BANGKOK – Thailand is preparing to reopen resort island Phuket to vaccinated foreign tourists on July 1.
Under the “Phuket Sandbox” scheme, vaccinated foreign tourists will be allowed to visit the island without quarantine. However, they must stay there for 14 days before travelling to other provinces in the kingdom.
Foreign Affairs Ministry deputy spokesman Natapanu Nopakun said preparations for the planned reopening of the province next month is underway.
“The reopening depends on the Covid-19 situation in Thailand and overseas, as well as the approval from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA),” he said at coronavirus daily briefing here today.
Natapanu said about 50% of the population in Phuket have been vaccinated, so far.
The proposed scheme will be discussed during a CCSA meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha next Monday before getting cabinet approval on Tuesday.
Earlier, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said Phuket will be the first destination in Thailand to be reopened to vaccinated foreign tourists without quarantine requirements starting July 1.
“All of us at TAT share the anticipation and excitement of everyone in Phuket in the preparation to welcome back foreign tourists in the not-too-distant future.
“From July 1, vaccinated foreign tourists will be allowed to visit Phuket without quarantine, so the countdown starts now to the reopening of the island.”
TAT expects some 129,000 visitors to the island between July and September this year.
Over the last 24 hours, Thailand recorded 2,631 new Covid-19 cases and 31 deaths, bringing the total infections in the country to 171,979 and fatalities to 1,177 fatalities. – Bernama, June 4, 2021
