When will they scrap Test & Go? It's really very expensive for backpackers.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the Test and Go program imposed by Thailand, which many expats and travelers, particularly backpackers, find financially burdensome. Various comments express dissatisfaction with the requirement for health insurance and multiple COVID tests, which are seen as inhibitive to budget travelers. There's a sentiment that Thailand is shifting its focus from traditional backpacker tourism to attracting wealthier tourists willing to spend more. Overall, opinions vary, with some suggesting alternative destinations while others argue for the necessity of current restrictions.
Robert *********
After they scrap backpackers….so I’m assuming NEVER!
Luc ********
I’m sure there are amazing places in your own country to go backpacking without money……..
Bruce *****
Expensive for everyone give Thailand a miss this year
Mark ***********
Mark ***********
The cowardice must end. Let's get some adults into the room.
Alan *********
Do they charge backpackers more ?
Xjwhudkwhry ********
i'm waiting for them to scrap buying airline tickets, very expensive for begpackers!!
Lai *************
Can I leave Thailand 🇹🇭 after my 1st test? Or do I have to stay in Thailand until my 5th test?
Now it's all just about money and control...its a scam now to make money
Lon ***********
On the fence?
Peter *******************
Backpackers are at the bottom of everybody’s list, its completely unnecessary travel to everyone except their inflated egos and underdeveloped cognitive abilities, traveling just to make another country a scene for their money-saving games should be disallowed… dirty bird-shit ignorant greedy/stingy backpackers… the scum of the rich world !
No hurry I would say. We are in Thailand, economy moving forward gradually. All foreigners in the country are helping the country. Yes, Thailand has the right to make its rules. And yes, people have a right to decide whether to come or not. Thanks to everyone who followed the process to be here.
Nick *******
If u complain about the strict restrictions then dont travel for now, we are almost there hang on and hopefully it should be back to normal in a year.
Michael ********
A lot of my friends recently went to Sri Lanka which they said was amazing.
Forget Thailand at moment, but i see you are an Indian National you have some truly amazing places to travel within India.
I really hope all this stuff dies down so i can travel there hoping to get back to Jim Corbett National park again.
James **************
Good, no more tw*tpackers.
Cervantes *******
Mexico has none of that , just saying
Per-e ***************
I think everyone hates everything about this new normal except big companies. Life sucks now. Let's try to break apart the big companies. 😂
Jim **********
Anything that deters those wankers gets my vote
Gertjan ********
Theft
Dave *******
expensive was paying for the test before i left in america...(350 usd).... can get a testandgo hotel very cheap (about 100 usd all included) insurance is cheap also (75 usd) lol if you cant afford that you shouldnt be traveling internationally and probably couldnt enter thailand as your bank statement would reflect that and you wouldnt have the minimal amount
its not only about hotel and test. there are alotore. Thailand pass, and second covid test , test before u go thailand, and its waste of time.
Dave *******
much more expensive to quarantine for a week or 10 days etc and still test
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Dave *******
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Eric *******
Hopefully never so cheap peeps like u don’t come🤷🏿♂️
Mohsin ************
And for families
Robert *************
So, you all want to scrap all the requirements, come in sick, spread the virus, have Thai people die, then really have the country shut down tight, all because you can’t be inconvenienced to take a couple test? What’s wrong with this picture? Stay home.
Luc ********
Yurek Hunt except for the fact that they tend to cause more trouble…..
Lighten up. Covid is still here and until medical science produces a vaccine that immunizes us from even catching Covid and its mutations (the present vaccines can only protect you from needing further hospital stay). Simply put... we are all going to have to learn to live with things. Getting vaccinated is essential for everyone.
Hmmm. We are masks off in Nevada and I work in a major Casino. No problems. Just get a vaccination card to get in. Than at worst you will get a very weak flu.
Per-e ***************
Everyone is an expert these days. For the first time in my life I had fat old men giving me health advice. All I'll say is right now nobody knows anything. Let's see what happens.
