News Forum - Officials considering Sandbox destinations in every region – Health Minister

[Thaiger]

Along with pushing for the resumption of the Test & Go scheme, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says the ministry is discussing adding more Sandbox destinations to have the entry scheme open in every region of Thailand. The ministry will make formal proposals, including lowering the Covid-19 alert level to level 3, at the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration general meeting on Thursday. The health minister suggested Sandbox schemes in Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Khon Kaen, and Samut Prakan. At the moment, Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, and the islands in Surat Thani are the only destinations currently allowed to welcome […]

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[Pompies]

They can make as many places as they like into sandboxes, they can reintroduce T&G, they can run as many promotion campaigns as you like but it is too little too late. Everyone who was a true tourist has already switched from this country to other destinations. Airlines are sick of the constant on\off regulations so are in no hurry to return. The 2021\22 high season has been destroyed and along with it numerous small businesses that had clung onto the hope of at last seeing some little business. The smell from the rotting corpse of the Thai tourism industry is getting stronger than the smell of farmers burning biomass.

[Vince]

8 minutes ago, Pompies said:

They can make as many places as they like into sandboxes, they can reintroduce T&G, they can run as many promotion campaigns as you like but it is too little too late. Everyone who was a true tourist has already switched from this country to other destinations. Airlines are sick of the constant on\off regulations so are in no hurry to return. The 2021\22 high season has been destroyed and along with it numerous small businesses that had clung onto the hope of at last seeing some little business. The smell from the rotting corpse of the Thai tourism industry is getting stronger than the smell of farmers burning biomass.

With the move to low(er) volume tourism targets, I think that's not considered a major problem.  

Massive high volume tourism has taken its toll on Thailand's ecosystem, and maybe it needs to be allowed to morph into something a bit more managed and manageable. 

 

[Cabra]

Sandboxes are a hoax on the unsuspecting... Tourist are already starting to catch on. 

[Dedinbed]

4 hours ago, Thaiger said:

The health minister suggested Sandbox schemes in Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Khon Kaen, and Samut Prakan.

They'll be needing all the sand in the Sahara at this rate of suggestion .. 

[TheDirtyDurian]

Double vaxxed and a PCR pre-departure should be enough. Anything other than that and most genuine tourists won't come. 

Why run the risk of hospital/hotel incarnation on your arrival test, or day 7 test. 

The TnG was good, but didn't go far enough IMO. 

But hey, not my country. They can do what they want, just as I can. 

I came in under TnG, and I've had a great time the past month. I won't do any SBox or quarantine. 

[PapayaBokBok]

8 hours ago, Cabra said:

Sandboxes are a hoax on the unsuspecting... Tourist are already starting to catch on. 

elaborate please....

[Rain]

Just drop the obsessive sandbox themes, and get on with ONE normal regulated entry program. 

[Cabra]

12 hours ago, PapayaBokBok said:

elaborate please....

It's not designed for the average tourist who typically goes on holiday for 1 to 2 weeks. Under these schemes they are restricted to move about... being locked into one geographical location for even 5 days when you only have 10 is unattractive to most. Not to mention that when things do go wrong (covid testing wise) - and those situations are occuring more frequently - the tourist is thrown into situations that offer little hope or help from the authorities (medical expenses, immigration fines, etc.). And given the constant drum beat of "we need tourist to spend more money" from Thai tourism, having a captive tourist audience makes it easier for (puts you at greater risk of) unreasonable up-charges for nearly everything, because the tourist has fewer choices (due to mobility restrictions). It may work for some, but sandboxes are not going to save tourism. It just keeps it on life support. Which, I suppose, is better than death. Just my opinions.

[Vince]

21 hours ago, Cabra said:

Sandboxes are a hoax on the unsuspecting... Tourist are already starting to catch on. 

You mean they switch the Thai beach and instead you end up with a cheap Chinese knockoff? 

[farang]

all this off and on again is killing tourtist from coming.anutin is running the working people bankrupt.and no ones coming  when no one knows what they are going to be put thru and the unknown cost they might have to incur. william hinikin and mr ping have said whats needed.open the country with no hotel booking,no insurance ,just be  double shot with proof andtest took at departing. as far as tourtist running out on their medical bill thats crap!!everyones knows all thats needed is a call to immigration with the guys passport # and hes not leaving till bill is paid.they do this for motorbike rentals and im sure its easy done for medical bills.so stop blowing smoke!