Phuket Sandbox, key to economic progress

[webfact]

 

By Praphorn Praphornkul

   

PHUKET (NNT) - After 14 days of allowing visitors to enter without quarantining, the Deputy Governor of Phuket province has confirmed the Phuket Sandbox project has proceeded as planned despite turnout not being as many as expected with just over 4,500 people arriving so far, generating cashflow of an estimated 450 million baht. Local residents have voiced faith in the plan, and acknowledged it as the key to economic progress.

 

Mr.Graham George Williams and Mrs.Jacqueline Williams, the British couple remarked that while the Phuket Sandbox entry process was slightly complicated, they understand the situation.

 

Central to the success of the Phuket Sandbox project is the training of hotel staff on how to accommodate travelers according to SHA Plus standards, which require they follow up on guests well-being daily.

 

SHA Plus Manager of Angsana Laguna Phuket Hotel, Nittiya Mipruek, said

 

"We have to track our in-house guests and enter that information using a QR code into the Mor Chana application on a daily basis, as well as remind our guests of their second and third swab tests”

 

The Deputy Governor of Phuket, Pichet Panapong, acknowledged that infection numbers around Thailand have dampened tourist confidence but underlined that the situation in Phuket is not a cause for concern, with infections as anticipated and planned measures holding fast.

 

"Of the total 4,568 travelers who have arrived so far we found only two infections in initial testing and another three from second swabs, putting the total number of infections at just five. While some may see this is as a sign the disease is taking hold, we note that it is normal and has not triggered a rethink or a suspension of the project. We are exercising medical, administrative and legal measures to ensure control”

 

The deputy governor indicated that the Tourism Authority of Thailand expected about 23,000 people to arrive and generate 2.4 billion baht in spending in July. but so far there have been only 4,568 arrivals, or one fifth of the estimate, putting spending at about 450 million baht.

 

Nonetheless, business operators in the province say they are glad to see tourists returning even if their numbers are limited. They voiced a belief that with good management and with the spread of vaccinations, visitors will grow more confident.

 

Despite the Phuket Sandbox not yet returning the province to its prior glory, the positive consensus of its residents has shown it to be a useful starting point in rehabilitating Phuket’s economy.

 

"We have herd immunity and standardized practices, which should build good faith. We just need to enhance our screening to ensure the virus does not find its way in. I assure you that the Phuket Sandbox will move forward”

 

Planning to visit Phuket? Book your Sandbox hotel here

 

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-07-15

 

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[sammieuk1]

The main reason for my delay in adding to the numbers is the return of my passport from the London embassy for a new O visa apparently now in the post after 15 days and that is supposed to be the easy bit done 

[ezzra]

You wanna get tourists coming? half the 14 days to seven, offer room, beverages and day trip discounts, go easy on the bureaucracy with getting the visas/permits to come to Phuket etc. etc. and you will see all the bargain hunters are lining up in droves...

[ChrisY1]

Again....no mention of tourists (entire plane load) being moved to certain alternate quarantine hotels due to a passenger "testing" infected....

No mention of refunds from the tourists original resort.....and no mention of the Thb~50,000 payment for the pleasure of spending their holiday in such hotels.....and of course, no mention who owns these hotels.

[Rhacsyn]

1 hour ago, ChrisY1 said:

Again....no mention of tourists (entire plane load) being moved to certain alternate quarantine hotels due to a passenger "testing" infected....

No mention of refunds from the tourists original resort.....and no mention of the Thb~50,000 payment for the pleasure of spending their holiday in such hotels.....and of course, no mention who owns these hotels.

Sorry to repeat and not sure how many times I and others have to post that an entire plane load has not at any time been moved to quarantine. It was wrongly worded at the start by Phuket News and corrected since. The fact is there were 142 passengers on Emirates flight EK378 on 6th July (2f-30j-110y). Of those, one tested positive on arrival and passengers seated in his row and the two rows behind and in front asked to enter the ALQ system. That turned out to be his travel group and the poor German lady we have read about. All other passengers continued as normal.

 

The SHA+ contractual agreements I have seen provide a full pro rata refund in such circumstances.

 

It is time they did something about the excessive ALQ charges such as including it in the required Covid insurance or making a guarantee from the outset that there will be no extra room charges in such circumstances. Only ideas but needs sorting.

 

Edited July 15, 2021 by Rhacsyn
Spelling

[Surelynot]

Found it

[Magenta408]

Better labelled "quicksand" rather than a sandbox which used to be fun. On a secondary note you may wish to say hello to our mutual friend Peter McCullogh.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

Effective vaccines such as mRna are the key to economic progress for Thailand!!!!!

 

Stop screwing around and vaccinate your country!!!

[superal]

18 hours ago, ezzra said:

You wanna get tourists coming? half the 14 days to seven, offer room, beverages and day trip discounts, go easy on the bureaucracy with getting the visas/permits to come to Phuket etc. etc. and you will see all the bargain hunters are lining up in droves...

I believe tourists can holiday in Phuket for less than 14 days as long as they have a flight leaving Phuket that shows their departure date .  What is a deterrent to visiting Phuket is the issuing of the C.O.E. from the Thai embassies and the online form filling where there have been many rejections because of minor mistakes , also buying covid insurance to qualify for pre-approval , plus will your timing of hotel , flights and Thai covid pcr testing booking enable the Thai embassy to issue the C.O.E. in enough time to board your paid for flights , hotel stay and 3 covid tests at 3000 baht a test ?   A double jab vaccine cert should be mandatory for booking flights and would cut out some red tape , the 72 hour pre flight pcr test cert should be produced to airport security prior to entering airports and your air ticket stamped or a pass ticket given . At the moment anyone can enter airports albeit to say goodbye or assisting with luggage and not have a covid test cert . The booking of flights and  (sandbox sha + hotels can have the 3 covid tests and covid insurance incorporated as part of the bill ) hotels can be had by using a single agent and would condense the red tape . again leaving just the combined flight/hotel/insurance receipt , visa and p/p  . There is no doubt that the C.O.E. is a put off to many along with the uncertainty of international flight cancellations and covid infection rates that can result in lockdowns and travellers marooned in foreign countries .