Koh Samui reopens to muted response, under pandemic’s shadow

The second phase of Thailand’s reopening got off to a tepid start amid a surge in coronavirus infections, with officials still optimistic about an ambitious plan open up the whole country by end-October. The ‘Samui Plus’ travel arrangement, which allows vaccinated tourists to enter Koh Samui and other cities in the southeast Surat Thani province, went ahead as scheduled on 15 July. However, tourism officials have revised downward the expected arrivals under the scheme, as the country battles its worst-ever wave of infections that has left capital Bangkok and several provinces under lockdown. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects 1,000 foreign tourists in the first month. This compares to the TAT’s previous forecast of 2,000 travellers within the first month, which was disclosed in a 8 July Bangkok Post report. Under the scheme, tourists have to stay in a government-approved hotel for a week, and can only leave their accommodation on the fourth day.<br/>