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UK travellers welcomed in Phuket as Thai island reopens
After a long pause, Thai tourist hotspot Phuket welcomed its first visitors for a quarantine-free stay, as the first flights arrived.
Fully vaccinated travellers can stay quarantine-free as part of the ‘Phuket Sandbox’ model.
Re-opening details for the island of Koh Samui are due to be announced in the coming weeks.
British travellers were aboard some of the first flights landing in Phuket with many more set to travel later this month.
"We are so excited to welcome back travellers from the UK this summer. Phuket and Koh Samui are two of our iconic beach destinations, hugely popular with UK holidaymakers," said Ms. Chiravadee Khunsub, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) London
"We’ve been inundated with enquiries about Thailand’s reopening plans from keen tourists excited to visit our beautiful beaches, enjoy Thai culture and get their authentic Thai food fix."
Thailand’s reopening strategy will continue to roll out from July with Koh Samui next and in August, under an ‘Extension’ concept, tourist favourites such as Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Khao Lak and Koh Yao will start to welcome visitors again.
"Phuket and Koh Samui reopen with even more beautiful and pristine nature; it’s the best time to visit and witness nature as it was 30 years ago," she added.
From September, further destinations and routes will start to welcome travellers, including Chiang Mai in the north and Pattaya on the east coast.
From October onwards, Thailand aims to open Bangkok and nearby Hua Hin and Cha-Am.
The gradual reopening of Thailand’s 76 provinces will align with the country’s vaccination programme, ensuring locals have been inoculated, and low case rates.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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