This week’s story “Phuket Sandbox” is becoming an important issue that many people are interested in. Due to the situation of COVID-19 still exists, the number of infections is still increasing day by day, in contrast to the “vaccination” that still has many people having to postpone injections or not queue for injections. Bangkok restaurants Or many parts of the business still have to stop. But the government is trying to encourage foreign tourists to travel to Thailand.
A push that seems counterproductive to this reality. causing people to be worried Although many countries around the world, whether it is countries in the European zone, the United States, Australia, Israel, Russia, have gradually vaccinated the population in the country. until the tourists are ready to leave Since the beginning of last June While Thailand is still unable to distribute vaccines to achieve the goal. Despite the government’s policy to return to open the country within 120 days, starting from the “Phuket Sandbox Project” that will operate on July 1, 2021 to pilot foreign tourists. and will continue to be a model to expand the country’s opening to other main tourist provinces
However, although a number of countries have already implemented vaccinations with a certain level of group immunity, including the Maldives and the Seychelles, the spread of COVID-19 has been reported. In a new wave so severe that economic activity has come to a halt again. Due to the fact that these two countries are similar to Thailand in many dimensions, such as the geography of the island of the Maldives. and the Seychelles Islands Similar to Phuket, which will be a pilot province to welcome foreign tourists.
The TTB Economic Analysis Center or ttb analytics has studied the data to extract lessons from those countries. as well as assess the situation of the Phuket Sandbox project and analyze how Thailand should be prepared to deal with the situation
Vaccines may not be the solution to all problems.
When taking lessons from speeding up vaccination, people get vaccines at high injection rates and open up the country to foreign tourists. Case of the Seychelles Islands Although the current rate of vaccination is as high as 71.5%, when the country opened to tourists in March 2021, the average outbreak was 3.8 times higher between April and June.
Meanwhile, the Maldives, with a 58.3% vaccination rate, saw an 8.2-fold increase in outbreaks during the same period. It can be seen that after opening the country In both countries, the number of tourists began to improve in the first two months. But in the third month, the number of infections in the country has increased. Point out the risk of acquiring a virus that is different from the local strain. This is something that Thailand must be aware of.
Worrying Phuket Sandbox Repeat Maldives and Seychelles
Accelerating the distribution of vaccination against COVID-19 It is an issue that all sectors of Thailand are focusing on. Because it is believed that the “vaccination” will be an important factor that gives economic activities a chance to turn around. especially the tourism sector Currently, many countries around the world, whether it is countries in the European zone, the United States, Australia, Israel, Russia, have gradually vaccinated the population in the country. until the tourists are ready to leave Since the beginning of last June
Although many countries have implemented vaccinations in quantities that can produce some level of group immunity. But found that there is still an epidemic of Covid-19 In a new wave so severe that economic activity has come to a halt again.
The Seychelles archipelago, although currently has a 71.5% vaccination rate, when the country opened to tourists in March 2021, the average outbreak was 3.8 times higher between April and April. In June, while the Maldives, with a 58.3 percent vaccination rate, outbreaks were 8.2 times higher than in the same period.
It can be seen that after opening the country In both countries, the number of tourists began to improve in the first two months. But in the third month, the number of infections in the country has increased. Point out the risk of acquiring a virus that is different from the local strain. This is something that Thailand must be aware of.
Looking back at Phuket In the past, it was ready to open to tourists. More than 3.6 lakh people in Phuket have received the first dose of vaccination, or 87% of the population, and the second dose of 2.9 hundred, or 70% of the population.
Therefore, tourism revitalization through “Phuket Sandbox Project” on July 1, 2021, which the province has prepared for health in the province as planned, such as a backup plan for additional vaccination for people and entrepreneurs who have not Get vaccinated against new strains that are spreading abroad. to reduce the risk of more tourists entering the country
Foreign tourists must have had two vaccinations for 14 days before they can travel to Phuket by staying in Phuket for 14 nights before traveling to other places in Thailand. A total of 3 COVID-19 screening tests are required while in Phuket. And must install the Thailand Plus application and the Morchana app in order to track the timeline.
