Phuket Sandbox to continue although province bans domestic arrivals

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Phuket province will continue to accept international tourists as part of the Phuket Sandbox campaign despite the surge of COVID-19 cases in the country. The island province has activated stricter disease control measures including a ban on domestic arrivals to keep local COVID-19 cases low.

 

The Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has confirmed the Phuket Sandbox campaign for international tourists is still in a good position to operate, despite a surge in COVID-19 cases in other parts of the country.

 

He said local cases in Phuket itself are relatively low, while no clusters have yet been reported.

 

For the safety of locals and tourists alike, Phuket province has intensified its disease control measures and mobility controls. Effective from 3rd until 16th August, domestic arrivals either by land, water, or air are not allowed, with a few exceptions such as logistics workers, healthcare workers, and those departing on an international flight from Phuket Airport.

 

More venues and activities posing risk of COVID-19 transmission will also be closed during this period.

 

The Prime Minister said that Phuket province has so far welcomed 12,395 international visitors since the Sandbox campaign opened, with the average spending of tourists measured at 60,000 baht each. The campaign has so far generated 749.95 million baht in revenue.

 

The government anticipates successful outcomes from Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus campaigns will help the country welcome more tourists in the peak tourism season starting in October, with more provinces including Krabi and Phang Nga now planning to open their doors to international visitors.

 

The Prime Minister has asked all concerned to help promote a good environment for tourism, and help regain the confidence of tourists, while adding that successful results from the Phuket Sandbox campaign could be adopted by other countries seeking ways to restart their tourism sectors in a similar manner.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-08-01

 

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[ChipButty]

I see around Rawai they have closed all the bars down again, 

[Phuketshrew]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

He said local cases in Phuket itself are relatively low, while no clusters have yet been reported.

That's a lie. There was a cluster at a construction camp in Patong.

[ChipButty]

1 minute ago, Phuketshrew said:

That's a lie. There was a cluster at a construction camp in Patong.

Why do you think the closed Central......?

[BangkokReady]

So can you still leave Phuket after 14 days?  Since many people are using it as an alternative route to enter Thailand, I can't help thinking that not being able to leave is going to reduce numbers drastically.

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

I see around Rawai they have closed all the bars down again, 

Yes, a friend just messaged me and said that if he wants a drink he just has to sit at home or take is cooler with him to Nai Harn Beach where he goes daily to walk his dog.

[beechbum]

4 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Yes, a friend just messaged me and said that if he wants a drink he just has to sit at home or take is cooler with him to Nai Harn Beach where he goes daily to walk his dog.

You can openly drink at restaurants still

[ArcticFox]

23 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Yes, a friend just messaged me and said that if he wants a drink he just has to sit at home or take is cooler with him to Nai Harn Beach where he goes daily to walk his dog.

He drinks on the beach with his dog.  No doubt well see him and his dog doing the RTP perp-walk on Thai media channels across the country soon.

[Greenwich Boy]

I have a mate in the sand pit. He will have done his 14 days soon. Assuming the ban on domestic flights remain how is he supposed to get to Chiang Mai. Any ideas?

[pagallim]

17 minutes ago, Greenwich Boy said:

I have a mate in the sand pit. He will have done his 14 days soon. Assuming the ban on domestic flights remain how is he supposed to get to Chiang Mai. Any ideas?

It would appear that the only option would be by hire car.   On another thread, I read that Hertz or Avis require a minimum of a 3 day hire for a pick up in Phuket, drop off in Chiang Mai.   Realistically, it's a 2 day drive anyway.

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Yes, a friend just messaged me and said that if he wants a drink he just has to sit at home or take is cooler with him to Nai Harn Beach where he goes daily to walk his dog.

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, Greenwich Boy said:

I have a mate in the sand pit. He will have done his 14 days soon. Assuming the ban on domestic flights remain how is he supposed to get to Chiang Mai. Any ideas?

Check if flights from Phuket to Utapao then on to CM 

[LivinginKata]

1 hour ago, Greenwich Boy said:

I have a mate in the sand pit. He will have done his 14 days soon. Assuming the ban on domestic flights remain how is he supposed to get to Chiang Mai. Any ideas?

 Guy I know hire car after BKK ASQ from Herz. Drop off CM. 4 day min hire. He was happy with that deal. Got home to his wife and son.  

[Greenwich Boy]

25 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Check if flights from Phuket to Utapao then on to CM 

Have been watching them. The seem to fly daily but only sometimes???? I will let him know the options and he can take it from there. Thanks all.

[Pattaya Spotter]

5 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Why do you think the closed Central......?

Over reaction?

[Espanol]

3 hours ago, Greenwich Boy said:

I have a mate in the sand pit. He will have done his 14 days soon. Assuming the ban on domestic flights remain how is he supposed to get to Chiang Mai. Any ideas?

Nok Air flying daily from Phuket to U-tapao.

 

Then by car to Chiang Mai 

 

[ChipButty]

30 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Over reaction?

Nope, try again

[sanuk711]

32 minutes ago, Espanol said:

Nok Air flying daily from Phuket to U-tapao.

 

Then by car to Chiang Mai 

Or maybe ...fly Phuket to Ching mai ---might be easier

 

https://www.nokair.com/Flight/Schedule#

 

[kimamey]

3 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Check if flights from Phuket to Utapao then on to CM 

I think Nok Air were flying from Phuket to U-Tapao but I can't find it on their website just now. Even without a flight on to Chiang Mai it might be an easier drive.

You might need to phone them as the normal flights on their website may be ones that fly via DMK.

[Pattaya Spotter]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Nope, try again

Hysteria? 

[ChipButty]

35 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Hysteria? 

Nope, try again

[stevenl]

Why a headline like this, in order to entice negativity? It should say 'because' in stead of 'although'.

[Boedog]

Grandmaster Prayut says other countries could adopt the successful Sandbox model as a way to restart there economy, he's fallen out of his tree and hit his head,made up numbers, made up monetary figures, false covid numbers in the Sanbox, day by day the country goes further and further into lockdowns and restrictions and closures but the sandbox will never fail

[superal]

I was going to do tha Phuket sandbox but because of restricted flights out of there , post 14 day quarantine , maybe Bangkok is becoming a better option ? Just one proviso , I would not book hotel that is in central Bangkok . Does anyone know of a 4 or 5 star ASQ/SHA hotel near Suvarnabhumi airport that they would recommend ? 

[Pattaya Spotter]

Domestic departures too! Friend sent this snap today of all domestic departures cancelled except the two Nok Air flights to Utapao (which will end tonite).

 

[Venom]

Phuket is special.

[Rhacsyn]

4 hours ago, superal said:

I was going to do tha Phuket sandbox but because of restricted flights out of there , post 14 day quarantine , maybe Bangkok is becoming a better option ? Just one proviso , I would not book hotel that is in central Bangkok . Does anyone know of a 4 or 5 star ASQ/SHA hotel near Suvarnabhumi airport that they would recommend ? 

Amaranth BW was great. Really first class. I was there last week of December 2020. Highly recommended. Having left Thailand on May 23rd 2021,  I then did the sandbox, arriving 2nd July!!