FILE PHOTO: An empty street market is seen near the beach in Phuket, Thailand March 31, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's planned reopening of the resort island Phuket next month to vaccinated visitors, bypassing quarantine requirements, has met a lukewarm response, with hotel bookings indicating expected occupancy of less than 20% so far.

 

The "Phuket Sandbox" initiative from July 1 will allow free movement on the island for tourists fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with no self-isolation on arrival. They will be given a green light to travel elsewhere in Thailand after 14 days.

 

But there are a few tricky conditions, too, and many industry professionals have complained that uncertainty and constant rule changes are deterring bookings. The plan won't be finalised until later this month.

 

"This will be a slow process. None of us are expecting a 100% occupancy on July 2," said Anthony Lark, president of the Phuket Hotels Association.

 

Thai Airways is on board, with direct flights from six European cites to Phuket from July, although it anticipates only a fraction of seats being filled, with about 100 passengers in the first week, one the airline's representatives said.

 

For an economy reliant on tourism for jobs and consumption, the new arrivals won't bring immediate relief, although removal of the costly, two-week quarantine requirements that deterred tourists for more than a year offers some hope.

 

"We're seeing strong interest, particularly from the Middle East, UK, Europe and Scandinavia already, to return to Phuket gradually," Lark said.

 

Thailand lost about $50 billion in tourism revenue last year when foreign arrivals plunged 83% to 6.7 million, from a record 39.9 million in 2019. The slump was attributed to global travel curbs and Thailand's tough entry requirements. Phuket was particularly hard hit by job losses and business closures.

 

The government hopes the Phuket Sandbox will draw 129,000 visitors to the country in the third quarter - a far cry from the average 3.3 million monthly arrivals to Thailand in 2019. Typically, a quarter of Thailand's visitors go to Phuket.

 

Thailand had just 28,701 visitors in the first four months of this year.

 

SKEPTICS ABOUND

 

One Phuket hotel owner said the sandbox initiative was "a bunch of bull" that would make little difference, in part because much of the target audience - middle class and wealthy Asians - must quarantine upon their return home.

 

"More than 50% of Phuket tourism comes from China," said the hotelier, who asked not to be named.

 

"Without that market it will be difficult."

 

The island's hotel association has projected a gradual increase in occupancy to 30%-40% towards year-end, rising from 10%-20% over July-October, which includes local bookings.

 

Several major airlines are backing the plan and offering direct flights, including Emirates, El Al, Air France, Qatar Airways, British Airways and Cathay Pacific, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

 

Singapore Airlines told Reuters its Phuket flights will increase from two per week to seven from July, after receiving interest from customers.

 

But a few obstacles remain, with outbound movement restrictions in some key markets, like China, Japan and Malaysia, while Thai health authorities have banned visitors from some high-risk countries, like India.

 

Critics also complain of onerous conditions, like mandatory swab tests, insurance coverage of a minimum $100,000 for COVID-19 treatment and use of a tracking application.

 

For its part, Phuket has been racing to vaccinate 70% of its residents - a requirement for reopening - with 60% having received a first dose so far, a rate far higher than capital Bangkok, epicentre of Thailand's worst outbreak yet.

 

Phuket has recorded single digit cases most days since May, when it introduced negative test requirements for domestic arrivals. Bangkok, in contrast, recorded hundreds of new cases each day last month.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Thursday said Thailand was reopening to visitors within 120 days, and called it a calculated but necessary risk.

 

If the Sandbox scheme goes smoothly, authorities plan to replicate it in destinations like Krabi and Koh Samui.

 

"Its a totally new situation. You are trying to reopen the country to tourism to help the economy but at the same time you need to be cautious," said Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, deputy governor of TAT.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-06-18

 

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25 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The government hopes the Phuket Sandbox will draw 129,000 visitors to the country in the third quarter

Or about 10,000 a week.