Including permission for foreigners to travel must be low and medium risk countries as specified by the Ministry of Public Health. which is expected in the first Potential tourists visiting Thailand include Germany, England, Russia, Australia and France, of which the countries who came to Phuket before the outbreak accounted for 30% of the tourists who came to Phuket.
With the guidelines that have been prepared by the public and private sectors, the cooperation of the people in the area And lessons on opening to tourism in other countries will help “Phuket Sandbox” as a model for applying other important tourist areas such as Krabi, Phang Nga, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Buriram, helping to turn Thai tourism back again. time
Is it really the way to survive the economy?
from 4 airlines that will bring tourists to Thailand like
- Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi-Phuket route
- Qatar Airways Dubai-Phuket route
- israel airlines Telang Weave-Phuket route
- Singapore Airlines Singapore-Phuket route
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) gave feedback on “Phuket Sandbox” that during the first 2 weeks of July There are already 1,101 bookings, totaling more than 13,000 nights. For foreign tourists who book air tickets on the first day (July 1), there are about 400-500 people, which the overall picture is believed to be in July. There are about 12,000-15,000 people
On the TAT side It has estimated that the 3-month period, namely July-September 2021, will generate approximately 8.9 billion baht in revenue and more than 100,000 foreign tourists.
But still meet local tourists who have reserved plane tickets. Make an application for COE (Certificate of Entry) in time for the Phuket Sandbox opening time that still have to wait to do 3-5 days, causing some airlines to arrive later than scheduled Including the Vaccine Validation system and the process of identifying the appointment for PCR Test for consideration and approval of the COE are still in the process.
Therefore, the airlines that will enter Thailand on July 1 are 4 airlines that fly directly into Phuket, namely:
- Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi-Phuket route at 10:30 a.m.
- Qatar Airways Dubai-Phuket route at 1:30 p.m.
- Israeli Airlines EL AL on the Televiv-Phuket route at 1:45 p.m.
- Singapore Airlines Singapore-Phuket route at 5:10 p.m.
And there will be another group on July 3, coming from 3 routes in the European region flying directly to Phuket, consisting of
- Copenhagen-Phuket Frankfurt-Phuket route and the Paris-Phuket route, with all 3 routes departing from the origin on July 2.
- The other two routes on July 4th are the London-Phuket route. and the Zurich-Phuket route (Departs from origin on 3 July)
There seems to be a way and an opportunity that is the way of business survival but must keep an eye on If moving forward “Phuket Sandbox” this time encountered 5 problems:
- More than 90 new cases/week
- The disease has spread in all 3 districts and more than 6 sub-districts.
- The outbreak exceeds 3 clusters or the cause of the outbreak cannot be linked.
- The hospital bed occupancy rate exceeds 80%.
- The epidemic is widespread, uncontrollable.
This “Phuket Sandbox” project will be closed immediately. The Phuket business sector accepts this condition. and confident in planning the full direction But the businesses that are said to open this time are large businesses, restaurants, and hotels that still have a long line. and also have access to funding opportunities while the retail stores closed or unable to bear interest and capital to expand the business will continue to close
As of June 30, 2021, Phuket itself encountered an epidemic situation of Indian strain from the people, resulting in a cumulative number of cases of 728 cases, of which 5 were Thai people traveling from Bangkok and its vicinity. As a result, there are up to 30 high-risk people, three of whom are already in quarantine, and two are under investigation.
Although all tourists who come to Phuket Sandbox will be screened and vaccinated and have a certificate for testing for COVID-19 But still encountered the coronavirus outbreak.
And today (July 1, 2021), the Prime Minister and the Cabinet has traveled to Phuket and the sandbox project To join a project organized by the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce to visit the readiness and resource management guidelines again.
have to wait to follow that “Phuket Sandbox” will be the last hope or opportunity to open the country that the government is trying to push in the situation of Covid-19. is also highly prevalent People who are sick have not been treated well enough, and vaccines have not reached all areas of the population.
accompanying information : Thai Rath, vanguard, fresh news, business nation
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