Picture: Bangkok Business News

 

Two representatives of the Chamber of Commerce in southern Thailand have given the Phuket Sandbox reopening of Thailand good reviews after the scheme reached a month and a half after it was opened on July 1st, reported Bangkok Business News. 

 

Thanusak Pheungdech of the Phuket CoC said that 7,000 - 8,000 nights accommodation were being booked per day and that so far 19,000 foreign tourists had arrived.

 

Of these 4,000 had returned home and 15,000 were still in Phuket or had gone to other places in Thailand where they were still contributing to the Thai economy. 

 

He said there were plans for sporting events, meetings and seminars with Covid-19 protocols in place towards the end of the year. 

 

He called for regulatory hurdles to be removed so that Russians and tourists from other CIS member states (states from the former USSR) can visit having been vaccinated using the Sputnik vaccine. 

 

He pointed out that 40 flights a day were going between Moscow and Egypt and Thailand needed a slice of that action. 

 

In addition only 50 of the 19,000 tourists had been tested positive for Covid-19.

 

Russian authorities are prepared to donate 100,000 doses of Sputnik vaccine as booster doses for Phuket people, he said. 

 

Wattana Thanasak of the Thai Chamber of commerce who has responsibility for economy in the south said that the sandbox was hitting targets and that 1 billion baht had flowed into the island's economy. 

 

He claimed that the extension of the sandbox to Koh Samui and the other two islands of Phangan and Koh Tao in Surat Thani was also progressing well.

 

He said that 97% of residents of Samui had had a first dose of vaccine and the figure for Phangan was 123% and for Koh Tao 128%. 

 

These percentage figures are based on the number of non-residents of the islands who have also been jabbed, he said. 

 

Earlier reports on ASEAN NOW suggested that figures for the number of foreign tourists visiting Samui and the other two islands were a little over 10 a day, however. 

 

One day at least this week there were no visitors at all who had completed their stay on Phuket. 

 

 

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instead of asking thais if it was a success how about asking the so called tourists stuck there its ok we have your money you can go home now is their attatude

3 minutes ago, ozzydon said:

instead of asking thais if it was a success how about asking the so called tourists stuck there its ok we have your money you can go home now is their attatude

I live here and I am currently spending a few days at my favourite resort in Rawai.  I have talked to sandboxers that are on holiday for a few weeks and others that have arrived on a more long term basis. Every one of them are happy to be here, enjoying their relative freedom and are certainly not 'stuck'. There is also no perception that they think they are only wanted here for their money or can go home.

26 minutes ago, webfact said:

In addition only 50 of the 19,000 tourists had been tested positive for Covid-19.

The risk of getting COVID in Thailand via domestic transmission is times higher than from arriving 'tourists', who are vaccinated and are tested prior to boarding the plane. So from basic risk analysis there is absolutely no point in quarantine; quarantine just seems to be the money-making business by Minister of Health. PS All new versions of the virus will he in Thailand anyway, as the land borders are poorly controlled.

31 minutes ago, webfact said:

He pointed out that 40 flights a day were going between Moscow and Egypt and Thailand needed a slice of that action. 

They don't understand - this will never happen. Egypt is open for tourism unlike Thailand not inventing idiotic requirements for pre-entry paperwork, tests, quarantines, forced isolation, tracking apps, closed tourist infrastructure, etc.

 

40 minutes ago, webfact said:

He claimed that the extension of the sandbox to Koh Samui and the other two islands of Phangan and Koh Tao in Surat Thani was also progressing well.

I guess that all 10 of the Tourists that have gone to Samui would agree.

5 minutes ago, Amdesign said:

The risk of getting COVID in Thailand via domestic transmission is times higher than from arriving 'tourists', who are vaccinated and are tested prior to boarding the plane

Exactly, if they tested 10k arriving tourists and 10k local residents the latter group would have a much higher positive covid test percentage.

Great that there are many arrivals, and the Sandbox is progressing well with about 20,000 arrivals in 1½ month only - according to the authorities - keep up the excellent work, only another 100,000 arrivals are needed for the next 1½ month to reach the predicted target...????????

1 minute ago, sapson said:

Exactly, if they tested 10k arriving tourists and 10k local residents the latter group would have a much higher positive covid test percentage.

Yes, however domestically they are testing people with symptoms and contacts. This will give higher %, thus difficult to compare.

I would say the risks of domestic transmission is at least 10 times higher than imported by 'tourists'.

 

However, due to financial interest of decision makers they will continue with this stupid quarantine, killing not only the tourism but other businesses as well.

Are the restaurants in Phuket open?

4 minutes ago, roger101 said:

Are the restaurants in Phuket open?

Open, but cannot sell alcohol. Many of those in tourist areas remain closed out of choice. 15k tourists isn’t enough for most of them to consider reopening.

17 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Open, but cannot sell alcohol. Many of those in tourist areas remain closed out of choice. 15k tourists isn’t enough for most of them to consider reopening.

