Covid-19: the return of tourists to Phuket in Thailand, puzzles and controversies
Patong, one of the most popular resorts in Phuket.
Getty Images - Adisorn Fineday Chutikunakorn
Text by: Carol Isoux
3 min
Thai authorities have decided that Phuket will reopen to fully vaccinated foreign tourists on July 1.
Social networks are outraged.
The country is experiencing an unprecedented third wave of Covid-19 contamination.
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From our correspondent in Bangkok,
Many times announced, many times canceled, the pilot project to reopen Phuket to tourism is expected to take place on July 1, according to the prime minister's office. On social networks, the Thais clash between supporters of a reopening to save the tourist season and those who favor health security as the country faces
an unprecedented third wave
, between 2 and 5,000 new cases per day, since two months.
Extreme confusion reigns around “Phuket sandbox”, the code name given to the project on the networks, in particular about the practical details of the operation.
Initially, vaccinated tourists had to spend seven days on the island before they could travel to the rest of Thailand.
The deadline has now been increased to 14 days, even for vaccinated tourists, who will have only a reduced choice of possible destinations after Phuket.
Constraints according to tourism professionals who make the reopening project a failure even before having started.
Open to vaccinated tourists, but who will be interested?
European tourists are waiting for an unrestricted reopening of the country, which will not take place until next October at least.
Some Asian tourists such as Singaporeans or Chinese from the southern provinces might be seduced by the idea of a short stay in Phuket.
But the bars and entertainment venues on which the island has partly built its success will remain closed.
The opportunity also, underline some Internet users, to test another form of tourism in Thailand.
Shortage of vaccines in the country
The national vaccination campaign started on June 7 in Thailand.
But in hundreds of hospitals, vaccination is suspended, appointments canceled, vaccine doses have not arrived.
A thick silence surrounds the question, because the company responsible for the production of vaccines belongs to the king, so a questioning is impossible under penalty of falling under the severe law of lese-majesté.
As a result, the Thai press can only note the shortages, but no explanation is given as to the reason for the late delivery or the extra time needed.
It is only on social media that Thais dare to speak out on the issue and hold the government and the crown to account on what already looks like a failed vaccination campaign.
► To read also: Covid-19: the third wave is blowing a wind of panic on Thailand
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