Today (June 1), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced in a press release that Phuket will be the first province in Thailand to fully reopen to vaccinated foreign visitors without quarantine requirements. The reopening date is set for the 1st of July.
"From 1 July, 2021, vaccinated foreign tourists will be allowed to visit Phuket without quarantine, so the countdown starts now to the reopening of Phuket!,” says TAT Governor in the press announcement.
Phuket Tourist Association asserted through a PR agency that the island has been working with representatives in Europe for months, and the first groups of visitors are expected to be from traditional long-haul European markets like UK, France, Germany and Scandinavia.
In preparation for the reopening, Phuket, which has sealed its borders for months, has approved a set of protocols to relax COVID-19 restrictions to welcome visitors from other provinces and allow 17 types of venues to reopen for business. Check out the breakdowns below.
Entry and COVID-19 Screening Measure
- All individuals who arrive in Phuket at any point by any means, be it plane, boat, or car—must:
- Be fully vaccinated (complete the vaccination series)
- Have received at least one dose of AstraZenaca
- Have recovered from COVID-19 for no longer than 90 days
- Have been tested COVID-19 negative, using as RT-PCR or a rapid antigen method within seven days of arriving (from previously within 72 hours of arriving)
- Children aged under five who travel with their parents must have been tested negative as well.
- Anyone arriving at Tha Chat Chai or at any ports and piers who are unable to show all the required documents will have to practice a 14-day quarantine at home or in a hotel.
- All arrivals at Phuket International Airport must download the MorChana (Doctors Win) application and set it on all the time. Also, they have to register their entry online via www.gophuket.com.
List of businesses that are allowed to reopen
- Buildings and places of schools, tutorial schools, and all types of educational institutions
- Health-related establishments (spa shops, health massage shops, beauty massage shops), and establishments for Thai traditional massage and foot massage
- Premises for tattooing or piercing of the skin or any parts of the body, or venues for faith-based gatherings, ceremonies, and rituals
- Amulet and Buddha statue trading markets and centres
- Premises offering services for fishing for fish or shrimp
- Tourism-related businesses, snorkelling services and scuba diving businesses
- Walking street markets, flea markets, retail stores and wholesaler venues
- Nurseries, early childhood development centres, and preschool child development centres
- Shops selling food or beverages are allowed to open within the normal permitted hours; however, consumption of alcoholic beverages while dining in continues to be prohibited
- Outdoor sports venues are allowed to open without any gatherings or group exercises
- Indoor sports venues, including gyms, fitness centres and badminton courts
- Golf courses and driving ranges are allowed to open without any tournaments
- Boxing stadiums and boxing training gyms, and martial arts schools (gyms)
- Public and private swimming pools and other swimming pools with recreational water activities
- Aesthetic clinics, medical clinics for beauty service, cosmetic clinics, weight-loss centres, and manicure and pedicure shops
- Beauty and hair salons, and barber shops
- Pet care facilities
List of venues and activities that remain prohibited
- Any gatherings, events, and activities with more than 30 participants, except those permitted by the respective authorities
- Any gatherings and parties with the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places, including beaches, public parks, children's playgrounds, canal-side streets, and public reserviors
- Entertainment venues, any establishments providing similar services to those of entertainment venues, amusement places, pubs, bars, karaoke shops, or other similar venues
- Cockfighting rings, cockfighting training rings, fish fighting rings, boxing, or other similar gambling arenas
- Snooker and billiards halls
- Gaming centres and Internet cafés
- Cinemas, theatres, playhouses, water parks and amusement parks
Nevertheless, the authorities still allow shopping malls, shopping centers, community malls, or similar establishments to open until 21:00. Convenience stores and supermarkets can open from as early as 04:00 to as late as 23:00.
Restaurants are prohibited from serving alcoholic beverages to dine-in customers.
All orders are in effect from June 1 until further notice.