The Kalmar family, tourists from Israel, enjoy in a pool 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 2, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

By Jiraporn Kuhakan

 

PHUKET, Thailand (Reuters) - Newly arrived overseas tourists on Thailand's island of Phuket were able to roam free without quarantine on Friday for the first time in more than a year, as Thailand launched a special programme for vaccinated visitors to the island.

 

Tourists swam in hotel pools and walked along Phuket's postcard-perfect beaches after receiving a COVID-19 test result within 24 hours of arrival.

 

"This is the perfect place to just relax and clean our minds, our heads, after a long time," said Sigal Baram, lying by the pool, who was visiting from Israel with her husband and friends. The group was among the first to arrive in the country.

 

The 'Phuket Sandbox' initiative allows free movement on the island for fully vaccinated tourists, with no quarantine required, although masks are required in most public places.

 

Newly-arrived tourists from Israel, Sigal Baram, 54, and Vered Bar-on, 53, enjoy at a swimming pool 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 2, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

While five-star hotels and restaurants welcomed back tourists, local street vendors said they were not benefiting from the plan, because tourists frequent mostly large hotels.

 

"There is no way street vendors will get the money from overseas tourists... it will go to hotels and restaurants instead," said Yupin Papor, a massage therapist who lost her job during the pandemic and became a street vendor selling food on the beach.

 

Rotem and Dani, newly-arrived tourists from Israel, sit in a jacuzzi 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 2, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

Thailand lost about $50 billion in tourism revenue last year, when foreign arrivals plunged 83%.

 

Phuket was hit particularly hard by job losses and business closures.

 

"I see the shops closed. It's a big difference to me from before," said Omar Alraeesi from United Arab Emirates, who comes to Phuket every year.

 

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.

 

(Additional reporting by Jorge Silva and Artorn Pookasook, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-07-03

 

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Sadly the sandbox was never designed to help the local Thais or small shops since the people of course have to stay in the larger hotels at the moment as those are the only ones SH+ approved or whatever it is called.  however, if one were a long stay tourist as I will be, well, after the required 7 days or whatever, I would jump to a different hotel.  

36 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

Sadly the sandbox was never designed to help the local Thais or small shops since the people of course have to stay in the larger hotels at the moment as those are the only ones SH+ approved or whatever it is called.  however, if one were a long stay tourist as I will be, well, after the required 7 days or whatever, I would jump to a different hotel.  

Thanks for posting, keep us updated on your experience please 

The fact the photo shows only 2 people in the entire hotel speaks volumes

Postcard-perfect beaches, don't exaggerate. Never seen the filt on the beach and in the water during pre pandemic times ?

36 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

The fact the photo shows only 2 people in the entire hotel speaks volumes

Yep it does speak volumes and these 2 must be suffering from agoraphobia along with many other tourists. 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Newly-arrived tourists from Israel, Sigal Baram, 54, and Vered Bar-on, 53, enjoy at a swimming pool 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 2, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

Anutin get 2 dyke in Phuket. Great they save all peoples job's! They use maybe 2 billion bath each. Buy 1 million tampon from 7 11. HALLELUJAH!

What happened to the requirement to wear tracking wristbands?  It's gone quiet on that topic...

18 minutes ago, simon43 said:

What happened to the requirement to wear tracking wristbands?  It's gone quiet on that topic...

yeah.  If they ever forced that, they could kiss any routine tourist visits good bye.  As it is, the costs, the travel limitations, the quarantine times in other places of course kills any short term tourist visits from people that only  have two or three or even four weeks vacation time.  The online tracking and registration app is bad enough and a problem for me as I do not have a smart phone nor had any plans to get one until they finish terminating 3g and 5 g is rung out with no issues.

29 minutes ago, simon43 said:

What happened to the requirement to wear tracking wristbands?  It's gone quiet on that topic...

 

 

It was supposed to be intended for people without smartphones.

 

 

Walking on Kata Beach yesterday, crews cutting down dead trees, ( before they fall on their own ) cleaning up the area, locals cleaning off their beach chairs, I've seen some previously closed restaurants open now.  

3 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

Sadly the sandbox was never designed to help the local Thais or small shops since the people of course have to stay in the larger hotels

 

Keeps quite a few in work I would guess

3 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

Sadly the sandbox was never designed to help the local Thais or small shops since the people of course have to stay in the larger hotels at the moment as those are the only ones SH+ approved or whatever it is called.  however, if one were a long stay tourist as I will be, well, after the required 7 days or whatever, I would jump to a different hotel.  

"Travelers can swap between hotels if they want to, but the hotel must be SHA+ accredited as well. You must stay for at least 7 nights in your first SHA+ hotel before you can move to another SHA+ hotel."

 

What is the point to move you still need to be in a SHA + hotel.

