Thailand's islands aim to reopen Oct. 1
Thailand's islands have a goal: to reopen to tourists next October 1. News, this, that follows the trend [...]
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Le islands of Thailand have a goal: to reopen to tourists theOctober 1 Next.
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This news follows the trend of a gradual recovery in tourism. Just a few weeks ago, the Financial Times announced the Asian country's decision to cancel quarantine for those who had received two doses of the vaccine. But also among the new features is "Fly Warm," a special vacation package introduced by the government that provides 45-day stays without a visa (but with quarantine). By booking a 45-day stay, 30 of them can be lived away from the hotel designated for quarantine. The cost is tempting (from 249 euros per week), but the feasibility reduced: who has so many vacation days available?
And if the country aims to Reduce the quarantine from 14 to 7 days for vaccinated tourists, Thailand's islands go one step further: a full reopening for those who have received the vaccine.
Phuket (ph. Pixabay)
Thailand's islands (and beyond) want to reopen
Thailand's islands want to reopen fully, with no quarantine requirement. At least, they want to do so for those who have been vaccinated.
The companies of Phuket are funding a mass vaccination campaign to administer Sinovac serum to 70% of the population, without waiting for the government. The hope is that this policy will convince the institutions to Eliminate the quarantine requirement for international travelers. On one condition: that those travelers, once they land in the country, do not travel to Thailand but take a direct flight to the island. Koh Samui, which does have an international airport, intends to reopen to vaccinated tourists starting in October. And allow them to travel to nearby Koh Tao and Koh Phangan as well.
A phased reopening
In fact, even earlier Thailand will gradually reopen. The Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani provinces (Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Pha-ngan islands), Chonburi (Pattaya) and Chiang Mai between April and May will grant reduced quarantines to travelers from the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and (possibly) India and Russia. Groups of up to four people will have to remain confined to their rooms for 3 days: from the fourth to the fourteenth day they will have access to specific facilities. Hotels will have to be certified and all sanitary and at-risk categories in those provinces will have to be vaccinated before reopening.
Between June and September, the so-called "Exclusive Travel Area" will be put into practice in the same provinces. The plan calls for reduce quarantine to 10 days (or not) and to subject tourists to two PCR tests: one at the airport, one two days before the end of the isolation. Travelers will be able to access a special area of hotels, "Area Q," and activities organized by certified travel agencies. Thereafter, between September and October, those same areas will be available for travel without the obligation of quarantine. Tourists will have to stay only one day, waiting for the result of the swab.
Finally, from January 2022, the Full reopening to all vaccinated tourists. In order to travel free to Thailand, travelers will need to be in possession of health passport and a negative test performed before departure.
