Thailand Plans to Reopen Bangkok from October 1

Thailand is planning to reopen capital Bangkok to fully vaccinated visitors from October 1 this year. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) quoted The Royal Thai Government&rsquos announcement that plans are afoot to reopen Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan from October 1 as part of the second phase of the country&rsquos reopening timeline.

Spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, in an official statement released on September 9, said the plans reflected the policy outlined by Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, to gradually reopen the country in phases, following the first phase that reopened Phuket, followed by Surat Thani, then Krabi and Phang-Nga over the last two months.

&ldquoThis October reopening will be launched alongside with the country&rsquos newly adjusted &lsquouniversal prevention&rsquo guidelines against COVID-19, under which Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan are getting ready, including accelerating vaccination for the local population and formalising tourism campaigns such as, Bangkok Sandbox, Hua Hin Recharge, and Charming Chiang Mai,&rdquo Thanakorn said.

The statement also confirmed that the success of the Phuket Sandbox programme over the past two months, which generated 1,634 million Baht in tourism revenue from the average cost of the visitors&rsquo vacation at 61,894 Baht.

According to TAT, the &ldquoPhuket Sandbox 77 Extension&rdquo programme enables fully vaccinated international travellers to reduce the mandatory stay in Phuket from 14 to 7 days, after which another 7 nights can be spent in any of the extension areas in Krabi (Ko Phi Phi, Ko Ngai, or Railay), Phang-Nga (Khao Lak or Ko Yao), or Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, or Ko Tao). Travellers have to also fulfil other terms and conditions laid down by the Thai government, available here. 

From mid-October, another 21 destinations up and down the country will reopen, the TAT newsletter said. These include Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phrae, and Sukhothai in the North Bueng Kan, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani in the Northeast Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi in the West Chanthaburi, Rayong, and Trat in the East Ayutthaya in the Central Region, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, Satun, Songkhla, and Trang in the South.

Thailand is set to proceed with the fourth phase of reopening in January 2022, with 13 border provinces to reopen under travel bubbles with neighbouring countries. All four phases will cover the reopening of 43 provinces across Thailand.

Meanwhile, in another statement, TAT quoting a survey conducted by Thomas Cook in June 2021, said that Thailand is one of the top three destinations Indians said they wanted to visit abroad. Looking ahead, TAT is working with two possible scenarios on the inbound Indian market based on seat capacity and estimated tourist arrivals from October 1- December 31, 2021 (without quarantine).