Three of the most common questions received from foreigners over the past few weeks are:
What is the Phuket Sandbox program?
Launched on July 1, 2021, the Phuket Sandbox program allows fully vaccinated foreign and Thai travelers to enter Thailand without quarantine. Although they do not have to quarantine in the hotel, they must remain in Phuket for the first 2 weeks. After that time they are free to travel as they please. A similar program has since been established for Samui Island (called the Samui Plus program). After the first 3 days, visitors are allowed to travel on “sealed routes” as long as they travel with service operators that have received approval under the Samui Plus scheme. The Samui Plus model includes the islands Koh Samui, Koh Phangan & Koh Tao. If they test negative in their third test, which is taken on day 12 or day 13 of their arrival, they can travel to other provinces after completing the 14-day Samui Plus program.
To be eligible for the Phuket Sandbox or Samui Plus program foreign travelers must travel from countries/regions with a low to medium risk of COVID-19 as announced and constantly updated by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). They must also have already stayed in the said countries/regions no less than 21 days before the travel date. International travelers must have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no less than 14 days before the travel date.
Both the Phuket Sandbox or Samui Plus programs have been established by the Thai authorities to reopen the country for International Tourists. Other similar programs are set to follow.