26 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

direct flights from six European cites to Phuket from July, although it anticipates only a fraction of seats being filled, with about 100 passengers in the first week,

100 a week is of course 1% of the required 10,000 a week.

Maybe the restrictions need to be thought out once more, as it is apparent tourists are not happy with the current plan, a point that officials seem to have ignored.

They've ruined it by making too many last-minute changes and by not formally approving it to this very day.

 

As of now, it still isn't possible to apply for a CoE for the sandbox, which in itself thins out the July "crowds" considerably.

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

If the Sandbox scheme goes smoothly, authorities plan to replicate it in destinations like Krabi and Koh Samui.

Where has sand ever been smooth.  Why is the paper you use to clean objects before you paint them called Sandpaper?, I don't thing they can smooth out the plan with all of the grit they have thrown in, it will be a rough sand road ahead..... 

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

with hotel bookings indicating expected occupancy of less than 20% so far.

Bookings is not the same as people arriving 

<snip quote "

For its part, Phuket has been racing to vaccinate 70% of its residents - a requirement for reopening - with 60% having received a first dose so far, a rate far higher than capital Bangkok, epicentre of Thailand's worst outbreak yet. Phuket has recorded single digit cases most days since May, when it introduced negative test requirements for domestic arrivals. Bangkok, in contrast, recorded hundreds of new cases each day last month." snip>

 

Of Course Phuket has inoculated more people than Bangkok and of course Bangkok, in contrast, recorded hundreds of new cases each day last month.

 

All you need to do is to look at the size of the populations and the area that both Phuket and Bangkok cover.

The need for caution "v" the need for absurdity shooting oneself in the foot and the face at the same time with endless onerous requirements  ????

Several major airlines are backing the plan and offering direct flights, including Emirates, El Al, Air France, Qatar Airways, British Airways and Cathay Pacific, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

 

TAT needs to inform airlines they are flying there because they obviously don't know Air France for example aborts booking at the extras page ????

20% - how may hotels ................................10 ?

 

 

if I went to the trouble of getting vaccinated in my home country I would demand a little respect from a country that has totally made a mess of their so called vaccine rollout - you want to test me track me ##### me over and charge me for it ...............no thanks 

 

Think again 

 

stupid people 

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand's planned reopening of the resort island Phuket next month to vaccinated visitors, bypassing quarantine requirements, has met a lukewarm response, with hotel bookings indicating expected occupancy of less than 20% so far.

 

So "expected 20% occupancy". How many hotels will actually be open to receive foreign guests on this scheme? I suggest it is not 20% occupancy of total hotel rooms on the island of Phuket. "lies damn lies and statistics" is a comment that springs to mind.

 

 

 

Quote

 

"More than 50% of Phuket tourism comes from China," said the hotelier, who asked not to be named.

 

"Without that market it will be difficult."

 

Without that market, Phuket would be lovely.  Mass tourism is ruining this great country.

12 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Or about 10,000 a week.

100 a week is of course 1% of the required 10,000 a week.

Maybe the restrictions need to be thought out once more, as it is apparent tourists are not happy with the current plan, a point that officials seem to have ignored.

"Maybe the restrictions need to be thought out once more".  Unfortunately thinking is not a well developed trait for the Thai administration.

" different situation "  but the leadership is the same old!????‍♂️

Guarantee that 20% are farang long-stay visa holders returning to their homes and families via Phuket. It's a better option than a quarantine hotel in Bangkok.

And when they finally get there...what then? Entertainment areas at night...non existent! Gouged by rabid vendors where ever you go. Finding a decent gfe well good luck with that! Really there is no point in going unless your only concern is a beach and a hotel room. Anything else is going to get you seriously abused.

Its been a long time since I was in Phuket, but as I remember, many of the hotel staff were not local people they were from up country. It would be interesting to see how they cope, if there should be as many visitors as is hoped for.

The "Phuket Sandbox" could be cancelled at any time.

