Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong walks through Phuket airport this week as he inspects the airport’s readiness to receive tourists. Photo: AoT

 

By The Phuket News

 

PHUKET: They’re going for it. The COE is gone, devolved into the Thailand Pass to be launched tomorrow (Nov 1), the number of countries whose nationals are allowed to enter under the ‘no quarantine’ scheme has been expanded to 63, and Phuket taxi drivers have been given their standard warning not to rip off tourists, which is a step up from asking them nicely not to beat, rob or rape them.

 

The systems and guidelines for service providers and business operators are in place, and Phuket is miles ahead of the rest of the country in vaccination numbers, which as of yesterday stood at: 1st jab 466,275 (85.15% of the target 547,584); 2nd jab 424,001 (77.43%); and 3rd “booster” jab 253,384 (59.82%). That’s not including the number of people across the island who have been inoculated the old fashioned way, by recovering after being infected with COVID-19.

 

The number of people allowed to attend events in Phuket has been raised to 500, and major sports events such as the top-flight Asian Tour golf tourneys to be held on the island are on their way. As for the kerfuffle this week over the much-touted ‘Lisa’ Manobal and Andrea Bocelli Phuket New Year concerts, we’re just going to take the positive sign that Tourism & Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn took the bullet himself, without denying or deflecting. When was the last time anyone saw a Thai Minister admit and apologise for a mistake? At least Mr Phiphat’s being honest. That’s a win.

 

Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-opinion-full-steam-ahead-81875.php

 

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-11-01

 

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11 minutes ago, webfact said:

and Phuket is miles ahead of the rest of the country in vaccination numbers

If someone can explain to me the advantage of being miles ahead in vaccinations in a province or city when you have to abide by the entire countries closure of bars, pubs  and entertainment establishments, I'm all ears

????

 

Phuket taxi drivers have beengiven their standard warning not to ripoff tourists, which is a step up fromasking them nicely not to beat, rob orrape them.

Full steam ahead

Well I never!!