After 20 months of border closures, Thailand has opened its borders to vaccinated international tourists, with no quarantine necessary.
This was announced by Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, at WTM London earlier this week.
But an important piece of information, and one that many people do not know, is that the tourists allowed to roam freely are limited to those from a list of 63 countries, and South Africa is not on the list – nor are any other Southern African countries.
While this is disappointing for the local market, there is still a way to travel to Thailand from South Africa. A workshop by the Thailand Tourism Authority, entitled the Thailand Virtual FamTrip will give the edge to Southern African agents who attend, by equipping them with the knowledge on how to book these Thailand Sandbox trips (see workshop details below).
Vaccinated South Africans and others from outside the list of 63 approved countries, may visit Thailand within the Sandbox system by flying direct to Phuket and, after an initial PCR test, spending their first seven days on a designated island, enjoying the delights of a Thai beach while staying in a SHA+ registered hotel. These are hotels certificated by the Thai government to have the correct protocols in place and to have 70% or more of their staff vaccinated.
Visitors may not leave their island for seven nights but after this period has lapsed, and after a negative antigen test on day six or seven, the travellers may continue their journey to other parts of Thailand, quarantine-free.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the islands in the sandbox scheme are Phuket, Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao), Phang-Nga (Khao Lak and Ko Yao), and Krabi (Ko Phi Phi, Ko Ngai and Railay Beach).
South Africans adore Thailand and many are accustomed to taking an annual holiday there. Now, Southern African agents can learn the details of how they can book their Thailand-loving clients on a dream holiday. Join the Virtual FamTrip on Wednesday, November 10, from 10h00 to 11h00. Click here and complete the RSVP form and you will be given more details. You could win Takealot vouchers as well as happy clients!
Prior to the pandemic, Thailand saw 14 million foreign visitors per annum. Next year it hopes for 13 million, who should generate almost £18 billion (R378 billion) in revenue.
