Koh Samui test runs int’l arrivals screening

[webfact]

 

Koh Tanakorn Sangiam

   

SURAT THANI (NNT) - With an ambitious reopening to international tourists scheduled for this Thursday, Koh Samui today trialed its international airport for international arrivals screening, with a group of passengers arriving on a private jet from Switzerland.

 

Right after the touchdown of the private jet from Switzerland, staff at Samui International Airport sprang into action to facilitate the entry and health screening process for international arrivals, as part of the Samui Plus campaign.

 

Today, the group of tourists from Switzerland were temperature screened upon disembarkation, ushered through passport controls, had their documents verified, were screened for COVID-19 symptoms, cleared customs, and transported to their hotel, where they will be serving their quarantine.

 

The protocol for international arrivals is the same as for tourists arriving now, and tourists arriving under the Samui Plus campaign starting 15th July, during which a less stringent quarantine routine will be applied to eligible tourists.

 

International passengers arriving in Samui are required to present a valid Certificate of Entry issued by the respective Royal Thai Embassy or consulate, a medical certificate from a negative COVID-19 test, hotel booking confirmation, eligible health insurance, and a record of their full vaccination against COVID-19. They are also required to install and run a tracking application on their mobile devices throughout their stay.

 

Koh Samui District Chief Theerapong Chuaychu, said today the procedures at Samui airport today are considered a test run for the actual arrivals procedures to be applied from 15th July.

 

He said any issues or obstacles emerging from today’s operations will be worked out to improve the preparedness before the island officially reopens to international arrivals.

 

The Tourism Association of Koh Samui’s President Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, said many places of accommodation are ready to welcome international tourists, with 400 rooms available at accommodations designated an Alternative Local State Quarantine facility, as well as some 320 accommodations now certified for the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration’s SHA Plus standard across Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan, and Koh Tao.

 

He said tourists can be confident about Samui Plus’ COVID-19 transmission prevention protocol during their stay.

The same protocol and standards will be applied in Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan, and Koh Tao, where visitors can travel interchangeably after a given period of time.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-07-13

 

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[RichardColeman]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said any issues or obstacles emerging from today’s operations will be worked out to improve the preparedness before the island officially reopens to international arrivals.

I imagine the biggest obstacle will be lack of actual international arrivals itself ! Which I can't see them improving this end.

[ourmanflint]

In the words of the great K.C. "give it up, give it up, baby give it up"

 

What a farce!

[smedly]

so these people arrived in a private jet and are now in quarantine for 14 days ASQ style - yeah right

 

I find that hard to believe 

[ezzra]

"If At First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again" hopefully they have learned something from the Phuket mistake-box and the second and third destination will run a lot soother...

[Karma80]

You would seriously need your head examined to consider coming to Thailand for a short term visit. For returnees, it's better than ASQ and ending up stranded in red zones is about all you can say.

[rodknock]

i never bash Thailand or the people.

i merely comment and expand on it's bizarre fetish for rentless self-inflicted harm.

[phetphet]

They must be some desperate and rich tourists. Private jet from Switzerland, to spend time in quarantine in Samui to sample the somewhat limited delights of the island during lockdown.

As much as I love it here, I wouldn't travel all the way from Europe just for a holiday during this pandemic. But each to their own I suppose.

[bkk6060]

It is such a wonderful place.

I think millions will come.

[Thailand]

Guess they will have learnt a lot from the success of Phuket.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

With an ambitious reopening to international tourists scheduled for this Thursday, Koh Samui today trialed its international airport for international arrivals screening, with a group of passengers arriving on a private jet from Switzerland.

Have they got the ASQ's ready?

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

He said tourists can be confident about Samui Plus’ COVID-19 transmission prevention protocol during their stay.

That's what they said in Phuket... didn't last long.

[Boedog]

A less stringent quarantine protocol, that's a great idea as the Phuket kitty litter model is going so well, there greed for the tourist dollar is greater than life and economic ruin 10,000 covid cases is not enough to put a halt to incoming international travel may the number needs to be 15 or 20,000 a day if that's the case they wont have to wait long, it begs to believe tourists are even coming to the uncertainty of the situation Amazing Thailand 

[crazykopite]

2 hours ago, phetphet said:

They must be some desperate and rich tourists. Private jet from Switzerland, to spend time in quarantine in Samui to sample the somewhat limited delights of the island during lockdown.

As much as I love it here, I wouldn't travel all the way from Europe just for a holiday during this pandemic. But each to their own I suppose.

Wait till they take a trip to Fishermans village its totally decimated and i assume that Central plaza is closes except for Tops supermarket 

[khunPer]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

With an ambitious reopening to international tourists scheduled for this Thursday, Koh Samui today trialed its international airport for international arrivals screening, with a group of passengers arriving on a private jet from Switzerland.

Not all are equal, the not so "quality tourists" must wait a few days more...????(Winking Face-emoji; some web-programmer should check what's wrong with the resize statement for showing emoji-images)

 

 - it might be the class="ipsEmoji"-statement that is wrong.

[Tropicalevo]

4 hours ago, crazykopite said:

i assume that Central plaza is closes except for Tops supermarket 

You assume wrong.

I was there this morning and lots of places open. I only saw a couple of empty shops - but I only walked as far as the banks (about 3/4 of the way?).

Large open-style clothes market in the middle.

[Robs5ct]

I tried to find out something about this "private jet".

On flightradar24 I can't find a private jet landed on Samui the last days.

But maybe the information is limited because I'm not a paying member.

Does anybody know the registration number of the jet  or have further information ?

 

[Stargeezr]

Considering that it was 2 unvaccinated kids that tested positive in Phuket, then later their mother.

The new model should be only vaccinated adults be able to travel to Thailand, no children unless they

have also had their 2 shots of vaccine. Any slack rules will continue to result in the spread of COVID.

  Does anyone think that the government or TAT will think of this as an acceptable risk?  Oh  money, money.

   Quick answer,  YES...

Geezer

[Espanol]

On 7/13/2021 at 2:59 AM, Thailand said:

Guess they will have learnt a lot from the success of Phuket.

Actually, Samui sandbox is even worse and more funny than Phuket's sandbox. 

At least, in Phuket you are free to visit whole island and go to the beach since day 2. Less than 24 hours jailed in hotel room. But in Samui it's even much worse.