Phuket Sandbox Facelift to 7 days, More Travel Freedom

As limitations on entering Thailand and the different Sandbox programmes have been significantly eased, the Phuket Sandbox has been streamlined, simplified, and shortened as well. Starting Tuesday, October 5, foreign tourists going to the Phuket Sandbox will be required to stay for only seven days before traveling to the rest of Thailand.

An RT-PCR test will be administered upon entry. After the seven days, a second test will be conducted to validate negative COVID-19 status, alleviating the previously aggravating cost of at least three pre-paid COVID-19 tests. Only after the second negative COVID-19 test tourists can have a release document authorizing them to continue traveling across Thailand beginning on the eighth day.

In the Phuket Sandbox, movement throughout the island province is allowed, in contrast to the mainland Sandbox programs that started yesterday in Phang Nga and Krabi, where only selected major tourist sites of the provinces were available to tourists during their first week of stay in Thailand.

Whereas the initial stages of the Phuket Sandbox were much stricter, prohibiting foreign tourists from participating in shore excursions and boat cruise trips for the first 14 days, the revised version allows foreign tourists to enjoy shore excursions and boat cruise trips. These excursions, however, must sail from authorized piers and utilize only SHA+-approved boats.

SHA+-accredited services sail from Yacht Haven Marina, Phuket Boat Lagoon, Ao Po Grand Marina, Royal Phuket Marina, and Chalong Pier for cruising yachting and cruising trips. Other journeys, including larger boats or ferries, may be arranged through SHA+-approved businesses departing from Wisit Panwa Pier, Rassada Pier, Chalong Pier, and Ao Po Pier.

Foreign tourists must comply with basic entry standards, including complete COVID-19 immunization, a Certificate of Entry, a negative19 RT-PCR test result within three days of the arrival date, an insurance policy with COVID-19 coverage, and a confirmed hotel booking.

Source: TAT Newsroom

For more information on how to get into Thailand hassle-free using a Thailand Elite visa, CLICK HERE.