Phuket Sandbox rules tweaked

[redwood1]

1 hour ago, Destiny1990 said:

They must have a COE, a COVID-19 test certificate issued within 72 hours [prior to travel], insurance covering US$100,000, a booking with a SHA+ hotel in Phuket for 14 days, as well as pay for RT-PCR testings. If they stay less than 14 days, they also need to present their return flight booking,” Governor Narong continued.

“They must have a vaccine certificate which has been approved by the World Health Organization or a Ministry of Public Health. Tourists who are younger than 18 years old and unable to be vaccinated must be RT-PCR tested before coming,” he said.

“After arriving at the airport, they must have their temperature checked. Then they need to present documents and go through the immigration and customs processes. Then they will be RT-PCR tested and directly go the hotel they have booked.

Waw. ????????????

 

Welcome.......The vacation from HELL......... This madness should reduce potential tourist #s by at least 99.5%  I would guess....

[pagallim]

I think most will acknowledge that this first 'wave' of tourist arrivals will be those with an existing connection to Thailand, i.e. coming for friends/family or property reasons.   What will be more pertinent will be the following few months after this initial opening to gauge the real impact of the 'Sandbox', certainly in local (Phuket) economy terms.

[LivinginKata]

1 minute ago, pagallim said:

I think most will acknowledge that this first 'wave' of tourist arrivals will be those with an existing connection to Thailand, i.e. coming for friends/family or property reasons.   What will be more pertinent will be the following few months after this initial opening to gauge the real impact of the 'Sandbox', certainly in local (Phuket) economy terms.

 

Plus all the media free loaders here for fully paid holiday. Just spend minimal time filing their reports. 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, ICELANDMAN said:

Good Luck tourist

I don't think any but the most hardy tourist is going to be coming here in any numbers.

Maybe those with family or property/business maybe, but then it's got to be in Phuket as they have to do 14 days on the island.

Trickle start is going to be very slow

 

[khunjeff]

2 hours ago, Espanol said:

No, they mean if you arrive to Thailand to BKK, instead of directly flying to HKT.

 

Agreed, section 1.2 appears to allow for changing planes in Bangkok - so now the legal aspect for that is taken care of, and they only have to figure out the practical aspect...?

[MajorTom]

30 minutes ago, skatewash said:

People with non-immigrant visas or re-entry permits are allowed to used the Sandbox.  So are Thais.

Good. So this is how it is: They are probably aware that the majority of people using the sandbox option will be returning expats for now. And to make it look less like the obvious moneygrab that it is; Not only do you have to pay for a SHA+ booking. You will also be forced to stay there..

 

Check in every day its stated. When is the curfew starting? Have to be home by midnight?

What is going to happen when the sandboxed expat falls asleep in his own house when visiting his wife? (which he is free to go to like anywhere else, but not sleep) Will he be arrested or fined?

Are you allowed to nap in your own residence in the daytime? a short time? ????????

 

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

3 hours ago, pgrin said:

The last flight is on Thai air

as long as there are thai people involved in the last leg of your flight, you are good to go.

because thai people are responsible sensitive people and they can screen you with their eyes

for any infectious desease.

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

3 hours ago, ourmanflint said:

So 4 paid tests in total just to go on holiday. No thanks

and you have to show proof of payment for those tests in advance, in order to get the COE.

and to get this proof of payment (with prices twice the normal price in europe ) you need

to be contacted by your hotel first, and ...well, how can you book a flight when so

many things can go wrong?

[robertson468]

Thai Government, thank you for publishing the Phuket rules so early.  Like the Tourists arrive tomorrow!  So when are you going to publish the rules for the Islands in Surat Thani - on 14 July, the day before they are due to arrive?  This Government seem incapable of any forward planning to resolve issues arising......or should I say any planning.

Edited June 30, 2021 by robertson468

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

1 hour ago, redwood1 said:

 

Welcome.......The vacation from HELL......... This madness should reduce potential tourist #s by at least 99.5%  I would guess....

compare all this maddness to the entry requirements of spain (no need for PCR test, no quarantine) or portugal (only need PCR test) or PANAMA (Can do PCR test at airport on traveller expense, price 50 USD. if found positive quarantine is ON GOVERNMENT EXPENSE !) and

see why thailand is going to lose many more tourists.

[connda]

I wonder how many more times it will change from July 1st?

<cue Elvis> There's a whole lotta flip-floppin' going on.

[philba]

3 hours ago, Espanol said:

 

And that even been fully vaccinated

If you have been fully vaccinated, YOU should be protected aginst the severe symptoms of the Coronavirus (Covid 19).

 

You would, however, still be able to carry it and pass it to others.

 

Theoretically, not a problem if everyone around you has been vaccinated, but viruses just don't work that way and find a way of spreading.