28 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

"Travelers can swap between hotels if they want to, but the hotel must be SHA+ accredited as well. You must stay for at least 7 nights in your first SHA+ hotel before you can move to another SHA+ hotel."

 

What is the point to move you still need to be in a SHA + hotel.

Maybe a different location on Phuket

26 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

What is the point to move you still need to be in a SHA + hotel.

 

Variety?  Choice?  Different menu?  Better looking staff?  Cheaper rate?

 

Jeez.  They barely got the rules in place a few days before the opening and people don't understand why the first day is slow.  As if you can organize an international holiday 2 days before wheels up.  I'm amazed anyone is there.  But not because it won't succeed.

 

30 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

"Travelers can swap between hotels if they want to, but the hotel must be SHA+ accredited as well. You must stay for at least 7 nights in your first SHA+ hotel before you can move to another SHA+ hotel."

 

What is the point to move you still need to be in a SHA + hotel.

HUH" how about to be in a different area.
as there over 300 SHA+ hotels;

lots of choice other than the big hotel chains

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

The fact the photo shows only 2 people in the entire hotel speaks volumes

What's the sense of being a tourist anywhere right now, you can do this in your own country. They don't even have a drink in their hands.

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

"Travelers can swap between hotels if they want to, but the hotel must be SHA+ accredited as well. You must stay for at least 7 nights in your first SHA+ hotel before you can move to another SHA+ hotel."

 

What is the point to move you still need to be in a SHA + hotel.

the point is you did not understand.  I meant I would move out to a smaller local Thai owned hotel when I could, i.e. after 7 days or whatever the ShA + required stay is, not just the initial 7, but the total number whatever that is

2 hours ago, nkg said:

 

 

It was supposed to be intended for people without smartphones.

 

 

eh?  I don't own a smartphone, but frankly how can anybody get on a flight to Thailand without one, because aren't you supposed to register for one of those apps and show it before you board the plane or are allowed to leave the airport at Thailand?  Are they not checking or pinging you?  What and where does one "agree" or certify they are OK with being tracked?  What if one leaves their phone in their room, or turned off, or in the safe in the room?  Are the Thai officials saying they expect people to keep their phones on their persons at all times?  Would like to see the rules in print about and any details about that if they exist

A further six inbound flights today, including Thai's first flights from Copenhagen, Frankfurt and Paris (they have already landed), and the regular Dubai, Doha and Singapore flights.   Within a few days, visitors will be more noticeable.

3 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

The online tracking and registration app is bad enough and a problem for me as I do not have a smart phone nor had any plans to get one until they finish terminating 3g and 5 g is rung out with no issues.

 

22 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

eh?  I don't own a smartphone, but frankly how can anybody get on a flight to Thailand without one, because aren't you supposed to register for one of those apps and show it before you board the plane or are allowed to leave the airport at Thailand?

Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today........................... Smartphones aren't all expensive and can save you money, even make you money..................................... The sooner you get one, the eaiser and more informative your 21st Century life will be........................

I thought that the regulations stated that masks must be worn at all times outside your hotel room!  No sign of that with sunbathers or those in the pool!

 

OK, I've just seen a pictorial guide to the arrival process, which some might find useful or interesting.  The last one is probably room service in a hotel.

3 hours ago, sungod said:

 

Keeps quite a few in work I would guess

It may keep a few in work, but will it put food on the Table for their families, and will the kids be able to go to school

13 minutes ago, pagallim said:

OK, I've just seen a pictorial guide to the arrival process, which some might find useful or interesting.  The last one is probably room service in a hotel.

 

It was reported that the process in the airport takes 2 hours. That alone would put me off. 

2 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

"Travelers can swap between hotels if they want to, but the hotel must be SHA+ accredited as well. You must stay for at least 7 nights in your first SHA+ hotel before you can move to another SHA+ hotel."

 

What is the point to move you still need to be in a SHA + hotel.

 Because they might want to explore another part of the island for a week. 

4 minutes ago, Ganesh108 said:

 

It was reported that the process in the airport takes 2 hours. That alone would put me off. 

 

Really?   I believe most of those arriving, having gone through all the hoops to get here, are not put off by airport time, whether it be 2 hours or 12 and are just glad to be here.

5 minutes ago, pagallim said:

 

Really?   I believe most of those arriving, having gone through all the hoops to get here, are not put off by airport time, whether it be 2 hours or 12 and are just glad to be here.

Your continual 'flying the flag' for Phuket is infectious, I hope it rubs off on some.........................kudos ..................

Posting pictures of beer? Isn't that illegal?

1 minute ago, bojo said:

Your continual 'flying the flag' for Phuket is infectious, I hope it rubs off on some.........................kudos ..................

 

Don't feel I'm flying the flag as such, and I have no business interest here to promote.   Like many others who actually live here, I prefer to promote facts rather than ill informed and prejudiced opinions about Phuket, particularly for those who might be considering coming here.