Phuket Sandbox: Officials say island ready to open, but fewer tourists expected

[webfact]

File photo//REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

Officials in Phuket on Friday confirmed that the island is ready to welcome foreign tourists from July 1. 

 

Phuket governor Narong Woonciew said that everything was in place for the start of the eagerly anticipated Phuket Sandbox project.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow,  Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn,  Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa and Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakhomnusorn all accompanied the governor on an inspection of the island.

 

The governor said it was imperative for the local economy that Phuket reopens and spoke of his confidence in the preventative measures put in place to stop the spread of the virus. 

 

Also on Friday, Tourism Authority of Thailand chief Yutthasak Suphasorn repeated his assessment that there would be 30,000 less tourists going to Phuket from July to September than previously thought because of the (CCSA) requirement to have to stay on the island for 14 days rather than what he wanted, just seven. 

 

But they would still spend 8.9 billion baht, he maintained. 

 

Until the end of October 32 airlines would be flying into the island. 

 

In July there will be 426 flights to Phuket and some of these are airlines that have never flown to Phuket before. 

 

Yutthasak said this was great news. 

 

He said that tourists are delaying their travel plans until the last moment and many are waiting for the announcement of Phuket Sandbox regulations in the Government Gazette.

 

He expects this to be Monday next. 

 

He also said that a press and agents' trip from Dubai would be landing in Phuket next Friday to report on the island's reopening, further spreading the good news. 

 

Meanwhile, Mr Yutthasak, that he expects the UK to scrap quarantine for people returning there from Phuket.

 

This will add tourists to the Phuket Sandbox scheme, he said, as they will not have to quarantine for seven days on their return from Thailand.

 

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[grumbleweed]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

the island is ready to welcome foreign tourists from July 1.

Considering they've only just stop short of implementing water torture on arrival...

If what we've already seen is a sign of how they welcome tourists, I'd hate to see what happens when they repel them.

 

[Phuketshrew]

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, Mr Yutthasak, that he expects the UK to scrap quarantine for people returning there from Phuket.

So many untruths in this article is difficult to know where to begin.  8.9 billion baht ????

But the above really shows how delusional these people are. The UK is far more likely to move Thailand from amber to red with the current worsening Covid-19 situation and the pathetic vaccination program.

[RichardColeman]

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

there would be 30,000 less tourists going to Phuket from July to September than previously thought because of the (CCSA) requirement to have to stay on the island for 14 days rather than what he wanted, just seven. 

Mensa riddle of the day : Foot in yourself the shooting.

[khunPer]

27 minutes ago, webfact said:

In July there will be 426 flights to Phuket and some of these are airlines that have never flown to Phuket before. 

I presume we are talking about international long distance flights coming from mainly Europe - other articles have again and again stated that European, and American, tourists are the main number expected - which in average will carry about 200 passengers each, if not more.

 

So here comes the simple math...

426 x 200 = 85,200 passenger in July out of about 100,000 during all three month, which total number seems to be scaled down from earlier more specific 129,000 guests  in third quarter's sandbox.

 

If however, only one third of 100,000 arrives in July, the math goes like (100,000 / 3 ) / 426 = 78 passengers in average on each flight...????

 

Oh, perhaps I forgot that a number of these flights are for so-called quality tourists, i.e. private jets only carrying a few people onboard, then the math fits much better...????????

[tomazbodner]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

He also said that a press and agents' trip from Dubai would be landing in Phuket next Friday to report on the island's reopening, further spreading the good news. 

Are we sure there will be any "good" news to spread?

[Rhacsyn]

i hope to be on that flight from Dubai next Friday as I endeavour to return to Thailand. I received the green light on 24th June to start the COE application which I have done. Nevertheless, I cannot complete it as the SHA+ hotels have yet to get their system (SHABA) up and running from the government. It means I can book the hotel but they cannot send me confirmation until that system is activated. I spoke to the manager at a popular hotel in Phuket this morning and was advised that the system would probably get operational only after the announcement appeared in the Royal Gazette. They thought that would be Monday 28th. I will then be tight on time and I guess this applies to all other "non executive" travellers. Please correct me if you know different!

Edited June 26, 2021 by Rhacsyn
Typo

[Chelseafan]

17 minutes ago, khunPer said:

I presume we are talking about international long distance flights coming from mainly Europe - other articles have again and again stated that European, and American, tourists are the main number expected - which in average will carry about 200 passengers each, if not more.

 

So here comes the simple math...

426 x 200 = 85,200 passenger in July out of about 100,000 during all three month, which total number seems to be scaled down from earlier more specific 129,000 guests  in third quarter's sandbox.

 

If however, only one third of 100,000 arrives in July, the math goes like (100,000 / 3 ) / 426 = 78 passengers in average on each flight...????

 

Oh, perhaps I forgot that a number of these flights are for so-called quality tourists, i.e. private jets only carrying a few people onboard, then the math fits much better...????????

 

 

As I mentioned before, the earlier flights in July are going to be fuller due to farangs desperately wanting to get back into the country to see their loved ones without having to quarantine.

 

I bet those flights in August & Sept are going to be fairly empty...