I can agree with that. But, considering that the initial restrictions were so tough, COE’s, $100,000 worth of insurance, 14 day quarantine with several test during the quarantine, they’ve come a long way. I’ve had to do that 4 times and it is severely restrictive. Frankly, it sucks. Thailand seems to be a bit more cautions and conservative then the rest of the world concerning this virus and that should be ok for everyone else. This is a step that makes them comfortable and we should respect that. I doubt you’d find many Thais that don’t want things back to normal as much as the rest of us. I don’t think it will be long before we see this go away, too. I hope that by spring or early summer we’ll see them a little more in line with the rest of the world.
yes, that is what everyone is doing - not coming to Thailand.The virus is already here, but you and the rest of the idiots cannot accept that the rest of Europe is now OPEN, and Thailand should be as well.People will die in Thailand because of no money before the virus.Thailand needs 40 million tourists, and so far only 150,000. Learn to live with it .
Thailand was always 2 months behind Europe in terms of strains/waves. And Thailand doesn't have the medical resources of a European country. Less critical care beds, ventilators etc, Deathrates could well hit the roof, so a little extra patience is apparently wanted.
maybe not smarter but 4sure not ruled by same level of fear… ppl died from cv19, ppl died from z vaxx, ppl die every day, and i am yet to any chart or stat showing increased death rates in these cv19 years, but have known plenty who were vaxxd 2zmax and got cv19, one morgue owner stated
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in his care were vaxxed… ppl die ppl died.. i am a grateful unvaxxed survivor but have met double vaxxed double cv19 survivors… fear will destroy more than cv19 … yes and kno some whom are crippled by cv19 … same for xMil ppl for whom war was hell, others got off scoff free…. Imo smoking is far greater hazard
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Otis ******
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Tom ********
Test n Go is a great policy, and much better than 15 days in ASQ. Backpackers and all travelers must realize the world has changed and travel even more, the days of hopping over borders on a whim are gone.
Tipsda ********
Braulio *********
Well considered response.
Ruth *******
Much as I fully support backpacking around the world (I wish I could resume my own version of it right now), I don't think accommodating backpackers is the priority of the Thai government right now. Its priority is protecting their people and that involves balancing two things:
1) Keeping infection rates low
2) Bringing in money
Neither of these priorities are really helped by backpackers. Yes, they spend a bit of money, but not enough to balance the risk. Also, backpackers are probably the biggest risk due to the travel.
Soooo...accommodating backpackers is not likely a high priority.
You said they don't spend "enough" to valance the risk. You know how many millions of Thai people are struggling where even an extra 2000 baht a month could make a huge difference. You say it's not worth the risk like it's an objective fact. 1. Most "backpackers" already got covid making them the best protected. (See every study done on natural immunity). 2. You act as if they can stop the spread when millions of Thai people already got covid. My only issue is you say it so plainly as fact it's not worth the risk when every Thai person I talk to wants things to open up because many are going hungry and struggling like they've never struggled before. You sound like my Australian coworker. They come to work every day during the height of the pandemic yrt they fully support lockdowns. I say "aren't you afraid of covid, why are you hear." She quickly replies she needs the money. So you like the gov locking others down but you won't lock yourself down. Scratch a liberal, find a fascist.
Fortunately, I don't need to make that determination. I will leave it at that. I don't need to defend a simple fact.
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Ruth *******
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Jochen *********
I'd rather pay them double the amount and not deal with it all
John-Paul ******
Expensive is just the start. The paperwork... the $50k insurance and the 2 PCR tests once in country will justvadd to the joy.
John-Paul ******
Travel insurance is far different than what they are actually wanting. Besides $50k for a holiday person? Now if you are staying here long-term then of course health insurance is a good idea.... but "required"?
would you travel without insurance if it was not a requirement? 😮
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Ruben *******
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Andy ********
Im suprised the people of Facebook cant answer this...
Jack **********
Mike ******
Test and Go is an incredibly inexpensive solution to the problem of letting people with Covid into the country. Yes, not having to do anything would be nice, but Thailand has the best solution to keeping the doors open of any Asian country.
That's not true. Where I live, in neighboring Cambodia, there's no quarantine. Just a 10-minute quick-test on arrival. Also, our COVID cases are WAY loser than Thailand. Schools have been open for four months, everything is open as normal.
I guess that's the result of having literally 99% of the country (age 6 and above) fully vaccinated.
