CEOCambodiaNews wrote: ↑Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:25 am Thailand to turn away from mass tourism, target the wealthy
Kingdom considers protocols for return of foreign tourists
published : 19 Jun 2020 at 11:42
writer: Bloomberg News

The government's tourism-revival strategy is to target big spenders seeking privacy and social distancing in the Covid-19 era, rather than try to attract a large number of visitors, according to Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.

The pandemic provides an opportunity to reset the sector, which had become reliant on Chinese groups and backpackers, he said in an interview with Bloomberg News.

Once the country’s borders are reopened and so-called travel bubbles are agreed upon, marketing efforts will be geared toward wealthier individuals who want holidays with minimal risks.

The government will initially allow a small number of arrivals, such as some business executives and medical tourists. It is also working with the travel industry to identify and invite individuals in target demographics, which will probably include previous visitors to luxury resorts in the islands of Phuket, Samui, Phangan and Phi Phi, the minister said.

Phuket is “a prototype” because it has all the needed facilities.

People may be required to pass Covid-19 screenings before traveling and upon arriving, choose a single resort island and remain for a minimum period of time.

The “high-end visitors” will be able to travel freely while they’re on the island and be allowed to leave for home or other destinations in Thailand once the minimum 14 days have passed. The country plans to court such visitors, possibly during the winter months of November-February when European and American travelers seek out warmer climates, Mr Phiphat said.

“One person can easily spend as much as five by staying at the finest hotels,” he said, adding that full and free travel should become a “thing of the past.”
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... he-wealthy

willyhilly wrote: ↑Sun Jun 21, 2020 10:57 am In Victoria there may be the start of a second wave and they are talking of confining people to their houses in several suburbs. Arizona is now the worst in the US after re opening last week. In the last week they have thousands of cases. So much for sunshine being the enemy of the virus.
The first Spanish Flu wave killed 4 million, the second wave 40-50 million. I wouldn’t be looking to glennb6 for advice. I bet he said all along it was a conspiracy or just another flu. It’s interesting in Australia that the usual tens of thousands of flu cases that we get every winter have diminished to a few hundred.

[Mod edit: no need for name calling, take a day off]

MADRID (Reuters) - Passengers wearing masks and wheeling suitcases arrived at Madrid’s main airport on Sunday as Spain opened its borders to most European countries and ended a state of emergency imposed to contain the coronavirus.

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“We will allow British visitors to enter Spain just like the rest of the European Union or Schengen area from 21 June freely and without the need for the quarantine,” foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya told BBC News on Saturday.

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Spain, which has recorded more than 245,000 coronavirus cases and over 28,000 deaths, has been easing its lockdown restrictions in recent weeks.