An update on Phuket’s travel screening effective from 11 September, 2021, until further notice, and the adjusted COVID-19 controls in place from 15-28 September, 2021.
Travel Screening (Phuket Provincial Order No. 5407/2564)
International tourists under the Phuket Sandbox & 7+7 Extension programmes
Fully vaccinated international visitors under the Phuket Sandbox and 7+7 Extension programmes can still enter and exit Phuket per the existing rules and regulations. While in Phuket, those travelling to the extension areas or taking day-trip cruise excursions or shore trips along with a boat driver, guide, and crew are allowed to re-enter Phuket provided that they meet the vaccination requirements and undergo a weekly COVID-19 rapid antigen test.
Domestic tourists
Domestic travellers are now able to visit Phuket for tourism purposes. However, they must have documentation proof including a copy of the advance payment confirmation for hotel accommodation. They are required to register via www.gophuget.com and show the registration’s QR Code as proof before entering Phuket.
Who can enter Phuket, domestically?
- Medical emergency vehicles carrying patients and medical personnel, or volunteers.
- Vehicles transporting medical supplies.
- Vehicles transporting consumable goods, agricultural products, livestock, and animal feed.
- Vehicles transporting cooking gas fuel.
- Banking and finance vehicles.
- Logistics vehicles for the post and newspapers.
- Vehicles transporting construction materials, engines, and spare parts for maintenance.
- Shippers of import-export products at the Phuket Deep Sea Port, oil depot port (PTT Phuket), and other cargo areas.
- Vehicles transporting materials, raw materials, telecommunications, energy, automotive, aircraft and other industrial basic maintenance components.
- Residents and permanent workers in Phuket (must have documentation proof).
- Personnel officially assigned in charge of communicable disease control.
- People travelling under the Phuket Sandbox and their vehicle driver (must have documentation proof).
- Any government officials with the necessity to travel to and from Phuket.
- People with an international air ticket out of Phuket on the actual date of travelling only (must have documentation proof).
- People who are required to appear in the courts.
- Domestic travellers to Phuket for tourism purposes as mentioned above.
- Patients or people with an advance appointment for medical treatment or a public health service, including their accompanying person. This also includes medical personnel and public health officials.
- Any other cases with substantial reasons to enter Phuket upon consideration of the officials at Phuket’s checkpoints.
Requirements for domestic entry
*People and vehicles mentioned above will only be allowed domestic entry to Phuket under the conditions that they must:
– Have received 2 doses of the Sinovac, Sinopharm, or Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before arrival,
OR
– Have received the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine as the first dose and AstraZeneca as the second dose at least 14 days before arrival,
OR
– Have received 1 dose of the AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least 14 days before arrival,
OR
– Have recovered from COVID-19 for less than 90 days,
AND
– Have received a negative test by an RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen test no more than 72 hours from the test date.
Residents of Phuket and Phang-Nga whose names are on the local house registration system will be allowed to enter Phuket provided that their vaccination status meets the entry requirements. They must also have received a negative test by a Rapid Antigen test, which can be used up to 7 days. In addition, they are required to register via www.gophuget.com or obtain a certificate from a district office in Phuket.
Children and adolescents aged 6 to under 18 years who are unable to be vaccinated must have received a negative test by an RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen test no more than 72 hours before arrival.
Students under 18 years old, who are unable to be vaccinated but need to commute in and out of Phuket for education, must have an identification card as proof. They are required to contact the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office for a COVID-19 test by an RT-PCR method. The certificate for the test result can be used up to 1 month from the test date.
Self-protective measures and distancing efforts
All travellers into Phuket must register their entry in advance via the website www.gophuget.com and be ready to show their registration to a disease control officer before entering Phuket.
Travelling by land transport through the Tha Chatchai checkpoint CANNOT be done during the hours of 23.00-03.00 Hrs. (from previously until 04.00 Hrs.), except for emergency only.
As usual, people are asked to continue abiding by the health and safety measures in place; such as, wearing a face mask at all times while outside of their residence, regularly washing hands with soap and water/cleaning alcohol, and avoiding unnecessary close contact with others.
COVID-19 Controls (Phuket Provincial Order No. 5409/2564)
What remains closed?
- Entertainment businesses and venues; such as, pubs, bars, karaoke, massage parlours, and bath venues;
- Fighting cock/bull/fish venues, horse racetracks, and racetracks of all types;
- Snooker and billiard venues;
- Game stations, and games and Internet shops;
- Educational institutions of all types, except private schools where the number of attendees per class not exceed 5 people.
Restrictions on gatherings and activities
- Gatherings of more than 100 people, except events organised by authorities;
- Drinking liquor or alcoholic beverages in public areas, beaches, parks, playgrounds, roads along canals, roads around reservoirs, or public waterways.
- Organising of parties, carnivals, housewarming and large celebrations are NOT allowed, except traditional ceremonies which are unable to be postponed; such as, funeral ceremonies, ordination ceremonies, wedding ceremonies, religious days.
Integrated control measures for businesses and venues
- Department stores, shopping malls, community malls, convenience stores, and similar are allowed to open per normal hours, except for games machines and amusement parks;
- Restaurants and eateries are allowed to open per normal hours, and offer dine-in services without the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- Fresh markets, flea markets and walking streets can open under strict disease control measures, but must operate at only 1 customer per 4 square metres of the area capacity;
- Convenience stores can open from 04.00 0 23.00 Hrs. (must close from 23.00 – 04.00 Hrs.);
- Sports venues are allowed to open until 21.00 Hrs., and can organise sports competitions with a limited number of audiences;
- All kinds of indoor sports venues, gyms, fitness centres, yoga centres, aerobic classes, and badminton clubs can open until 21.00 Hrs., and must limit the number of customers at 50% for air-conditioned venues and at 75% for open-air spaces. Both service providers and customers must be fully vaccinated and practise COVID-19 preventive measures.
Source: TAT Newsroom