 

 

• Quote

   

  • The reopening will be canceled or halted if any of the following happens:
    • New infections in Phuket reach 90 cases per week; the island reported 13 cases during June 11-17
    • Infections are found in all three districts and more than six sub-districts on the island
    • More than three clusters of infections are detected
    • Hospitalization rate reaches 80% of the island’s capacity
    • New variants spread to an uncontrollable level

   

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-18/thailand-to-waive-quarantine-for-vaccinated-tourists-in-phuket?utm_source=google&utm_medium=bd&cmpId=google

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

We're seeing strong interest, particularly from the Middle East, UK, Europe and Scandinavia already, to return to Phuket gradually," Lark said.

Someone who proclaims to see but is utterly blinded by wishful thinking ! ????

Anything that keeps those rude, dirty, selfish Chinese away from Phuket is fine by me.

Racist? Maybe.

From long observation? Definitely.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand's planned reopening of the resort island Phuket next month to vaccinated visitors, bypassing quarantine requirements, has met a lukewarm response, with hotel bookings indicating expected occupancy of less than 20% so far.

How much less than 20%... less than 5% possibly, or even less than that?

 

It has generally been excepted around the world that the virus is here to stay , in some form or another,

 thus we need to learn to  manage the situation rather than eradicate the virus.

Thailand needs to revive its tourism industry, the fact that Phuket is its tourist hub is immaterial as the more people that arrive the more people will naturally traverse to Phuket. 

Apparently they are worried about the delta variant (already well established in Thailand) amongst others entering the country.  Variants have not always entered the country from abroad but have just mutated sooner in other countries than others.

If all tourists are in inoculated and tested negative before entry they are a thousand times more at risk from the local population than Thailand is from them.

Under the above conditions there is absolutely no need for Quarantine and until Thailand realises this Tourism is never going to fully return.

 

12 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Several major airlines are backing the plan and offering direct flights, including Emirates, El Al, Air France, Qatar Airways, British Airways and Cathay Pacific, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

 

TAT needs to inform airlines they are flying there because they obviously don't know Air France for example aborts booking at the extras page ????

Airlines will not fly empty aircraft.

They will allow the booking process to continue but like Thailands vaccination plan they will cancel at the last minute and offer a minimal apology.

21 minutes ago, KarenBravo said:

Anything that keeps those rude, dirty, selfish Chinese away from Phuket is fine by me.

Racist? Maybe.

From long observation? Definitely.

Not maybe, racist definitely!

1 minute ago, Thailand said:

Not maybe, racist definitely!

 

Even if the observations are true?

Sorry, for me truth trumps political correctness every day of the week.

 

I will modify my statement.

"Anything that keeps those rude, dirty, selfish Mainland Chinese away from Phuket is fine by me".

Taiwanese, Malaysian and Singaporean Chinese are fine and well behaved.

S s s lipping up TV headline guy, try ‘S s s tuttering on s s s andbox’

I am still hopeful that the Thai government and TAT will get their <deleted> together by the end of October, or at least by December.

  I will likely be entertained by their continued fumbling until then. What a clown show.

Geezer

52 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Not maybe, racist definitely!

 

 

As KB comments, is speaking the truth racism?  Sorry if the truth hurts ????

     Still too many restrictions and requirements.  Should just be proof of vaccination, period.  Phuket is suppose to be a test area so that's what it needs to be.  To open tourism nationwide, eventually it's going to have to be just vaccinated as the only requirement so let's see how that works with Phuket.  But, first, 70% of Phuket needs to be fully vaccinated before anything else.

Absolute farce this is 

3 hours ago, Surasak said:

Its been a long time since I was in Phuket, but as I remember, many of the hotel staff were not local people they were from up country. It would be interesting to see how they cope, if there should be as many visitors as is hoped for.

Spot on. 
 

and will be the same for all the other branches within the ‘hospitality’ industry