From July 1st, Thailand will start a tourism pilot program on the holiday island of Phuket. The so-called sandbox model allows vaccinated tourists from countries with a low Covid risk to enter the country without quarantine. The only requirement: You have to spend at least 14 days in Phuket before you can visit other places in Thailand.
While Phuket is practically vaccinated and the island is preparing for the big reopening day, there is confusion about another travel requirement shortly before the start of the sandbox: The head of the local tourism authority has just stated that foreigners are only allowed to share their hotel room with one spouse: “If Foreigners arriving with a girlfriend, lover or a sexual partner are not allowed to stay together », Thai media quoted Phoomkiat Raktaengam, head of tourism in Thailand.
Without a marriage certificate, no night together in the same bed – which could also affect many foreigners living in Phuket. Quite a few got married according to Buddhist traditions. Their marriages are not legally registered.
No entertainers
According to Thai media, Phoomkiat said foreigners will not be able to sleep with so-called entertainment ladies they may meet on the island. A bit of fun during the day is also not tolerated: “Visitors who fly to the island in the hope of meeting friends or loved ones again may be disappointed, as arriving foreigners are not allowed to share a room with local guests.”
There are many debates on this subject, the tourism boss admitted, but the health authorities are strictly against allowing visitors and locals to live together in a hotel room. Health, Phoomkiat was quoted as saying, is an important concern.
Unclear denial
A kind of denial followed shortly afterwards. The Phuket Tourism Association said its boss had been “misinterpreted”. The report that foreigners are only allowed to share a hotel room with a marriage certificate was not expressly described as false.
“In order to avoid misunderstandings or ambiguities in this regard”, the denial says, “All parties are asked to wait for a corresponding announcement in the Royal Gazette”, the official law body of Thailand.
From Thursday, Phuket wants to welcome holiday guests from all over the world again. Without the publication of the law by then, there will likely continue to be confusion among travelers, law enforcement officers and hotel staff as to what is allowed. And what not. (kes)