Tourism

Koh Samui set to reopen on July 1, 50% of residents vaccinated so far

Published

5 days ago

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Tanutam Thawan

Photo via Pixabay

Koh Samui is hoping to also reopen to vaccinated foreign tourists on July 1. At this stage it’s a proposal that will need to be approved by the CESA and CCSA.

So far, 57,000 residents on the popular Gulf of Thailand island have been vaccinated, making up 50% of the population on Koh Samui, according to the president of the Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association, Ratchaporn Phoonsawas. The island off the coast of Surat Thani needs to reach herd immunity, about 70% of the population inoculated, to reopen under the so-called “Samui Sealed Route” travel scheme.

“We need to vaccinate another 36,000 people to ensure 70% of the population is inoculated to achieve herd immunity.”

Under the “Samui Sealed Route,” similar to Phuket’s “sandbox” model, foreign tourists who are vaccinated against Covid-19 and test negative for the virus after landing in Thailand could visit certain destinations and beaches in Koh Samui for the first 7 days of their stay. After the first week, the tourists will need to test negative for Covid-19 again before they allowed to visit the neighbouring islands of Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao. The tourists will be allowed to travel to other provinces in Thailand after 14 days.

Health officials in Koh Samui have been actively administering Covid-19 vaccines. Many expats on the island who work as English teachers say they’ve been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Some say the school staff help with the registration process.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand

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Phil

2021-06-10 22:48

I'm planning on traveling to samui from phangan in July, does that mean I will need a covid test before I can enter the island? Thanks

Andrew Reeve

2021-06-11 13:40

Hello Phil, welcome to the forum

The article mentions only foreign tourists who are vaccinated against Covid-19 and test negative for the virus after landing in Thailand. I read that Phangan has been prioritized with the rollout of the first vaccine doses. Very difficult to know for sure and i would presume that travelling within Thailand will require a negative test to gain entry to tourists destinations.

Apologies that i cannot give you a better answer at this time.

15 Comments

Mark

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 2:14 pm

Blah blah blah same bull everyday now one is going though this to go there

Reply
enrico

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 2:29 pm

Why nobody ask to use the same Phuket way…. Nobody will come to Samui if need to quarantine in hotel for a week and spend more money…If can do same Phuket and be free to go around the island for sure more people will come…I already know many Samui lovers that will choose Phuket only for this, If still have time please somebody ask to who have to rule to try this way..Thanks

Reply
sydneyB

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 2:34 pm

Go for it Koh Samui! Looking forward to returning hopefully in the not too distant future. Good luck.

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William Dunlop

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 3:32 pm

The 70% is only good for herd immunity if the vulnerable have been vaccinated first, I bet this is not the case.

Reply
lootarzoon

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 5:39 pm

Wait + wait + wait & see, see, see
Most stats d announcements are in conditional to avoid the regular fake good news..

Reply
Simon Small

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 5:53 pm

“57,000 residents on the popular Gulf of Thailand island have been vaccinated…”

Is this “vaccinated”, with both doses as everywhere else in the world understands it, or “vaccinated” with one dose with the next dose to follow after four months, as Thailand uniquely uses the term?

Reply
EdwardV

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 7:36 pm

“ could visit certain destinations and beaches “ – the plans for these other cities and islands actually make that horrible Phuket plan look good in comparison. What part of “open for vaccinate tourists” is Thailand not understanding? Clearly they are not understanding the people they wish to bring in are much safer than those already there.

Reply
Nigel

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 8:08 pm

@EdwardV, the problem is the use of the word “understanding”. Thais do “understand” they just don’t understand in the classic sense of the word as they simply can not comprehend things. It’s a subtle bit important difference which is why People who are not Thai walk around shaking their heads in disbelief. Where else in the world would you frequently hear the phrase “same same but different”?

Reply
dismayed

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 9:03 pm

So what they should do is raid every restaurant and food serving place in the country because so many times I have seen beer being served in tea pots and other soft drink cups so this is just ridiculous and completely stupid.
Grow up Thailand.

Reply
Sanuk

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 9:09 pm

@Simon Small – You’re the genius IJ, why don’t you look research it?

Reply
Simon Small

Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 1:11 pm

“Where else in the world would you frequently hear the phrase “same same but different”?”

Everywhere where the standard of English is sufficient to say “same same but different” but not sufficient to say “similar”.

Reply
Simon Small

Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 1:13 pm

“@Simon Small – You’re the genius IJ, why don’t you look research it?”

It’s a rhetorical question, @Sanuk.

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Rob Dewet

Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 2:21 pm

I live on Samui and it’s a conflicting mess of different information on social media, with appointments being cancelled and AFAIK no foreigners having been jabbed yet. Also I’m told that nobody has had a second jab, either. It’s three weeks to go until the July date of “Sandbox Samui’ which is being talked about – I can’t imagine how anyone will effectively have been vaccinated by that time.

Reply
Mr J.

Thursday, June 10, 2021 at 7:02 am

My wife’s large family live on Samui, and from the conversations she’s had with them in regards to the general population taking the vaccine is not a positive one. None of them have had it or want it. No one they know has had it yet or neither wants it, and general all round conversation is a No to the vaccine. So when the government starts spouting numbers, you just know they are lying yet again to try and boost tourist confidence.

Reply
Phil

Thursday, June 10, 2021 at 10:44 pm

I’ll be on koh phangan next month, if I want to travel on samui in July would that mean I need a covid test before enter the island? Thanks.

Reply