The first foreign tourists arrive at the airport as Phuket reopens to overseas tourists, allowing foreigners fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to visit the resort island without quarantine, in Phuket, Thailand July 1, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva 

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Vaccinated foreign tourists are due to fly into the Thai resort island of Phuket on Thursday, the first to return to its beaches and golf courses under a pilot programme to revive a tourism industry devastated by the novel coronavirus.

 

Under the "Phuket sandbox" plan, foreign tourists vaccinated against COVID-19 will not have to spend any time in quarantine and can move around the island freely.

 

After 14 days, provided three coronavirus tests they must take are negative, they can travel elsewhere in the country.

Millions of people visited Phuket every year before the pandemic and the government and tourism industry hope the reopening will help save its battered economy.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has flown to Phuket to oversee the reopening, with 249 tourists due to arrive on flights from Israel, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

 

A plane carrying the first foreign tourists to arrive at the airport as Phuket reopens to overseas tourists, allowing foreigners fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to visit the resort island without quarantine, receives a water cannon salute from fire trucks in Phuket, Thailand July 1, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

"Most Israelis have been vaccinated and they will be the main group of tourists entering Thailand this time around,” said Taweesin Visanuyothin, a spokesman for the government's COVID-19 taskforce.

 

The government expects about 100,000 foreign tourists to visit Phuket in the third quarter of this year and generate 8.9 billion baht ($278 million) in revenue.

 

Thailand lost about $50 billion in tourism revenue last year as foreign arrivals plunged 83% to 6.7 million, from a record 39.9 million in 2019. Phuket was hit particularly hard by job losses and business closures.

 

While Phuket has seen few COVID-19 cases ahead of its reopening, Thailand on Thursday reported a daily record of 57 deaths from the coronavirus, the second day in a row of record-high fatalities as authorities struggle to control a worrying third wave of infections.

 

The latest deaths take Thailand's total fatalities to 2,080 since the pandemic started last year.

 

The COVID-19 task force also reported 5,533 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections to 264,834.

 

($1 = 32.0200 baht)

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um, Writing by Kay JohnsonEditing by Ed Davies, Robert Birsel)

 

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I am sure a lot of Thai gals will do anything to get the jab in order to inpour and be present and waiting for tourists coming to Phuket.

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

The government expects about 100,000 foreign tourists to visit Phuket in the third quarter of this year and generate 8.9 billion baht ($278 million) in revenue.

At the rate the case numbers and deaths are growing they will be lucky to get anywhere near that number. 

Any reports of numbers and where arrivals to Phuket came from today.

One report week back suggested many were coming from UAE. 

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

The government expects about 100,000 foreign tourists to visit Phuket in the third quarter of this year and generate 8.9 billion baht ($278 million) in revenue.

 

So each tourist spends $2780 89,000 baht, high rollers.

32 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Any reports of numbers and where arrivals to Phuket came from today.

One report week back suggested many were coming from UAE. 

 

Hmm...

 

Quote

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has flown to Phuket to oversee the reopening, with 249 tourists due to arrive on flights from Israel, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

 

"Most Israelis have been vaccinated and they will be the main group of tourists entering Thailand this time around,” said Taweesin Visanuyothin, a spokesman for the government's COVID-19 taskforce.

 

Of course Thais are well known for their welcoming attitude towards Israeli travellers.

 

Oy vey!

21 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has flown to Phuket to oversee the reopening

 

43 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand lost about $50 billion in tourism revenue last year as foreign arrivals plunged 83% to 6.7 million, from a record 39.9 million in 2019. Phuket was hit particularly hard by job losses and business closures.

 

43 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand on Thursday reported a daily record of 57 deaths from the coronavirus, the second day in a row of record-high fatalities as authorities struggle to control a worrying third wave of infections.

 

Good luck to the Phuket folk as they need every bit of hope and sunshine they can get. But if he thinks his non existent negative popularity will reverse then he has another thing coming.  Good to see his and his Junta's magnificent Covid 19 and handling of the vaccine management have tallied a top daily figure of another 57 dead and 5,533 newly infected as oodles upon oodles of more Thai are by the minute losing their lively hoods. Good work jolly old chaps (said with a stiff upper lip)! 

This sandbox will either be a gold-box or a sheet-box for the future of tourism in this country...

Any news on exactly how many Phuketians have had two jabs and of what vaccine?

Anyone frontline reports from the sandbox?   Has anyone shown up?  ⛷️

5 minutes ago, Heng said:

Anyone frontline reports from the sandbox?   Has anyone shown up?  ⛷️

 

Where are all the falangs? 

Has the tourist showed up yet? 

I appreciate they tried to do something at least. But if their goal is only 100k tourists by the end of the year, that is a really low objective... 

 

Trying to remain hopeful for everyone involved in the tourism industry but it seems that there are still darker months ahead with the covid situation worsening here on a daily basis.

 

Hopefully, higher numbers will come in mid October when and if they manage their reopening plan, which doesn't sound promising yet..

1 hour ago, Henryford said:

 

So each tourist spends $2780 89,000 baht, high rollers.

 

That actually sounds like the most reasonable statistic I've ever heard from this government on the issue; 70-100,000bt seems a reasonable amount for a 2-3 week holiday.

