Phuket Sandbox: August target for tourists will not be met as pandemic rages in Thailand

[webfact]

Picture: Manager

 

Manager reported that booking from foreign tourists as part of the Phuket Sandbox reopening will not meet August targets, according to a local tourism chief.

 

The island welcomed 14,000 foreigners in its first month and with initial targets largely met it was hoped that 25,000 would be the figure for August.

 

The raging pandemic in Thailand in general and more cases in Phuket that saw the island put in the Orange Zone have meant that is now off the table.

 

Phoomkit Raktaengam of the Phuket Tourism Business Association noted that last month was a decent start for the sandbox even though 14,000 was 1% of previous tourism when 43,000 could arrive every DAY.

 

Picture: Manager

 

But so far he said that just 8-9,000 foreign tourists had booked for August and so targets would not be met.

 

Whether the sandbox scheme can continue requires effort from government, business operators and the local people in pulling together. 

 

And he said that tourists need to be informed that whatever the Covid situation is like in the rest of Thailand Phuket is a separate entity, sealed off from the rest where they can feel confidence in their safety. 

 

CCSA moves to go to an Orange Zone presented an obstacle, he admitted though he was bullish for the end of the year and the fourth quarter high season.

 

He said that booking of some hotels were at the same levels as 2019, pre-pandemic and that recent news about the government using the Sputnik vaccine will inspire Russians to visit. 

 

Manager published several pictures of apparent foreign tourists with beaches mostly to themselves. 

 

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[wensiensheng]

“And he said that tourists need to be informed that whatever the Covid situation is like in the rest of Thailand Phuket is a separate entity, sealed off from the rest where they can feel confidence in their safety. “
 

will tourists also be informed that they can’t use their hotel swimming pool because Covid regulations don’t allow it?

[ChipButty]

3 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

“And he said that tourists need to be informed that whatever the Covid situation is like in the rest of Thailand Phuket is a separate entity, sealed off from the rest where they can feel confidence in their safety. “
 

will tourists also be informed that they can’t use their hotel swimming pool because Covid regulations don’t allow it?

Where did you get that from? As far as I am aware the pools are open we own a condo and the pool is open 

[Sundown]

Just now, ChipButty said:

Where did you get that from? As far as I am aware the pools are open we own a condo and the pool is open 

The info is correct. The government banned swimming pools, tennis and badminton but allows gyms or football and basketball. If your condo keeps the pool open means they are not complying with the govt order. Most condo I know closed their common swimming pools.

[Anythingleft?]

Ridiculous that they are still pushing obscure numbers, maybe it's to give themselves a feel good factor.

At the current rate of cases they could well find the country going from tier 3 to tier 4 on the CDC list....

[ChipButty]

I would say keep it going stop people leaving the island and only essential services in, lets get the number down and stop people traveling to other parts of Thailand and then coming back to Phuket and testing positive 

Sandboxers stay off the local markets were they are crowded 

[schlog]

New restrictions start in Phuket today and last for two weeks. All public and private swimming pools must close and alcohol cannot be sold or drunk in restaurants.

[stevenl]

19 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

“And he said that tourists need to be informed that whatever the Covid situation is like in the rest of Thailand Phuket is a separate entity, sealed off from the rest where they can feel confidence in their safety. “
 

will tourists also be informed that they can’t use their hotel swimming pool because Covid regulations don’t allow it?

 

12 minutes ago, Sundown said:

The info is correct. The government banned swimming pools, tennis and badminton but allows gyms or football and basketball. If your condo keeps the pool open means they are not complying with the govt order. Most condo I know closed their common swimming pools.

Hotel pools are open and allowed to stay open.

Please refrain from inaccurate postings 

[ChipButty]

7 minutes ago, schlog said:

New restrictions start in Phuket today and last for two weeks. All public and private swimming pools must close and alcohol cannot be sold or drunk in restaurants.

