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Phuket Plans To Open To Vaccinated Travellers In July - Here's What You Should Know

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Faruq Senin •  Mar 27, 2021

With Bintan-Batam announcing plans for a travel corridor with Singapore and a Langkawi-Indonesia travel bubble is in the works, it seems like several beach destinations in Asia are gearing up for travellers. In the latest travel news, Thailand's famous beach getaway, Phuket has announced plans to open its borders to vaccinated travellers in July 2021. They also plan to waive quarantine requirements for vaccinated travellers. Here are some things you should know!

1. Phuket plans to vaccinate at least 70 per cent of its residents

A proposal by Phuket's private sector and business groups to inoculate at least 70 per cent of Phuket has been approved by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. This is part of the island's plans to prepare for Phuket's reopening for vaccinated travellers.

2. Foreign travellers will need to have 2 doses of a Covid-19 vaccine

Besides the 2 doses, travellers would also need a certificate showing negative test results for Covid-19 and download a mobile tracking app while they are in Phuket.

P.S. Read about our experience in Phuket pre-Covid!

Credit: Jasmine Pensini on Facebook

3. The reopening of Phuket is a test for other popular destinations

Phuket will be the first destination in Thailand to have a quarantine-free model for vaccinated travellers. There are plans to expand the same model to other popular destinations like Koh Samui. The Thai tourism industry has been severely hit by the pandemic as it welcomes millions of tourists yearly.

6 other popular tourist destinations, including Krabi, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, will cut down quarantine periods from 14 to 7 days starting next month. The rest of the country is scheduled reopen to vaccinated travellers in October.

4. Successful reopening of Phuket depends on other factors

While Phuket has laid down its plans for vaccinated travellers, it doesn't mean that travellers can start booking their flight. Negotiations with other countries for a travel bubble or corridor and international vaccine passport agreements need to be secured first.

So, will Phuket be on your list when the borders reopen? Let us know in the comments section!