I had the privilege of getting to Phuket on a flight that was defined as “historic” in the local press. Thailand was closed to tourists due to the Covid pandemic, and it landed a severe hit on the country’s economy. The Thai government has prepared an implementation plan called 'Sandbox Model' to reopen the country, in stages that will be activated in 120 days
The model begins with a test in Phuket, which reopened to vaccinated tourists with “No Quarantine” starting July 1st. On that day, 5 airplanes landed in Phuket, disembarking 347 passengers. 137 of them were Israelis on El Al's inaugural flight, and I was on board too. This was the second passengers flight since the Covid started. About an hour earlier a flight from Qatar had landed with 44 passengers
According to the original sandbox plan, about 10,000 tourists are expected to arrive in Phuket in July. During the third quarter of 2021 the program wishes to absorb 100,000 tourists, who will input about 9 billion baht ($ 275 million) into the state economy
Therefore, these flights aroused interest and hope in the Thai public, and the media covered our arrival. Even Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha arrived at the airport in the morning to check the tourism reopening. Other high officials also came to check on the implementation of the sandbox program. Like the Governor of Phuket, Narong Wenzio Narong Woonciew, the Deputy Prime Minister of Supattanapong Punmeechaow, the Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, the Director of the Tourism Authority Yosazak Supsorn, Yutha Supasorn from the Ministry of the Interior, And CEO of the Ministry of Economic and Social Development Tosaporn Sirismand
Governor Narong declared at a press conference: "We must unite to recover and kick-start our economy, while at the same time strictly maintaining the health of our citizens." The tourism minister said: "At this point, I confirm that Phuket is one hundred percent ready to receive tourists as of July 1st. We are now looking forward to seeing the first tourist to leave the key of the plane at Phuket Airport." i
Well, I was one of those "first tourist" the minister talked about. The government prepared an impressive operational plan, but its implementation seems to me less successful. It begins with the difficulties that the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv imposes on visa applicants. I heard about Thai-lovers Israelis who wanted to return, but they gave up on the idea because of the embassy's Via Dolorosa and decided to make vacation elsewhere
At the entrance to the Phuket's terminal, we were greeted with posters and small gifts by the airport employees, who checked our temperature
In the incoming hall we saw rows of hundreds of chairs. At the first checkpoint we were required to download an app that monitors our location anywhere in Thailand. Some Israelis were unable to download the app, and even employees of the Ministry of Tourism barely coped with the problem. It delayed the progress, and I saw passengers overtaking the line, and messed up the arranged seats
The next checkpoint was at the documents station of the vaccination certificates, the insurance policies, the visa, and the Covid tests. Authorities placed only 4 desks for an entire aircraft. Soon long lines formed in front of the stands, and frustrated passengers moved from line to line. Therefore, they brought police officers who prevented people who had completed the previous checkpoint to proceed to the document checking station. Strangely, because the documents have already been checked carefully by the embassy in Israel prior to obtaining a visa
Only after this checkpoint could we proceeded the passport control, and from there to the baggage claim area, and go through custom
But we still could not get out of the terminal. Before leaving we had to take a PCR test, but there were no nurses to perform the test. We waited there for more than half an hour, with policemen guarding us like detainees. In the end, 3 girls came to perform tests for about 200 passengers. Of course, it lasted a too long time
But the biggest problem with PCR tests was not the long waiting time, but the lack of professional skill of the testers. They brutally pushed the stick very deep into the nose. It was very painful. Two women in our group began to bleed from the nose. I have had the opportunity to undergo PCR tests more than ten times in different countries during the Covid period, and I was never hurt as much as in Thailand
In total, more than two hours passed from the moment we got out of the airplane until we got out of the terminal gates. Too long
On the way from the airport to the hotel, we saw people waving welcome to us. It was the first time in the last two years that they have seen a full tourists bus in Phuket
On the first day of our visit we wandered in the Patong promenade. 90% of the restaurants and shops were closed, and the beach was deserted. Usually, Patong Beach is crowded day and night, and I have never seen it so empty. Most businesses reopened during the first week of July, and before I left I saw that about 50% of the shop and restaurants were open, and the shop windows were lit
One evening we were chatting with local girls at the bar. They explained that in Thailand there is a disagreement between the two approaches. One does not want tourists because they brought the pandemic. The second is interested in tourists who hold the country's economy. This controversy exists at all levels of the population, including within their own families
The Ministry of Finance charges 8,000 baht for 3 Covid tests during staying in Thailand. For a regular family this can add about 3,000 NIS to the cost of the trip to Thailand. Our delegation was required to pay an extra 700 baht for a blood pressure test on the last day on the island. I could not understand the reason for this strange demand. Wouldn’t the Thais have allowed a high LD owner to leave the island and return home? i
The average daily number of verified infections is two. According to the sandbox plan, the country will be re-closed when 6,000 verified per day will be discovered. To date, 84% of Phuket's residents have been vaccinated, so the blue-turquoise island looks very green in terms of health