 

Thanks for the info I didn't know as we dont live in our condo but we do have a guest in there at the moment, wonder what they mean by "Private Pools" you cant swim in your own pool?

[Sundown]

29 minutes ago, stevenl said:

 

Hotel pools are open and allowed to stay open.

Please refrain from inaccurate postings 

The government order is clear, if some hotel is not compliant it doesn't mean that the order does not exist. Or the hotels you mention can override Prayut? Mind you mentioning which hotels are keeping their pools open?

[ikke1959]

I think Thailand doesn't understand what a foreign tourist like on his/her holiday....No alcoholicdrinks with meals in a restaurant, no swimmingpolls, gyms, tennis .badminton, open, not allowed to buy alcohol in certain hours, and sitting together on the beach is a problem too.. and changing rues every day..... So please explain what Phuket has to offer ..

[Mickeymaus]

6 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

I think Thailand doesn't understand what a foreign tourist like on his/her holiday....No alcoholicdrinks with meals in a restaurant, no swimmingpolls, gyms, tennis .badminton, open, not allowed to buy alcohol in certain hours, and sitting together on the beach is a problem too.. and changing rues every day..... So please explain what Phuket has to offer ..

Not sure why you complain. It was called sandbox and there is really a lot of sand. ????

[stevenl]

20 minutes ago, Sundown said:

The government order is clear, if some hotel is not compliant it doesn't mean that the order does not exist. Or the hotels you mention can override Prayut? Mind you mentioning which hotels are keeping their pools open?

Yes, the order is clear: swimming pools open to the general public should close. Private pools are allowed open.

[ArcticFox]

23 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

I think Thailand doesn't understand what a foreign tourist like on his/her holiday....No alcoholicdrinks with meals in a restaurant, no swimmingpolls, gyms, tennis .badminton, open, not allowed to buy alcohol in certain hours, and sitting together on the beach is a problem too.. and changing rues every day..... So please explain what Phuket has to offer ..

Pretty much nothing.  Which in turn pretty much confirms that these "tourists" are returning expat taking the easier route to re-entering Thailand to get back to their Thai residences.  So when the numbers dropped here in August it reflects that the initial surge were returning expats, not 'tourists'.  Now you'll see the real tourism numbers.  Imho, it would be a very strange tourist who wants to come to a country where virtually everything is closed and the rules change with the changes of the tides.  I guess if "Boring-As-Hell" vacations become the new normal, Thailand will flourish.

[khunPer]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The island welcomed 14,000 foreigners in its first month and with initial targets largely met it was hoped that 25,000 would be the figure for August.

So that means that the original target was 80,000 tourist arrivals in September...????

 

Perhaps the local tourism chief in a way is satisfied with the high number of Covid-infections, as there now is a good cause if the Sandbox target is not met.

[Sundown]

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

Yes, the order is clear: swimming pools open to the general public should close. Private pools are allowed open.

It says among the banned activities. Private and public swimming pools open to the general public. Means only pools allowed are private villa pools. I kindly ask you again if you know of any hotel with swimming pool open as of today? Name it.

[Sundown]

1 minute ago, Sundown said:

 

 

[smedly]

1 hour ago, Mickeymaus said:

Not sure why you complain. It was called sandbox and there is really a lot of sand. ????

and beaches remain open ?

 

Amber in Pattaya they were closed

[Mickeymaus]

41 minutes ago, Sundown said:

It says among the banned activities. Private and public swimming pools open to the general public. Means only pools allowed are private villa pools. I kindly ask you again if you know of any hotel with swimming pool open as of today? Name it.

There was a clarification. 

 

"Public swimming pools must close, but private pools at hotels and resorts can remain open." 

 

https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/phuket-bans-alcohol-sales-at-restaurants-issues-order-amid-rise-of-covid-cases

[Sundown]

6 minutes ago, Mickeymaus said:

There was a clarification. 

 

"Public swimming pools must close, but private pools at hotels and resorts can remain open." 

