Prime Minister confirms reopening plans

Although an increasing number of people are becoming skeptical about the feasibility of the ‘ Phuket Sandbox plan’, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirmed that Phuket will open to fully vaccinated international visitors on July 1st., 2021.
Phuket is projected to be the first province to reopen before expanding to 6 destinations by 1st October 2021: Krabi, Phangna, Samui, Pattaya, Chiangmai, Chiangrai.

TAT Governor Yuthasak is working with several airlines (Thai Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines) to fly direct to Phuket once a week by July 1st.
Obviously, final flight schedules still need to be confirmed.

How will it work?

This information is obviously very premature, but the protocol is suggested as follows:

1. Tourists need to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days and no longer than 1 year before travel. Children aged 12-17, need to have a Rapid Antigen Test at the airport. No Test at the airport for Children age below 12.
2. Tourist still need to show RT-PCR Test result not older than 72 hours before flight departure.
3. Tourists need to activate Thailand Plus Application.
4. Free to travel in Phuket Province for 5 days with RT – PCR Test on Day 5.
5. On day 6 and day 7, Tourists could do a day trip outside Phuket such as Phiphi, Yaonoi, Phang-Na Bay.
6. Tourists staying less than 7 days could only fly back from Phuket airport. After a minimum stay in Phuket for 7 days and a negative RT-PCR test on day 5, tourists would be allowed to travel outside Phuket and could fly back from Bangkok or Phuket airport.
7. For Safety, tourists would only be able to visit tourism businesses – hotels, restaurants, tour/sport recreation, transportation, who are endorsed for tourists and have received a certificate of TAT SHA.

I am happy to confirm that Seafun Diving is one of the few dive operators that already has been approved to receive this certificate from the Thailand Safety and Health Administration.

Before you get on the plane

Although this certainly is positive news, it is clear that all is still in the planning phase. As we have seen in the last couple of months, the situation and COVID-19 measures can change very quickly and plans can change.

If you are planning to come to Phuket for diving or for your dive instructor course, and you have questions about your trip to Thailand, feel free to contact me. I will be happy to assist you.

Edit after government meeting 5 June 2021:

Tourists who are planning to move to other Provinces in Thailand when Coming under the Sandbox Program, have to stay a minimum of 14 Nights in a SHA PLUS Hotel in Phuket before moving to any other Province.

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