Brought to you by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
Thailand’s launch of the Phuket Sandbox programme on July 1, 2021, and the Phuket Sandbox 7+7 Extension on August 16, 2021, gave the world the highly-anticipated signal that the destination are once again ready to amaze visitors – this time with all the necessary health and safety measures in place.
Phuket’s beaches are more pristine and beautiful than ever, each one offering its own individual vibe and atmosphere, from the energetic buzz of Patong and its restaurants, shops and souvenir stalls to the relaxing settings of Kata, Karon, Nai Harn and Mai Khao with their silky-soft sands and glistening waters gently caressing the shoreline.
Away from the glorious beaches, visitors can as always discover much in the way of culture and heritage, soft adventure and family-friendly tropical fun. Whether it is visiting the island’s glittering temples and shrines, thrill-seeking on zipline rides and 4WD excursions through lush jungles, or discovering the picturesque beauty of landmark locations like Promthep Cape, Krathing Cape, and Karon Viewpoint to make that perfect photograph, Phuket does not disappoint.
Health and wellness opportunities abound for those seeking the chance to rejuvenate and recharge in the tropical surroundings of dedicated spa resorts and world-class spas at many a hotel and resort. Delicious cuisine created with the freshest seafood and tantalising, exotic ingredients can be found the island over, positioning Phuket as a gastronomical destination of international renown and earning its place in UNESCO Creative City listing. Community-based tourism experiences provide the opportunity to appreciate a unique and fascinating local way of life.
Directly north of Phuket on the mainland, Phang-Nga’s stunning landscape vistas must not be missed. This natural beauty is best appreciated from famous Samet Nangshe Viewpoint, with spectacular 180-degree views across Phang Nga Bay and its many limestone formations and small islands. Among the area’s islands is Ko Yao Noi, featured in the James Bond movie The Man With The Golden Gun. And when the sun sets, the Milky Way comes into view.
On the Phang-Nga coastline, the 20km stretch of beaches in Khao Lak make for a serene, welcoming and idyllic sun, sea and sand experience to remember. Here, the days are quiet and unrushed, and one could be excused for thinking they had discovered an untouched tropical hideaway – from an enchanting shoreline to jungle-clad mountain backdrops.
There is no better time than now to visit Phuket and Phang-Nga, two delightful jewels in the ever-dazzling crown that is the tropical paradise of southern Thailand, where shimmering seas, beautiful beaches and countless off-shore islands await travellers.
To begin your journey to Thailand, visit www.tatnews.org/.
International tourism enjoyed signs of rebound in June and July 2021 as some destinations eased travel restrictions and the global vaccination rollout advanced in many parts of the world.
According to the latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, an estimated 54 million tourists crossed international borders in July 2021, down 67 per cent from the same month in 2019, but the strongest results since April 2020.
This compares to an estimated 34 million international arrivals recorded in July 2020, though well below the 164 million figure recorded in 2019.
Most destinations reporting data for June and July 2021 saw a moderate rebound in international arrivals compared to 2020.
Nevertheless, 2021 continues to be a challenging year for global tourism, with international arrivals down 80 per cent in January-July compared to 2019.
Asia and the Pacific continued to suffer the weakest results in the period January to July, with a 95 per cent drop in international arrivals compared to 2019. The Middle East (-82 per cent) recorded the second largest decline, followed by Europe and Africa (both -77 per cent).
The Americas (-68 per cent) saw a comparatively smaller decrease, with the Caribbean showing the best performance among world subregions.
Meanwhile, some small islands in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia and the Pacific, together with a few small European destinations recorded the best performance in June and July, with arrivals close to, or sometimes exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
This improvement was underpinned by the reopening of many destinations to international travel, mostly in Europe and the Americas. The relaxation of travel restrictions for vaccinated travellers, coupled with progress made in the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines, contributed to lifting consumer confidence and gradually restoring safe mobility in Europe and other parts of the world. In contrast, most destinations in Asia remain closed to non-essential travel.
UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili said: “There is clearly a strong demand for international tourism, and many destinations have started welcoming visitors back safely and responsibly. However, the true restart of tourism and the benefits it brings remain on hold as inconsistent rules and regulations and uneven vaccination rates continue to affect confidence in travel.”
Prospects for September-December 2021 remain mixed, according to the latest UNWTO Panel of Experts survey, with 53 per cent of respondents believing the period will be worse than expected. Only 31 per cent of experts expect better results towards the end of the year.
The survey also showed that most tourism professionals continue to expect a rebound driven by unleashed pent-up demand for international travel in 2022, mostly during the second and third quarters.
Almost half of all experts (45 per cent) continue to see international tourism returning to 2019 levels in 2024 or later, while 43 per cent point to a recovery in 2023.
By regions, the largest share of experts pointing to a return to 2019 levels in 2024 or later are in Asia and the Pacific (58 per cent). In Europe, half of respondents indicate this could happen in 2023. The Middle East is the most optimistic, with a full recovery expected by 2022.