REGARDLESS OF Thailand’s daily Covid count climbing to a new high of 18,912 cases and 178 deaths today (July 31) and Phuket yesterday closing the island to control rising infection, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha remains confident in the Phuket Sandbox scheme which will be continuing, Sanook.com said. The Public Health Ministry said this morning that
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Phuket-Samui Island Hopping campaign suspended due to infection
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE ISLAND HOPPING campaign for foreign travellers between Koh Samui and Phuket was suspended from today (July 29) due to reported coronavirus infection on three tourist islands. Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakan confirmed the Island Hopping campaign under which fully-vaccinated foreigners may leave Phuket after a seven-day period on the
Read moreDaily Covid count reaches 14,150 cases, 118 deaths as Phuket shuts risky places
ALTHOUGH THE daily tally of coronavirus cases edged down to 14,150 this morning (July 27), the total number of deaths climbed to 118 even as Phuket authorities shut down all educational institutions and malls with a plan to revise the Sandbox scheme in place, Amarin TV said. Of the large new batch of cases,
Read moreForeign travellers wonder if they’ve been tricked into visiting country under lockdown
By Thai Newsroom Reporters MANY FOREIGN VISITORS to Phuket and Koh Samui are wondering if they have been practically tricked into visiting a country where all domestic flights to and from its capital city are currently banned, remarked former finance minister Sommai Pasee yesterday (July 21). Under the Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus Model reopening
Read morePhuket tightens entry rules for travellers from red zones
WITH the Phuket Sandbox scheme having kicked off this month the tourist island today (July 13) imposed strict screening of people travelling there from dark red and red coronavirus zones effective from Thursday July 15, Thai Rath newspaper said. Phuket Governor Mr. Narong Woonsiew said after a teleconference with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration
Read moreFinnair to offer long-haul routes from Sweden to Bangkok and Phuket
By Mette Larsen, Scandasia.com FINLAND’S flag carrier Finnair will this winter be offering direct flights from Arlanda Airport, Stockholm, to Bangkok and Phuket. According to Breaking travel News, starting from October 22, Finnair will be flying from Arlanda to Bangkok five times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays on its Airbus A350.
Read moreDaily Covid tally again soars to 9,326, 10 cases in Phuket
THE Public Health Ministry said early this morning (July 10) that the daily total of coronavirus cases surged to 9,326 over the past 24 hours while Phuket authorities revealed that 10 cases emerged on the island yesterday just days after the launch of the Sandbox scheme, Thai Rath newspaper said. There were also 91
Read morePM Prayut quarantined after risky selfie in Phuket
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha has started a 14-day quarantine after a close contact with Covid-infected chairman of Surin Chamber of Commerce during the Phuket Sandbox event but has tested negative for the disease, Amarin TV said this afternoon (July 5). Gen. Prayut took a photograph with Mr. Veerasak Phisanuwong, the commerce chamber’s chairman, during
Read moreTHAI starts 5 direct flights from Europe to Phuket to support Sandbox scheme
THAI Airways International (THAI) has launched five direct weekly flights from Europe to Phuket during July to September 2021 to support the Sandbox tourism scheme with the first one, TG 923 Frankfurt-Phuket flight, having safely landed this morning (July 3), Thai Rath newspaper said. On hand to receive the passengers were Mr. Non Klinta,
Read moreFirst flight to Phuket arrives as PM kicks off sandbox scheme
PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has a busy day in Phuket today (July 1) kicking off the sandbox scheme with the first of four flights having already touched down and he will personally meet those arriving on the last flight from Singapore at 5.10 p.m., Thai Rath newspaper said. The four flights will be bringing in
Read moreAs Phuket reopens, small businesses feel left behind
By Reuters Staff, published by Channel NewsAsia Phuket – As Thailand’s government prepares to celebrate its reopening to foreign tourists this week, many businesses on the holiday island of Phuket aren’t so enthusiastic about the return of visitors. Phuket is a pilot programme for Thailand’s reboot of a tourism industry gutted by the Covid-19 pandemic,
Read moreTourism authority aims to ease quarantine requirements in Thailand and visitors’ countries
THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to offer “city bubble” and activity-based travel agreement in “sandbox” areas, to ease quarantine requirements both in Thailand and in the visitor’s home country. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said, even though international arrivals can visit “sandbox” areas with quarantine-free entry, they might face quarantine back home, as Thailand
Read moreMove to reopen Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao on July 15
PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, as head of the the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) executive committee, took up a proposal to reopen Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao islands to tourism on July 15 just days after Phuket does so on July 1 at a teleconference joined by senior officials from Surat Thani
Read moreThaksin slams 50:50 co-payment, Phuket sandbox schemes
FORMER Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said in a Clubhouse chat, where he uses the alias Tony Woodsome, that both the government’s 50:50 co-payment scheme and the Phuket Sandbox tourism project have shortcomings, Siam Rath newspaper said this morning (June 16). Joining the discussion at CARE ClubHouse x CARE Talk on the topic, “Tony wants
Read moreKoh Samui unveils quarantine-free entry for fully vaccinated tourists
AS the coronavirus outbreak in Surat Thani province, particularly Koh Samui, appears to have been well controlled it is now opening up to tourists with those who have received both coronavirus jabs and test negative for infection 72 hours before travelling need not be quarantined for 14 days, Amarin TV said today (June 8). This
Read morePhuket accelerates vaccination for July 1 reopening
PHUKET authorities started speeding up Covid vaccination of local residents two days ago to meet the government’s target to reopen the island to vaccinated tourists on July 1, 2021, Siam Rath newspaper said today (April 3). Mr. Narong Woonciew, the governor, said the target is to vaccinate 70% of the residents, or 466,587 people, by
Read moreMad rush to buy surfskates at a Phuket store
WITH surfskating right up there among the top trends with this boosted by various events particularly the Amazing Thailand Phuket Surfskate Series 2021 it has led to a huge demand for these skateboards with the price climbing higher than gold, Amarin TV said today (March 8). Because of the high demand and short supply, this
Read moreLuxury yacht moored at Phuket marina catches fire
ONE of the yachts moored at Ao Po Grand Marina in Thalang district of Phuket caught fire yesterday but while it was quickly extinguished the blaze still caused three-million-baht damage, INN News and Sanook.com reported today (Dec. 24). The fire broke out at the right aft ladder and spread to the stern. However a security
Read morePhuket biker catches Covid-19 during trip to Krabi
PHUKET health officials confirmed that a 40-year-old man who had ridden to Krabi last week with a female companion on the pillion to attend a two-day bikers party had contracted Covid-19 there after a close contact with another man from Samut Sakhon province, Thai Rath newspaper reported today (Dec. 22). Dr. Thanit Sermkaew, Phuket provincial
Read morePhuket protesters beam laser messages on buildings during PM’s visit
THE Free Phuket demonstrators beamed laser messages on several buildings on the island at midnight last night attacking the mobile Cabinet meeting taking place there today (Nov. 3), Siam Rath newspaper reported. In a Facebook post the group said laser messages, such as “window-dressing mobile cabinet,” were projected on many buildings, particularly those in Phuket
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