Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul (left) and Tourism & Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn at Phuket Provincial Hall today (May 15). Photo: PR Phuket

 

By The Phuket News

 

PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul and Tourism & Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn in Phuket today (May 15) delivered a message of support from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirming that Phuket will open to fully vaccinated international tourists from July 1.

 

Speaking at a special meeting convened at Phuket Provincial Hall early this afternoon “to prepare for the opening of the ‘Phuket Sandbox 1 July’ policy”, Mr Anutin brought good tidings from Prime Minister Prayut, who did not attend today, despite the announcement yesterday evening.

 

Present to receive the message at Provincial Hall today were Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew, the island’s three Vice Governors, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor) Rewat Areerob along with a host of officials from relevant government departments on the island as well as representatives from Phuket’s private sector.

 

Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/anutin-phiphat-arrive-in-phuket-assure-july-1-reopening-80010.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-05-17

 

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Irrelevant. Nobody is coming.

Up to3 weeks quarantine for Chinese returning back to China so you won'tbe seeing them.

Those 300 arrivals each month will make the economy boom again..flights from UK are almost £900 cattle class

and than in another article.. Thais and foreigners arrested for drinking together...... Good advertisement for an island that is begging for tourists

16 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Those 300 arrivals each month will make the economy boom again..flights from UK are almost £900 cattle class

 

Really? It took me all of 2 minutes to find a flight from Gatwick to Phuket for £425 on the 1st of July.

 

9 minutes ago, nkg said:

 

Really? It took me all of 2 minutes to find a flight from Gatwick to Phuket for £425 on the 1st of July.

 

Problem is if that flight routes via Qatar and is not direct, on return to UK you have to do government hotel quarantine I believe, unless you stay on same aircraft,do not leave the aircraft, and no new passengers board the aircraft.

How long do you have to stay in Phuket before being allowed to travel elsewhere? Phuket is not my destination of choice, has this been discussed or are you limited to the island only?.

7 minutes ago, Petey11 said:

Problem is if that flight routes via Qatar and is not direct, on return to UK you have to do government hotel quarantine I believe, unless you stay on same aircraft,do not leave the aircraft, and no new passengers board the aircraft.

 

 

There's other options - £472 with Emirates, £499 with Singapore, £391 with KLM - and that's just on the 1st of July.

 

3 vice governors, really? For a tiny little island. 

Gonna be an expensive trip, skimming have to go 4 ways 

 

 

2 minutes ago, madmen said:

3 vice governors, really? For a tiny little island. 

Gonna be an expensive trip, skimming have to go 4 ways 

 

 

 

Tiny little island but huge amount of vice. Hence need for 3 persons to 'govern' it.

 

1 hour ago, Sametboy2019 said:

Irrelevant. Nobody is coming.

Actually one of my fully vaccinated friends from the US has already booked... so on a factual basis you're wrong. The more important point is it's a starting point to get the Phuket economy moving again but it will be a very slow process.

40 minutes ago, Polaky said:

How long do you have to stay in Phuket before being allowed to travel elsewhere? Phuket is not my destination of choice, has this been discussed or are you limited to the island only?.

If fully vaccinated, I believe 7 days.

1 minute ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Actually one of my fully vaccinated friends from the US has already booked... so on a factual basis you're wrong. The more important point is it's a starting point to get the Phuket economy moving again but it will be a very slow process.

Can you share what he booked, was it just a flight or hotel as well? 

They haven't announced any details yet sounds like he jumped in a bit early 

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

and than in another article.. Thais and foreigners arrested for drinking together...... Good advertisement for an island that is begging for tourists

It is...shows the authorities are taking Covid-19 pandemic restrictions seriously. And not everyone visiting Phuket is doing so to go drinking on the beach with ladyboys.  

1 hour ago, Sametboy2019 said:

Irrelevant. Nobody is coming.

I think you are wrong there 

1 minute ago, madmen said:

Can you share what he booked, was it just a flight or hotel as well? 

They haven't announced any details yet sounds like he jumped in a bit early 

SQ SFO to BKK and then transfer to Phuket...believe he arrives on 16 July.

39 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Actually one of my fully vaccinated friends from the US has already booked.

 

Nah, he didn't and you know it

55 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

It is...shows the authorities are taking Covid-19 pandemic restrictions seriously. And not everyone visiting Phuket is doing so to go drinking on the beach with ladyboys.  

These ladyboys were not he problem... The gathering and drinking was.... not allowed to sit with more than 2 people together.... please read the story of the Phuket news.. There was also a problem with a few expats drinking with friends in their house at the swimmingpool...It is the gathering.. How can you welcome tourist if you can't allow more than 2 people sitting together?? 

1 hour ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

It is...shows the authorities are taking Covid-19 pandemic restrictions seriously. And not everyone visiting Phuket is doing so to go drinking on the beach with ladyboys.  

No, some will fly to Phuket to watch Netflix in their homeroom enjoying a 7-11 meal.

The question is, if they let you in the sandbox how long before they you let leave (if ever)?

7 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

reports are 7 days..IF true....key word IF

I'm gonna wait until mid July before I even think about booking.

I'd bet they'll the Patong minimum taxi fare at THB 500.

Are they accepting "vaccinated status" with all the vaccines or only particular brands?

They just arrested a bunch of farang for enjoying themselves (May 17).

What different is going to happen in five weeks? Nothing

 

 

27 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

jumped to the DC Thai Consulate Embassy site as I figured if its true they would say so....nothing there..all the hoops still and a 14 day ASQ on arrival

Says it all really. My guess is they will wait to see if they can vaccine the whole island before releasing whatever extortion packages they have planned. 

 

4 minutes ago, fondue zoo said:

Are they accepting "vaccinated status" with all the vaccines or only particular brands?

They did release a list a while ago and quite specific on the brands and must be 14 days after second shot before arrival allowed 

Can they be locked up if this results in "fake news"?

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Phuket will open to fully vaccinated international tourists from July 1.

Where will they both stay?

39 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

I foolishly left LOS last march to come home to a job that disappeared and its my biggest regret..I literally walked into a dumpster fire as soon as i landed..ugh

 

Yeah I've been stuck in Colorado since late September and it's been <deleted> freezing my ass off while the country falls into insanity. Weather is getting better now and things seem to be going in the right direction but still I've had my fill for a while.