A few months ago, there was an ambitious plan that was would see Phuket tourism get a boost through a controversial and very risky programme called the Phuket Sandbox. Under the programme, fully vaccinated tourists from select countries can fly directly into Phuket and then head straight from the airport to their hotels. They must remain on the island for 14 days before they can hop to another destination in Thailand. This essentially is providing them with the largest and most fun quarantine facility in the world.
There are the risks though, the most obvious being the increasing COVID infections and adding onto the resurgence of the virus. Just a few days ago, provincial governor Narong Wunsiew announced that Phuket will persevere with its Phuket Sandbox, despite the escalating challenges associated with the rise in new infections. They attribute most of the new cases to infected locals who transferred from other provinces to receive treatment.
READ MORE: We look at the 5 best islands in Thailand for tourists
To find out what the situation is like on the ground, we spoke to a couple of hoteliers about the scenes in Phuket to get their perspective. Markland Blaiklock is the Deputy CEO of Centara Hotels & Resorts (Central Plaza Hotel Public Company Limited). He has been responsible for steering the continued expansion of Centara. He has been in Asia since 1990 and has managed several Shangri-La’s properties and served in senior executive positions for Raffles in Singapore and Accor for their Asia Pacific region.
We also spoke to Krystal Prakaikaew Na-Ranong, or “Khun Moo” as she is known to her friends, is the co-founder and owner of The Slate, the multi-award-winning beachfront resort in northwest Phuket that was designed by Bill Bensley and inspired by Phuket’s tin mining heritage.
How has the Phuket reopening been for your resort?
Khun Moo (KM): It has been going quite well and we have been encouraged by demand levels so far. We have received several bookings, especially for longer stays in our higher room categories, which has helped to boost revenue. I believe that visitor numbers will gradually start to climb once overseas travellers see how the programme is working. We have created a wide range of experiences for guests that really connect them to the spirit of the island, and I’m looking forward to welcoming more of our international clientele back to The Slate in the coming months.
Markland Blaiklock (MB): Since the Phuket Sandbox opened on 1st July 2021, Centara’s operating resorts in Phuket have experienced an overall 5% rise in occupancy for July, 7.8% for August and 3.6% for September, and we expect to make further gains as time goes on. This reflects the pick-up of international business; the majority of new bookings are from the UAE, Israel, Germany, UK, US and Canada, as well as Thai nationals. The majority of bookings (more than 85%) have been made online, including our own branded website and OTAs, with wholesalers also contributing to the rise – especially from European markets.
Interestingly, we are seeing stronger demand for our villa products, presumably because they offer greater space and privacy. Of course, all our properties in Phuket have achieved their Amazing Thailand Safety & Health Administration Plus (SHA+) certificates and adhere to strict health and safety standards, in line with official advice and government regulations.
What has the general mood been around the island and how confident are you that this will meet the target of 120,000 visitors by October?
KM: The mood is a little uncertain; we understand that Thailand is experiencing rising case numbers and that Bangkok and other provinces are in lockdown again, which is of course concerning. That said, here in Phuket, we are optimistic that we can operate safely within our own island. The majority of local people – including 95% of The Slate’s team members – have been fully vaccinated and we are very happy that international travellers have started to return.
In terms of the visitor target; at the moment it is difficult to say whether we will reach 120,000 visitors by October 2021. There are many factors that could affect that figure and we will have to monitor the situation on a daily basis. At present, however, we are optimistic that the targets are attainable. Rather than focusing purely on numbers, however, it is more important that we create a sense of safety and security for international travellers, and give more guests the confidence to return to Phuket.
MB: We have received positive feedback from the market, and we are optimistic that visitor numbers will continue to rise as international visitors regain their travel confidence and the global vaccination roll-out progresses. By working together with all of our partners in a coordinated manner, including the government, public and private sectors, and the people of Phuket, we believe that the inbound tourist targets are achievable, and we look forward to welcoming more guests back to the island.
How have you been preparing for this since it was announced?
KM: We have been busy making sure that we are ready to welcome international guests, in terms of practical measures and guest experiences. We have been awarded our SHA Plus certificate, after all of our employees were fully vaccinated, except a small number with underlying health conditions. This is in line with our enhanced health and hygiene measures, which have been in place since the start of the pandemic last year.
