Phuket re-opening update; the island is ear-market for opening after an absolutely disastrous 2020 and the better part of Q1 2021. The latest news from Thailand Authority of Tourism and government though is positive…if they stick to their plans.
Final details are still to be thrashed-out in full and they are centered around Phuket, Samui, Chiang Mai and a few other areas. No code names this time as the last code name could have been changed to ”Egg on Face”.
Thailand’s Cabinet formally approved plans to re-open the country to foreign tourists.
The planned gradual re-opening will see quarantine reduced for fully vaccinated tourists to Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya, Phang Na, Koh Samui and Phuket from as early as April.
Tourists who intend to visit the aforementioned destinations will still have to undergo quarantine but only for 7 days rather than the 14 days mandatory quarantine needed previously.
From 1 July, vaccinated tourists will be able to visit Phuket without the need to quarantine.
Phuket Re-Opening update
If the scheme in Phuket proves successful, quarantine will be scrapped in other popular tourist destinations throughout Thailand, namely Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya, Phang Na and Koh Samui from 1 October.
Thailand then plans to lift all quarantine requirements for foreign tourists next year (vaccinated or not, we don’t know but we guess the former).
The Thai government now faces a race against time as it aims to vaccinate some 70 percent of Phuket’s population ahead of the return of foreign tourists. With the main two vaccines available being Astra Zenica and Sinovac, those wishing to have Johnson & Johnson are expected to pay.
On Tuesday, Phuket Governor said he hopes that as many as 50,000 people will receive the first dose of the vaccine within seven days of it arriving on the island in April.
The news comes as Thailand will reduce quarantine for anyone arriving from overseas.
From 1 April, quarantine will be cut from 14 to 10 days for all arrivals, with the exception of visitors from some African countries.
So some good news! We look forward to seeing you on Phuket when flights are up and running again.
In the meantime, check out our stunning listings here and “don’t touch your face”.
