Another absolutely ridiculous failure coming out of Thailand as the government has decided to “delay” the starting date of their new Special Tourist Visa just 48 hours before the first tourists were due to arrive.
Even more stunning: The government is brazen enough to stand up and say there will be no refunds as per the terms and conditions of the program – sorry, not sorry!
Thing were already going way to smoothly for Thai standards and it was really just a matter of time before the proverbial manure hit the fan which pretty much sums up what happened once again.
As local news source Khaosod English reported the STV Visa has been “delayed” indefinitely (who knows if it will ever come live as planned).
The special visa would allow tourists to visit Thailand during the coronavirus pandemic was delayed indefinitely just 48 hours before it was supposed to come into effect.
Officials on Phuket, the tourist island slated to be the experimental ground for the visas, said on Tuesday preparations for receiving foreign tourists are not completed in time. A tourism agency chief confirmed the news on Wednesday, adding that the group of 300 Chinese tourists and businessmen who were scheduled to arrive in Thailand tomorrow would no longer be admitted due to the delay.
The government will not offer them any refunds for flights, accommodation, insurance, and other fees they already paid for the Special Tourist Visas, or STV, since the delay is not officially considered as a cancellation of the policy.
“It’s part of the conditions of the STV that they had to pay first,” Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn said by phone. “So, there’s no need for those refunds, because their trip is not cancelled, it’s just delayed.”
It is unclear how much the would-be visitors paid for their flights and stays in Thailand. Officials previously said the group of 300 Chinese would be holidaying in the Kingdom for months.
“The batch of tourists expected for tomorrow can’t come because we haven’t worked out all the details to receive them,” Narit Kanjanopas, Ministry of Tourism and Sport spokesman said Wednesday by phone.
But Yuthasak the tourism authority director said he’s confident the special visa will be implemented later this month after all necessary measures are in place. According to government reports, the next batch of tourists under the special visa program are also expected to arrive on Oct. 21 from Europe. …
So basically the Thai Government now decides when is convenient for you to take your trip and any previously made payments are just held until they deem it to be the right time to make good on their service sold.
This approach is absolutely grotesque! Not only is it missing any business ethics but also cause a lot of reputational damage to Thailand and their Thailand Longstay Company as a reliable travel partner. Who would book with them in the future and shell out thousands if they can’t even coordinate the first batch of a couple hundred people while having weeks to prepare?
I first wrote about the new process two weeks ago when it went live and have already called it disastrous back then. Little did I know it would actually turn out to be another epic embarrassment for the Thai Government and their responsible agencies.
To outline again, this is the whole process people interested in the STV have to follow:
To say this looks crazy is the understatement of the century but I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt if it at least works as planned. Well as it turned out it didn’t and fell apart.
Meanwhile the Bangkok Post reported about a poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) a well regarded university in Bangkok with focus on business.
It concluded that the majority (almost two third!) of those surveyed disagreed with the decision to put the tourist visa scheme in place and 40% were strongly opposed to it.
The random survey was conducted on Oct 1-2 on 1,318 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education and occupations throughout the country.
They were asked about the “special tourist visa” scheme allowing long-term stays by foreigners after 14 days in quarantine. The scheme is to be launched on Oct 8.
A majority, 56.98%, of respondents disagreed with it. Of these 40.21% were in total disagreement for fear of a second wave of Covid-19, saying they wanted the country to maintain its record of being able to contain the virus, while 16.77% disagreed to lesser degree, saying they did not have total confidence in the government’s preventive measures.
On the other side, 42.26% agreed with it, saying it would help spur the economy, revive tourism-related business and inject money into circulation, but there must be effective preventive measures in place. …
Asked about their confidence in the government’s ability to effectively prevent the spread of Covid-19 when the country is reopened to foreign tourists, a clear majority, 62.61%, said “no”.
This adequately displays the mood in the country which I have encountered myself by engaging in discussions with local people, having stayed put in Thailand since March 1st now.
Obviously the answers and positions depend largely on how much the individuals surveyed are actually reliant on tourism arrivals for their livelihood. In some cases I also had the impression that individuals didn’t understand the correlation between tourism arrivals and the long term effects on the Thai economy. Nevertheless the numbers are telling and worrisome.