 

 

 

 

[Captain Monday]

Interested in the SHA+ booking authenticator QR code I received

• How does it fight a virus? Why don't ASQ hotels produce booking these authenticators?
• Why cant the consulates when issuing a COE just refer to a list as with ASQ hotels?
• Is it just another nifty thing to make Phuket look advanced and cool or is it actually required by gazetted Thai law?

[CLW]

So for the first week only media and invited guests. That must be 1000s of arrival per day ????????

[Neilly]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

But they would still spend 8.9 billion baht, he maintained. 

 

Not bad considering it's been reported that 80% of businesses are closed...????

[Justgrazing]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

Meanwhile, Mr Yutthasak, that he expects the UK to scrap quarantine for people returning there from Phuket.

 

On what grounds does he base that .. 

[ezzra]

I would love to be a fly on the walls of the meeting place where all those ministers will learn than no 8.9 billions and no significant number of tourists has actually arrived (if any that is) ma, there's going to be so many eggs on so may faces...

[sammieuk1]

They hope returning Brits won't need to do quarantine after staying in Phuket now reverse that idea you moron ????

[paahlman]

37 minutes ago, Rhacsyn said:

i hope to be on that flight from Dubai next Friday as I endeavour to return to Thailand. I received the green light on 24th June to start the COE application which I have done. Nevertheless, I cannot complete it as the SHA+ hotels have yet to get their system (SHABA) up and running from the government. It means I can book the hotel but they cannot send me confirmation until that system is activated. I spoke to the manager at a popular hotel in Phuket this morning and was advised that the system would probably get operational only after the announcement appeared in the Royal Gazette. They thought that would be Monday 28th. I will then be tight on time and I guess this applies to all other "non executive" travellers. Please correct me if you know different!

It is already operational. The shaba reporting that is.

 

https://www.thailandsha.com/index#Home

[BestB]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

day, Tourism Authority of Thailand chief Yutthasak Suphasorn repeated his assessment that there would be 30,000 less tourists going to Phuket from July to September than previously thought because of the (CCSA) requirement to have to stay on the island for 14 days rather than what he wanted, just seven

What the F is going on? can anyone explain?

 

Just yesterday the very same TAT stated 100 000 expected, few days before that said 130 000 confirmed, before that said 60 000 but 30 000 cancelled.

 

Can they not make up their mind and stick to it for at least 1 week?

[skorp13]

How do you spend 8.9 million baht in a city that is predominately closed???

[Guderian]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He said that tourists are delaying their travel plans until the last moment and many are waiting for the announcement of Phuket Sandbox regulations in the Government Gazette.

 

Why do they sound surprised, even a bit hurt, by this, lol?

Pesky foreigners want everything, more trouble than they're worth!

Edited June 26, 2021 by Guderian

[trainman34014]

Can't wait to see the real numbers (if we ever see any) but of course all the Reporters, TV Crews, Agents, Flight Crews, Bus Drivers and any returning Residents will all be included in the 'Tourist' numbers for good measure.

[bikerbri]

Until the end of October 32 airlines would be flying into the island.  
 

Are they sure about the number? Surely they mean flights?

[friendofthai]

COE = Hardly any tourists

[zzzzz]

8 minutes ago, skorp13 said:

How do you spend 8.9 million baht in a city that is predominately closed???

you do understand Phuket is a large island with various "cities"
some , like Patong are 90% shut down 

some, Like Rawai, Chern talay are 85% open

some, like Kamala are 75% open

some, like Phuket town are 90% OPEN

 

[Rhacsyn]

31 minutes ago, paahlman said:

It is already operational. The shaba reporting that is.

 

https://www.thailandsha.com/index#Home

Thank you and you are correct as I just received a return call from the hotel

[poskat]

we will soon see the typically ugly collision of hope and reality

[anchadian]

In July there will be 426 flights to Phuket and some of these are airlines that have never flown to Phuket before. 

----------------------------

 

Let's hope they know the way.

[chilli42]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The governor said it was imperative for the local economy that Phuket reopens

I think he has that wrong, and maybe that is the problem.  It’s imperative that they find a means to open safely but also be appealing to their visitors. Their focus has been on opening and in pursuit of this goal, they have made the opening as onerous and unattractive to tourists as possible.  They seem to disregard the notion that people actually care about their holiday experience.  Sure it will be open but who will visit?

[KhaoYai]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Until the end of October 32 airlines would be flying into the island. 

Until the end of October?  End of the first week more like.

[southcoast]

Until the end of October 32 airlines would be flying into the island. 

In July there will be 426 flights to Phuket and some of these are "airlines that have never flown to Phuket before"

 

 

 

On the Qatar newsletter, Qatar said that they will be flying in 4 times a week from the 1st July...Wonder if anyone knows the other 32 Airlines mentioned??? I would be interested to find out, I hope they don't include  the flights from BKK or DMK in these numbers ,and presumably these flights still have to be direct, not LHR/DOH/HKT unless things have changed. Maybe Air Koryo is in the list. I must stop presuming things in Thailand.

[IamNoone88]

Phuket may be open, but pretty much everything is closed - even Jungceylon!

[PETERTHEEATER]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

..........for the start of the eagerly anticipated Phuket Sandbox project.

That doesn't even begin to indicate the stress. I have near chewed my dining table to shreds in an attempt to ease the tension in the countdown.........????