Three more Thai isles open to inoculated travellers

Three more Thai islands opened to vaccinated foreign tourists yesterday despite a nationwide surge in Covid-19 cases propelled by the Delta variant.

The islands – Samui, Tao and Phangan – welcomed visitors as part of the kingdom’s push to revive its battered tourism industry.

Thailand launched its “sandbox” scheme on July 1, allowing vaccinated travellers to visit Phuket island.

Tourists do not have to quarantine in a hotel but can not leave Phuket for two weeks.

Under the expansion, tourists must stay at an approved hotel on Samui for a week and can leave their accommodation on day four.

They will have to produce a negative Covid-19 test before being allowed to venture to Tao or Phangan after their first week.

The rest of Thailand is struggling to rein in infections from the Delta variant, which authorities say now makes up nearly 80% of its caseload.

Virus hotspot Bangkok and nine provinces are under tightened restrictions, including a night-time curfew and a ban on gatherings of more than five people.

Thailand recorded almost 9,200 new infections and a record daily high of 98 deaths yesterday.

Phuket has received 5,000 foreign tourists since its reopening, 10 of whom have tested positive for Covid-19.

Authorities are not expecting a big influx of tourists immediately to Samui and the other two islands.

Tourism Association of Koh Samui president Ratchaporn Poolsawadee described the start of the “Samui Plus” scheme yesterday as a soft opening.

He said 75% of residents on the three islands were vaccinated.

“It is expected that arrivals will improve after tourists learn the rules and regulations.

“And then some rules and regulations could be tweaked,” he said.