In Search of the Rainbow’s End – Thailand Rises to the Challenge

When it rain it pours

Amid the rise of new strains and surge in COVID-19 cases in the region, countries are battling to ride through the storm and defend the resurgence of infections whilst lifting the dampened economies and fatigue of the pandemic.

Thailand, like many countries, is working to manage a recent outbreak. With heightened COVID-19 control measures, sprouting of field hospitals and accelerating COVID-19 vaccination, amongst more drastic measures of partial and full island/city lockdowns, Thailand is pulling out all stops to ensure that the country rides out the wave to keep on track with the plans of reopening tourism in the country.

Always sunshine after the rain

With detailed and carefully thought out plans to reopen Thailand to vaccinated travelers, Thailand is moving forward backed by strict COVID-19 prevention and control protocols.

Bang Thao Beach, Phuket

Since last year, the tourism ministry has relentlessly rolled out in any opportune time to bring back leisure tourists from abroad through tourism incentives such as the Special Tourist Visa, Golf & Yacht Quarantine packages.

While numbers were not great, these initiatives primarily served to inject hope and normality in the tourism market while tourism worldwide had been put to a standstill. Those initiatives also afforded Thai government offices the opportunity t adjust and fine tune many measures to facilitate travel to and within the country with the goal of enhancing positive visitor experience at various touch points.

Sea, Sun & Sand Play

As part of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s three-stage roadmap to reopen six major tourist provinces – Phuket, Krabi, Phangnga, Surat Thani (Ko Samui), Chon Buri (Pattaya), and Chiang Mai – to vaccinated foreign tourists.

Sino-Portuguese Building, The Old Town Builiding in Phuket Old Town, Phuket

The highly anticipated quarantine-free tourism model “Phuket Sandbox” scheduled to be unveiled in July will be used as a test to gauge international tourism demand as well as Thailand’s readiness to unlock more areas for overseas travelers later this year.

The Phuket Sandbox model requires vaccinated travelers to complete their COVID-19 vaccination in their country and produce proof upon arrival in Phuket from July, along with a certificate showing negative COVID-19 test results obtained before flying to Thailand. Travelers are required to download the Thailand Plus mobile application for alert purposes during their stay. Progressively through the stages, the 7 Days quarantine requirement will be relaxed to allow safe and controlled travel in other destinations.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

The effectiveness of this model will determine the eventual success of implementing a quarantine-free travel back to the paradise of Amazing Thailand. While there may be more hurdles to clear ahead, they will be overcome to reaffirm the country’s status as a preferred destination by offering a Thailand that is more amazing than ever before.

Visit www.tatnews.org for the latest Thailand tourism updates.

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