Responding to the press, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, representative of the Tourism Board of Thailand, said the country will relax entry regulations for vaccinated international tourists to the three islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Pha after the promising results of the Phuket Sandbox program.
The Samui Plus program is expected to be launched this week, allowing visitors to apply for entry permits from July 15 onwards. The program is being reviewed by the Center for Disease Control (CCSA).
Under this program, visitors will have to take three PCR tests on the first day, the sixth or seventh day and the 12th or 13th day of arrival on the island. This cost will be borne by the visitors.
Visitors are required to stay on Koh Samui for seven days from the date of entry. From day one to three, visitors are required to stay in resort facilities but are still allowed to use various facilities of the resort or hotel, instead of having to stay in their rooms.
On days four to seven, visitors are allowed to leave their hotels and travel to designated tourist sites. During the second week of their stay, they are free to roam around the island or visit the remaining two islands, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. On day 15, visitors are free to travel anywhere in Thailand.
Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association President Ratchaporn Phoonsawas said the island also plans to welcome domestic tourists. "Vaccination holders can travel to Koh Samui as usual, after presenting a certificate. The planned reopening is also the best season to visit the Gulf of Thailand, so we have to make sure everything can go according to plan."
It is known that more than 70% of the population of the three islands have been vaccinated and are ready to serve tourists, ensuring immunity to the SARS-Cov-2 virus.
