It will be late this year or early 2022 before I can fly over, so I'm interested to see how this concept plays out. If it does work, why wouldn't a vaccinated traveler choose to hang out in Phuket for a week rather than in a Bangkok ASQ for two weeks. It is still too early to tell; things could change dramatically between now and the end of the year. But this looks like a real option for me and for a few others I know looking to fly to Thailand in December or so. Thanks for the news and analysis, David. Cheers.
According to the current plan, you'll have a bunch more quarantine-free destination options by December. More on this in my article coming out tomorrow.
Thanks for the info. I had hoped originally (as many others) this would be a way back into Thailand. After two years here, was tempting to go to the US for a vax, holiday and return. However, the restrictions and hoops put forward are too daunting (for me at least). Phuket (my opinion) was just too busy and the prices at Patong were just as high as they are at the God Coast in Queensland, Australia. There are plenty of better alternatives for me, like Rayong and Chantaburi. Even Chumphon has some secret delights, not forgetting Patanni. The Phuket government has also put me off by their xenophobic talk. We expats tend to not go where we feel not wanted. The biggest concern are the health issues. A vaccination doesnt mean a person doesnt catch the virus and pass it on. The vax only builds up the immune system so a person can fight off the virus. So its possible for them to spread the vax. So, if these tourists can get out of their own countries - Australia wont allow, and Britain heavily restrict, its a potential disaster waiting to happen. Personally, I dont think many tourists will come, its just too hard when there are easier alternatives around the world. The authorities have put themselves in a bind, at least for their face. Only case figures over the next 10 days will tell us if authorities will proceed or not. They probably will, as there wont be many takers, just like that long stay visa. Remember the first batch of tourists who arrived in Phuket April 1st just before Songkran, never heard of again.
Yup, so many challenges remain. I agree with everything you've written here. Personally I'm going to wait on a US trip until later in the year or early to mid next year at the latest. Still too much uncertainty with the return to Thailand for me to take the chance.
Any idea whether tourist can proceed to a live-on-board boat and go diving arpund those approved islands for visits?
How would the fifth day covid-19 test be carried out if tourists are still onboard? Can special arrangements be made for testing officer to come onboard instead of all tourists disembark to travel to testing venue?
I'm pretty much certain that would not be possible because the tourists need to stay in a SHA+ hotel on Phuket Island for first 14 days. Only after that could you join a live-aboard dive trip. After testing on day 5 you could do day dives if they're in Phuket province (so Ko Racha etc.) or possibly some of the sites around Ko Phi Phi. But it doesn't look like you'll be able to go as far as the Similans, for example, until the 14 days are up.
Thank you for that great writeup
It will be late this year or early 2022 before I can fly over, so I'm interested to see how this concept plays out. If it does work, why wouldn't a vaccinated traveler choose to hang out in Phuket for a week rather than in a Bangkok ASQ for two weeks. It is still too early to tell; things could change dramatically between now and the end of the year. But this looks like a real option for me and for a few others I know looking to fly to Thailand in December or so. Thanks for the news and analysis, David. Cheers.
According to the current plan, you'll have a bunch more quarantine-free destination options by December. More on this in my article coming out tomorrow.
Thanks for the info. I had hoped originally (as many others) this would be a way back into Thailand. After two years here, was tempting to go to the US for a vax, holiday and return. However, the restrictions and hoops put forward are too daunting (for me at least). Phuket (my opinion) was just too busy and the prices at Patong were just as high as they are at the God Coast in Queensland, Australia. There are plenty of better alternatives for me, like Rayong and Chantaburi. Even Chumphon has some secret delights, not forgetting Patanni. The Phuket government has also put me off by their xenophobic talk. We expats tend to not go where we feel not wanted. The biggest concern are the health issues. A vaccination doesnt mean a person doesnt catch the virus and pass it on. The vax only builds up the immune system so a person can fight off the virus. So its possible for them to spread the vax. So, if these tourists can get out of their own countries - Australia wont allow, and Britain heavily restrict, its a potential disaster waiting to happen. Personally, I dont think many tourists will come, its just too hard when there are easier alternatives around the world. The authorities have put themselves in a bind, at least for their face. Only case figures over the next 10 days will tell us if authorities will proceed or not. They probably will, as there wont be many takers, just like that long stay visa. Remember the first batch of tourists who arrived in Phuket April 1st just before Songkran, never heard of again.
Yup, so many challenges remain. I agree with everything you've written here. Personally I'm going to wait on a US trip until later in the year or early to mid next year at the latest. Still too much uncertainty with the return to Thailand for me to take the chance.
Any idea whether tourist can proceed to a live-on-board boat and go diving arpund those approved islands for visits?
How would the fifth day covid-19 test be carried out if tourists are still onboard? Can special arrangements be made for testing officer to come onboard instead of all tourists disembark to travel to testing venue?
I'm pretty much certain that would not be possible because the tourists need to stay in a SHA+ hotel on Phuket Island for first 14 days. Only after that could you join a live-aboard dive trip. After testing on day 5 you could do day dives if they're in Phuket province (so Ko Racha etc.) or possibly some of the sites around Ko Phi Phi. But it doesn't look like you'll be able to go as far as the Similans, for example, until the 14 days are up.
How ironic that the Entry Thailand Online portal can't be reached...
Interesting. I can access it here and the link in the article is working for me.