to Pattaya.

[QUOTE=Downandup;2609332]I'm also hearing chatter about the COE getting scrapped. But as usual the devil is in the details, even if the cabinet approves this nothing is final until it is published in the Royal Gazette.[/QUOTE]Zero chance the COE will disappear anytime soon.

[QUOTE=Explorer8939;2609633]Zero chance the COE will disappear anytime soon.[/QUOTE]I know of several interested singles, couples, and even families who will not be coming to Thailand. COE is just part of the reason. Until it is retired, no hope.