Reopening of Phuket and Surat Thani to foreign tourists confirmed for July

[stevenl]

20 minutes ago, NoBrains said:

No word about the procedure when you vacinated.   I have a vacination pasport, I got pfizer shots.

Huh? Maybe better read up on it then.

[Gulfsailor]

2 minutes ago, stevenl said:

How nice and totally irrelevant. The rules apply to the province.

Uhm, I don’t think so. It specifically mentions that the first week one needs to stay on Samui, after which one can also visit Phangan and Tao. It’s easy to control entry and exit to the islands, but impossible to control  all entry points to the mainland part of the province. 

[ThaiFelix]

With the current covid situation changing daily how can anyone confirm anything?  As someone else mentioned above, the hotels wanting 100% deposit on bookings sounds like they are not too confident either.  Seems like another waste of print the kind the TAT specialises in lol!

[Mavideol]

16 hours ago, Surelynot said:

UK press today.......China expected to keep its borders closed for another 12 months???????

 

Looks like it will have to Indians....whoops no......then just the Russians?......That is something to look forward to!!!

 

Or....6 million Brits????

they sure should think twice before opening as their vaccine is not giving the results they were so proud to claim.... another blow to the Chinese technology/savoir faire (bad copy paste technology)   555

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/22/business/economy/china-vaccines-covid-outbreak.html

They Relied on Chinese Vaccines. Now They’re Battling Outbreaks.

 

[churchill]

3 hours ago, The Wrexham said:

I’m 74 next week and registered with my wife also Farang in Samui on Surratthanni  government web site . Checked yesterday message the same “ You are registered you will receive an SMS for appointment. It’s been the same now for four weeks and now they want to open up Samui and the local islands . I also had a six way heart bypass some ten years ago in BBK so I’m high risk even more so now with the Delta version on the loose in Thailand . When will they get around to vaccinate us Farang as promised .

 

I have been told they are expecting 30,000 doses in the next week or so which should cover us in at risk groups . Minister of Health visiting Samui Friday so perhaps we will have an update then .

[Surelynot]

5 hours ago, FitnessHealthTravel said:

I guess your post makes sense to someone...WHAT???

I guess you have to read the news and follow the threads.

 

China major source of income.....will not visit if borders are closed

 

India...next big hope........ being ravaged by Delta variant

 

Russians.......a nightmare at the best of times.

 

TAT prediction for third and fourth quarter .....6 million British...10% of the population!!!!

 

 

 

Edited June 23, 2021 by Surelynot

[Surelynot]

5 hours ago, FitnessHealthTravel said:

I guess your post makes sense to someone...WHAT???

13 understood it....5555

[HappyLivingInThailand]

12 hours ago, 3NUMBAS said:

there is nobody coming as the games over

There's the positive attitude I come to expect from a miserable old expat. Boring!

[sammieuk1]

16 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

Wow. I have just picked a random hotel from the "Phuket Sandbox Hotels" link above:

The Vijitt Resort Hotel - from 63,000 baht for 14 nights = 4,500 baht per night.

On Agoda and I can book the same place for 14 nights for 23,253 baht (including taxes and service fees).

Not a great deal is it?

That hotel must be in ka-chang province right next-door to ka-ching????

[Surelynot]

16 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

Wow. I have just picked a random hotel from the "Phuket Sandbox Hotels" link above:

The Vijitt Resort Hotel - from 63,000 baht for 14 nights = 4,500 baht per night.

On Agoda and I can book the same place for 14 nights for 23,253 baht (including taxes and service fees).

Not a great deal is it?

No way.......got a deal with a 5* in  Khao Yai ....booking.com was around 120k for the month.......phoned direct got a double room, park view for 30k.........no breakfast and laundry only once every four days.

 

Before people get stressy....yes the thread is about Phuket....but it just shows what deals you can get if you drop lucky.

Edited June 23, 2021 by Surelynot

[PETERTHEEATER]

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

so that their locations can be tracked.

 

5555555555555555555

That's the monger demographic gone right there. I guess the barkeeps will be despairing about now.

My hearing aid doesn't have WiFi. Will they give me one of those phone thingies on arrival? Can't I have the GPS leg-irons as an option? Are they waterproof for when I go swimming? So many questions, so few answers..........???? Fhuket, I won't go Phuket.

[Arkady]

7 hours ago, Moonfire said:

Daily cases of Covid increasing. 

 

Doctors are going on the record against opening and continued lockdown.

 

The India killer Delta variant Covid has been found in Thailand:

The variant, first identified in India, is the most contagious yet and, among those not yet vaccinated, may trigger serious illness in more people than other variants do, say scientists tracking the spread of infection.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002327

The fast-spreading Delta variant will become the dominant strain of Covid-19 in Thailand within four months, a leading virologist warned on Tuesday.

 

Thailand is about to open up.

 

The perfect storm!

 

 

Four months sounds highly optimistic for delta to become the predominate strain.  It happened faster than that in the UK against a much higher level of vaccination and no Chinese vaccines and cases ramped up from 2,000 a day to 7,700 within a few weeks.  Thailand is half way there already.

[terryofcrete]

7 hours ago, MasterBaker said:

Surat Thani? Who ever goes there?

Koh Samui is considered to be in the Surat Thai district. 

[bluedoc]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand’s cabinet has confirmed that Phuket will reopen to fully vaccinated tourists on July 1st, under the “Phuket Sandbox” project, as planned. Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, in Surat Thani province, will follow a similar model on July 15th, said Government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri today (Tuesday).

