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Recently, the Thai Immigration and Tourism Authority released a report on the number of tourists who visited through the "Phuket Sandbox" program, and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism also calculated the revenue Phuket generated during that period. They pointed out that "this program is teetering on the brink of success and failure."
Accordingly, tourism revenue in the past two months is estimated at 1,634 million baht, of which revenue from accommodation services reached 565 million baht with more than 366,971 nights/rooms booked in advance, among 400 hotels participating in the tourism "sandbox" program.
Since its launch, a total of 28,197 international tourists have visited the island. Approximately one-third of these tourists have now returned to their home countries or left Thailand, 4,963 remain in Phuket, while 12,742 have traveled from the island to other provinces in Thailand. The tourists come from all over the world, but the majority are Thai citizens.
The current figures have raised questions about whether Phuket will be able to reach its initial target of 100,000 tourists with only one month left.
The Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand stated that the shortage is due to the rising number of new Covid-19 infections in Thailand. Several countries around the world have listed Thailand as a high-risk destination. Previously, the United Kingdom required those returning from Thailand to self-isolate in hotels. These strict restrictions are deterring international tourists from visiting Thailand.
Despite consistently high numbers of Covid-19 cases in Thailand, since the implementation of the "sandbox" program, only 83 (0.3%) tourists visiting Phuket have tested positive for Covid-19. The surveyed tourists also expressed satisfaction, with 80% pleased with the hospitality and 85% satisfied with the accommodation.
Phuket had been closed to domestic tourists due to the tense pandemic situation across Thailand. From September 8th, when Phuket lifted its lockdown, fully vaccinated domestic tourists will be able to visit the island for vacation and will be subject to new screening measures.
