Phuket

  • Phuket NewsUPDATE: Details from woman who escaped Phuket Sandbox

    UPDATE: Details from woman who escaped Phuket Sandbox

    In an update to a story that broke yesterday, more details have emerged about the still-unnamed person who escaped from the Phuket Sandbox on Tuesday. Reports now state that it was an 18 year old woman who disappeared from the mandatory 14-day stay upon arrival in Phuket and was picked up Tuesday night in Chonburi after authorities were about to…

  • Phuket NewsNew Phuket checkpoint rules see 392 people denied yesterday

    New Phuket checkpoint rules see 392 people denied yesterday

    New restrictions for entering Phuket announced Sunday went into effect yesterday, causing a rash of nearly 400 people to be turned away at the entrance checkpoint. While previous rules allowed unvaccinated people meeting certain criteria to enter, now everyone who enters Phuket needs to be fully vaccinated in addition to testing negative for Covid-19. This new strict requirement applies to…

  • Phuket NewsBoat tours to nearby islands offered to Phuket “Sandbox” travellers

    Boat tours to nearby islands offered to Phuket “Sandbox” travellers

    “Phuket Sandbox” tourists can travel to nearby islands on special “sealed” boat tours during their required 14-day stay in the province. Travellers must enable the tracing application “Mor Chana” and notify the Phuket Marine Office or the Phuket Sandbox Command Center at least 6 hours before the trip. Groups of tourists who wish to travel and participate in marine activities…

  • Phuket NewsSandbox traveller escaped to Chon Buri, faces prosecution

    Sandbox traveller escaped to Chon Buri, faces prosecution

    A person who came into Thailand under the Phuket Sandbox plan left the island before completing the 14-day stay and now faces prosecution. A Thai national stayed just 9 days in their SHA Plus hotel before disappearing without checking out, according to Phuket Provincial Public Health Office Chief Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon. The person’s gender was not revealed, but it was…

  • Thailand video newsGood Morning Thailand | Food Panda controversy, the Billionaire space race, Covid updates

    Good Morning Thailand | Food Panda controversy, the Billionaire space race, Covid updates

    Today Tim and Able will discuss the food panda controversy as well as the space race between the billionaires of the world. Would you pay quarter of a million dollars to fly into space? Latest Covid update. Plus all your comments and questions. To follow Able, please visit FB, IG or LinkedIn @EmceeAble & her coaching page: Find Your Voice…

  • TravelTop 5 budget hotels in Phuket

    Top 5 budget hotels in Phuket

    Phuket is a beautiful island with so many exciting things to do. From stunning beaches and beautiful nature to lively nightlife and delicious food, it’s easy to see why people keep coming back to this island. While Phuket is well-known as one of the most expensive places to travel to in Thailand, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find a…

  • Best ofPhuket’s best local seafood restaurants

    Phuket’s best local seafood restaurants

    If there’s one thing you have to do in Phuket, it’s sampling the local-style seafood. With fishermen bringing in local catches daily, there’s never a shortage of restaurants on the island that serve up mouthwatering seafood cooked in authentic Thai style! From beachfront restaurants to hidden venues set on the edge of mangrove swamps, here are our picks of the…

  • Phuket NewsAll domestic travellers entering Phuket need to be vaccinated against Covid-19

    All domestic travellers entering Phuket need to be vaccinated against Covid-19

    All domestic travellers entering Phuket must be vaccinated against Covid-19 and also test negative for the virus. The new rules imposed by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew go into effect today and will be in place until at least August 2. The island province reopened to foreign tourists who are vaccinated against the coronavirus on July 1, amid the most severe…

  • Thailand video newsGood Morning Thailand | Fortress Bangkok, Samui and Phuket Sandbox update

    Good Morning Thailand | Fortress Bangkok, Samui and Phuket Sandbox update

      Today Tim and Jay talk with Friso and Greg regarding the covid situation in Bangkok working spaces and high density communities. 80,000 people suffering in locked down worker camps, some in desperate situation. Samui and Phuket Sandbox update. Your questions and comments are always welcome. Link to Bangkok Community Help here… https://www.facebook.com/BkkCommunityHelp

  • Phuket NewsPhuket officials concerned over “Sandboxers” who test positive for Covid on arrival

    Phuket officials concerned over “Sandboxers” who test positive for Covid on arrival

    Out of the so-called “Sandboxers” who tested positive for Covid-19 since the Phuket reopening started on July 1, half of the infections were detected after the first test taken at the airport on arrival. The positive results conflict with the travellers’ negative results issued no more than 72 hours before departure, a requirement under the “Phuket Sandbox” model. Noticing a…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid UPDATE: 10,082 new infections, provincial numbers

