“And in order to remove the quarantine, we need vaccination.”. A Chinese Vegetarian Festival is held there every year. “Phuket has been without any new Covid-19 cases for 89 days. Thailand has announced that it will open Phuket to overseas tourists from October 1, but foreigners will have to comply with a mandatory two-week quarantine.. Patong Beach in Phuket. From the poll, we received 365 respondents who voted either yes or no. 868. According to … It’s more about creating confidence and making them think of Thailand because we don’t know when they would be able to travel,” Yuthasak said. Tourist Hotspot Phuket’s Reopening Delayed by New Virus Case By . Thailand’s Minister of Tourism, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has proposed to reopen Phuket -the internationally celebrated Thai Island- without quarantine in July. Good news from thailand. Phuket is popular with tourists from all over the world. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp. By Pattaya Mail. Thailand’s Phuket tourism-reliant economy is on the brink of collapse as tourists, foreign and domestic, are almost non-existent for about a year on the island. Everybody understands that during the initial period, international arrivals may not be overwhelming. The long-winded order goes through all the requirements of non-tourists in excruciating detail. Randy Thanthong-Knight , September 8, 2020, 1:31 AM EDT Thailand reported first local infection in 100 days last week Phuket … In a move expected after intense lobbying from the Travel and Tourism industry, the government has approved the waiving of quarantine requirements for vaccinated visitors arriving on Phuket from July 1, the first significant reopening for the popular tourism destination. “In the fourth quarter of this year, the tourism demand from Europe should be stronger than usual because we believe many people would want to leave their countries and travel as they would have been suppressed for two years by then.”. “For long-haul markets, I can say Thailand is the top destination for every one of them,” he told reporters, referring to Scandinavian countries, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, Israel and the United Arab Emirates. However, this could change over the next few months. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand generated approximately US$96 billion from about 39.8 million international tourists in 2019, according to Yuthasak, the TAT governor. Phuket province is located in southern Thailand.It is the biggest Island of Thailand and sits on the Andaman sea.The nearest province to the north is Phang-nga and the nearest provinces to the east are Phang-nga and Krabi.. Phuket has a large Chinese influence, so you will see many Chinese shrines and Chinese Restaurants around the city. The decision was announced last week by the Center for Economic Situation Administration, following a proposal by Phuket’s private sector after nearly a year of economic woes due to the pandemic. Register to Reply or Ask a Question; Go to first unread post; 3 posts in this topic Recommended Posts. By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive news updates and promotional material from Mediacorp and Mediacorp's partners. That and the very welcome atmosphere and the famous Phuket NIGHTLIFE, you can see why the island is a hotspot for tourists in Thailand. That would prime Phuket to be a “pilot province,” according to Phiphat. Still, we’re confident that if we can reopen in July, the prospects should be very good from October onwards,” he added. Here are all the latest updates on Thailand reopening for tourism and everything you need to know on how to visit one of the most popular countries in the world. At least that is the plan that has been recently proposed by Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Thailand’s minister of tourism. And the hotels on the island are officially allowed to re-open but few are flinging open their doors anytime soon to welcome the hordes of tourists lining up to book a room. Thailand has gone nearly three months without a confirmed case of a local Covid-19 contagion. Here’s what you need to know. He said deputy prime minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow had earlier instructed Phuket to reopen to foreign visitors on 1 July. by Marcel | Aug 22, 2020. According to the Ministry the vaccination rate should have reached 70% of its population by then. Thailand . Some other areas of the country should follow suit in October. Thailand has announced that it is set to re-open Phuket to vaccinated tourists from 1 July 2021. The popular resort island heavily relies on international tourists. Phuket’s tourism-reliant economy is on the … Thailand will begin to remove quarantine requirements and open its borders to fully-vaccinated travellers from this summer officials have confirmed. Thailand will begin to remove quarantine requirements and open its borders to fully-vaccinated travellers from this summer officials have confirmed. Joe Kano 55 Joe Kano 55 Member; Members; 55 Timeline Photos; Timeline. The reopening of Phuket will be used as a test to gauge international tourism demand as well as Thailand’s readiness to unlock more areas for overseas travellers later this year. From July, the quarantine period will be removed entirely for Phuket. An economic panel chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha approved the proposal by Phuket’s private […] The holiday island is in a Catch 22 situation with the hotels waiting for the guests to return and potential visitors waiting until