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THAILAND
Phuket Opens October To Foreign Tourism

The Thai PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha, has agreed international tourists can return to Phuket from October 1. 

22/08/2020

PHUKET OPENS OCTOBER TO FOREIGN TOURISM

Finally a breakthrough for 'ordinary' tourists willing to subject themselves to strict quarantine procedures who wish to return to Phuket this year and for all foreigners who are waiting for an end to the pandemic nightmare that has denied them free access to Thailand.

The breakthrough may turn Phuket from a ghost town into a boomtown in October as many foreigners from around the world waiting outside Thailand’s closed borders, may now use it to enter. Though for many small businesses that relied on international tourism, the breakthrough is already to late. 

On Friday, the Governor of Thailand’s Tourism Authority, Yuthasak Supasorn, told the news agency Reuters that tourists seeking long stay holidays in Phuket will be allowed access to the island from October.

However, in what will come as no surprise, there are conditions attached. Under the Safe and Sealed plan there are strict measures for foreign visitors, such as that the tourists will be limited to staying in the alternative quarantine system (Government approved hotels) but within a 1 km radius of their hotel giving access to the Beach in many instances.

During quarantine, each tourist will be expected to undertake and pass two Covid 19 tests as happens now in the quarantine network which is currently welcoming hundreds of foreigners each day who have obtained certificates of entry from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok.

Mobirise

Above; Bangla Road, Patong.

After the 14 days quarantine expires, Mr Yuthasak revealed that the tourists will be free to travel within the island of Phuket. However, after a further week and another test, the tourist may be able to move throughout the kingdom.

It effectively means that Phuket may now become, for a period, the gate through which many from among the hundreds of thousands of foreigners stranded outside Thailand since the end of March can gain access.

These would be foreigners who may not have been eligible, up to now, to obtain a certificate of entry from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok since entry requirements were widened in May, June and July.

Further details are still required as commercial airspace still remains closed and airlines have already been cancelling flights to Thailand for October and indeed November.

The first question will be flights and travel arrangements. The next will be the type of visa which will mean a minimum 30-day stay.

One aspect that has been revealed by the tourism boss is that staff in the government approved hotels participating in this scheme will be required not to leave their place of employment.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has also raised concern that while tourists’ movement by air and land is easier to control, sea transport isn't, pointing out that some may use this to violate quarantine requirements.

On September 5 and 6, the Transport Minister, along with representatives from the Tourism and Sports, Public Health and Interior ministries, will visit Phuket to examine transport links between the provinces of Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga, with a view to closing potential loopholes.

Above; Karon, Phuket post-pandemic.

Phuket, like Koh Samui has been hit hard by lockdowns and the ensuing emergeny decree, destinations across the country that rely heavily on international tourism are suffering an economic meltdown.

Bhuritt Maswongssa of the Tourism Council of Thailand, who is based in Phuket, had warned in early August that most of the hotels on the island with loans were facing severe financial difficulties and feared that a wave of closures was inevitable.

In recent months, many images and videos have emerged of Phuket the once-thriving tourist mecca looking like a ghost town.

This development may well drive a wave of tourism to Phuket from October leading to what many foreigners are hoping for, access to the country that many see as a home away from home.

However Thailand has, this week, once again extended the state of emergency in the kingdom until the end of September.

It's noted that this development is based on how things stand at the moment and could be cancelled at any time. The 'travel bubble' scheme which planned to let in 'high end' visitors from countries the Thai government considered low risk including China, was shelved indefinately at the last minute due to recent outbreaks of the corona virus in the proposed participating countries.

To the west, the recent discovery of major reporting errors in the number of coronavirus tests conducted testing positive since the start of the pandemic, announced by Dr. Mandy Cohen Department of Health and Human Services, means those wishing to travel to Thailand can only hope there won't be any reporting errors this winters flu season, which would no doubt strike fear with the Thai government and result in the development being cancelled.

Right now though, as from October 1. the conditions under the 'safe and sealed' plan for those whishing to return to Phuket and be granted access to the rest of Thailand are as follows;

1. 30 days minimum stay.

2. Insurance to the value of $100,000 USD which includes cover against the Covid 19 virus.

3. 14 days quarantine at a government approved hotel upwards of $150 USD per night.

4. Take and pass two covid-19 tests.

5. After 14 days quarantine you'll be free to travel within Phuket.

6. Take and pass another covid-19 test, access granted to the rest of Thailand.

The question is, would you want to go on holiday under these conditions, only to find deserted shuttered and empty bars, shops, restaurants and derelict buildings once you're permitted off the hotel grounds?

SOURCE: Reuters/The Thailand Tourism Authority/Department of Health and Human Services.

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AUGUST 2020

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