    Covid UPDATE: 10,082 new infections, provincial numbers

    This morning the public health department has announced 10,082 new infections & 141 Covid-related deaths over the past 24 hours across Thailand. The two figures are a record number of cases for the Kingdom and sweep the numbers over the psychological barriers of 10,000 cases and 100 sad deaths. Yesterday there were 3,367 in ICU and 847 on ventilators. 127…

  • Covid-19 NewsHome Covid-19 test kits approved, but not for travel

    Home Covid-19 test kits approved, but not for travel

    With Covid-19 on the rise, screening kit shortages have left people waiting for RT-PCR tests from professional testing sites and medical facilities. Now Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration approved 4 Covid-19 antigen test kits that can be purchased over-the-counter for home use to test for the virus. The 4 approved self-testing kits will allow people concerned that they may have…

  • Phuket News11 new local Covid-19 infections today in Phuket

    11 new local Covid-19 infections today in Phuket

    While Covid-19 infections are still relatively low in the Phuket Sandbox, especially compared to the rest of Thailand, today’s 11 infections mark the highest number of local daily infections since the Sandbox began. The Phuket Provincial Public Health Office released the figures today the bring the total number of Covid-19 infections found in the last 7 days to 42. While…

  • Thailand video newsGood Morning Thailand | The Thai time machine, Thai paperwork and red tape, Covid update

    Good Morning Thailand | The Thai time machine, Thai paperwork and red tape, Covid update

    Have you ever experienced Thai time? Thai time seems to tick by at a totally different pace. Some people find it exasperating, others recognise it as part of the Thai ‘sabia sabia’ culture. And then there’s Thai paperwork. When efficiency sometimes takes second place, there’s still mounds of paperwork to fill out where red tape becomes a national sport. Jay,…

  • Covid-19 NewsBars can reopen in Rawai Phuket.. but not like we hoped

    Bars can reopen in Rawai Phuket.. but not like we hoped

    The moment we have all been waiting for has finally arrived! After mounting pressure and a meeting today with Aroon Solos, the mayor of Rawai, Phuket, bars, pubs and entertainment venues will be allowed to reopen. Just without any of the things that bring customers. The mayor of Rawai met with the Muang District Chief and a select group of…

  • Phuket NewsMeeting reveals Thai vs foreigners in Phuket Sandbox, other stats

    Meeting reveals Thai vs foreigners in Phuket Sandbox, other stats

    Statistics and data regarding the Phuket Sandbox can be cloudy and conflicting, but at yesterday’s meeting of the Phuket Communicable Disease Committee, some rarely shared figures were discussed. One often questioned detail is how many people in the numbers reported for international traveller arrivals are truly tourists and how many are even foreigners at all. During the meeting, it was…

  • Phuket NewsTravellers from “dark red” and “red” zones must be vaccinated to enter Phuket

    Travellers from “dark red” and “red” zones must be vaccinated to enter Phuket

    Those who aren’t vaccinated against Covid-19, and are travelling from a “dark red” or “red” province, won’t be allowed to enter Phuket… at least for the next couple of weeks. With the rise of coronavirus infections amid the island’s reopening to foreign tourists under the “Sandbox” model, Phuket authorities are tightening restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus. From…

  • Thailand video newsGood Morning Thailand | What are your rights in Thailand? Sandbox and Samui Plus update

    Good Morning Thailand | What are your rights in Thailand? Sandbox and Samui Plus update

    Today Tim and Sumi talk with Benjamin Hart from Integrity Legal regarding your rights for ASQ and enforced quarantine. Sandbox and Samui Plus Update. Your questions answered. Covid latest and the main headlines from Thailand today.

  • Tourism NewsOfficials argue most leaving Sandbox aren’t unhappy

    Officials argue most leaving Sandbox aren’t unhappy

    Nothing shows confidence more than repeatedly shouting “fake news.” But amid growing negative press regarding the Phuket Sandbox, officials find themselves continuously denying rumours that Sandbox arrivals are fleeing the island and going home unhappy. While many have left the Sandbox, more have arrived, and the government’s argument isn’t without merit as those who left the Sandbox have various reasons.…

  • Thailand video newsGood Morning Thailand | Samui Reopens tomorrow, your responses to the vaccine survey

    Good Morning Thailand | Samui Reopens tomorrow, your responses to the vaccine survey

    Today Tim and Able talk with Khun Chat from Bliss Events Thailand about The Samui re-opening and if they are ready to open under the Samui Plus program. We take a look at your responses to our vaccine survey yesterday. Covid latest and the main headlines from Thailand today. To follow Able visit her @emceeable and @findyourvoiceasia

  • Phuket NewsGovernment dismisses rumours of Phuket sandbox collapse as “fake news”

    Government dismisses rumours of Phuket sandbox collapse as “fake news”

