It was perhaps the irony of all ironies that it was yesterday, World Tourism Day September 27th, that Thailand was literally braced for yet another anouncement about visa amnesties, visa exemptions and just WHEN the magical tourist $ faucet would be opened again.
You see, Thailand with it's population of 70 million people last year received 40 million tourists. Since the 1970's brought the first rash of Vietnam war military on furlough to "play", tourism has arguably been as important to the economy as rice, if not more so.
Until Covid. Borders have been firmly CLOSED since early March and even Thai nationals wanting to come home are on a looooong waiting list. Meanwhile the Thai economy is in absolute freefall, with a rising suicide rate and a whole strata of society sitting completely idle. No pensions or benefits here. In the Old City of Chiang Mai - a 720 year old walled moated city - it's no exageration to say more than 50% of the businesses have closed for good. Most days, not more than 30% of the stores are even open. Many hotels and spas are planning for a "soft opening" in October. But unsure and all very vague. Some are just staying closed till November, Christmas or the New Year.
And so everyone is talking, incessantly, about when will the tourists come back.
And yesterday the announcement didn't come. Nor did it come today. But there WAS a back-door media leak that suggested October will see a very small number of tourists return, after they are duly Covid tested 3 times (2 different types of test), complete the mandatory government quarantine at their own not inconsiderable cost, sign up for the Track&Trace app and show evidence of USD $100,000 medical insurance which specifically includes Covid19.
Like so many people grasping at straws and desperate for some cash flow, I took a peek at the leaked news:
Dr Thaweesin Visanuyothin, CCSA’s spokesperson, said that all travellers permitted to enter the country must abide by the strict 14 days of state quarantine measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The six groups are as follows:
- Foreign athletes who participate in the Chalerm Prakiat International Cycling Race from Samut Songkhram to Suratthani on October 6-16. The group will be under 14 days of state quarantine at the local hotel.
- A group of 340 Thai Airways pilots and cabin crew on the repatriation flight to Thailand. The group will be under state quarantine as they operated in the US.
- Holders of non-immigrant types of visa, who are businesspeople without a work permit and are willing to enter Thailand for business purposes by providing a six-month bank statement, equivalent to at least 500,000 baht.
- Holders of Special Tourist Visa which the prime minister will discuss with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies for the policy.
- Approximately 100,000 of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Cardholders from low-risk countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, China, and Hong Kong.
- Foreigners who wish to stay in Thailand for 60 days can extend the duration for an extra 30 days by providing a six-month bank statement, equivalent to at least 500,000 baht, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for permission.
The CCSA also approved a proposal for the Badminton World Federation (BWF) tour in Thailand which will be held on January 2021, said Dr Thaweesin. Source
What's really new and different is what's perceived as a tourist, and the new income in the bank needing to be verified by a bank statement. 500,000 THB on today's exchange is USD $15,800.
It's a far cry and a radical shift from the backpacker tourists of Khao San Road in Bangkok of just last year who thought $50 in thier back pocket was a fortune and have been happily sharing $6 dormitories with shared bathrooms.
So the new 'tourists' need to pay not just approximately USD $2,000 for their 2 weeks of government quarantine and show evidence of their robust $100K covid-inclusive global health insurance, but they ALSO have to have another $15,800 on deposit to be considered for what was previously a $30 visa on arrival tourist visa. On top of flight prices which have gone up about 500%.
Oh my how things are changing!
On the plus side we will have a global badminton event. Oh joy. 😆
For our Thai business friends barely holding on and heavily in debt, tomorrow's announcement will be devastating. For people itching to leave places like the US, it's a shock and suddenly out of reach of most. For the Thai economy, it's a serious piece of hard-to-swallow reality: that there won't be many people here, anytime soon.
Those of us long-termers who live here, when we stop panicking about not having any money and the concerns of visa renewal, actually love Thailand without the tourist hordes. Mother Earth, too, is thrilled and recovering beautifully. The dophins and the green turtles are coming in close to shore again, and the magnificent tropical reefs are regenerating. But people are starving, and in a country with no unemployment benefits or pensions, poor job opportunities and little social infrastructure, it's devastating.
We need to reconsider the idea of tourism and travel. The Why & When & How needs a total rethink.
It WAS unsustainable the way it was, and The Great Pause has given the space to rethink. But turning it off altogether?
The statement from the United Nations put it rather well:
On this World Tourism Day, the COVID-19 pandemic represents an opportunity to rethink the future of the tourism sector, including how it contributes to the sustainable development goals, through its social, cultural, political, and economic value. Tourism can eventually help us move beyond the pandemic, by bringing people together and promoting solidarity and trust – crucial ingredients in advancing the global cooperation so urgently needed at this time. Source
Love to hear YOUR thoughts about tourism and travel: how has it affected you, and what do you think the future holds?
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