Phuket Sandbox Extension - ”7+7” island hop extension to “Phuket Sandbox” now in effect

Wed, Aug 18, 2021 08:00 CET

The Phuket Sandbox reopening scheme, the so-called “Phuket Sandbox 7+7 Extension” has been approved by Thailand's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). This allows travellers from overseas who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter Phuket, stay on the island for seven days, and then travel on a sealed route to specified destinations in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Krabi, Khao Lak and Koh Yao.

Starting from 16 August, 2021, the “Phuket Sandbox 7+7 Extension” programme allows eligible international travellers to reduce the mandatory stay in Phuket from 14 to 7 days. It gives travellers more freedom to visit other southern Thai destinations without the need to quarantine. The 7+7 extension connects with Samui Plus (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao), Krabi and Phang Nga reopening schemes. In Surat Thani, islands open to the travelers include Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. In Krabi, the popular tourist destinations Koh Phi Phi, Koh Ngai and Railay are open. Khao Lak, Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi in Phang Nga are included in the scheme.

The existing entry requirements for the Phuket Sandbox programme remain unchanged for the 7+7 extension. Read more HERE. Travellers are also required to travel from Phuket to the selected areas in Krabi, Phang-Nga, or Surat Thani only via approved routes and modes of transport.

Samui Plus – Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, or Koh Tao can be reached via Bangkok Airways’ direct domestic flight on the Phuket-Koh Samui route.

Krabi (Koh Phi Phi, Koh Ngai, or Railay) can be reached by SHA Plus-certified boat and ferry services from Ao Po Pier and Rassada Pier.

Khao Lak can be reached by SHA Plus-certified car transfer services from Phuket directly to the SHA Plus-certified hotels. Koh Yao Noi or Koh Yao Yai can be reached via SHA Plus-certified boat and ferry services from three approved piers – Ao Po Pier, Ao Po Grand Marina, and Bang Rong Pier – to Koh Yao Yai’s Chonglat Pier and Ban Laem Yai Pier and to Koh Yao Noi’s Manoh Pier.

Once travellers have completed the 7-night extension in Krabi, Phang-Nga or Surat Thani (Samui Plus), and are tested negative in their third COVID-19 test (conducted on Day 12-13), they can continue their journey to other destinations in Thailand.

If the stay in Krabi, Phang-Nga or Surat Thani (Samui+) is less than 7 nights, travellers must proceed directly to Phuket International Airport on their departure day. At the port of entry back into Phuket, they will need to show a plane ticket or other proof of their international travel from Phuket.

While in Thailand, TAT would like to remind all travellers to continue with D-M-H-T-T-A precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19: D – Distancing, M – Mask wearing, H – Handwashing, T – Temperature check, T – Testing for COVID-19, and A – alert application.

Key points

Fully vaccinated travellers against COVID-19 from approved countries to visit Phuket Sandbox 7+7 Extension
Travellers must take 3 RT-PCR COVID tests during their stay (arrival day, day 6-7, day 12-13)
Travellers must stay in Phuket for the first 7 days before traveling to Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Khao Lak, Koh Yao, Phi Phi, Railay and Koh Ngai.
Travellers can stay less than 14 days.

Remarks: Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) posts a new list of low to medium risk countries for Covid-19 on the 1st and 16th of every month. The information is mostly in Thai. Click HERE to go to the DDC website. As of today (2021-08-17), those from the Nordic and Baltic countries are welcomed to visit Thailand.

Who?

Fully vaccinated travellers who received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines at least 14 days before their travel date.
Children under 18 years travelling with fully vaccinated parents or guardians
Must have a negative RT-PCR result issued no more than 72 hours before the travel date

When?

From 16 August:

7 days in Phuket
Day 8-14 Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Khao Lak, Koh Yao, Phi Phi, Railay or Koh Ngai.
After 14 days to the rest of Thailand

Requirements

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
Health insurance covering COVID-19 during the total stay in Thailand. Minimum coverage of 100,000 USD
Copy of the payment confirmation at SHA Plus-certified hotel/s during the total stay.
Copy of booked and payment confirmation of RT-PCR tests via www.thailandpsas.com. If the length of stay is less than 14 nights, travellers must also present a confirmed flight ticket out of Thailand.
Negative RT-PCR result issued no more than 72 hours before the travel date
Certificate of Entry (COE). Register online, www.coethailand.mfa.go.th

How to

Before departure

Book direct flights to Phuket. Domestic transit in Thailand is not currently not allowed.
Book and prepay SHA+ hotel www.entrythailand.go.th/asq
Book and prepay RT-PCR tests, www.thailandpsas.com
Buy Insurance covering COVID-19 treatment (minimum 100,000USD)
Proof of vaccination
Show a negative RT-PCR test no more than 72 hours before travel date
Download and register the Mor Chana Mobile App and Thailand Plus App

Arrival

First RT-PCR upon arrival. Children under 6 years of age will receive a COVID-19 saliva test.
Transfer to your SHA+ hotel by SHA+ certified transportation provider

Stay

Wait for your first RT-PCR result in your own hotel room. (about max 12 hours).
RT-PCR test on day 6-7 and day 12-13
For those who join Phuket Sandbox 7+7 Extension scheme, after the first 7 days in Phuket and receiving a “Transfer Form” issued by their hotel in Phuket and showing the negative PCR tests, travellers can travel to Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Khao Lak, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Yao Yai, Phi Phi, Railay or Koh Ngai.

Departure

Stay less than 14 days, depart with direct flight to your home country or other countries from Phuket International Airport.
After 14 days and obtaining a “Release Form” from their hotel, travellers can continue their journey to other destinations in Thailand.
If the stay in Krabi, Phang-Nga, or Surat Thani is less than 7 nights, travellers must proceed directly to Phuket International Airport on the day of departure. At the port of entry back into Phuket, they will need to show a plane ticket or other proof of their international travel from Phuket.

For more information, please contact the Royal Thai Embassy in your country.

Sweden : www.thaiembassy.se

Norway : www.thaiembassy.no

Denmark : www.thaiembassy.dk

Finland : www.helsinki.thaiembassy.org

For regular updates on the tourism-related COVID-19, visit TAT, Stockholm office, official website The Colours of Thailand, www.thecoloursofthailand.com

Kantara S. Olofsson

Public Relation & Communication Coordinator

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)

Stockholm Office

Drottninggatan 33 GF

111 51 Stockholm Swedenhttps

www.thecoloursofthailand.com

Founded in 1960, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was the first organization in Thailand with a special responsibility to promote tourism in the country. The Thai Tourist Office in Stockholm was established in 2002 and is responsible for the Nordic and Baltic countries. The Thai Tourist Office provides travel information to the public, travel agencies and media and also works to encourage residents in the Nordic and Baltic countries to travel to Thailand. Read more at www.tourismthailand.org

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