Phuket eases Covid restrictions for some visitors

Phuket: The provincial communicable disease committee has agreed to lift the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for people arriving from Bangkok and Samut Prakan to help boost the local economy hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Governor Narong Woonciew said the decision to ease Covid-19 restrictions for visitors travelling from Bangkok and Samut Prakan, two provinces with high infection rates, follows calls from the business community seeking to lure visitors to Phuket.

On Friday, Phuket businesses met provincial authorities and proposed an end to the mandatory quarantine period for people travelling from certain high-risk areas in hope of stimulating the tourism industry as Chinese New Year is approaching.

The cabinet has recently approved eight special holidays for this year, including Feb 12 for Chinese New Year.

Phuket has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic…