Tourism minister: Phuket unlikely to be ready for "sandbox" opening - "sealed route" share with Samui proposed

[webfact]

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Siam Rath quoted Thailand's tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan as saying that the much vaunted opening of Phuket under the "sandbox" no quarantine scheme will not happen on July 1st.

 

The minister said that Phuket was unlikely to be ready. 

 

The start will be August 1st instead. 

 

The media reported a delegation led by Surat Thani deputy governor Sakdaporn Rattanasupha came to Bangkok to meet the minister.

 

There were reps from Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan wanting to discuss the Samui Sealed Route plan. 

 

They proposed that tourists could spend July 1st to 7th in Phuket then shift to Samui for days 8 through 14 before further Covid tests. 

 

This was when the minister revealed Phuket wasn't ready.

 

But he apparently liked the plan and said it could happen from August 1st.

 

After seven days in Phuket the tourists would be flown by Bangkok Airways from there to Samui then stay there for seven days. 

 

Provided tests at the end of the first two weeks came back negative they would then be free to travel in the rest of Thailand. 

 

Earlier Thaivisa reported that bars and entertainment in Phuket would not be open for tourists to enjoy on July 1st prompting many to say such news would hardly inspire foreign tourism. 

 

Very few if any concrete details of visits planned by foreign tourists have so far been reported in the Thai press. 

 

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[Caldera]

While not surprising, such a last-minute flip-flop is obviously very bad, as it alienates those who have already booked flights and accommodation.

 

Here's a new slogan for TAT: Amazing Thailand never fails to disappoint. Guaranteed. 

[SEAsia Traveler]

No one is coming so they postpone again.

[bkk6060]

No surprise.  But, most with common sense knew it was a failed "scheme" from the beginning.

Hope all those folks got refundable flights, etc.  The plan now fly people to Samui from Phuket?

What a cluster... Unbelievable.  

Sorry and sadly cannot see any of these plans working until the vaccination process is complete here, bars and all businesses are fully prepared to open which my guess unfortunately will be sometime next year. 

[ChipButty]

Brain dead do they honestly think tourist will put up with that <deleted> being herded around like POW's 

[engamann]

Hub of U Turns.....

[Cake Monster]

Thailand

The Fuster Cluck center of the Universe.

[ChipButty]

I never thought it was achievable to be ready for the 1st, in my own mind should have got everything done then give it 1 month as a dry run.

If many people have to cancel again I dont see them make another booking they will just go elsewhere.

[Sharp]

They are talking about the Samui addition to the scheme if not mistaken the Phuket opening still in play?? "yes /no 

[NCC1701A]

man I picked the wrong day to give up sniffing glue. 

[bkk6060]

11 minutes ago, Sharp said:

They are talking about the Samui addition to the scheme if not mistaken the Phuket opening still in play?? "yes /no 

 

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

Siam Rath quoted Thailand's tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan as saying that the much vaunted opening of Phuket under the "sandbox" no quarantine scheme will not happen on July 1st.

 

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

This was when the minister revealed Phuket wasn't ready

 

 

It seems pretty clear Phuket is not happening July 1.

[smedly]

28 minutes ago, Caldera said:

While not surprising, such a last-minute flip-flop is obviously very bad, as it alienates those who have already booked flights and accommodation.

who also had to pay up front

[wensiensheng]

Ahhh, there we are. Today’s flip flop is on the board already.

 

now where’s the post saying xyz million vaccines have been bought and will arrive on the 12th never? Haven’t seen that yet today.

[petermik]

7 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

Thailand

The Fuster Cluck center of the Universe.

Spot on...but these idiots running the place cannot see it....

[clivebaxter]

Government stupidity and incompetence at least lightens the mood, in what is becoming a depressing and frustrating place to be stuck in ????

[Rampant Rabbit]

32 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

man I picked the wrong day to give up sniffing glue. 

Switch to  Coke  it  numbs  the pain. not  "diet" though.

[Karma80]

Only 196 flip flops until Christmas everyone. 

[wensiensheng]

You see, it’s the obvious thing to do.

 

you have a complicated scheme that’s falling apart because the main fundamental issues haven’t been addressed properly. So just ADD IN more complication by including other provinces that also aren’t ready.

 

things are running so smoothly…..

[ChipButty]

Is it safe to assume they will keep the bars closed and ban alcohol in restaurants? beyond the joke now 

[mancub]

9 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

You see, it’s the obvious thing to do.

 

you have a complicated scheme that’s falling apart because the main fundamental issues haven’t been addressed properly. So just ADD IN more complication by including other provinces that also aren’t ready.

 

things are running so smoothly…..

Plus the understandable  mentality of those  places ( Chiang Mai/Krabi /Pattaya etc) which don't want to be left out, consequently formulating their own half-witted schemes !

[Bkk Brian]

Well done lads, get the hopes up of 100's of hotels, get them to sign up to SHA, employ and get their staff ready, get the tour operators geared up. Then pull the rug from under them again...............

 

Now do the right thing with no delusional targets, wait until Phuket is really ready, that will probably be a few months yet.

[madmitch]

Today's comments will be redundant tomorrow when another flip flop takes place.

[OxKing033]

This article seems misleading and i doubt they'll postpone it a month at this rate.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

The twenty Americans and CNN who booked must be really <deleted> of. 

[Docno]

4 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Brain dead do they honestly think tourist will put up with that <deleted> being herded around like POW's 

You have seen what Chinese tours look like, right? 

[RichardColeman]

it'll come !

[HarrySeaman]

4 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Anyone shocked?...

Reminds me when I first visited LOS and was called Hansum, or when a thai girl said she "loved me"...that was 2008..

Next time you enter an a-go-go bar (perhaps that will happen by January 2022) lick a 1000 Bt note and stick it to your forehead.  You will immediately be called "hansum" by 20 girls.  Unfortunately it will now cost a lot more than 1000 Bt for one of them to tell you that they love you.

 

Memories, aha sweet memories.

[trainman34014]

They just realised they got the day and the month right but not the year !

[skorp13]

3 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

man I picked the wrong day to give up sniffing glue. 

 

Obviously they didn't, they're still going strong!

[Geoffggi]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

After seven days in Phuket the tourists would be flown by Bangkok Airways from there to Samui then stay there for seven days. 

Errrrrrrr Just a minute, does the tourist have a say in any of this? For example maybe some maybe do not want to go to Samui or anywhere else for that matter except maybe the mainland can they stay in Phuket for the whole two weeks?? Then proceed directly to the mainland...........