Thailand reopens to fully vaccinated international tourists with 'Phuket Sandbox' program
Phuket, Thailand's most popular island destination, welcomed international visitors for the first time in 15 months as the country cautiously reopens to some fully vaccinated travelers.
A flight carrying 25 passengers from Abu Dhabi (AUH) arrived at Phuket International Airport (HKT) Friday morning around 11a.m. local time, greeted by a "water tunnel" to mark the occasion, which was significant. They are the first international tourists allowed on the island since the pandemic began. According to CNN, Thailand officials expect about 100,000 international tourists to arrive in Phuket during the first three months of reopening.
The Thai government is pinning its hopes of rejuvenating its all-important travel industry on the "Phuket Sandbox" initiative, a model that allows vaccinated international travelers to visit the country without having to quarantine. Fully vaccinated visitors will be allowed into Phuket from a list of 67 countries including the United States and the United Kingdom, and able to skip the government-mandated 14-day isolation period, as long as they submit to a COVID-19 test before flying and two more tests, after arrival.
All international visitors must also download a location-tracking app and will be unable to travel to the Thai mainland for 14 days.
TPG is working on sending a reporter to Thailand to test the reopening. We'll share details when we know more.
Related: Thailand says it will reopen to travelers in October — here's what you need to know
For more than a year, Phuket has seen nearly all of its resorts and beach-side businesses closed due to the lack of travelers. To give you a comparison of how big an impact the pandemic has had, more than 10 million people visited the island of Phuket in 2019, a record high.
There are some concerns reopening the island could lead to a rise in infections, something that Thailand Minister of Tourism Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn admits is possible. But in an interview with CNN, he said Phuket is doing much better in battling COVID than other areas of Thailand.
"If you look at the nationwide infection number, we would say we are not ready. If you focus only on Phuket, where we have laid our groundwork for more than three months, I would say that Phuket is 100% ready," he said.
You can find a full list of requirements on the Tourism Authority of Thailand's official website.
The reopening plan was dependent on getting 70% of the island's residents vaccinated. More than 80% of the island's population have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and about 65% were fully vaccinated as of June 30, according to Phuket public relations officials.
"The key message will be herd immunity and no quarantines,” Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, president of the Phuket Tourism Association, told the Financial Times. “The aim is to try and set a new balance between disease control and getting the economy moving.”
Officials hope the "Phuket Sandbox" will provide a successful blueprint to reopen Thailand's other popular tourist hot spots on October 1, the target date set by Thailand officials. Those destinations include Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Petchaburi, Prachuap Kiri Khan, Phang Nga, Krabi, Surat Thani and Buriram.
However, Bangkok and five other Thai provinces are under coronavirus restrictions for 30 days that went into effect June 28 after a surge in COVID cases. On Thursday, Thailand reported 57 COVID-related daily deaths and 5,533 new cases, mostly in Bangkok.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.