How Phuket May Lead Thailand’s Reopening

In the early days of COVID-19, the common thinking was that international gateways would be the first to accept the return of overseas travelers.

Making news today in the Bangkok Post is a Phuket 4T initiative that could see limited direct charter flights by November or December of this year.

4T stands for target, tracing testing and treatment. Under the proposal long-stay travelers would be the early market, but given Phuket’s enormous ‘snow bird’ winter sector, this makes absolute sense to fish where the fish are.

Reportedly the proposal is under discussion with the provincial disease control committee, but the format is such that it targets one of the island’s strong demonstrated segments.

Travelers would be required to test and also undergo a limited restricted period at their hotels,  but the program is well-suited to gradually restore traveler confidence while mitigating risk in Phuket’s more spread out resort areas.

Stay tuned to see where this initiative moves to in the coming days.