Mike ******
Erik Mc Thundersteel that's great and I am sure that you enjoy it there in Cambodia, but I love Thailand, so having to pay 4000 BHT and stay in a very nice hotel over night seems to me to be a simple and very affordable solution. Compared to the $400 that I paid in the USA for the same test without a room.
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Mike ******
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Shaukat *****
Backpackers are not welcome anymore. Thailand is targeting big spenders
Here there fucking idiots. I had friends coming over. To complicated. Went to Bali instead.
Peter ********
I’m hoping to go to Thailand in April , I’m fully vaccinated what do I need to apply for and provide on arrival , I will be staying for 1 month . Cheers 🙏
Lee **********
Be ok if it was simple get day 1 test free for 4 days. day 5 another test what is that all about
Alex *******
My wife and I came to Thailand as backpackers in 1990. We returned as family holiday makers many times and are now living here. Its entitlement to say keep out.
Sonia *******
Not really.. its just hoops to jump through. Its not difficult for anyone with a brain
as a backpacker you should be able to figure that out on your own.
Oliver ********
take your dreadlocks elsewhere then
Sri ***
India scrapped testing requirement, just vaccination certficate
France scraped long time back
Ukaraine scraped too
Not sure why does this, it should open up for build the economy, local poor people are suffering as Thailand survives on tourism, Govt is killing that ..
exactly, even UK has scrapped testing requirement.
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Nishant ************
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Paulie ********
Won't be before sonkran is my guess
Dave *******
From experience by what I have witnessed personally, the exclusive enclaves for wealthy tourists ie plush 5* beach resorts don't benefit local businesses outside the resorts or the local people. Native Thais working for the resorts are on long hours for minimum wage. The tourists themselves spend ridiculous amounts of money on over priced daily faraway sightseeing excursions or eating in the overpriced restaurants in the resort. Yes it's always been that way and each to their own but this should still be about personal choice. Not all travellers want luxury tailor-made vacations. What made destinations like Thailand, Vietnam or Kampuchea different from other places was the unique experience of quite literally 'getting away from it all' breaks. From a few weeks travelling around to much longer stays with unintentionally extended periods with visa runs to neighbouring countries, where naturally foreign visitors would spend their hard earned dollars on local people and businesses. From the two-week-millionaire bar hounds to backpackers or the large majority of expats, foreigners would put their money in the local communities and businesses.
Did Covid change all that? Not entirely because the vibe and scene in Thailand was changing quite a while before the Sars-CoV-2 farce hit. Covid is the convenient switch for cynically endorsing political ideologies, pushing for change through stealth with social and economic change. The Thailand that most of us on this platform fondly remember has sadly gone forever.
Jonathan *******
When covid has gone or is no longer and issue that causes hospitals to over crowd. Soon hopefully
Brad **********
Just go with the flow! If your in a hurry to travel, this is what’s expected!!!!
Don’t get me wrong, I have family that haven’t seen their Thai family for over two years! I realise everyone is keen to travel ! ❤️ 🇹🇭
not seeing their family is their own choice. Thailand was never closed…. I’m here for more than 5 months, 3 times….
Terary **********
sadly other countries are opening up. I will be considering countries without ridiculous requirements. Several people I talk to say they would come to Thailand except for the for the entry requirements.
It used to be the case Tourist didn't come because of covid.. Now they don't come because of the restrictions.
‘going with the flow’ is much easier said than done if you have to jump through the numerous hoops.
I’m currently sitting at Changi in transit home to Melbourne after leaving Phuket 3 hours ago and spending 7 weeks in total in Thailand.
Now I was one of the lucky ones who got through all tests negative but it’s bloody stressful waiting for the results of each one. The way things stand now if I was was going for less than a month then there’s no way I would.
I think, but not sure, that people working illegally in most countries could face deportation. Kind of a standard thing. Do you know of any country that allows foreigners to work freely without a work permit or other mutual agreement between the nation's?
When I go to other countries it soooooo expensive too …. I have to pay for the visa and expensive hotel .. and will follow any rules of that country if they want …
So, if u wanna go to somewhere , just accepted their rules … if not … just stay home or go somewhere else …
yes, fair comment, however Thailand needs tourist and should reconsider aiming for all by making travel rules easier... Thailand needs the money... but if it keeps making travel hard then people will and ARE going somewhere else... missed opportunities for tourism dollars with current rules...
