The Phuket Sandbox programme sees the full re-opening of the island to fully-vaccinated travellers without a mandated quarantine.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is celebrated the island of Phuket's reopening for international travel from today, in the nation's first step towards re-opening the international tourism trade.
Fully-vaccinated travellers can stay quarantine-free as part of the 'Phuket Sandbox' model, with non-vaccinated arrivals still subject to a 14-night hotel quarantine.
Re-opening details for the island of Koh Samui are set to be announced in the coming weeks as Thailand moves towards a full re-opening.
Phuket International Airport saw the first arriving international flight since the pandemic began, with a number of British travellers joining the first flight.
?We are so excited to welcome back travellers from the UK this summer. Phuket and Koh Samui are two of our iconic beach destinations, hugely popular with UK holidaymakers. It?s been a challenging 18 months for us all and people are ready to escape and enjoy a change of scenery and a special trip with friends and family. The islands are so much more than just a tropical beach holiday, they each have their own unique local communities, cuisine, temples, island hopping adventures , breath-taking views and are globally recognized as a wellness sanctuary...? said Ms. Chiravadee Khunsub, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand, London.
From September onwards, further destinations and routes in Thailand are expected to re-open for international travellers, including Chiang Mai and Pattaya. From October, Bangkok and nearby Hua Hin and Cha-Am will welcome guests once again. The phased re-opening aligns with the country's vaccination programme across its 76 provinces, ensuring locals are as protected as possible from Covid-19.
