Phuket prepares to welcome Andrea Bocelli, attendees need negative Covid test

The southern island of Phuket is getting ready to welcome renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who will help to ring in 2022 at the Saphan Hin public park. According to a Bangkok Post report, tourism minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn says the island’s New Year countdown event will go ahead under strict disease prevention measures. All attendees will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated and produce a negative Covid-19 test result taken no more than 72 hours prior.

The event is expected to kick off at 8pm and in addition to Bocelli, will feature 10 Thai artists and finish up with the obligatory New Year fireworks display. Phiphat says that, along with proof of vaccination and a negative test, attendees will be required to observe social distancing measures. He says he’s also optimistic that next year’s tourism figures will be better, predicting between 1.3 and 1.8 trillion baht in tourism revenue.

Meanwhile, Thapanee Kiatpaiboon from the Tourism Authority of Thailand is feeling confident that Phuket’s countdown event can take place safely, saying that since the island’s sandbox re-opening, local residents have become accustomed to remaining vigilant about Covid-19.

The island’s deputy governor, Piyapong Choowong, agrees. He says all necessary preparations have been made for the countdown event and officials continue to provide the Covid-19 operation centre with regular updates. Meanwhile, Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon from the provincial public health department says the event will take place under strict disease prevention measures, which have been checked and agreed by the island’s communicable disease committee.

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SOURCE: Bangkok Post