Latest info about the Phuket Sandbox

[Polbangkok]

Thailand has been making headlines about its opening and entry conditions during the whole pandemic.

While the government was fine at first containing the pandemic (or, perhaps, it was a bit of luck), the announcements about the country’s borders have created nothing but false hope and frustration for people planning to travel to Thailand.

However, now it seems that they are very serious about the new plan. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pushing very hard its opening plan, starting on July 1 in Phuket. It seems that only the signature of the Prime Minister is needed for the plan to go ahead. The governor of TAT, Thailand’s top tourism leader, is optimistic that the Thai Prime Minister will sign the opening of Phuket in June.

From InThailand.Travel we believe that this time they are serious and that Phuket will be open to vaccinated travelers from July 1.

In fact, yesterday 27th of May the TAT Governor sent a letter to their Tourism Industry partners confirming that the plan is going ahead.

Full story: Thailand to open Phuket on July 1st, 2021

[internationalism]

at this stage of vax program development it's a suicide, for thai population.

Surely, sri panva resort was taking golfers from january, but they are an exception in the whole country - the owner is a very well connected royalist, he had all help and protection up to ministerial level.

Sadly, the local population is not that well protected with sinovac and especially those not connected to tourism, like expats, will be victims of this money grabbing drive

Edited May 28, 2021 by internationalism

[madmen]

Done 

[beano2274]

Open to who? Lots of Europeans will be spending their holidays in Europe this year according to polls made in their countries. This is due to the fact that they know exactly how each country is dealing with Covid, and the vaccination programmes. The main influx will probably be Chinese and Russians.

[samtam]

Some have been suggesting that returnees to Thailand, (both Thai and foreign residents), might use Phuket as the point of re-entry, plus the 7 day stay catch. If they are fully vaccinated, they do not need to quarantine in Phuket. But not sure how this works, if you left Thailand from another port, (say Bangkok), could you transfer at BKG and go to Phuket without quarantine? Sounds too easy to me.

[samtam]

2 hours ago, samtam said:

Some have been suggesting that returnees to Thailand, (both Thai and foreign residents), might use Phuket as the point of re-entry, plus the 7 day stay catch. If they are fully vaccinated, they do not need to quarantine in Phuket. But not sure how this works, if you left Thailand from another port, (say Bangkok), could you transfer at BKG and go to Phuket without quarantine? Sounds too easy to me.

 

One clarification, that you can only enter Phuket on a direct flight:

 

 

 

So there appears to be some wiggle - Thai Airways flies on to Bangkok, and British Airways flies via Doha.

 

I guess this is still in its planning stages. Like everything related, it's probably better to wait until it is finalised, and the details known. "Subject to change" would seem to be the obvious issue. If using BA via Doha, those returning to UK would have to currently do full hotel quarantine, as Qatar is a "red zone" for entry to UK.

 

 

 

[DaLa]

Any details on the insurance requirements?  Any details on which hotels in Phuket? Any details on the cost of the hotel quarantine? Any details on which vaccines will be acceptable?  Any details on what form of vaccination confirmation will be acceptable? Any details on whether said hotels will be allowed to serve alcohol?

 

Any details if the entertainment venues, water parks, amusement parks, playgrounds, floating markets, flea markets, snooker and billiards clubs, arcade game premises, games shops, Internet cafes, cockfighting rings, child care centres, elderly care centres, boxing stadiums, self defence schools, gymnasiums, race courses, public bath premises, bath-sauna-massage establishments, all kinds of sports competition premises, banquet rooms will be open????

 

Any details?

[internationalism]

24 minutes ago, samtam said:

 

One clarification, that you can only enter Phuket on a direct flight:

So there appears to be some wiggle - Thai Airways flies on to Bangkok, and British Airways flies via Doha.

I guess this is still in its planning stages. Like everything related, it's probably better to wait until it is finalised, and the details known. "Subject to change" would seem to be the obvious issue. If using BA via Doha, those returning to UK would have to currently do full hotel quarantine, as Qatar is a "red zone" for entry to UK.

 

 

 

direct flights by quatar and BA (via doha) might mean just short 1h stopover, for disembarking and cargo, but passengers not leaving an air plane and not taking new passengers (because of the red zone)

[candide]

1 hour ago, DaLa said:

Any details on the insurance requirements?  Any details on which hotels in Phuket? Any details on the cost of the hotel quarantine? Any details on which vaccines will be acceptable?  Any details on what form of vaccination confirmation will be acceptable? Any details on whether said hotels will be allowed to serve alcohol?

