According to Thailand’s Tourism Authority governor the island of Phuket will allow long staying tourists from overseas from the beginning of October.

Under a program named 'Safe and Sealed' travelers will be required to pass a 14 day hotel quarantine and successful pass Covid-19 tests two times. They will be allowed to travel within 1 kilometer of their host hotels.

Once the 14 days are completed, they will be allowed to move about Phuket province and after 7 more days and a test, they can travel throughout Thailand.

This effectively makes Phuket the ‘test case gateway’ for international travel into the country. The program is timely given the large number of winter season long-stay ‘snowbirds’ who stay on the island each winter.

In nearby Singapore, on Friday the government announced plans to relax entry from ‘low risk’ countries that include Malaysia, China and Taiwan.

Additionally, travelers from Australia (except those from Victoria) and Vietnam will see a 14-day period reduced to 7 days.

For those from New Zealand and Brunei, upon passing a test at the airport no quarantine is required. One caveat is that landing pre-approval is required and an advance notice program only starts at the beginning of September.

Bill Barnett Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks Company Limited 9 Lagoon Road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket, 83110, Thailand (Office located at the entrance of Laguna Phuket) T: +66 (0)76 271 535 / F: +66 (0)76 271 536 info@c9hotelworks.com / www.c9hotelworks.com