[snoop1130]

Strict requirements set for visitors ahead of Phuket “Sandbox” reopening on July 1

 

Empty tourist boats anchor off Rawai Beach on Phuket, southern Thailand, Monday, June 28, 2021. Thailand’s government will begin the “Phuket Sandbox” scheme to bring the tourists back to Phuket starting July 1. Even though coronavirus numbers are again rising around the rest of Thailand and prompting new lockdown measures, officials say there’s too much at stake not to forge ahead with the plan to reopen the island to fully-vaccinated travelers. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

The Thai government has finalised requirements for the entry of fully vaccinated foreign tourists and Thai returnees, without entering quarantine, through the Phuket “sandbox” project, which starts tomorrow (Thursday).

 

Book your sandbox hotel in Phuket here

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/strict-requirements-set-for-visitors-ahead-of-phuket-sandbox-reopening-on-july-1/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-06-30

 

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

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[sallecc]

5 hours ago, khunPer said:

Let's be positive and hope that the about 200 tourists arriving tomorrow, and the around 1,100 that so far already have booked the Phuket holiday, fulfill yesterday's published rules, otherwise a two weeks amazing quarantine might replace the two weeks holiday...????

 

Anybody seen the list of these 66 "allowed" countries, or has a link to it? Thanks.

[skatewash]

11 minutes ago, sallecc said:

 

Anybody seen the list of these 66 "allowed" countries, or has a link to it? Thanks.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002558

In alphabetical order:
 

1. Albania
2. Andorra
3. Antigua and Barbuda
4. Australia
5. Austria
6. Azerbaijan
7. Bahrain
8. Barbados
9. Belgium
10. Bhutan
11. Brunei
12. Bulgaria
13. Cambodia
14. Canada
15. Chile
16. China
17. Croatia
18. Cyprus
19. Czech Republic
20. Denmark
21. Dominica
22. Estonia
23. Finland
24. France
25. Germany
26. Greece
27. Hungary
28. Iceland
29. Ireland
30. Israel
31. Italy
32. Kuwait
33. Laos
34. Latvia
35. Lithuania
36. Luxembourg
37. Malta
38. Mauritius
39. Monaco
40. Morocco
41. Myanmar
42. The Netherlands
43. New Zealand
44. Norway
45. Poland
46. Portugal
47. Qatar
48. Romania
49. Russia
50. San Marino
51. Serbia
52. Singapore
53. Slovakia
54. Slovenia
55. South Korea
56. Spain
57. Sweden
58. Switzerland
59. Turkey
60. United Arab Emirates
61. United Kingdom
62. United States
63. Vietnam
and 3 territories
1. Hong Kong
2. Macau
3. Taiwan

Edited June 30, 2021 by skatewash

[Espanol]

17 minutes ago, sallecc said:

 

Anybody seen the list of these 66 "allowed" countries, or has a link to it? Thanks.

 

https://ddc.moph.go.th/dcd/pagecontent.php?page=606&dept=dcd

[dennnis]

All the cost of treatment must be paid by themselves [the travellers]

 

So why you need than 100.000 usd insurance??

[LivinginKata]

2 minutes ago, dennnis said:

All the cost of treatment must be paid by themselves [the travellers]

 

So why you need than 100.000 usd insurance??

 

To guarantee payment of hospital fees ....

[skatewash]

4 minutes ago, dennnis said:

All the cost of treatment must be paid by themselves [the travellers]

 

So why you need than 100.000 usd insurance??

Because while you can't get blood from a stone, you can often get blood from a stone's insurance company.

[RickSee]

3 hours ago, khunjeff said:

 

Agreed, section 1.2 appears to allow for changing planes in Bangkok - so now the legal aspect for that is taken care of, and they only have to figure out the practical aspect...?

Has anyone out there successfully booked a flight to the sandbox with a transfer in BKK?  If this is possible it might save some cash as those flights (eg. Emirate, Qatar ...) that fly directly to Phuket from abroad seem somewhat more costly than those connecting in BKK, especially if a multi-stop ticket is required (eg. Europe-Phuket-BKK-Europe).

 

thanks, RS

[Bluedan]

no mention of having guests other than a spouse in the room...I would think a critical detail for many

 

"The insurance policy must cover healthcare expenses and medical treatment in case of asymptomatic COVID-19 infection." 

 

 

 

 

[skatewash]

5 minutes ago, RickSee said:

Has anyone out there successfully booked a flight to the sandbox with a transfer in BKK?  If this is possible it might save some cash as those flights (eg. Emirate, Qatar ...) that fly directly to Phuket from abroad seem somewhat more costly than those connecting in BKK, especially if a multi-stop ticket is required (eg. Europe-Phuket-BKK-Europe).

