Thai PM visits Phuket on first day of the Phuket sandbox

Thailand on Thursday opened the popular resort island of Phuket to fully vaccinated foreigners from lower-risk countries.

The country hopes the ambitious but risky plan will breathe new life into a tourism industry devastated by the pandemic.

In a nod to the importance of "Phuket sandbox" plan, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha flew to Phuket to be on hand in person for the launch.

He also attended a turtle releasing ceremony at a national park on the beach before heading back to the airport to greet a last group of tourists arriving today.

He emphasized that the sandbox was just the first step toward his goal announced in June of having Thailand completely reopened within 120 days.

The "Phuket sandbox" program comes as coronavirus infections are surging in Thailand, including a significant number of cases of the Delta variant.

Many have questioned if it's too early to woo tourists back, and whether they'll come in significant numbers in any case due to the restrictions they'll still face.

Before the pandemic, the tourism sector made up some 20% of Thailand's economy, and 95% of Phuket's income.

The resort island off the southern coast saw fewer than a half million visitors in the first five months, and almost no foreigners, compared to more than 3 million during the same period last year including some 2 million foreigners.

IMAGE: AP