Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing easing of restrictions here in Thailand. Things are getting better and that's very, very much a good thing but there does seem to be kind of a palpable notion that this stuff, it needs to all go basically, that seems to be kind of the undertone from a lot of folks. I thought of making this video after reading recent article in the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: June 1 easing 'meaningless': night spots. Quoting directly: "Thanupong Paensodsaicharoenkij, owner of one night life outlet in Khao San Road, welcomed the latest easing of COVID-19 restrictions but said it was perceived as a half measure to bolster a battered industry in need of a boost." Quoting further: "Many tourists are switching their destinations from Thailand to neighbouring countries due to Covid restrictions and entry requirements such as high-value insurance, he said. A quotation from him in here, "It has been more than 2 years since the outbreak and we here in Khao San are up to our ears in debt yet when the outbreak is easing the government gets nervous", he said." 

Yeah, it is odd. I don't understand precisely why the Government does seem to get, you can engage in a lot of speculation and sort of say, "Oh they love the power", I don't think they do. I have watched a lot of these folks who have had to enforce some of this stuff and they don't really seem to enjoy doing it. In fact they seem rather reticent and they just kind of are doing it because it is their job; that has been my experience. I don't think anybody is relishing this by any stretch of the imagination. That being said, whether they like it or not, whether they are enjoying it or not we're still having to deal with the blowback from it and the upshot of all of these policies. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's ‘meaningless’. I think we definitely need to get back open, we need to get open sooner rather than later. People book for the high season now and they will be booking over the summer and Thailand needs to get back to where she was and everybody needs to get out there and let it be known that Thailand is open; we are entertaining; we are having a good time out here. Tourists are welcome. Let’s get on in. I do think the Thailand Pass needs to go fast; we do need to get rid of it. We are not going to get the same tourist numbers unless we do get rid of it. I mean I know there are people who think it is still necessary, my personal opinion is it is an unneeded obstacle that is just hindering tourism numbers, period and I don't really understand at this point especially when we are on the cusp of calling this endemic, and quite frankly I don't understand why. Nobody has ever been able to explain to me the criteria that magically changes something to endemic, nobody has been able to explain that to me but okay set that aside, where we are on the cusp of this, honestly how does bureaucratic paperwork sort of stave off a disease? Nobody has been able to explain that to me either.

Long story short, I think Thailand needs to continue reopening. Let me be clear, we are doing a good job, we are moving in the right direction, let’s just keep moving in the right direction and let's not have any 180s or anything. Let's just get reopened, get tourism back here, have a good high season and get our economy back on track.