Bangkok, 18 April, 2020, at 13.00 Hrs. – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to inform international and domestic tourists that the end date on 30 April, 2020, has been specified in the last order issued by Phuket province.
Despite the end date stated on 30 April, 2020, this TAT update does not imply that Phuket will lift its unprecedented Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) control measures thereafter. TAT will constantly monitor the situation and provide more updates as soon as new information becomes available.
Phuket’s newly rectified order summed up all unprecedented measures previously announced by the province. The order, signed on 16 April, 2020, was announced on 17 April, 2020, on the Facebook page: phuketanticovid19, one of Phuket’s public relations channels, especially set up to communicate with the public on all matters regarding the COVID-19.
This latest order replaces all previous announcements and orders, and covers five key topics:
- Temporary closure of venues as appearing in Appendix 1, which includes an expanded list of business establishments, hotels, shopping malls, markets, sports and related facilities, entertainment venues, some government services, and more. Supermarkets, pharmacies, food takeaways and deliveries, banks and ATMs, and other essential services used in daily life remain open, in accordance with the nationwide curfew from 22.00-04.00 Hrs.
- Closure of entry and exit points (land and sea) as appearing in Appendix 2, including the Tha Chat Chai Checkpoint and all marine transportation channels, with exceptions for vehicles and vessels with emergencies or necessities.
- Closure of all local borders between each sub-district and surveillance, control and prevention measures as appearing in Appendix 3, asking cooperation from residents to remain in their residence and ordering local authorities to conduct active case finding among the residents of all districts.
- Measures regarding boats leaving ports and going to sea as appearing in Appendix 4, banning all boats from leaving ports excepts fishing boats, medical and emergency related boats, logistics boats, and vessels used for official purposes.
- Control and preventive measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 infection as appearing in Appendix 5, including hygiene measures and social distancing rules.
Under the Communicable Diseases Act 2015, penalties for non-compliance range from less than 20,000 Baht, or less than 100,000 baht or one year in prison or both. Violators may face other penalties under the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation 2005.
TAT is constantly providing updates on the tourism-related COVID-19 situation in Thailand at the TAT Newsroom (https://www.tatnews.org/). For additional information and assistance relating to Thailand’s tourism, contact the TAT Contact Centre 1672 or Tourist Police 1155.
For constant updates of Thailand’s COVID-19 control measures for travellers, please visit https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/index.php.
This press release is published on 18 April, 2020, at 13.00 Hrs. All information is accurate at the current time but can be changed depending on the situation. The TAT Newsroom will not be updating this press release but will issue new updates as soon as further information becomes available.