 

Any details if the entertainment venues, water parks, amusement parks, playgrounds, floating markets, flea markets, snooker and billiards clubs, arcade game premises, games shops, Internet cafes, cockfighting rings, child care centres, elderly care centres, boxing stadiums, self defence schools, gymnasiums, race courses, public bath premises, bath-sauna-massage establishments, all kinds of sports competition premises, banquet rooms will be open????

 

Any details?

From what I read (which may be soon outdated), don't hope to stay in your usual cheap guesthouse or Airbnb. It will be only allowed in designated ASQ type hotels starting at 2000+ Bt/night.

[Puccini]

No more talk about opening the sandbox only if 70% of the population in Phuket province have been vaccinated?

[simonphuket]

Phuket open per 1st July, but restaurants&bars cannot sell alcohol until 31 July? How does that make any sense....

[polpott]

On 5/28/2021 at 4:57 AM, Polbangkok said:

From InThailand.Travel we believe that this time they are serious and that Phuket will be open to vaccinated travelers from July 1.

Only able to stay in a hotel which has specific accreditation which is based on all staff being fully vaccinated, Currently there are zero hotels in Phuket with the appropriate accreditation.

 

Only accepting passengers arriving directly in Phuket from a foreign destination. Transfer flights via Bangkok do not qualify. Very few airlines flying directly to Phuket and flights expensive.

 

Good luck with thousands of tourists arriving in Phuket via the "sandbox" scheme. Another TAT pipedream.

[internationalism]

from the TAT info looks like direct flights to 16 cities. Some of them daily, mostly only weekly. 

Some have stopover in bkk, doha, without disembarking.

yes, direct flights are more expensive than those with stopover, but not hugely, usually $100-200, so not comparable to $1000-2000 for quarantine travellers are paying now.

 

[treetops]

15 hours ago, polpott said:

Only able to stay in a hotel which has specific accreditation which is based on all staff being fully vaccinated, Currently there are zero hotels in Phuket with the appropriate accreditation.

 

Only accepting passengers arriving directly in Phuket from a foreign destination. Transfer flights via Bangkok do not qualify. Very few airlines flying directly to Phuket and flights expensive.

 

Good luck with thousands of tourists arriving in Phuket via the "sandbox" scheme. Another TAT pipedream.

 

Plenty hotels have SHA accreditation  For this they need SHA Plus where the only "Plus" bit is 70% of staff vaccinated (not 100%).  This appears to be on target.

 

Good selection of flights available and with Emirates and Qatar flying you can connect from almost anywhere.  This TAT graphic has some details wrong, but shows the options.

 

I agree there won't be lots of tourists, but it could be a good option to get in for the longer term and avoiding ASQ/ALQ.

[Upnotover]

On 5/28/2021 at 9:18 AM, internationalism said:

direct flights by quatar and BA (via doha) might mean just short 1h stopover, for disembarking and cargo, but passengers not leaving an air plane and not taking new passengers (because of the red zone)

Check the BA website.  It's the normal 2 different flights with a transfer in Doha.

[polpott]

56 minutes ago, treetops said:

 

Plenty hotels have SHA accreditation  For this they need SHA Plus where the only "Plus" bit is 70% of staff vaccinated (not 100%).  This appears to be on target.

 

Good selection of flights available and with Emirates and Qatar flying you can connect from almost anywhere.  This TAT graphic has some details wrong, but shows the options.

 

I agree there won't be lots of tourists, but it could be a good option to get in for the longer term and avoiding ASQ/ALQ.

I plan to return late July. Non O retirement extension expires at the end of the year. Would be great for me and I'm watching with interest.

[treetops]

46 minutes ago, polpott said:

I plan to return late July. Non O retirement extension expires at the end of the year. Would be great for me and I'm watching with interest.

 

Over 400 hotels already with SHA Plus accreditation according to this:

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1218799-how-to-leave-australia-for-thailand-during-covid/?tab=comments#comment-16520842

 

[cormanr7]

Interesting article in the thaiger on Phuket, noting that many COVID restrictions have just been extended 'until further notice' and the many questions regarding the 'reopening' on July 1st.

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/phuket-extends-current-covid-restrictions-from-june-1-until-further-notice-update

[treetops]

10 minutes ago, cormanr7 said:

Interesting article in the thaiger on Phuket, noting that many COVID restrictions have just been extended 'until further notice' and the many questions regarding the 'reopening' on July 1st.

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/phuket-extends-current-covid-restrictions-from-june-1-until-further-notice-update

 

Headline focuses on restrictions but article lists lots of relaxations with more expected.

[Heng]

That would certainly beat 14 days of ASQ.   I'd probably play by the rules and stay the 7 days in Phuket, but are they really going to track all of our cell phones?