The health ministry is in the meanwhile exploring if the quarantine period can be cut from 15 days to 10 days which would lower the cost and free up capacity of quarantine hotels in the country.
Conclusion
The Thai authorities must live in a fantasy world if they think this game of bait and switch with tourists can be played on a repeat basis. At some point there will be a credibility gap and after this episode I suspect there will be a strong hesitation by those who considered the process if it’s really a good idea to make advance payments if the responsible agencies can just roll over and say peek-a-boo.
In my last article I suggested to make any payments with credit cards if at all possible. In case things go sour like in this case one could always dispute the charge with the credit card company. However, doing so would likely impact future entry into Thailand. Bottom line is that the conduct displayed here, scrapping the arrival less than 48hr prior to arrival because “they aren’t ready” is unprofessional at best and a borderline scam at worst.
Sebastian is begging Thai authorities to revoke or not renew his visa with his overly emotional hot take. Hopefully he is smart and using a pseudonym.
Thailand is right to put lives over profits. Look at the USA for an example of exactly what not to do.
The only profits being made here are by all of these insurance companies profiting from all of the different insurance requirements in order to currently enter Thailand. This Special Tourist Visa is an overpriced ripoff scam and any “tourist” that applies for it is either super desperate to get back into the country because they have no other way in – or is someone that enjoys wasting tons of money and time. Thailand is putting irrational fear over livlihoods and lives. Starvation, homelessness, and crime will increase substantially if the economy remains closed.
Irrational? Not wanting people to die from a disease is irrational? I suppose the USA and the Magtards in charge are the example to follow huh? 210,000 dead and counting. I am an American expat living in Phuket….and I am happy the Thai government is keeping the door closed until a vaccine is available and worldwide cases drop. Thais feel the same. Keep your Covid having #sses home! Your paid Thai girlfriends will appreciate the extra time with their Thai boyfriends they aren’t telling you about.
Yank in PHfucket…really no women in the entire us for you? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
US is open for business dufus. We are not a culture of containment especially when we know the infectious disease mortality rate is 2 out of 1,000.
“We are not a culture of containment especially when we know the infectious disease mortality rate is 2 out of 1,000.”
Which is why the USA, the richest and most powerful country in history, leads the world with over 210,000 dead and counting. Trump and your fellow Trump worshippers have been reckless and have gotten people killed. Meanwhile, a lot of Thais are alive who would not be otherwise had the Thai govt. followed MAGA epidemic protocols.
Do we actually know which United executives have been employed by Thailand? As we all know, they are experts on screwing customers and violating agreements.
Rumor is it’s a group of employees from CP. But as we say, TIT – This is Thailand. If you expect things to go right, you haven’t been around long enough.
I used to come to blk every 4 weeks for business but now I don’t see anything being done for business people to come back to get the economy moving…it is only about tourists……business people are move likely to follow rules than tourist that come only for a good time…vietnam is doing the contrary..getting business people and investment in and waiting later for tourists…maybe someone should learned….
I’m shocked so many people signed up for it.
This is a very bad look for Thailand on so many levels. Makes you wonder what we don’t hear or see from behind the scenes. First that comes to mind is aviation safety.
LOL! Chinese tourists. The country has a horrible COVID 19 problem ongoing and to top it off, a bubonic plague problem now. Who knows what else is going on as the CCP is very good at covering up the truth. Thailand, get ready for more problems! The Thai economy is on the verge of a complete collapse. Hopefully it’ll take down the military dictatorship as well.
The last sentence is what I’m hoping for also! I have a wife in buriram she says it’s not like Bangkok. In other words f’ed up she was being nice!
Whole world knows COVID19 are originated from Fort Detrick bio lab at Maryland. Oh yes, you know who is the real killer of Kennedy bros right? LoL
Ok wumao, whatever you say. Say hello to Winnie the Pooh for me.
Trump supporter spotted LoL 🤡
I knew it … With Thailand we win …. 😂😂😂😂😂
Better get some Mainlanders !
I Won’t ever return to TH….
‘’Thai health minister blames ‘dirty’ Western tourists for country’s coronavirus cases ‘’
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3076758/thai-health-minister-blames-dirty-western-tourists
Hi, I am from Canada and have been going and investing tons of money in Thailand over several years. I met along the way, my true life partner and now our plans to marry and build a house in Nan have been shattered. It is unconscionable that the govt (DICTATORSHIP) has no clue or plan to assist people like us, let alone the millions of people how want to go back. FYI, my plan is to retire in Thailand and spend hundreds of million of baht and spend my life with her and support her family but, the bizarre govt (fake)…..doesn’t care about people like me….