1 minute ago, JayClay said:

 

That actually sounds like the most reasonable statistic I've ever heard from this government on the issue; 70-100,000bt seems a reasonable amount for a 2-3 week holiday.

I agree....someone has cocked-up big time.

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Any reports of numbers and where arrivals to Phuket came from today.

One report week back suggested many were coming from UAE. 

 

First flight to arrive was an Ethihad aircraft from Abu Dhabi.   There were 25 passengers onboard.

I’m not a native speaker so I may be wrong, but I wonder whether ‘reopening’ is the right word for this situation? Yes, the door is sort of open but you have to jump through many hoops before you reach it, only to find a minefield right behind it.  ‘Welcome’, really?

14 minutes ago, pagallim said:

 

First flight to arrive was an Ethihad aircraft from Abu Dhabi.   There were 25 passengers onboard.

Perfect because they as Muslims do not drink alcohol.

5 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

Perfect because they as Muslims do not drink alcohol.

 

I believe most were Westerners, including an Israeli family.   There may have been/probably were some Thais onboard also.

 

"An Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi was the 1st to land at Phuket Airport at 11.10am, under the “sandbox” reopening project, which begins today (Thursday). It landed later than its scheduled arrival of 10.20am, with 25 foreign arrivals on board (as opposed to 46 reported previously)"

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Any reports of numbers and where arrivals to Phuket came from today.

One report week back suggested many were coming from UAE. 

Edited 1 hour ago by DrJack54

 

Yeah. They are used to sand, so they don't mind the sandbox. 

29 minutes ago, BKKTRAVELER said:

I appreciate they tried to do something at least. But if their goal is only 100k tourists by the end of the year, that is a really low objective... 

 

Trying to remain hopeful for everyone involved in the tourism industry but it seems that there are still darker months ahead with the covid situation worsening here on a daily basis.

 

Hopefully, higher numbers will come in mid October when and if they manage their reopening plan, which doesn't sound promising yet..

 

The 100k mentioned in the OP is for the 3rd quarter.

 

As you mention, hopefully that, all going well, Q4 will see higher numbers especially if the sandbox concept is expanded to other locations. Little acorns.........

30 minutes ago, pagallim said:

 

First flight to arrive was an Ethihad aircraft from Abu Dhabi.   There were 25 passengers onboard.

How many of the 25 were Thai Nationals with their family in tow coming home to see mom and dad and possibly stay?

1 minute ago, dabhand said:

 

The 100k mentioned in the OP is for the 3rd quarter.

 

As you mention, hopefully that, all going well, Q4 will see higher numbers especially if the sandbox concept is expanded to other locations. Little acorns.........

You're right, how did I miss that... Then hopefully it'll pick up in Q4 and they may have a moderate "high season"

32 minutes ago, JayClay said:

 

That actually sounds like the most reasonable statistic I've ever heard from this government on the issue; 70-100,000bt seems a reasonable amount for a 2-3 week holiday.

I doubt my 5yr old could spend that much, even if Phuket had a "Toys'R'Us" !  As for the Chinese tour groups, which are the targeted numbers, Nah !

Miniscule testing nationwide from the onset and now a vaccine fiasco continue to contribute to a very serious nationwide covid situation.

 

Lets hope Pinocchios visit is PR disaster and he gets firmly stuck in his quicksand box! and perhaps someone else can sort the mess out.

 

 

 

 

Just now, sapson said:

Miniscule testing nationwide from the onset and now a vaccine fiasco continue to contribute to a very serious nationwide covid situation.

 

Lets hope Pinocchios visit is PR disaster and he gets firmly stuck in his quicksand box! and perhaps someone else can sort the mess out.

 

 

 

 

 

I feel certain that he won't be posing for photos with the arrivals (clue:   wide angle lens not required).

1 hour ago, BangkokReady said:

Any news on exactly how many Phuketians have had two jabs and of what vaccine?

MASS VACCINATIONS

According to a report issued this morning by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department, 383,158 people in Phuket have received at least one state-provided COVID-19 vaccination injection as of yesterday (June 29).

The increase marks 8,527 ‘first vaccination injections’ administered across the island yesterday.

The new total represents 82% of the 466,587 target population on the island to be vaccinated, said the report.

According to the report, just 24 people received their second vaccination injection yesterday, with the total for second injections now marked as 298,344 people ‒ up from 298,320 on Monday.

The report also marked 1,988 more people registering to receive a state-provided vaccination, now with a total of 428,882 people registered as of yesterday ‒ up from 426,894 on Monday.

  Phuket News is your friend!

12 minutes ago, pagallim said:

 

I believe most were Westerners, including an Israeli family.   There may have been/probably were some Thais onboard also.

 

"An Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi was the 1st to land at Phuket Airport at 11.10am, under the “sandbox” reopening project, which begins today (Thursday). It landed later than its scheduled arrival of 10.20am, with 25 foreign arrivals on board (as opposed to 46 reported previously)"

 

 

 

Hey, I have glasses and can read perfectly thank you. What is the font size - 100?

 

BTW. It was a joke against this governments policy of no alcohol.