there are signs of life. © 2021 Breaking Travel News. A recent virus scare of one person in Bangkok has renewed concerns in Thailand if this plan is really a good idea and likely used as an excuse to postpone the Phuket project which was destined … As the province prepares to welcome oversea travellers, a plan has been made to inoculate 70 per cent of its residents against COVID-19. All other destinations in Thailand, not listed above, are still subject to a seven-day mandatory area quarantine on arrival until further notice. From July 1st, the popular tourist island of Phuket will be the first destination in the country to welcome international travellers and from October, five further tourist areas will ease restrictions. TD Editor. Tourist Hotspot Phuket’s Reopening Delayed by New Virus Case By . The government wants to see at least 100,000 tourists come to Phuket in the third quarter. Thailand is seriously gearing up for the opening of Phuket island on 1 July 2021. Phuket open for tourism. Sort of. Phuket wants to open up without quarantine. March 1, 2021 March 1, 2021 Tokyo Phuket’s tourism-reliant economy is on the brink of collapse as tourists, foreign and domestic, are almost non-existent for about a year on the island. The quarantine-free tourism model “Phuket sandbox” requires international visitors to complete their COVID-19 vaccination in their country and produce proof upon arrival in Phuket from July, along with a certificate showing negative COVID-19 test results obtained before flying to Thailand. “Everybody understands that during the initial period, international tourists won’t simply pour in. It looks like the email address you entered is not valid. Still, we’re confident that if we can reopen in July, the prospects should be very good from October onwards,” he said. Although Thailand is looking to remove the mandatory quarantine requirements that most visitors must adhere to by October, the popular tourist attraction of Phuket may do so in July instead. Thailand’s Phuket tourism-reliant economy is on the brink of collapse as tourists, foreign and domestic, are almost non-existent for about a year on the island. Yuthasak Supasorn. Phuket province is imposing a set of stricter measures to curb the surge of COVID-19 cases, with stricter screening applied to land, sea, and air arrivals. Then, on Jul 1, the quarantine-free tourism model begins in Phuket before expanding to cover the aforementioned provinces in October. The news comes as the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA), chaired by the Thai prime minister, Prayuth Chan-Ocha, approved the stages of reopening. In a battle with a near-collapsed local economy, Thailand will allow foreign tourists to visit the holiday island of Phuket for longer stays starting from October, Tourism Authority of Thailand governor, Yuthasak Supasorn, said. The reopening of Phuket will be used as a test to gauge international tourism demand as well as Thailand’s readiness to unlock more areas for overseas travellers later this year. The Phuket sandbox model is part of the Thai government’s plan to boost the country’s economy. It comes as the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has set a target date of October 1st to fully … However, its secretary-general Danucha Pichayanan said last week that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha wants all sectors to push for a 4 per cent expansion. An economic panel chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday […] Reuters . “From October, five further popular destinations will reopen ahead of our peak season, ready to welcome winter sun travellers.”. Thailand’s Phuket Aims To Open For Tourism Without Quarantine. by Arno Maierbrugger - Aug 23, 2020. The same applies to short-haul markets like China, India, Southeast Asian countries, Hong Kong and South Korea, which also put Thailand as a destination to visit. 29 March 2021. Apr 11 2021, 2:30 PM Apr 11 2021, 5:25 PM April 11 2021, 2:30 PM April 11 2021, 5:25 PM (Bloomberg) --A growing outbreak in Thailand, where local Covid-19 cases hit a new daily record on Sunday, threatens to undermine the nation’s plan to welcome back tourists. Thailand Phuket - Open for Tourism in July for vaccinated Tourist. Phuket to lead reopening of Thai tourism sector. Growing Thai Outbreak Could Threaten Tourism Re-Opening Plan By . published : 26 Mar 2021 at 17:51 writer: Bangkok Post and Bloomberg. According to … Thailand tourism: Phuket to open to international visitors who have had COVID-19 vaccine. More than a dozen business groups including the Phuket Chamber of Commerce and the Phuket Tourist Association are planning to pool funds to vaccinate 70% of the island’s population above 18 without waiting for a government rollout. “Thailand’s priority is to make tourism safe for both tourists and locals alike,” said Chiravadee Khunsub, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) London. Thailand’s Phuket Aims To Open For Tourism Without Quarantine. Thailand wants you back. This means when the government banned international commercial flights last April to control the pandemic, Phuket was hit hard. He said those foreigners who visit … Phuket beaches have just a scattering of local people, instead of the hordes of tourists … In February, the National Economic and Social Development Council predicted a 3 per cent increase in gross domestic product (GDP) this year. However, Bhummikitti from the Phuket Tourist Association said how the scheme would pan out also depends on negotiations between the Thai government and its counterparts in