For those itching to book their holidays to Thailand as soon as possible, get your bikini’s and boardies out people. Thailand is reopening Koh Tao! Word on the street is that from August 1st Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao will all be allowed to reopen to international travellers!
These three hugely popular tourist destinations have been quietly vaccinating their population and putting together plans to welcome tourists back, proposing an August 1 reopening. The proposal aims to ease all three islands back into tourism, potentially as a second stop for travellers arriving into Phuket with their Sandbox reopening starting from 1st July, since Bangkok Airways operates direct flights between the Phuket & Koh Samui.
In a meeting this week with tourism operators from Surat Thani province where the islands lie, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced his support for the proposal for a Samui Sealed Route. The hope is that arriving tourists to Phuket that don’t want to be tied down to Phuket for 2 weeks could complete the first week in Phuket before moving to Koh Samui for the second week.
Most tourist destinations throughout Thailand are not scheduled to reopen until October, but with all eyes on Phuket, Koh Samui and its neighbouring islands are advocating to open alongside Phuket or at least shortly after. Tourism businesses on the islands have been equally hard-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and have done at least as well in containing the virus and vaccinating residents if not better.
Koh Samui has vaccinated 50% of the people there, and need to give inoculations to just 36,000 more to meet the 70% herd immunity target. Neighbouring Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are well underway in their vaccination drive with the island’s tourism and hotel associations pushing for all hotel and tourism staff to be vaccinated.
So with the light at the end of the tunnel shining ever such a little bit brighter now it really does seem that you can start dusting off your favorite Plangerie and get booking your next holiday to Thailand. I’d better get the inflatable Whaleshark out the cupboard & start orally inflating the Divemaster Team!
See you in the Summer people. We’re reopening Koh Tao. Can’t flipping wait!