Dear Anucha Burapachaisri, do you understand the real Covid situation in Thailand, 2392 walk ins tested positive and your woeful testing (how many tested?????) found 720. Your government are a disgrace and totally irresponsible. 51 deaths recorded as Covid, how many recorded as flu or something else.  I hope your chicken does not come home to roost.

[anthobkk]

17 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

Wow. I have just picked a random hotel from the "Phuket Sandbox Hotels" link above:

The Vijitt Resort Hotel - from 63,000 baht for 14 nights = 4,500 baht per night.

On Agoda and I can book the same place for 14 nights for 23,253 baht (including taxes and service fees).

Not a great deal is it?

 

The one provided on booking.com at 2,500 is without breakfast, no cancelation and without any possibility to change the booking dates.

 

They also have the option at 4,500 baht with breakfast and can change edit booking dates if needed. So I guess it's fair

[Griff4114]

Glad I got out of Thailand bunch of idiots handling this situation. Mass tourism will not come back for a long time. Private hospitals should be doing vaccination as well.

[Griff4114]

Glad I got out of Thailand bunch of idiots handling this situation. Mass tourism will not come back for a long time. Private hospitals should be doing vaccination as well.

[BarraMarra]

8 hours ago, MasterBaker said:

Just wonder what kind of excuse they will have at the end of July. Surat Thani? Who ever goes there?

Dirty Falangs or illegals will get the blame.

[Surelynot]

6 minutes ago, Griff4114 said:

Glad I got out of Thailand bunch of idiots handling this situation. Mass tourism will not come back for a long time. Private hospitals should be doing vaccination as well.

First post was better.

[BarraMarra]

Just now, BarraMarra said:

Dirty Falangs or illegals will get the blame. Then quickly followed up by We the Thai people did everything to welcome Tourists back but Social media intervened and spread Rumors and false information.

 

[Ned Ludd]

18 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

Wow. I have just picked a random hotel from the "Phuket Sandbox Hotels" link above:

The Vijitt Resort Hotel - from 63,000 baht for 14 nights = 4,500 baht per night.

On Agoda and I can book the same place for 14 nights for 23,253 baht (including taxes and service fees).

Not a great deal is it?

23,253 is a great deal. I remeber staying at Vijitt for 250 baht a night in the 80s when it was just beach huts.

[ChipButty]

I was reading before even if farang come by road to Phuket you still have to do 14 days nonsense, But Thai's dont 

[robertson468]

9 hours ago, MasterBaker said:

Just wonder what kind of excuse they will have at the end of July. Surat Thani? Who ever goes there?

Koh Samui, Koh Pangan and Koh Tao are in Surat Thani.  Do the geography!

[Surelynot]

6 minutes ago, Donaldo said:

So, why can't there be some creative thinking. Instead of promoting a Covid "free" sandbox, why not invert the idea ? Why not have a zone where no vaccination is required, no Covid test, Bar, restaurants, night clubs and other venues are open, but limited to the isolated zone. Just like the leper colonies of the past. That would be a much more attractive option. I would bet my back side on the fact that it would prove a very successful idea.

Good thinking.......fly in......no quarantine, no tests, no paperwork...........you pays your money, you takes your chance....like it. 

[bangon04]

5 hours ago, dkg224 said:

Not that any tourists are gonna come. But their is a glaring shortsight on the Surat Thani route.

The “tourists” will only be allowed to visit places that are SHA+ certified. So another wonderful idea with your tracking tag to make sure you only visit approved establishments. 
 

The bigger problem is to get the SHA+ you need to register with pictures of your sanitation cleaning station for guests, temperature check, employees all wearing masks and all staff 100% vaccinated. 
well majority of places open here are Owned by foreigners and almost all working staff are Burmese.  They have only just started vaccinated some Thais here, no foreigners or Burmese workers have been vaccinated nor does it look anytime soon. 
So next week the “tourists” would have about 1-2 choices to stay and a few street stall Thai food places to eat at.  

you are assuming that hotel owners will not find a way to bypass the strict requirements to register as SHA+.  

[fleccer]

And what sort of restrictions will these tourists be subjected to? Socializing prohibited, alcohol ban still in place, but above all, will they still have to wear that rag in their face? Everywhere they are abolishing the use of the mask outdoors, but here it's not even discussed on it. Free us from this torture at least outdoor

Edited June 23, 2021 by fleccer

[Nanaplaza666]

7 hours ago, bolt said:

your complaining about a 3rd party website, <deleted> 

here are prices from AGODA (other 3rd party websites are availible)

Who says i am complaining ?? I am just saying if you look at the prices of the website where they want you to book . I own my own property so i don't need to book anywhere so why would i be complaining ?? Do you work for the government or something that you are so quick to state that i am complaining . Or did you invest in one of these money grabbing hotels ?? Otherwise i don't realy understand your reaction . You can only react to my quote like that if you understand 0% of what i meant . 

[BM7591]

I wonder if Thai citizens without vaccinations can travel to Phuket and if they will need to isolate. Can Thai children traveling with a vaccinated parent enter Phuket without having to isolate in a hotel?

[spidermike007]

So much fuss is being made of 1,000 international tourist arrivals a month. 

 

At least there will be no lines at immigration! 

[DBath]

I can see it now...all those flights packed with passengers coming to check-in for their 14-day quarantine and pick up their GPS tracker bracelets, then eventually going to dinner at a nice restaurant where they'll be allowed NO ALCOHOL! After that they'll head for the bars and a massage shops, which will all be closed.