So, Phuket is about to open to the first tourists we've had for over a year. How does everyone think it will go as there are going to be a heck of a load of rules and re4gulations to pass through before being allowed to go there and probably even more for people wanting to stay for over 14 days and actually leave the island.

 

The government did say that, if, when Phuket opens, the number of cases of covid-19 positive reach 13 in a day then the island will immediately be closed off yet, 2 days ago, there were already 14 new cases that were reported so, is this just a ruse in which to open up Phuket regardless and hope that people come out and spend money or is it going to be a reality and people will actually do what they say for once.

 

This reminds me of a movie actually, which came out in 1981. Whatever happens, it'll certainly be interesting to see and may be a sign for all other areas of Thailand for future months.

Seems that most of the "tourists" will actually be expats trying to get back home. They will have the "freedom" to roam the whole island, rather than being locked in a hotel room for 14 days with crappy food and no alcohol.

So, in that context it will be a massive success for those folks.

It could be a disaster.  But it won't be from vaccinated, tested (and tested again) tourists bearing cash.

 

It will be from the rush of untested, unvaccinated Thai people rushing to cash in on even a meager flow of sweaty tourist money.  IMO, they should require the same testing regime of any Thai people wanting to enter Phuket, even if vaccinations are a long way off.  Test before you can enter, test again before you can leave your hotel, and test again at reasonable intervals.

 

But I'm not sure how feasible that is when you're testing people who may be making 300 baht a day...

 

Edit:  I doubt it will be an immediate success since it took so long to get the processes in place, just a few days before the opening.  But it could ramp up quickly if the initial reports are favorable.

 

it has been published several times that the government have stated that they will call a halt to the plan if cases exceed 90 in a week. On 29th June, the BP reported that there had been 14 cases in the preceding week, not day.

4 minutes ago, Rhacsyn said:

it has been published several times that the government have stated that they will call a halt to the plan if cases exceed 90 in a week. On 29th June, the BP reported that there had been 14 cases in the preceding week, not day.

 

They said lots of things

1 hour ago, chickenslegs said:

Seems that most of the "tourists" will actually be expats trying to get back home. They will have the "freedom" to roam the whole island, rather than being locked in a hotel room for 14 days with crappy food and no alcohol.

So, in that context it will be a massive success for those folks.

I think you hit the nail on the head.  I know of 3 friends who are fully vaccinated in their home countries (all have Thai wives that are vaccinated also) that were waiting to get back to their homes in Thailand and doing the Phuket Sandbox. All of them waited to be vaccinated in their home countries before even attempting to come back to Thailand.  IMO you are only going to get very rich travelers and expats trying to get back to Thailand.   The bread and butter tourists are left out.  Thailand will never be Singapore.  

If any significant number of tourists were booked to be coming to Thailand the government would have known well in advance from the flight's permission landing  manifests  as of how many planes with how many people on board...

The Thai definition of open has surely been lost in translation here ????

6 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Seems that most of the "tourists" will actually be expats trying to get back home.

The Phuket sandbox is a pilot program to determine the viability of such scheme.  Regardless of if it is tourists , or expats coming back.

It is people that will provide data to evaluate the risk to reward factor present with such system.  

I think I'll go to the airport to witness the fanfare

Today is tomorrow already. An unbelievable historic moment. The sandbox is open. 

July 1st headlines are reassuring...

COVID alert for high-risk contacts on Bangkok-Phuket flight