Hua Hin Reopening!?

Manager Newspaper reported that the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s chief in Prachuap Khiri Khan province was confident of improvements to the Hua Hin economy when the seaside resort opens up to foreign tourists next month.

Issara Sathapanaset expects most of the visitors to be Hong Kongers, Scandinavians, Malaysians and Singaporeans.

He said he had been working on five plans that involved vaccination, marketing and mitigation if things go awry.

The plans and SOPs are due to go to local authorities and then the central CCSA committee for approval.

Issara said that most of the direct flights into Hua Hin would come from within a 5-6 hour flight radius with the principal ones arriving from Hong Kong as well as ASEAN.

The Manager report was surprisingly lacking in predictions of numbers or revenue.

Other reports that mentioned expectations have been widely ridiculed.

Hua Hin’s “recharge” opening – still slated for October 1st – is part of Thailand’s second phase of reopening after the Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus Model were initiated over the last few months.

This second phase includes Chiang Mai, Pattaya/Sattahip and Cha-Am though confusion reigns as to when Bangkok will reopen to foreigners.