We have also rolled out a series of immersive experiences to welcome our guests back to the resort. These include the “Art Journey”, a self-guided, QR code-enabled tour around our open-air art gallery, flower arranging classes, a new “Scent Corner” workshop where guests can blend their own fragrances, a “Wellbeing Bubble” spa programme, and culinary journeys in our acclaimed dining venues, including Black Ginger, our Michelin-recommended Thai restaurant.
And of course, we launched our “Summer Sandbox” package which rewards guests with a free seventh night when they book a six-night stay, plus a guaranteed upgrade, daily breakfast, roundtrip transfers, cocktails, F&B and spa discounts, and more.
READ MORE: Enjoy our latest Thailand travel guide to learn more
MB: Ever since this important initiative was first announced, Centara has been busily preparing to welcome our international guests back to Phuket. All of our hotels and resorts on the island have achieved SHA+ certificates – a government requirement for accepting overseas visitors, which confirms that 70% of the hotel staff have been fully vaccinated. In fact, at Centara, 100% of our eligible hotel associates in the province have received both vaccinations. Along with the certified “Centara Complete Care” hygiene programme, which was developed in partnership with global leaders Ecolab and SGS, guests can enjoy complete peace of mind, safe in the knowledge that their safety remains our top priority.
To reward guests for coming back to Phuket, our team has prepared a series of attractive marketing campaigns and promotions. These include offering a third free night for every two consecutive nights booked, so guests staying for 15 nights will only have to pay for 10 nights! In addition, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is giving 100% of the room rate back to its guests as daily hotel credit, which can be redeemed for dining experiences, spa treatments and other services during their stay.
Also, under the “Rediscover Phuket” package, two of Centara’s upscale beachfront resorts in Phuket – Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket and Maikhao Dream Villa Resort & Spa – are offering a full-board or half-board meal plan, roundtrip airport transfers, and a choice of complimentary cultural, culinary, sports and leisure activities.
Naturally, we’re also participating in the Thai government’s various initiatives and stimulus packages to boost domestic and international travel to Phuket.
Do you believe this will be a long-term solution to what is becoming a long-term problem?
KM: I believe that the Phuket Sandbox is an intelligent way to reopen the country in a safe and measured way. It has only been a few weeks since the launch and we will need to assess the situation again at a later date, but the early signs are promising.
Actually, I hope that this is not a long-term solution, as we all want life and travel in Thailand to return to normal as quickly as possible. But for now, if this is the only way we can safely welcome back international travellers, then we will do everything in our power to make it a success.
MB: Initiatives such as the Phuket Sandbox represent the first step towards the safe resumption of international travel. The global pandemic has caused unprecedented upheaval around the world and we need to recognise that guests’ preferences and behaviours have evolved in the last 18 months. The so-called “Hierarchy of Travel Needs” has changed; travellers are now prioritising health and safety over any other consideration, so we need to make sure that we provide it. Programmes such as “Centara Complete Care” will help to ensure that our guests enjoy complete reassurance throughout their stay.
As Thailand’s leading hotel operator with seven hotels and resorts in Phuket alone, we are very happy to participate in the Phuket Sandbox. We hope that its success will create a template for the safe restart of travel in other destinations, not only in Thailand but all around the world.
With the continued uncertainty around the pandemic and government response, there still remains a sense of optimism. The numbers of visitors continue to grow steadily, however, the long-term impact of this experiment still remains to be seen.
However, that isn’t stopping Khun Moo or Markland from looking ahead. When asked about their future plans, Khun moo is confident that things will continue to improve and said, “The Slate will continue to work on new cultural programmes and immersive experiences that connect our guests to the heart and soul of Phuket. In the fourth quarter of the year, we are planning to launch “Vibrations”, a series of community-oriented cultural events.“
Markland was similarly upbeat, saying, “This industry has a history of resilience and will rebound as soon as conditions allow. I believe that we have all learned a lot from this experience; it has given us a chance to rethink and fine-tune our strategies to target our customers’ specific needs. Our expansion plan remains on track.“
The Centara Group has grand ambitions to launch new locations in Samui and Dubai soon, with plans to launch resorts in Turkey and Myanmar next year. They have just recently launch Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne in Vietnam.
We remain optimistic on their behalf and also want to hear from you. If you have any comments, drop us a message or leave a comment.