I am in Patong, Phuket now as part of the Sandbox program.  Five of the last six restaurants I have had dinner at over the past week have served alcohol; beer, wine, cocktails !!

2 hours ago, webfact said:

can visit having been vaccinated using the Sputnik vaccine. 

Well that’s it... we’re all done for now.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

figures for the number of foreign tourists visiting Samui and the other two islands were a little over 10 a day, however. 

My local 7-11 gets more tourists than Samui 

If they would stop the ASQ Quarantaine ,I see plenty more already fully vaccinated people come to Thailand, what happens now is just for the money, I know Thai people who can do quarantaine at home, so why foreigners cannot ? 

26 minutes ago, kimjohansen said:

I am in Patong, Phuket now as part of the Sandbox program.  Five of the last six restaurants I have had dinner at over the past week have served alcohol; beer, wine, cocktails !!

What about the hotels , are they exempt from an alcohol ban ? cos if not they should be if tourists are to be encouraged to visit . Easy to control the sale of alcohol to hotel residents only . Many folk enjoy a wine or beer with their evening meal or an after meal nightcap .

33 minutes ago, kimjohansen said:

I am in Patong, Phuket now as part of the Sandbox program.  Five of the last six restaurants I have had dinner at over the past week have served alcohol; beer, wine, cocktails !!

I'm guessing you are spot on, mate. Same rules here in Udon Thani, and I'm spoilt for choice over which restaurant to have a drink in.????

2 hours ago, Amdesign said:

The risk of getting COVID in Thailand via domestic transmission is times higher than from arriving 'tourists', who are vaccinated and are tested prior to boarding the plane. So from basic risk analysis there is absolutely no point in quarantine; quarantine just seems to be the money-making business by Minister of Health. PS All new versions of the virus will he in Thailand anyway, as the land borders are poorly controlled.

I wish I could say you’re talking nonsense but you’re absolutely right

35 minutes ago, kimjohansen said:

I am in Patong, Phuket now as part of the Sandbox program.  Five of the last six restaurants I have had dinner at over the past week have served alcohol; beer, wine, cocktails !!

 No doubt in coffee cups and Tin mugs or have they passed on brown envelopes to the old bill to close there eyes 

6 minutes ago, joskeshake said:

 

If they would stop the ASQ Quarantaine

 

One of the reasons I’ve now been waiting for a trip back home, a year and a half now, is that I don’t trust the safety of the ASQ hotels. I know that I could easily self quarantine in my own home and be absolutely safe.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

He pointed out that 40 flights a day were going between Moscow and Egypt and Thailand needed a slice of that action. 

Quite right, since it's on the way...

2 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

I live here and I am currently spending a few days at my favourite resort in Rawai.  I have talked to sandboxers that are on holiday for a few weeks and others that have arrived on a more long term basis. Every one of them are happy to be here, enjoying their relative freedom and are certainly not 'stuck'. There is also no perception that they think they are only wanted here for their money or can go home.

How nice and refreshing to read a positive comment instead of the usual saddening, complaining ones. many thanks!

This guy would not agree, how he had the patience is a marvel!

My Phuket Sandbox Experience | Thailand - YouTube

1 hour ago, wensiensheng said:

Open, but cannot sell alcohol. Many of those in tourist areas remain closed out of choice. 15k tourists isn’t enough for most of them to consider reopening.

You obviously don’t live here. 60% of restaurants serve alcohol in plastic cups and have since the alcohol bans started last year. Any restaurant that isn’t serving doesn’t have connections. Restaurants are delivering alcohol as well. Just ordered a keg from Rawaii and had it delivered in the north at 2:30pm ????.

Phangan 123% and Koh Tao 128% vacinated. I always thought you could not get more than 100%

4 minutes ago, keithkarmann said:

Phangan 123% and Koh Tao 128% vacinated. I always thought you could not get more than 100%

As per the full original article, many non residents have also been jabbed

9 minutes ago, Pracha Duang said:

You obviously don’t live here. 60% of restaurants serve alcohol in plastic cups and have since the alcohol bans started last year. Any restaurant that isn’t serving doesn’t have connections. Restaurants are delivering alcohol as well. Just ordered a keg from Rawaii and had it delivered in the north at 2:30pm ????.

Great advertisement. Come to Phuket where you have to sneak about and drink illegally out of a plastic cup or coffee mug.  

 

What is the punishment if you get caught? 

 

No sense of social responsibility? Can't see Thais in other parts of the country being too enamoured hearing about foreigners breaking COVID prevention rules because they are on holiday.

1 hour ago, kimjohansen said:

I am in Patong, Phuket now as part of the Sandbox program.  Five of the last six restaurants I have had dinner at over the past week have served alcohol; beer, wine, cocktails !!

Psssst... ????

9 minutes ago, Pracha Duang said:

So many people on this site have no clue what Thailand is actually like.

Yeh mate, only you know. ????

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