It works though, I think yesterday there were 182 tourists nabbed bringing the tourist covid here, meanwhile there were 15,000 new cases of Thai covid. And yes there is a difference, the tourist covid is much worse than the Thai covid and must be stopped.
What? Laos is completely shut to foreign nationals and has been since day 1 of the pandemic. They have no plans of reopening, ever. Same with Mongolia too. These are flu-frantic countries.
haha! Fair enough. Indonesia it is. Gotta be some deals to be had in Papua New Guinea too?
Garrett ***********
Todd McGowan Monglolia is the only country that's on my bucket list still. Before covid when I was looking though it was like $800 usd one way to fly from Bangkok. There's only like 1 or 2 flights a week.
well, I know about the thoughts of thai government ( illusional though) , but Steve sounded like it was directly concerning him...so that`s why I asked if he was somehow contracted by thai government 🙂
I don`t know who is milking it more.....they could milk much more if all those tourists who didn`t want to go through this risk of second test, came. And they would come, if no second test
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Marko ***********
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Andrew ********
Thailand needs all the visitors it can get, just have a look around and see the devastating effect on local communities the lack of tourists has had. Rich or not they all eat sleep and drink somewhere spreading the money around keeping the communities an income.
Things will not improve untill things are back to pre covid travel conditions.
it's not a case of affording the restrictions is the case of day 1and day 5 inconvenience... have you seen how many people have done own test at say 9 in the morning then the government tested 11:00 negative on their own test positive on the government test . No symptoms and apparently not covered by AXA insurance having to pay out great sums of money
everyone brings money in an economy, one or another way as far as they enter a country. One more one less, but everyone contributes. It is very racist and inhuman to exclude travelers on a low budget. Don't tell me all 44 million tourists of Thailand of the pre-covid era were all millionaires. What's happening now seems like some unpopular governments around the world started using COVID as an excuse to better control their population as well as the people entering their country.
Personally I started visiting Thailand since 1998 twice or thrice a year. I'm not a millionaire as probably you are, but even if it's not a problem to affront the extra expenses required, I refuse to travel, because of the uncertainty of the whole situation. I have many good reasons to go, many friends to visit, my late brother's grave, but I wait till things are clear enough. At the end who loses is the country's economy and the the low to middle class people.
I'd like to know if you really feel comfortable with these all nonsense procedures. The point is not if you can afford it or not. The point is I cannot think how the whole procedure will benefit 1.me 2.the Thai population. I can easily afford to pay for the tests and the stay for a few nights in preselected by the government hotels, but from my point of view the only people who will benefit are some hoteliers and the companies they offer the tests. Nobody else. The whole world is open to vaccinated travelers, but Thailand. Philippines and Cambodia are open, Malaysia is opening, Vietnam follows. If I made a comment it's because I really love Thailand, as my own country, I visit it for the last 25 years 2-3 times a year. I have numerous friends and I'm well aware, first hand, what the situation is.
I don't know what your Thai history is and I really don't care. I think I can comment freely and add my opinion as you and anyone else. And please comments style "stay home" please keep them for yourself or friends of yours. I find them very immature and a grown man? like you would be more respectful to himself avoiding such comments.
there’s plenty of cheap accommodations what are you talking about just pull up Agoda? And they in some cases give more not much on lodging but pay allot for tours, experiences, food, trips, booze etc it’s all mostly in cash so it’s not traceable hence why the government thinks big spenders using credit cards at fancy hotels is the main source of income and why they claim tourism only accounts for 20% of Thailand’s GDP, I’d say it’s more like 35-40%
the luxury hotels I got for 1k bath are now again way up . The cheap accommodation I used to know are now closed indefinitely…. If a “test and go” is too expensive… sure they will not spend a lot anywhere else. Test and go is f*** cheap compared to 15days quarantine..
