Just when you thought you’d never hear the words “Phuket” and “sandbox” in the same sentence again…
Health officials will launch the “Safety Phuket Island Sandbox” on November 26, with PM Srettha Thavisin presiding over the opening event. The Bangkok Post reports that the “safety sandbox” is being launched at Patong Beach and Walking Street in the Mueang district of Phuket.
The scheme is a health ministry initiative that aims to promote health and safety for tourists on the island. Dr Thanit Sermkaew, medical supervisor of Health Service Provider Board Office 11, with responsibility for Phuket, says the campaign will run for 100 days.
The initiative will eventually be extended to other popular tourism provinces, including Bangkok, Nan, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Ayutthaya, Phetchaburi, Rayong, Kalasin, Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Trang and Ubon Ratchathani.
Officials hope that a focus on the health, wellness, and safety of tourists will boost confidence in local medical facilities, which in turn will result in an increase in visitor numbers.
The services on offer include a “sky doctor” medical team and certificates awarded to health-promoting hotels and tourist attractions. Improvements are also taking place at various hospitals and officials are also improving food safety at street stalls.
Thanit says the project will involve emergency medical units being placed at Patong Beach, as well as rabies protection, free flu shots for 100,000 tourism workers, Street Food Good Health certification, a new Travel Medicine Centre, and a disease reporting digital platform.
But why in earth use the same ‘Sandbox’ again, previously associated with paperwork and hassles getting back into Phuket and Thailand in the very early days of Covid-19 recovery?
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