 

thanks, RS

I don't like to say no because I obviously don't know everyone, but that really seems impossible to me at the moment.  There simply hasn't been time to put something like that together.  I think they may want to do it in the future, but there's no way they are ready to do something like that now.  I suspect it will get a lot of media attention before it happens.

[Salerno]

10 minutes ago, RickSee said:

Has anyone out there successfully booked a flight to the sandbox with a transfer in BKK?

 

I doubt it. There was some talk about putting a transit system in place a while back but not seen anything about it in a couple of weeks or so.

[lolalol]

2 hours ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

compare all this maddness to the entry requirements of spain (no need for PCR test, no quarantine) or portugal (only need PCR test) or PANAMA (Can do PCR test at airport on traveller expense, price 50 USD. if found positive quarantine is ON GOVERNMENT EXPENSE !) and

see why thailand is going to lose many more tourists.

 

Do you think their controlling and strict guidelines have something to do with insecurity? I'm not talking about them not being able to handle COVID, we already know that for sure.  But since I've been coming to Thailand, I've felt from the immigrations and the airport, that they enjoy the feeling of being controlling....foreigners...other thais... etc... for some reason... and i feel like that has something to do with insecurity.... like.... "we are in charge! not you! okay?!?!"

[skatewash]

1 minute ago, Bluedan said:

no mention of having guests other than a spouse in the room...I would think a critical detail for many

 

"The insurance policy must cover healthcare expenses and medical treatment in case of asymptomatic COVID-19 infection." 

 

 

 

 

The latest remotely plausible-sounding rumor that I've heard of is that it's OK as long as the person staying with you has received a negative covid test result(s).  I can't point to anything officially definitive.  For people already in Thailand but not in Phuket there are very specific things they need to have to even get into Phuket (unless they are already there).  The domestic (right hand) side of the graphic attached.  If I had anything officially definitive I'd be giving you that rather than a plausible-sounding rumor.

A lot of hope was pinned on there being specifics in what would be published in the Royal Gazette concerning these sort of details.  That hope was forlorn as what has been published is very high-level, the implementation details have been left unspecified.

[trainman34014]

Just my humble opinion but i think this whole thing will be a disaster to equal the likes of Dunkirk or Pearl Harbour !

[Rhacsyn]

4 hours ago, MajorTom said:

Honest question: Has it been stated anywhere that this is only for tourists? People with a non-immigrant visa/re-entry permit are not allowed  to use the sandbox system?

I have non immigrant OA multiple entry visa, got my COE and land soon. Hopefully!

[Rhacsyn]

17 minutes ago, skatewash said:

The latest remotely plausible-sounding rumor that I've heard of is that it's OK as long as the person staying with you has received a negative covid test result(s).  I can't point to anything officially definitive.  For people already in Thailand but not in Phuket there are very specific things they need to have to even get into Phuket (unless they are already there).  The domestic (right hand) side of the graphic attached.  If I had anything officially definitive I'd be giving you that rather than a plausible-sounding rumor.

A lot of hope was pinned on there being specifics in what would be published in the Royal Gazette concerning these sort of details.  That hope was forlorn as what has been published is very high-level, the implementation details have been left unspecified.

Again not definitive but may be just luck but my local Thai GF (fully vaccinated) registered with the SHA+ hotel whilst making my booking and was told she can stay with me. May not be true for all though as it is, as you say not clarified anywhere ..........

[nkg]

From the article:

 

Quote

 

“After arriving at the airport, they must have their temperature checked. Then they need to present documents and go through the immigration and customs processes. Then they will be RT-PCR tested and directly go the hotel they have booked.

 

“At the hotel, they are not allowed to leave their rooms until the test result has been issued and the result is negative. They will be tested again on day 6/7 and day 12/13. If a tourist is found infected, hotel staff must inform the contracted hospital to come and pick the tourist up. All the cost of treatment must be paid by themselves [the travellers],” Gov Narong said.

 

 

 

I hope the test results come back in a matter of hours rather than days ...

 

[Rhacsyn]

6 hours ago, Espanol said:

 

And, how did they get COE?

 

Because no real time to get it, since Thai consulates just began accepting COE requirements 2 days ago.

 

I'm still waiting for them to answer and then I must provide airplane tickets, hotel bookings and then again waiting for them issuing COE.

 

By the way: now they ask for fully payed PCR test at hotel, but neither hotel nor Agoda have no idea about that.

 

COE application was almost the same as ASQ COE application. I had all my paperwork ready, dealt directly with the hotel and paid the 8,000 Baht for the 3 Covid test whilst booking. Got a receipt and confirmation for that. Total time for COE receipt from start to finish was one and half days