Please do not pass your message on to Thai PM, his cabinet or the Thai Immigration authorities. They have made it very plain that Thailand does not want backpackers. Thailand wants the ultra rich tourists and business people to come. Not cheap and dirty (their words not mine) backpakers who want to holiday on the cheap.
well it’s not about the backpackers it’s about widening the amount of people coming and yea the locals actually need the backpackers the rich tourists stay at over priced (usually higher up important government and investor owned) hotels, so the middle and lower class business owner hasn’t seen any help in 2 years
I’m not tarring backpackers all with the same brush. I just mean we all have to pay the same amount for all these tests whether we carry a backpack or a suitcase
Reply to
Dean *********
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David *********
Dam soon EVERYWHERE I hope , the entire concept is utterly ridiculous and ludicrous , that many people with this thing , you'd never know the numbers , just let it rip and get on with life .
How??? I thought Sandbox was much more expensive and I managed to do that for about 30,000thb, including flights
Reply to
Yoana ******************
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Joakim ********
Isn't the sandbox programme more expensive? 🤔 Hopefully thing will be a bit more normal again soon, but for now. Just pay for the 2 days at hotell and pcr tests or go somewhere else 😄
A few years ago Dubai tried to attract only the superrich and millionaires, but then they discovered that there were not enough rich people to go around, so they had to make do with ordinary folks too after a while.
exactly. Who pays the taxes, they say it will be only the super rich but soon find they need to tax the middle to get any real money. Same thing with tourists.
they serve a purpose by providing an outlet for the smaller families and workers who line the streets all over thailand selling food, services and cleaning etc.
seems like , however "Adding it all up, backpackers and regular travelers spend about the same amount on traveling annually; just over different periods of time. (dated article but the premise still holds)"
Thats really a bit of a myth, they spend a quite a bit, and when they run out of money they call mum and dad to bail them out and then they spend all that as well. I have had a backpacker hostel the last 6 years and believe me, they burn through cash like there's no tomorrow lol
don`t be funny...premium tourism can be implemented just in some particular areas, like everywhere on earth...nowhere is entire country designated for premium tourism, unless it`s the size of monaco....think a bit more with your own head
I`ve heard sooo many stories like this one- montenegro in europe ( which has even more sense than this one, because country has just 500 thousand population), uruguay ( also few million population), chile, croatia etc....off course none of them succeeded....that`s why I`m telling you not to listen everything , but to think with your own head...just monaco became destination for high premium tourism, and noone else, not even maldives or seychelles...and thailand is like- 50 times bigger of all of this countries mentioned
hm, european culture is as old as thai, but what does culture has to do with high premium or normal tourism anyways? Old cultures should accept just high class tourists or what?
okay compare their dated year to ours and repeat it again here...
Reply to
Niclas ***********
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Gill *****
It's expensive for anybody and certainly ridiculous when the rest of the world is opening up
Mike **********
K understand that everyone wants out/in. Seems like distraction techniques all round... Had my booster the other day in a different country to the first 2..... Hours of fun..... Just follow the rules where u are going, they are there for everyones best practice, plus a few In particular....as we say back my yard.... Say nothing.. (pronunciation may vary....🤣, think u will find
Thanks for your help. But i live in India and south america is on the other side of the world for me.
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Nishant ************
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Garrett ***********
That's a great point, I didn't even think about that. I'm meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday, I'll let him know backpackers are upset with the health insurance requirement to enter the country. He's probably not aware that not showering for 3 weeks at a time builds a natural bacterial layer on the outside of the skin that makes you immune to just about anything. I'm sure he'll understand.
Paul ******
Garrett Greenwald Why ur at it. Tell him to do something bout these freaking masks.😉🤔😜
I met a couple of backpackers here 20 years ago who are now multi millionaires who subsequently invested huge sums of money here and created many jobs. Unwashed backpackers indeed!
agree with your sentiment 100% .Thailand is trying to protect itself from the cost of treatment from positive cases .As of now roughly 3% of cases in Thailand are tourists,treatment of even just a positive without symptoms is in the order of THB 100,000 .It would be interesting to know what happens to tourists entering the home countries of those on here would be up for if travel was allowed
the insurance rules have changed as of today unless you have strong systems your insurance will not cover treatment. A positive case needs to be quarantined for 10 days even without symptoms.
And your insurance doesn’t even cover a Covid hotel. If you are positive and have symptoms you go to a Covid hospital and that is covered by your insurance.
this is the most asshole comment i ever seen 🤣😂 I guess you met with all the backpackers around the world isn't??? Or you are just a miserable c.nt who have a miserable life and just do his daily keyboard warrior thing... 🤣