Phuket ‘sandbox’ plan gets initial nod from CESA
The Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) on Friday approved opening the Phuket “tourism sandbox” to vaccinated tourists from July 1 as proposed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as CESA chairman, however, has instructed TAT to discuss the plan with Phuket’s governor and the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration first before making it official.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said tourists who can verify they have been inoculated against Covid-19 and test negative can fly into Phuket and move around freely without having to quarantine.
Similar schemes will be applied to other destinations such as Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phang Nga and Surat Thani later, once more people have been vaccinated and preventive measures are put in place.
Phuket requires 925,000 doses of the vaccine to inoculate 70 per cent of its population before it can reopen.