The following is a press release from The Tourism Authority of Thailand. The statements within are their own.
Bangkok, 13 June, 2021 â The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently presented the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) Plus Certificate to more than 300 tourism businesses in Phuket, as the island is preparing to welcome back fully vaccinated visitors under the âPhuket Sandboxâ model from 1 July, 2021.
The presentation of the SHA Plus logo by Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaiboon, TAT Deputy Governor of Tourism Products and Business, was held on 12 June, 2021, in the presence of Phuket Governor Mr. Narong Woonchiew and other local dignitaries.
Ms. Thapanee said âThe âSHA Plusâ standard symbolises Phuketâs readiness to reopen the island, which local stakeholders have worked together to create as part of the pilot scheme.â
The âSHAâ logo certifies that venues and businesses have public health measures in place for COVID-19, while the âPlusâ sign confirms that more than 70% of employees in the organisation are fully vaccinated under the âPhuket Must Winâ vaccination programme.
Under the âPhuket Sandboxâ model, foreign visitors who arrive from 1 July, 2021, onwards will be required to book hotels, which are âSHA Plusâ certified for their first 14 days before being able to leave the province to other destinations in Thailand.
Currently, there are 1,389 venues and businesses across Phuket that have received the Amazing Thailand SHA certificate, and of these, more than 300 are SHA Plus-certified. The number is continuing to rise as all SHA-certified businesses in Phuket, where at least 70% of staff are inoculated, are encouraged to register for the âSHA Plusâ Certificate.
Meanwhile, TAT together with the Phuket Tourist Association, Thai Hotels Association â Southern Chapter, and the Southern Digital Economy Promotion Agency â Northern Southern Region are currently developing a âSHA Plus Booking Authentication Systemâ (SHABA) to be used as a confirmation mechanism for visitors joining the âPhuket Sandboxâ, who have booked âSHA Plusâ hotels.
Under the âPhuket Sandboxâ conditions, visitors will be able to book their accommodation via OTAâs, travel agencies or directly to the âSHA Plusâ hotels under the conditions of the âPhuket Sandboxâ. Hotel Reservation teams will be required to enter their guestsâ bookings into the âSHABAâ platform, which will generate an official confirmation number and QR code.
The âSHABAâ platform is linked with the existing âEntry Thailandâ one-stop platform under integrated efforts by related government agencies to facilitate vaccinated international visitors. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the website https://www.entrythailand.go.th/journey/1will be the website used for the âPhuket Sandboxâ pilot project.