Vaccinated? Phuket wants to welcome you next month.
So holiday-starved Aussies could enjoy lavish trips to the Thai island by July 1 with no quarantine – but there’s a catch!
Although currently experiencing its highest rate of infections and deaths due to COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic, Thailand is still going ahead with its plans to reopen on July 1. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has confirmed that from next month, the country will allow quarantine-free entry to vaccinated tourists from “low-risk” countries who enter Thailand via the island of Phuket.
While more details still need to be confirmed, including what countries are deemed “low risk”, for now the TAT says arrivals must be fully vaccinated or have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and must have tested negative not more than 72 hours before arrival.
Upon arriving in Phuket, visitors must stay in a hotel approved by the country’s Safety & Health Administration for the first 14 nights. While on Phuket, visitors are not required to quarantine and are free to leave their accommodation and travel around the island with few, if any, restrictions, visiting beaches, restaurants and entertainment venues as per normal. Visitors will be required to register at a government website and use an app that tracks their movements. After 14 nights on Phuket, visitors are free to leave the island to travel to other points in Thailand.
This news was first announced on the first travel industry event by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in Sydney #AmazingThailand called the ‘Product Update’ Event May 20, 2021 #Restore #Refresh #Renew . It was hosted by the Ambassador of Thailand to Australia , Consulate General, TAT Director. It gave industry professionals the Roadmaps to Recovery, The Latest Developments in this Recovery and It’s when we first heard the term “Sandbox” or Phuketsandbox .
There have been many changes since then but basically a set of stringent set of health and safety guidelines have been established to enhance tourism health and hygiene standards. These are known as the ‘Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration’, with the purpose is to restore, refresh and renew tourism in its recovery post-covid when international travel resumes.
It’s good news for international travellers hoping to resume their Thailand holiday plans. The Tourism Authority of Thailand confirms that Phuket will be the first destination to welcome visitors back. Visa rules and test required to board flights to Phuket remain the same, but for the first time vaccinated travellers can visit the island without a 14-day quarantine.
If you have been following the Thai news and travel it’s been in the news every day since with regular updates and some confusion about what this means and if indeed it’s going to still open. We have been sharing on our social media please follow to keep updated! Also TAT provides lots of information on their Facebook . For diehard Thailand lovers a private a I recommend a private Facebook group Phuket Sandbox – “Better Phuket” By I Asia Thailand
As I mentioned there have been changes and updates and some confusion, with speculation that Phuket will delay this reopening. The latest information however is a press release yesterday by Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha that has confirmed that Phuket will indeed reopen to vaccinated foreign tourists without quarantine requirements from 1 July, 2021, under the ‘Phuket Sandbox’ project.
Whats the G-O for Aussies?
But unfortunately for Australians, special exemptions are still needed to fly overseas since the international borders closed and will be until probably mid 2020 . Australians must apply for special exemptions to be allowed to leave the country.! But the rest of the world has reopened so if you are vaccinated, Phuket welcomes you!
NipTuck Holidays enjoy strong partnerships a selection of international hotels and resorts that are absolutely dying to welcome back Aussies! So much so they have offered us unbeatable discounts for travellers From July 1 to the October period!
Doubletree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort is a luxury resort inn the heart of Patong Beach. Step into tranquillity when you check in to DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort. Set in the heart of Patong, directly opposite the white sandy beach and turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea.
Our other partner is Phuket’s newest hotel the FourPoints by Sheraton Phuket This brand new beachfront, luxury resort two outdoor pools, five fantastic restaurants & bars and the latest facilities for the ultimate.
We are offering special discount promotional rates at the moment wanting cheap holidays in Phuket at luxury standards with special privileges and bonus inclusions! While we can’t travel from Australia just yet we are doing our bit encourage travel to Phuket for those can from the UK, US and Europe and other parts of Asia.
Upon vaccination and depending on where you live hopefully this initiative will revive travel to the resort island in Thailand, which is hoping to revive its dire tourist economy. In preparation for tourists, many of Phuket’s pandemic restrictions have been lifted, and the island’s tourist-oriented businesses have been allowed to operate more or less normally.
We miss Phuket and can’t wait to go back! 🌴❤️🇹🇭