Thailand planning to roll out ‘island hopping’ program to lure international tourists

Thailand is planning to launch an ‘island hopping’ tourism program, in a move to boost tourism in the country. As per the program, it will be allowing quarantine-free foreign travellers arriving in the resort island of Phuket to ‘hop’ to other seaside destinations.

Reportedly, fully-vaccinated international visitors after a seven-day stay in Phuket, will be allowed to visit other seaside destinations, including Phang Nga, Krabi, or Koh Samui.
Reports have it that the tourist can even head to other parts of Thailand after spending seven days at the second destination.
As per the country's current Phuket Sandbox reopening program, which came into effect on July 1, foreign visitors who are fully-vaccinated, will be allowed to enter the island without quarantine, but will have to stay in Phuket for at least 14 nights before heading anywhere else in the country.
As per Thanakorn Wangboonkhongchana, spokesman of the Centre for Economic Situation Administration, the new adjustment might likely come into effect from August 1. Reportedly, this announcement comes as Thailand continues to report record numbers of COVID-19 cases for the second day in a row.

As per the reports, the country on Thursday confirmed 13655 new cases, which is the highest single-day tally since the pandemic began, whereby it took the number of total infections to 453132, as per the Centre for the COVID-19 Situation Administration.