Samui Island is now welcoming fully vaccinated tourists, from within Thailand, without the need to go through a 14-day quarantine, according to Samui Island District Chief Teerapong Chuaychoo.
Citing a written announcement by Surat Thani provincial Governor Wichawut Jinto, dated Monday June 7th, Mr. Teerapong said that the island is ready to welcome tourists who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and those with negative results issued no more than 72 hours prior to arrival, as more than 50% of the island’s population have now been vaccinated.
Hoping to revive the tourism industry on the island, the local authorities and tourist operators will discuss ways to promote tourism and to prepare for arriving tourists, both domestic and international.
Thailand is to reopen to fully inoculated foreign tourists on July 1st without a quarantine requirement, starting with the resort island of Phuket, under the “Phuket Sandbox” project.
Initial requirements, pending the cabinet’s approval, include staying in SHA+ certified hotels in Phuket for at least 14 days, before being able to travel elsewhere in the country, installing a tracking app and undergoing further COVID-19 tests.