target destinations. Visiting Phuket is easy as there are many travel options. The country will be waiving quarantine requirements for tourists arriving on the resort-island after they have been proven to be vaccinated. Patong Beach, Phuket. Tweet on Twitter. “Of course, the number of tourists may not be as high as it was in 2019 or the years before that but I think this will be a start. Mediacorp Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. The proposal to open Phuket for fully vaccinated travellers ahead of the rest of Thailand was confirmed at an economic panel chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha on March 26. Phuket, I'm going to Thailand! Growing Thai Outbreak Could Threaten Tourism Re-Opening Plan. PHUKET: The Phuket Sandbox plan has been officially approved by the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) to allow the island to reopen to foreign tourists … According to Yuthasak, the majority of international leisure travellers surveyed would choose to visit areas that have carried out the vaccination programme and require no quarantine. The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Yuthasak Supasorn, made a statement on August 21 st confirming the government’s plan to open Phuket for international tourism on October 1 st. Reopening Phuket for foreign visitors will act as a sort of pilot program for the rest of the country, testing how successful restarting the tourism sector in this current environment can be. There is in urgent need for foreign tourists here, to stimulate the economy and tourism sector,” he said. All travellers will have to take a Covid-19 test on arrival (at their hotel) and stay for at least seven days at the point of entry (i.e. By Joe Kano, 3 hours ago in Philippines. “But when their countries allow them to travel abroad, we want Thailand to be on their minds as one of the preferred destinations.”, Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram. Subscribe to our daily newsletter to keep up to date with the latest headlines from the global hospitality sector. Phuket to open to vaccinated foreign tourists on July 1 Quarantine period to be reduced to 10 days with conditions . They will also have to download mobile application ThailandPlus for tracking purposes during their stay. Our Facebook news feed is filled with Phuket set to open by July for vaccinated tourists. All rights reserved. In the meantime, residents of Phuket are being prioritized to receive the vaccine aiming for 70 per cent of the population to be vaccinated before tourism resumes. Phuket may open for tourists 1 October. (Bloomberg) -- Thailand will waive quarantine requirements for vaccinated foreign visitors arriving on the resort island of Phuket from July 1, the first key reopening for the tourism-reliant nation. Phuket’s tourism industry has been harder hit than most, and stakeholders are eager to change that. From July 1st, the popular tourist island of Phuket will be the first destination in the country to welcome international travellers and from October, five further tourist areas will ease restrictions. The order is NOT related to tourists arriving in Phuket or the proposal to open up Phuket for non-quarantine tourism after July. Latest! Phuket is open. Vaccinated tourists will … Change password, update personal details and more. For the "sandbox" experiment to begin, Phuket must achieve herd immunity by inoculating 70% of the population, according to Tourism Authority of Thailand Gov. According to the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, tourists will be allowed into Phuket from October 1. Thai tourist island of Phuket gets Covid jabs first in race to offer quarantine-free holidays Government hopes to jumpstart tourism with mass inoculation program. It isn’t all just beaches though, there is also fantastic classical architecture such as the Goom Restaurant. READ: Thailand to allow long-stay tourists in island of Phuket … Thailand Tourism News: After one year of haunted about Corona Virus, finally, the government of Thailand – General Prayut Chan-o-cha decided to open the gates of tourism for the globetrotters in majorly three stage roadmaps to welcome the people in these provinces – Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Surat Thani (Ko Samui), Chon Buri (Pattaya) and Chiang Mai – to vaccinated foreign tourists. Thailand had planned to re-open their tourism industry under a project they named “Safe & Seal” from October 1, 2020 starting with Phuket but these plans have now (once again) been scrapped as we expected. Sun 4 … “There must be no quarantine because tourism and quarantine don’t go together,” Phuket Tourist Association president Bhummikitti Ruktaengam told CNA. The respondents were made up of hospitality leaders, General Managers, Hotel owners and people with a vested interest in seeing Phuket open. Randy Thanthong-Knight. From Thursday (Apr 1), international visitors to certain destinations in Thailand will only have to be quarantined in their hotels and designated areas for seven days instead of 14 days if they have completed their COVID-19 vaccination and show negative test results. The destinations include Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Samui, Pattaya and Chiang Mai. Copyright© Mediacorp 2021. Since last year, the government has been trying to bring back leisure tourists from abroad through tourism incentives such as the Special Tourist Visa and reduced quarantine periods. Travellers are required to stay for at least seven days at the point of entry so should plan their itinerary accordingly. PHUKET: The Phuket Sandbox plan has been officially approved by the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) to allow the island to reopen to foreign tourists … When people are unable to travel or gather, major cities that heavily rely on tourism such as Phuket, Samui, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Phang Nga have felt the repercussions like never before,” Yuthasak told CNA. meREWARDS lets you get coupon deals, and earn cashback when you complete surveys, dine, travel and shop with our partners. 