webfact Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 By The Phuket News PHUKET: A joint initiative by Phuket officials and the private sector has launched a ‘Sandbox Express Bus’ service so that Sandbox tourists stuck in Phuket under the current shutdown of flights and buses can travel to other provinces. The project was explained this morning (Aug 4) by Nanthasiri Ronnasiri, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office, and Jaturong Kaewsaki, who took up the position as the new chief of the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) just two days ago. The Sandbox Express Bus initially travels only from Phuket to Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Ms Nanthasiri said. Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/sandbox-express-bus-to-help-tourists-stranded-in-phuket-80925.php -- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-08-05 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ezzra Posted August 4, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted August 4, 2021 Can someone remind me how many tourists and billions the TAT were expecting to reap this year?I wonder if TAT, in their "come visit Thailand" brochure, are going to put the facts that tourists will have to endure many hours in a provincial bus on a trip back home just to leave the country or visit other parts of Thailand that is if they will be allowed to... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Espanol Posted August 4, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted August 4, 2021 Why not setting chartered airplanes instead of a bus? Faster, safer, cheaper and more comfortable than a 16 hours 1500 bahts travel to Bangkok. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenBravo Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 8 minutes ago, Espanol said: Why not setting chartered airplanes instead of a bus? Because it's too expensive to charter when you don't know how many passengers will be on it. Be realistic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Espanol Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 "Bangkok Airways has suspended its Phuket flights to Koh Samui, which Sandbox tourists are allowed to travel to under the ‘Samui Plus Sandbox’ scheme, but is maintaining its Bangkok-Samui flights" Why flying from Samui to deep red Bangkok but not to much safer Phuket? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Espanol Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 2 minutes ago, KarenBravo said: Because it's too expensive to charter when you don't know how many passengers will be on it. Be realistic. Charter buses will only leave if the reservation is complete. The same could be done with airplanes. Anyway, with 500 "tourists" entering the Phuket Sandbox each day, most of them residents returning home, it is certain that more than 100 places would be reserved daily to continue to the final destination. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronster Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 Would rather walk than get on a bus here driven by some guy who hasn’t slept for a week !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karma80 Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 The bus gets into Bangkok after curfew. So good luck with getting anywhere other than a plane out. Why on earth would people come to Phuket for a short term visit. You must be nuts! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkk6060 Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 I wish I was there and getting on that bus sounds like fun. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenwich Boy Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 Two friends of mine in Phuket. Need to get back to Chiang Mai. Lets get a cab and split the fare. Thai economics at its best, the quote was 45k. Thanks very much we will hire a car and drive ourselves was the reply. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenBravo Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, Espanol said: Charter buses will only leave if the reservation is complete. The same could be done with airplanes. Anyway, with 500 "tourists" entering the Phuket Sandbox each day, most of them residents returning home, it is certain that more than 100 places would be reserved daily to continue to the final destination. And the added expense? Of course, that doesn't matter, right? One chartered flight will pay for all the bus trips to Bangkok. Your idea is pie-in-the sky and can't be taken seriously. Edited August 5, 2021 by KarenBravo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hotchilli Posted August 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted August 5, 2021 5 hours ago, webfact said: A joint initiative by Phuket officials and the private sector has launched a ‘Sandbox Express Bus’ service so that Sandbox tourists stuck in Phuket under the current shutdown of flights and buses can travel to other provinces. Leaving from platform 9-3/4 on a mystery tour. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunPer Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 6 hours ago, webfact said: A joint initiative by Phuket officials and the private sector has launched a ‘Sandbox Express Bus’ service so that Sandbox tourists stuck in Phuket under the current shutdown of flights and buses can travel to other provinces. I'm surprised that such a relative high number of turists, compared to the total incoming number, wish to see other places in Thailand. Perhaps it has to do with the Covid-virus...???? Before the virus infected us, it was my impression most of the Phuket-tourists stayed on the island for their two weeks holiday, of course with excursion trips to some surrounding islands, and especially younger folks might spend some time on Phi Phi, and move on to Chiang May and Phangan...???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefaultName Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 5 hours ago, Espanol said: Why not setting chartered airplanes instead of a bus? Faster, safer, cheaper and more comfortable than a 16 hours 1500 bahts travel to Bangkok. Bus; get on, sit, go. Plane; there's all that airport business, at both ends. Far higher chance of catching or transmitting the virus. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Espanol Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 1 hour ago, DefaultName said: Bus; get on, sit, go. Plane; there's all that airport business, at both ends. Far higher chance of catching or transmitting the virus. Do you really think it's safer been 16 hours inside a closed bus with 20 random people? And also it's not a VIP bus, so they must stop here and there for people going to rest room, having lunch, dinner, ... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Espanol Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 4 hours ago, bkk6060 said: I wish I was there and getting on that bus sounds like fun. You could film a road movie about that bus. ???? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Espanol Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, khunPer said: I'm surprised that such a relative high number of turists, compared to the total incoming number, wish to see other places in Thailand. They are not tourists, but Thai people and residents returning home after mandatory 14 days in phuket. Edited August 5, 2021 by Espanol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunPer Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 7 minutes ago, Espanol said: They are not tourists, but Thai people and residents returning home. Wow, you don't say...???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimamey Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 13 hours ago, Espanol said: Why not setting chartered airplanes instead of a bus? Faster, safer, cheaper and more comfortable than a 16 hours 1500 bahts travel to Bangkok. It would depend on the numbers but it's a possibility. I'm assuming there were sufficient numbers otherwise there would no flights anyway so no real reason to stop them. The same goes for the buses. I'm not sure I understand why the buses were stopped when they are now transporting people by bus anyway. Surely the people coming out of Phuket would be pretty safe due to the quarantine and tests? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deli Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 There's a hell o lot of sand in the busses' gear box. But I am sure the commie brothers from the CCP can clean this up, as they caused the mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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