With many returning travellers expected to focus their holidays around health and wellness in the year ahead, Thailand has announced the launch of the ‘Wellness Sandbox’ entry programme; a scheme that promotes wellness tourism, while also smoothening entry to the Land of Smiles.
Set for rollout in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin district and Cha-am in Phetchaburi, the new programme takes its inspiration from the Phuket Sandbox; the government’s successful prototype for tourism renewal in Thailand, which opened last July and has since been repeated in destinations nationwide. Like its predecessor, the new Wellness Sandbox is also expected to be expanded to new locations, following the completion of an initial pilot phase.
Under the newest Sandbox entry programme, fully vaccinated tourists will be allowed to enter Thailand without the need for quarantine upon arrival. They will then be free to roam around locations approved as part of the Sandbox scheme during the first week of stay. After that, and following successful completion of Covid testing, they will be permitted to travel further afield.
A key attraction of the programme is its emphasis on wellness activities during the initial period of stay – an especially attractive proposition for visitors who are concerned about their physical health and state of mind in the post-pandemic era. For these holidaymakers, Hua Hin and Cha-am represent two of the world’s top health tourism destinations, home to Thai massage and spa services, along with a wide range of traditional Thai medicine and herbal products.
To ensure safety, all resorts and spas participating in the Wellness Sandbox must first meet the rigorous Covid-19 prevention standards set by Thailand’s Safety and Health Administration. Originally conceived by Tourism Authority Thailand (TAT), the Wellness Sandbox will operate in tandem with the Thailand Riviera campaign, which promotes destinations in southern Thailand such as Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Chumphon and Ranong.
With 2022 set to be the year of wellness tourism in Thailand, the new Sandbox entry scheme offers returning holidaymakers a unique blend of comfort and convenience; the ideal way to kick-start happy travels in the Land of Smiles.
