Foreign flagged yacht docks and completes quarantine in Phuket

Caitlin AshworthPublished: 17:37, 15 December 2020| Updated: 17:37, 15 December 2020

189 2 minutes read

Foreign flagged yacht docks and completes quarantine in Phuket

PHOTO: Asia Pacific Superyacht

The following is a statement from Asia Pacific Superyachts. The new Special Tourist Visa scheme allows tourists and crew members on foreign yachts to dock in Thailand and depart after an onboard quarantine.

“The first Asia Pacific Superyachts (APS) Phuket foreign-flagged superyacht client has now completed quarantining aboard in Phuket”, reports APS co-founder, Jojo Tanyuta Singmanee (Jojo), adding: “All aboard are now preparing to enjoy their time in Thailand”.

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Following the completed quarantine and subsequent negative tests, the crew is now allowed to moor the yacht at the marina of their choice and may also travel within Phuket in the same manner as those that arrive on the island via air travel.

“The APS team was delighted to be part of the critical process for the first superyacht to clear into the country and complete quarantine aboard”, said Gordon Fernandes, APS Phuket co-founder. He noted the Navy from The Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, based on Cape Panwa, monitored the yacht during quarantine to ensure she remained in the allocated area, tracking the boat by Automatic Identification System (AIS).

More good news from Thailand is the announcement of a 45 day tourist visa exemption proposal relaxing restrictions for foreigners entering Thailand. The welcomed proposal is now quickly moving forward to be presented to the Cabinet next week and will extend the on-arrival visa exemption for tourists from 30 to 45 days.

The 15 days added on to the visa exemption is intended to make up for the 2 week quarantine required for those entering the country. At the moment, foreign tourists can only enter Thailand under the pre-issued 60 day tourist visa or the new Special Tourist Visa, which is allows a 90 day stay that can be extended twice, adding up to around 9 months.

And lastly, the Royal Thai Government will now allow long-stay visitors from around the world to apply for the ‘Special Tourist Visa’ (STV), previously available only to travellers from countries considered low- to medium-risk for the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest announcement covers long-stay visitors to Thailand of all types – from tourists to business travellers, investors and others, as well as travellers and crews of foreign yachts.

Caitlin Ashworth

Caitlin Ashworth is a writer from the United States who has lived in Thailand since 2018. She graduated from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies in 2016. She was a reporter for the Daily Hampshire Gazette In Massachusetts. She also interned at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia and Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida.