BANGKOK — In less than a week, Thailand will start accepting vaccinated international travelers at Phuket.
The limited reopening, named the “Phuket sandbox,” will be an important steppingstone that may clear the path for Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy to fully allow tourists to roam around its soil by mid-October.
Success with reopening Phuket is key to the recovery of the Thai economy, as tourism and related businesses accounted for one-fifth of the country’s gross domestic product in pre-COVID times.
To balance incoming visitors’ convenience and residents’ infection risks, the government has set complicated rules for entering the Andaman island.
What is the Phuket sandbox?
The Phuket sandbox is a field experiment the Thai government has decided to conduct on the world-famous island. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s cabinet gave final approval on Tuesday to begin the experiment from July 1.
Phuket will accept vaccinated tourists from abroad without any quarantine period. They will be able to roam around the tropical island after testing negative for the virus upon arrival. If they go on to other destinations in Thailand, they must spend at least 14 nights in Phuket before leaving.
Incoming travelers will also be required to download an app tracing their location. The data will be used to notify them if they have come in close contact with any virus cases.
Who will be able to visit the island?
Incoming travelers must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before their departure with vaccines registered with Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health or approved by the World Health Organization. A vaccine certificate must be presented as a proof.
A negative PCR test result issued no more than 72 hours before departure must also be presented. They also must buy insurance for COVID-19 expenses, with a minimum coverage of $100,000.
Visitors must arrive on a direct flight from a low- to medium-risk country categorized by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health using daily…