0. Advertisement. Faris Mokhtar; Bookmark. The province, known for its beautiful islands and white sandy beaches, has been hardly hit … Staff will have to remain in the hotel at all times. Maya Bay in Phuket is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand. The island’s pristine beaches are now mostly empty despite the high season. Phuket, Thailand aims to open tourism without quarantine. The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Yuthasak Supasorn, made a statement on August 21 st confirming the government’s plan to open Phuket for international tourism on October 1 st. Reopening Phuket for foreign visitors will act as a sort of pilot program for the rest of the country, testing how successful restarting the tourism sector in this current environment can be. when phuket is open for the tourist . According to Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn, the southern island was chosen to pioneer the quarantine-free tourism model because of its readiness, strong reliance on international tourists and geographic insularity. Visitors to Phuket will have to take two coronavirus tests during quarantine before they will be allowed to travel to the rest of the island. The Thai government has announced a plan to allow vaccinated tourists quarantine-free travel to the holiday island of Phuket. Phuket plans to reopen borders to vaccinated international tourists by Oct. 1, 2021. By Kristin Mariano On Mar 1, 2021. THE popular tourist destination of Phuket, Thailand, will open to vaccinated tourists on July 1. Foreign tourism revenue in Phuket dropped 78 per cent to 87.5 million baht (US$2.92 million) in 2020 with 2.1 million arrivals. 424. Thailand will begin to remove quarantine requirements and open its borders to fully-vaccinated travellers from this summer officials have confirmed. In 2019, they made up 73 per cent of the total of 14.55 million visitors, based on data from the Phuket Provincial Statistical Office. "Do you think Phuket will really open to foreign tourists on July 1?" “Phuket has been Covid-19 free for 90 days so it is a safe choice for UK travellers looking to get away this summer. In the third quarter of 2021, Phuket’s tourism industry expects to welcome international tourists from short-haul destinations such as the Middle East, Singapore, Hong Kong and some provinces in China. BANGKOK: Come Jul 1, international tourists will be able to visit Phuket in southern Thailand without going through quarantine if they have been vaccinated. Earlier proposals had put the date in November. From July 1st, the popular tourist island of Phuket will be the first destination in the country to welcome international travellers and from October, five further tourist areas will ease restrictions. Tourists will have to stay for at least 30 days, with the first 14 days in quarantine in a limited vicinity of their hotel, before they can … The Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand aims to launch the ‘Safe and Sealed’ tourism campaign in Phuket by 1 October. Phuket Set To Open by July For Vaccinated Tourists. In a move largely expected after intense lobbying from the huge Travel and Toursm industry here in Thailand, the government approved the waiving of quarantine requirements for vaccinated visitors arriving on Phuket from July 1, the first significant reopening for the popular tourism destination. Share on Facebook. Previously, provincial authorities and the local private sector came up with a reopening plan, known as the Phuket Tourism Sandbox, to allow inoculated foreign tourists to … According to Bangkok Post, quarantine requirements will be waived for vaccinated foreign visitors arriving to Phuket from 1 July 2021. Economy in shatters as tourism arrivals dried up . From October, Phuket, Krabi, Phangnga, Koh Samui, Chonburi (Pattaya) and Chiang Mai will all be accessible, quarantine free, for vaccinated travellers. Last year, he said the country only welcomed some 6.7 million overseas travellers - the lowest number ever recorded - and generated just above US$26 billion or about 73 per cent less than the year before. Key Tips. 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They are betting that it’ll be safe to open the region to foreign tourists once the local population achieves herd immunity. Phuket) before travelling onwards around Thailand. “By welcoming back tourists, we don’t expect a huge number of them to come. Followers 1. Nine vaccination points will be set up around the island to ensure its residents are safe from COVID-19, its Public Relations Office reported. Respondents also stated they’d rather travel to Thailand in 2021 than in 2022. Nearly all conditions of entry for these non-tourist groups are identical… Phuket Airport General Manager Thanee Chuangchoo viewed this as a symbolic representation of tourism being reborn in Thailand. Visitors will be required to have received both doses of the vaccine in their home country before travelling to Phuket. Travel & Tourism; Phuket Island remains open to visitors during Songkran holidays.