BANGKOK (NNT) – The Prime Minister will be chairing a CCSA meeting on the Phuket Tourism Sandbox scheme tomorrow with a final on-site inspection scheduled for 25th June, while the countdown for the 120-day national reopening timeframe will start on 1st July.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Supattanapong Punmeechaow today revealed the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration will be convening a full-panel meeting tomorrow to consider the operational model for Phuket Tourism Sandbox, as proposed by the Minister of Tourism and Sports.
The CCSA will then conduct an on-site inspection on 25th June to check on final preparations of the island province before it reopens for vaccinated international visitors, with the Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha himself or DPM Supattanapong presiding over the inspection.
During the inspection visit, the government will be following up on the preparedness of visitors’ screening measures, the checkpoints for land, sea, and air travels, as well as holding discussions with local businesses on the post-pandemic economic recovery plan, and to receive the latest reopening updates from the Province.
With the sandbox campaign, Phuket will be the first area in Thailand to reopen to vaccinated international tourists from 1st July with certain restrictions applied, including testing requirements and a 14-day interprovincial travel prohibition.
In addition to holidaymakers, Phuket will serve as an area where Thai and international businesspersons can meet without quarantine restrictions, benefiting the country’s commercial sector as well as the tourism sector.
Announced yesterday by the Prime Minister in a televised broadcast, the government has set a 120-day timeframe to reopen the country. Mr Supattanapong said the countdown for this 120-day period will commence on 1st July as well.
The DPM and Energy Minister said economic outcomes from Phuket will be evaluated daily or monthly, as the government intends to open up more areas in the country for international visitors ahead of the national reopening.