    The government says the Phuket sandbox scheme is going “very well”, describing rumours of its imminent demise as, “fake news”. According to a Bangkok Post report, Thanakorn Wangboonkongchan from the Centre for Economic Situation Administration says the only thing threatening the sandbox scheme is false reporting on social media that claims the island has been ordered to close due to…

  • Thailand video newsGood Morning Thailand | Stefanie the Sandboxer Update, Covid latest, Viewer questions

    Good Morning Thailand | Stefanie the Sandboxer Update, Covid latest, Viewer questions

    Today Jay and Tim talk with Stefanie about her situation in her ASQ hotel and if there have been any developments over the past few days or a possibility of getting out of quarantine. Covid latest and a chance for our viewers to ask Stefanie some questions. You can watch the full video about Stefanie’s story here… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_91SYF456UU For more…

  • Koh Samui NewsKoh Samui opens for bookings from vaccinated foreign tourists

    Koh Samui opens for bookings from vaccinated foreign tourists

    Koh Samui’s sealed route programme, Samui Plus, has opened for business, with vaccinated tourists now able to apply for a certificate of entry. Ratchaporn Poolsawadee from the Tourism Association of Koh Samui says some details need to be ironed out, including determing the cost of a 7-day stay at an alternative state quarantine facility, to include Covid-19 tests and medical…

  • Thailand News6 “Phuket Sandbox” travellers have tested positive for Covid-19 since July 1 reopening

    6 “Phuket Sandbox” travellers have tested positive for Covid-19 since July 1 reopening

    So far, 6 people who entered Phuket under the “Sandbox” reopening scheme have tested positive for Covid-19. Those in close contact need to quarantine for 14 days. The reopening scheme allows travellers who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, as well as their children, to enter the island province without undergoing quarantine. Nearly 4,000 tourists entered Phuket from July 1…

  • Phuket NewsTougher checks for visitors arriving on Phuket from high-risk provinces

    Tougher checks for visitors arriving on Phuket from high-risk provinces

    As the southern island of Phuket grapples to keep its “sandbox” scheme running amid rising Covid-19 infections, tougher controls are being introduced for domestic visitors. From Thursday, until the end of the month, arrivals from the 10 “maximum controlled and restricted” and the 24 “maximum controlled” provinces, will need to meet stricter criteria if they want to visit Phuket. According…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid UPDATE: 9,539 new cases, provincial totals

    Covid UPDATE: 9,539 new cases, provincial totals

    The CCSA has confirmed 9,539 new Covid infections & 86 coronavirus-related deaths over the past 24 hours. 103 of today’s cases were reported from the Thai prison system. Here are today’s Thai provincial totals… • HERE is a list of restrictions starting tomorrow for all dark red provinces. It includes all the transportation restrictions, curfew details and provinces in the…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid UPDATE Sunday: 9,539 new cases, news briefs

    Covid UPDATE Sunday: 9,539 new cases, news briefs

    Today the public health department reported 9,539 new Covid infections & 86 coronavirus-related deaths. 103 of today’s cases were reported from the Thai prison system. Today’s numbers indicate a flattening of new infections but still much higher than the week before. Provincial totals published just after lunch time. • The ministries of Public Health and Transport have prepared a 5,000-bed…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sandbox woes: 2 more foreign Covid-19 cases, Delta variant

    Phuket Sandbox woes: 2 more foreign Covid-19 cases, Delta variant

    The Phuket Sandbox has hit a few hurdles with the revelation of 2 more international arrivals testing positive with Covid-19, as well as the first cases of the Delta and Beta variants on the island. The news comes in the wake of the Governor ordering most of the islands’ schools to close for 14 days due to the rising risk…

  • Covid-19 NewsAll Phuket schools closing for 2 weeks amid Covid-19 fears

    All Phuket schools closing for 2 weeks amid Covid-19 fears

    Ah, Thailand, where one city can simultaneously be reopening and reclosing. While the arrival numbers aren’t anywhere close to early predictions, the Phuket Sandbox has had relatively little Covid-19 issues and the people arriving are relatively happy. But the same cannot be said about schools in Phuket where, after numerous schools started closing due to infections, Governor Narong Woonciew announced…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket daily Covid-19 hits 10, 3 short of Sandbox threshold

    Phuket daily Covid-19 hits 10, 3 short of Sandbox threshold

    As Covid-19 surges throughout Thailand and the provinces in the south and around Bangkok enact curfews and other lockdown measures, Phuket has been relatively safe with just a trickle of infections. Yesterday for the first time in weeks though, Phuket recorded double-digit new Covid-19 infections, edging closer to the threshold for reconsidering the Sandbox scheme. Phuket Provincial Public Health Office…