What about the islands that have been opened?

Coincidentally, the Indian Ocean island Mauritius also opened its borders to international tourists yesterday. Tourists need to quarantine in a designated resort bubble hotel on the island for 14 days, and then Only then can you travel freely on the island.

The United Nations said in a recent report that many island areas that are highly dependent on international tourism have been hardest hit by the epidemic.

Tourism is the lifeline for millions of local people. In order to save the economy, these islands must naturally try to welcome tourists again as soon as possible. But while these regions are trying to salvage their battered tourism industries, normal travel still looks a long way off.

01 The reopening of Phuket is not peaceful

On July 1, local time, Phuket, Thailand, opened to international tourists for the first time after being closed for a year due to the new coronavirus epidemic. The door. The first batch of 366 international passengers arrived in Phuket that day. Phuket Airport held a special water spraying ceremony to welcome the flight's landing. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha personally greeted the first batch of foreign tourists at the airport, demonstrating the Southeast Asian country's commitment to this opening. We attach great importance to the country's entry into the country and the first step in restoring tourism.

According to regulations, these tourists need to complete 2 doses of the new crown vaccine 14 days ago, they must also undergo a new coronavirus test after getting off the plane, and they need to stay in the hotel on the island. 14 days, but can travel around the island without quarantining in your room.

However, although these tourists have been vaccinated and strict measures have been implemented on the island, Phuket has not become an immunization paradise. As of the 11th, participants Six people infected with the new coronavirus have been found among inbound foreign tourists in Phuket's "Sandbox Project", and their nationalities are from the United Arab Emirates, Myanmar, Switzerland and African countries.

As soon as they were diagnosed with infection, they were sent to the local hospital for treatment, and their family members and companions were transferred to an isolation point for isolation. According to media reports, the family and fellow travelers of the first confirmed tourist have returned home early after negotiation.

However, Phuket’s main income comes from tourism income, and the economy relies heavily on foreign tourists. The Phuket Sandbox Project is of great significance for piloting the opening up of Thailand and stimulating the development of the tourism economy. The Thai government, which has made up its mind to save the economy, refuted the rumors on July 13. A spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office stated that Phuket has not yet been closed. The Phuket Sandbox Project is being carried out as planned, and tourists are still entering Phuket in a steady stream. Phuket will strictly implement relevant epidemic prevention regulations and tighten epidemic prevention measures for foreigners entering Phuket via land. Starting from July 15, tourists going to Phuket from the 10th and 24th provinces of Thailand’s highest control areas must provide a certificate of COVID-19 vaccination and a negative virus test. Those without relevant certificates are not allowed to enter Phuket.

Currently, more than 5,000 foreign tourists have visited Phuket.

02 The low-key and open Koh Samui

This time, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced the launch of "Samui+" online. ” model and welcomed the first batch of foreign tourists. Thailand’s Sports and Tourism Minister Pippa said that it plans to continue to open many islands in Krabi and Phang Nga provinces to foreign tourists before August 1.

On the first day of Koh Samui’s opening***, 11 international tourists from the UK, France, Germany and other places arrived, but they were all media representatives testing the Samui+ model. Currently, 80 people have booked tickets to Koh Samui from July to October. According to the number of bookings, the number of tourists going to Koh Samui is not large. However, the Thai tourism department predicts that about 1,000 tourists will enter Koh Samui in the first month after its reopening. According to the plan, Bangkok Airways will arrange three daily flights between Bangkok and Koh Samui.

The Chairman of the Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association said: "We do not expect many tourists to travel to Thailand in the third quarter of this year, because the current epidemic in Thailand will affect their confidence. However, what we can do is The tourism industry will be launched as planned to stimulate the country's economy. "He expects that the epidemic will improve in the fourth quarter, which will enhance the confidence of Thai and foreign tourists."

03 Phased opening of Mauritius

Like Koh Samui, Mauritius also chose to open its international borders on July 15, and will accept the new coronavirus vaccine and international tourists who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 are welcome.

However, Mauritius’s opening up is in stages.

In the first phase from July 15 to September 30, you can enter the country with or without vaccination, but tourists must be quarantined before entering. Vaccinated tourists who choose to stay at the resort's bubble hotel can use all facilities and services such as the hotel's swimming pool and restaurants, but must undergo three nucleic acid tests. If the test results are all negative, you can leave the hotel after 14 days and travel freely within the island.

Tourists who have not been vaccinated must check into the quarantine hotel directly and undergo a 14-day quarantine. During this period, they are not allowed to leave the hotel room and must undergo three nucleic acid tests. If the test results are negative, you can leave the hotel and move around freely after 14 days.

In the second phase starting from October 1, the entire island is open, and travelers who have been vaccinated against the new coronavirus can directly explore the entire island. Visitors who have not been vaccinated still need to quarantine first.

According to multiple media reports in Mauritius, starting from July 15, Reunion Southern Airlines, Air Seychelles, Air Madagascar, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines and some European airlines Flights to Mauritius will be resumed gradually.

04 Uncertainty and Unworthy Trouble

Thailand is currently suffering from a new round of epidemic, especially in the past two months, the number of confirmed cases has increased by 10 times. Although the Thai government has tightened epidemic prevention measures in Bangkok and five surrounding high-risk areas, it still cannot stop the increase in confirmed cases.

The Thai government’s New Crown Pneumonia Epidemic Management Center announced that it will implement upgraded epidemic prevention measures in the capital Bangkok and surrounding areas from July 12, and implement curfews in 10 provinces with severe epidemics.

Thailand aims to reopen the entire country within 4 months. However, the current state of the pandemic means this goal looks increasingly unlikely. Although the Phuket sandbox program has begun and Koh Samui has also opened, it is still far from fully opening its borders. However, the experience of Phuket and Koh Samui, as the first opening places, will help drive the gradual recovery of Thailand’s tourism industry.

Southeast Asia, which had kept case numbers extremely low in 2020, is now grappling with new variants and travel seems far away.

As of July 13, local time, Mauritius had a total of 2,266 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 18 deaths, and 1,764 recoveries. Although the epidemic control is relatively stable, tourists still face many restrictions, various tests and complete uncertainty.

Even if travel abroad is possible, whether it's a sandbox or a resort bubble, it may not be worth the trouble for many people.