File photo for reference only

 

By Randy Thanthong-Knight

 

● Biden marks 300 million U.S. shots with first-dose goal at risk

● U.K. dodges downgrade from Fitch with outlook shifted to stable

● Italy imposes quarantine on U.K. tourists in blow to economy

 

Thailand’s travel experiment

 

Vacations to tropical islands in Southeast Asia like Bali and Langkawi became a distant memory during the pandemic. And with a resurgence in Covid-19 in much of the region this year, coupled with slow vaccine rollouts, a return to normal is on hold.

 

But Thailand has other ideas.

 

The tourism-reliant nation wants to allow quarantine-free travel to Phuket island, one of its prime holiday destinations famous for pristine beaches and vibrant nightlife. Starting July 1, for the first time in more than a year, visitors would be able to enter and immediately roam the island, provided they’re inoculated against Covid-19 and aren’t coming from countries deemed high risk.

 

Known as the ‘Phuket Sandbox’ plan, it's an important test case, not just for Thailand, but for the rest of the region's holiday spots, says Banyan Tree Holdings founder and Executive Chairman Ho Kwon Ping. 

 

Full story: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-06-19/thailand-s-travel-experiment

 

-- © Copyright Bloomberg 2021-06-21

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

 

Allow quarantine-free travel but with to many hoops. Phuket is off my bucket list.

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

● Italy imposes quarantine on U.K. tourists in blow to economy

Considering that covid was the 24th biggest killer in the UK in May, the vaccines appear to be working and I would say UK tourists would be safer than most nations.

 

Then again, we in the UK don't want some new Ravioli variant ????

3 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Considering that covid was the 24th biggest killer in the UK in May, the vaccines appear to be working and I would say UK tourists would be safer than most nations.

 

Then again, we in the UK don't want some new Ravioli variant ????

Some of these countries are just playing tit for tat with the UK because dear old Boris is keeping them on the amber list. That will all change in the next few weeks and other countries will follow suit. 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

[Thailand]wants to allow quarantine-free travel to Phuket island...famous for pristine beaches and vibrant nightlife.

 

"Pristine" Yanui Beach in Phuket recently.

 

A post trolling about Forest Gump has been removed. 

it might turn out to be a costly experiment, taking into consideration poor vaccination program and poor quality vax

It really doesn't matter what Thailand decides regarding opening up. Very few people are going to travel, it's just not practicable. You look at the rules in your home country for returning, together with the rules for entry for where you are thinking of going.