Phang Nga and Krabi hope to re-open to foreign tourists under “Andaman Sandbox”

On August 1, the Tourism Authority of Thailand hopes to launch the “Andaman Sandbox”, allowing the southern provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi to re-open to foreign tourism. The model is similar to the Phuket Sandbox and the Samui Plus model launched earlier this month. Yuthasak Supasorn from the TAT says the Andaman Sandbox proposal goes before the Centre for Economic Situation Administration today.

According to a Bangkok Post report, tourists who’ve already spent 7 days in Phuket, followed by 7 days in either Phang Nga or Krabi, can then visit the islands of Koh Yao and Koh Panyee, as well as the Khao Lak area. It’s understood that over 300 hospitality businesses in the region have already achieved the Safety & Health Administration accreditation.

Tourists will have to follow a specific route while in Phang Nga and will have their movements tracked as happens with the Phuket Sandbox. Chuchart Oncharoen from the TAT’s Phang Nga office expects to see an increase in tourist numbers from the end of October, adding that the first lot from the Phuket Sandbox scheme arrived in Phang Nga on Friday.

The TAT says that once the Andaman Sandbox has been approved, it hopes to launch similar schemes in other tourist hotspots like Chiang Mai, Pattaya in Chon Buri, Buri Ram, Bangkok, Phetchaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

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SOURCE: Bangkok Post