Despite numerous new infections, Thailand remains open to international tourists, particularly to the "Phuket Sandbox."

Thailand launched a pilot project called the "Sandbox" on July 1st, making Phuket one of the few tourist destinations in the world that can be visited without quarantine, provided tourists have been fully vaccinated. According to the Bangkok Post, this model has recently faced criticism from the Thai public after Phuket recorded an increasing number of new Covid-19 cases.

However, Thailand will still welcome international tourists to Phuket, restricting travel only for domestic residents. Government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri stated that the country will strengthen measures to control the spread of Covid-19 in Phuket, such as imposing restrictions on workers within the province. Mr. Anucha argued that most cases in Phuket originated from other provinces, so the program would not be affected. To ensure the safety of tourists, on July 30th, the Thai government ordered Phuket to be isolated from the rest of the country. Specifically, from August 3rd to 16th, tourists from other provinces will not be allowed to enter Phuket.

Accordingly, fully vaccinated international tourists do not need to quarantine upon arrival at the island, but must stay in Phuket for at least 14 days before traveling to other areas of the country. Upon entry, tourists must provide their entry/exit documents, vaccination certificate, and a negative test result.

Since July 1st, over 12,300 tourists have visited Phuket under this program. The "Phuket Sandbox" model has also generated approximately 749 million baht (nearly 520 billion VND) in revenue for Thailand. If successful in Phuket, the government will expand similar projects to other tourist destinations.

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