Thailand Getting Tourism Back on Track – Phuket Sandbox 7+7 Extension Launched

Like in many holiday destinations around the world, Thailand’s tourism industry was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the nation has been taking steps to slowly restart tourism this year with several initiatives; on 1st July 2021, under the Phuket Sandbox programme, fully vaccinated travellers (and accompanying kids) from low- and medium-risk nations could enter Phuket without needing to quarantine.

Initially, they had to spend 14 days at SHA+ certified resorts in Phuket with strict health and hygiene protocols in place such as Avani+ Mai Khao Phuket Suites & Villas. This was followed by a similar initiative called Samui Plus on 15th July 2021 and subsequently, on 16th August 2021, the Phuket Sandbox 7+7 Extension programme was launched offering more encouragement for tourists. Under this scheme, travellers to Phuket needed to only spend the first seven days on the island; afterwards, they could transfer to SHA+ certified hotels in destinations like Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Phi Phi or Khao Lak for the next seven days.