More fool you 555
You can get an investor visa from 5 million THB and will be able to enter. APEC business card holders have it even easier.
U idiot,cannot own 51%,as soon as deal done,she bored u gone,cant go to court,stop the bleeding $ now,or join 1000,s who learned hard way in last 50+yrs.
Thailand post Covid is clearly planning to focus on mass Chinese tourism. Thailand will look quite different as a tourism destination 10 years from now
Hopefully the ‘’dirty westerners’’ will stay away. They really hate us
Thailand has dropped from 3rd World; down to the 4th World. Unbelievable. Do their government officials have university degrees?
Yeah, the ones you can buy online.
Glyn007
Bro, why you are still living here? Like 4th world? Please leave.
When it’s all said and done the tourist will just pick another place to spent money. Alot of tourist have been frustrated with how we have been getting treated over the years. Some of us come year after year staying for months spending large somes of money only to be over charged and to have to read news headlines that we are “dirty farangs”. If I remember correctly this whole thing started from China’s inhumane markets. It’s funny to see China being the first back. Also how did the number go from 1200 chinese tourist to 300. Beyond that to think 1200 chinese business men would help the economy is a joke.When holiday season comes and goes with no tourist they’ll be begging anyone who will listen to come back. For us it’s just a vacation but for the Thai it’s literally survival. So what will Thailand do when the world finds another paradise? Because we are on the verge taking our money and finding another place very similar to the king. Maybe we should let them resolve the political issues at hand before they can worry about tourism.
If you are not ‘dirty farang’ but the clean one why worried. The ‘dirty farang’ was called the white one who refused to wear mask. Yes, most of income in thailand is from tourism but without few stupid ones we wouldnt worry so much.
Wrong on $$$$. Most of Thailands income relies on trade. If that goes south you will see famine. Tourism accounts for about 15-18% of economy. Its a big # but dont make it seem that its Thailands bread and butter.
Granted, if 15-18% of your economy disappears in an instant and doesn’t come back for however long this lasts, that still results in a bad time for everyone.
Dude-why keep going then? I was like that then I said fook it and went to Cuba. Glad i did. Stunning beaches, friendly people, clean (unlike Tha–lol) and inexpensive. They think Thailand the only place tourists can go? Idiots. Oh btw– bitches and booze everywhere not just Thailand
Chinese wanna get out of china,you cannot blame thai authorities being cautious. Lol.
I am a thai person. I have checked the thai news and learned that the postponement is from local phuket people who asked the government to grant the special tourist visa after a famous vegetarian festival which has been on as a biggest festival of Phuket for almost 200 years (since 1825). The festival lasts 10 days every year right after the full moon festival to make merit from avoiding eating meat, practicing clean body and mind. This year the festival falls on 16-25 Oct 2020. I hope you read it through that the special tourist visa will allow tourists to stay in the hotel for 14 days in quarantine after that 7 days around phuket then another 7 days around Thailand to ensure, if the person is a covid carrier he/she wouldn’t bring it outside phuket. So, the concern over the covid spreading in phuket might scare away those who wanted to join the festival. There are peaceful local people who have lived here long before those phuket business men and huge investments on this island. If you are a government, which one you will be sided? There is no statement about “No Refunds” in any Thai articles I have read. The campaign is postponed to any time after the festival 25 Oct 2020. We are 1st country announced successful from preventing COVID 19 by WHO. The whole world knew it. Why the little website doesn’t know it. “”””Bottom line is that the conduct displayed here, scrapping the arrival less than 48hr prior to arrival because “they aren’t ready” is unprofessional at best and a borderline scam at worst.”””””……really????
China golden week holidays is on now.most do no longterm travel,have short holidays,will go 3,4 stops in 10days get their$worth.cant see em travel to quarantine.biz guys maybe,chk out pillage,but whole thing fishy.like warnings of fines,jail renew visa by sept26,then 2days later xtend visa.cest la vie,sawatheeka.kapunchap.
The Thai government is doing a great job at killing tourism.