Thailand Reopens More Islands To Visitors Despite Rising COVID Cases

Thailand reopened the island of Phuket to vaccinated travelers on July 1, as a first step in fixing the country’s struggling tourism industry. However, despite a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Thailand, it is planned to reopen other islands – Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao – to vaccinated travelers on July 15.

Thailand opening other islands to travelers

Recently, coronavirus cases in Thailand have spiked, threatening chances of reopening the whole of Thailand to visitors. In fact, right now, Bangkok is in lockdown and cases are at an all-time high. Despite this, it is planned to reopen more islands in the hope of saving the economy.

What do you need to visit Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao? Normally, travelers love Thailand due to its relaxed and laidback nature. However, current restrictions for travelers are not exactly relaxed. The following are the entry requirements for what the country dubs its Sandbox Plan, starting July 15.

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Entry requirements for vaccinated travelers

First of all, visitors should ensure that they avoid crowded areas in the two weeks prior to their arrival in Thailand, although this isn’t monitored.
Only travelers from an approved list of countries set by the CCSA are allowed to enter Thailand and they must have been in that approved country for more than three weeks before flying.
All visitors will require a Certificate of Entry (COE).
An official negative PCR test certificate is required, taken within three days of arrival.
Travelers must provide proof of an insurance certificate, coving healthcare and treatment expenses for COVID-19 and with coverage of up to $100,000.
Those travelers staying less than 14 days require evidence of an exit flight out of Koh Samui airport.
All visitors must produce proof of vaccination with WHO-approved vaccines and they must have received the final dose (or single dose vaccine) at least 14 days prior to arriving in the country.
Travelers under the age of 18 will require proof of a negative PCR test.

Restrictions on arrival

Once travelers have landed in Koh Samui, there are a number of travel restrictions to face.

All visitors must go through health screening on arrival.
They will need to download a health app on their phone to cover their entire stay.
Visitors will then undergo a PCR test at their own expense on arrival.
On day 6 or 7, visitors will be required to take another PCR test.
Visitors staying between 10 and 14 days will require another PCR test or day 12 or 14, making four PCR tests in total.

The good news is, should all tests come back negative, visitors are then free to go anywhere on the island under a selection of designated pilot destinations. This does mean that some locations are off-limits. However, after 14 days in Koh Samui, Koh Tao or Koh Phangan, they will be able to travel freely around Thailand.

This may seem like a lot of hoops to jump through, but surely the gorgeous beaches and lush landscapes are worth it, along with the delicious local cuisine.

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