Thailand opened Phuket island to fully vaccinated tourists on July 1

Thailand is open to tourists from all countries but travelers need to obtain a special tourist visa, bring a PCR test and undergo a mandatory 7-14 day quarantine. Starting July 1, the country opened its resort island, Phuket.

Additionally, other allowed visitors are now welcomed to spend their 14-day quarantine under the new “Digital Yacht Quarantine program,” at the resort island of Phuket and isolate themselves in luxury.  They still need to bring a negative COVID-19 test and wear a smartwatch to monitor their health daily. 

All non-Thai arrivals need to buy health insurance that covers COVID-19.

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Thailand Reopening – Latest Updates

July 1 – Thailand’s resort island Phuket reopened for fully vaccinated travelers on July 1

Thai authorities have reopened Phuket, one of their most famous resort islands, for fully vaccinated travelers who also come from low and medium-risk countries.

These visitors still need to present a negative COVID test but instead of spending 14 days in mandatory quarantine now they are allowed to roam the island as they please. 

The scheme known as “Phuket sandbox,” hopes to boost tourism, a sector that accounted for 20% of Thailand’s economy before the pandemic began.

If this reopening turns out to be as successful as expected, the government will consider opening the rest of the country in mid-October.

(Source: CNN)

June 18 – Thailand to reopen to fully vaccinated travelers in mid-October, says government.

Forget about Phuket and its countless entry restrictions. The entire country will reopen to fully vaccinated travelers from all over the world in mid-October, said Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha at a press conference.

While Chanocha acknowledges that his bold decision can cause problems associated to COVID-19 outbreaks, he also said that the government needs to “take into consideration the economic needs of the people.”

Thailand will also go ahead with a pilot program that will allow fully vaccinated travelers to enter Phuket from July 1. It is expected that this initiative helps them to fine tune the total reopening in October. 

(Source: Nikkei Asia)

June 5 – Thailand is ready to reopen on July 1, with -possible- USD $1 hotel stays.

Thailand still plans to reopen its resort Island Phuket on July 1 when 70% of its population is vaccinated. This is intended to be a pilot scheme for the rest of promised reopenings. 

But that’s not all. A plan to offer $1 hotel stays has been submitted to the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports for approval.

The idea is to encourage visitors to choose Phuket as their next traveling destination. 

The TTG Asia believes that if this program works as expected it could be expanded to other cities in the country.

The government is reportedly considering it but it has not been approved yet. 

(Source: Reuters)

May 23 – Thailand has revealed the 5 cities that will reopen for tourism in July.

Travel agencies, transport providers, accommodations, shops and restaurants are fine tuning the last preparation details (International Covid-safe regulations) to the very much awaited reopening in July.

Under these regulations vaccinated tourists will be allowed to visit Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Krabi and Pattaya without mandatory quarantine.

The best part of this news is that if this reopening turns out to be a successful story Bangkok, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Buriram will then be also reopened from October with no quarantine requirements. 

“Many Europeans have started travelling within the continent, and some are going abroad to places such as the Maldives. Soon, they will travel to Thailand too” said Luzi Matzig, chairman of Asian Trails Group.

May 9 – Phuket to reopen in July and some other Thai cities in October

Regardless of the spread of COVID-19 Thailand is struggling to contain, the country has decided to move on with the reopening of its resort island Phuket on July 1. This day the mandatory 14-day quarantine will be dropped for all vaccinated visitors according to government spokeswoman, Traisuree Taisaranakul.

On the other hand, the Thai government also admitted they cannot afford to reopen some other important cities such as its capital Bangkok. 

As of now, authorities will use Phuket reopening as a pilot program to test the potential reopening of 9 other destinations on Oct. 1. These would include Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

April 9 – Thailand reduces its quarantine period to 7 days

On April 3, the country welcomed the first 130 travelers eligible for a 7-day quarantine trial. These visitors arrived at Phuket International Airport, via a Thai Airways direct flight from Frankfurt, Germany. 

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), reduced quarantines for 11 groups of currently allowed travelers were approved by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on March 31. This is considered on the steps the country is taking to fully reopen to international visitors in July. 

Official information on how to be eligible has not been released. 

March 29 – Quarantine requirements to be removed in July.

Thailand’s Minister of Tourism, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has proposed to reopen Phuket -the internationally celebrated Thai Island- without quarantine in July. According to the Ministry the vaccination rate should have reached 70% of its population by then. 

Some other areas of the country should follow suit in October. The next zones are set to be nearby Krabi and Phang Nga.

Is Thailand open for American tourists? 

Thailand is indeed open to all American business visa holders. For further information on requirements for U.S. citizens to enter the country, visitors should consult the Royal Thai Embassy’s website or go to the Thai embassy in Washington D.C.

COVID-19 situation in Thailand

As of July 1, the country has reported 264,834 and 2,080 deaths, making it one of the lowest death tolls in the world.

COVID-19 test requirements

Visitors are required to take a COVID-19 test before and after their quarantine. If they get negative results, they will be allowed to resume their trip.

Entry requirements

As of today, in order to be granted access to the country travelers must,

• Obtain a Special Tourist Visa
• Purchase health insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment up until USD $100.000
• Show proof of a negative PCR test result
• Undergo a 14-day quarantine at an approved-accommodation or at a luxury yacht 

Impact of COVID-19 in Thailand

While Thailand is a success story when it comes to battling the virus, its economy has greatly suffered due to the pandemic.

Prior to Covid-19, Bangkok was the world’s top tourist destination among cities. In April, all incoming flights were banned. With tourism halted, it is estimated that up to 60% of hospitality-related businesses would close by year-end.

The IMF estimated that the economy as a whole will shrink by about 8.5% and over 8 million Thais would lose their livelihood.

Why visit Thailand?

For those not into crowds, Thailand offers beautiful natural spaces. With 1,500 miles of coastline, there are beautiful beaches and great diving to be found here.

For those who come for its history and culture. There are ruins dating to the ancient Siamese kingdom, and over 40,000 temples to explore.

One main attraction is the nightlife in places like Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya, ranked as the best places for LGBTQ tourists. 

Be sure to check some luxury resorts for reopening deals!

Thailand is a top tourist destination. The country offers so much, from a bustling nightlife to serene beaches and flavorful foods rich with spices.

Disclaimer: Travel restrictions and governmental regulations can change rapidly and the information below might be outdated within a few hours. Therefore, double-check all information with your embassy or on official websites. Traveling Lifestyle does not take any responsibility for your decision to travel.

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