Phuket Sandbox update

[StevieWonders]

Yeah

It seems poor gerefan2 is obsessed by a report that’s over a week old and misquoted by some provincial radio station. The original story was posted on June 2 and included the phrase “would include people from the USA … just 20 had booked to come on July 9th”. There was no mention of tourists from any other country. Were I running a pilot scheme I’d be grateful early numbers were low so as not to overwhelm limited facilities and theoretical models. However gerefan2 and Dodgems, the main anti-cheerleaders, clearly have no grasp of running experiments in real time nor of standard risk assessment methods.

So why is Thailand pushing this so hard if, as gerefan2 and Dodgems hope, it’s a bit of a flop? It’s just another form of scattergun advertising that keeps the product (“Amazing Thailand”) front of mind (the TAT hope) would be my guess.

[gerefan2]

It seems poor gerefan2 is obsessed by a report that’s over a week old and misquoted by some provincial radio station..

Irony not your forte?

[Dodger]

Reads the opposite to me. Cabinet referred it back to CESA for further modifications. It will be reconsidered at a future cabinet meeting.

What we're observing right now is the tossing of a Red Hot Potato.

It appears that the government is siding with TAT and will reopen Phuket in July, with conditions. As we already know, those conditions include a higher level of control of any inbound tourists (few as there may be) aimed at mitigating the potential risk.

The Thai government assembled an ad hoc committee last year to consider the future of Thai tourism. That Committee is headed by a former director for JP Morgan Thailand, who, is his capacity, has undoubtedly performed a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and formal Risk Assessment focused on the timing of the Phuket reopening. His Report was in-turn presented to the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) for their review and consideration. CESA then presented this Report at the last Cabinet meeting which was shot down by TAT, who have now tossed the potato back in CESA's lap asking them to look at the details again.

When you sit in a meeting and present a Report & Recommendation like this, and are directed by the Cabinet to look at the details again. That only means one thing: They don't like the details the way they were presented, and want them changed (rewritten) to align with their objections. That's exactly how these things happen.

Regardless of who's lap the potato ends up on, the ultimate decision belongs to CCSA, if in fact the government continues to follow their recommendations. If the CCSA is OK with allowing Phuket to reopen on July 1st, then it will reopen.

All said and done, it's hard to imagine too many tourists being interested right now considering the restrictions, e.g. restricted to island for 14 days, repeat covid tests during holiday, install tracking app, report-in at designated times, many entertainment venues closed, etc., and if there are any covid outbreaks as a result of the tourists being there, it can hopefully be contained on the island.

Personally, I was hoping that the reopening of tourism in general would occur after the majority of the Thai population had received the vaccine, and it was safe to be here. This to me makes more sense. But, who am I ...LOL

[StevieWonders]

What we're observing right now is the tossing of a Red Hot Potato.
... edit: quote shortened

Dodgems has just conceded defeat also known as: surrender yield capitulate submit cave in give in back down climb down give up the struggle raise the white flag show the white flag throw in the sponge throw in the towel lay down arms give up admit defeat succumb acquiesce relent concede defer bow give way budge fold cede knuckle under quit fall blink

[dinagam]

This is a definitive case of chronic diarrhoea...

[StevieWonders]

My favourite Amazing Thailand story today comes from (where else?) Phuket. Remember that "track & trace" App that all those millions of fully vaccinated tourists visiting Phuket in less than 3 weeks from now must download and install? It's vapourware. The Governor has asked the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (M-DES) for help in creating a tracking app. Matt, oh Matt, where art thou?

On the plus side the Governor has announced that Phuket has achieved 69% vaccination of a population that has received at least one jab

https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket...help-80284.php

And "Amazing Thailand" (AT) itself? Stand by for an exciting announcement about a truly revolutionary extension. AD. That's all I'm allowed to say at this point

[Dodger]

According to the Health Minister's recent position...

"Thailand should accept an influx of tourists is unlikely in the third quarter. This sandbox scheme was established as a test run, which means it is a gradual process where we determine the best practices to allow other destinations to follow suit." "It is better to be selective in the beginning rather than risk losing our reputation if tourists acquire the virus while here or at their origin country."

In-other-words: "We fucked up, and it ain't gonna happen yet"...LOL

Case closed.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business...pes-for-phuket

[mr giggles]

although in Dodgems’ case a slight rearrangement of the name Knut is needed

Although I do admire his:

Charisma
Uniqueness
Nerve
Talent

[Oliver2]

Dodger is correct.; our hopes have been raised too often. Get the damn vaccines out and stop tantalising us.

[Dodger]

Get the damn vaccines out and stop tantalising us.

That's really been the bottom line on these TAT Sandbox Schemes from the beginning.

Once this third-wave Thailand's encountering plateaus and/or starts to decline, and the majority of the Thai population is vaccinated, these reopening's have a chance of working. Until then it's all window-dressing and TAT's efforts will remain gridlocked.

Fortunately, the majority of tourist-related businesses on Phuket didn't see July 1st as a viable reopening date either, and remained closed for this reason. Hopes are now pinned on the fourth quarter of this year which seems more realistic, but still hinges on the governments ability to get the vaccine(s).