 

https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/phuket-bans-alcohol-sales-at-restaurants-issues-order-amid-rise-of-covid-cases

I understand so the Thaiger overrides Prayuth orders. I'll keep that in mind for future reference...

(There was NO clarification, that's simply a wrong interpretation and I know for a fact that hotel and condo pools are closed. If you know any hotel where you can swim today name it and take a photo thanks.)

[it is what it is]

it would be interesting to see their definition of 'tourist', i'm sure many of the people arriving in phuket are not tourists in the commonly accepted definition but people returning to live for an extended period in thailand.

[hanuman2543]

", pre-pandemic and that recent news about the government using the Sputnik vaccine will inspire Russians to visit. "

Didn't he follow the news? Vaccination rates are very low in Russia and other South Eastern European countries like Bulgaria and Romania because people are reluctant getting a Sputnik shot.

Where do they always find these people making a fool of themselves in public?

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, Sundown said:

It says among the banned activities. Private and public swimming pools open to the general public. Means only pools allowed are private villa pools. I kindly ask you again if you know of any hotel with swimming pool open as of today? Name it.

Afaik they're all open. Maybe you can tell us which ones are closed?

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">UPDATE: TAT Phuket has just confirmed for me that SHA+ hotels are allowed to keep their swimming pools open. However, people from outside are not allowed to use them. I’m still trying to find out if hotel restaurants are also exempt from the alcohol ban. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thailand?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Thailand</a> <a href="https://t.co/dElBph6aab">pic.twitter.com/dElBph6aab</a></p>&mdash; Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/1422403410259709963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[kimamey]

7 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Thanks for the info I didn't know as we dont live in our condo but we do have a guest in there at the moment, wonder what they mean by "Private Pools" you cant swim in your own pool?

I was under the impression hotels pools could stay open if they are restricted to hotel guests who will be vaccinated and tested. That may be wrong but it makes sense so......it may be wrong.

[stevenl]

1 minute ago, kimamey said:

I was under the impression hotels pools could stay open if they are restricted to hotel guests who will be vaccinated and tested. That may be wrong but it makes sense so......it may be wrong.

You're very correct.

[thetravelbee]

We've been in Phuket about 10 days. Very beautiful, relaxing. All facilities are opened in hotel, pool gym etc.. depending where you're staying in the island but at the Laguna most places are opened. Pubs and restos shops massage parlors etc... It is extremely enjoyable to experience the island without the hordes of tourists. Not sure what everyone is complaining about. However true that most major tourist attractions are closed. We can live with that!

[Essencess]

37 minutes ago, thetravelbee said:

We've been in Phuket about 10 days. Very beautiful, relaxing. All facilities are opened in hotel, pool gym etc.. depending where you're staying in the island but at the Laguna most places are opened. Pubs and restos shops massage parlors etc... It is extremely enjoyable to experience the island without the hordes of tourists. Not sure what everyone is complaining about. However true that most major tourist attractions are closed. We can live with that!

I agree that if you are looking for a very relaxing holiday, now it is the right time to go. 
How ever i think that there are a few flaws in your "review" ????

 

It is always fun to break the rules until it aint fun no more. 

[DrMJA]

Once again Scam-Box, is counting Thai's and Ex-pat residence as tourist. It's all BS.

No choice in returning not as "tourist', even though living here as a full time resident of Phuket.

No choice in renting a hotel room even thought some have full time homes.

No choice in paying a Taxi 1500B fare (normally 500B fare) even though some own personal cars.

????

[itsari]

10 hours ago, Mickeymaus said:

Not sure why you complain. It was called sandbox and there is really a lot of sand. ????

Sand paper , is abrasive . Bunch of chancers running TAT

[Espanol]

10 hours ago, Sundown said:

The government order is clear, if some hotel is not compliant it doesn't mean that the order does not exist. Or the hotels you mention can override Prayut? Mind you mentioning which hotels are keeping their pools open?

"

• Public swimming pools must close, but private pools at hotels and resorts can remain open."