{"id":7051,"date":"2021-06-10T11:37:43","date_gmt":"2021-06-10T04:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/?p=7051"},"modified":"2021-06-23T09:19:08","modified_gmt":"2021-06-23T02:19:08","slug":"signs-of-hope-for-phukets-reopening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/2021\/06\/10\/signs-of-hope-for-phukets-reopening\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs of hope for Phuket’s Sandbox"},"content":{"rendered":"

A wander along the sands of Kata Beach in early June is always a pleasant experience. Well unless it’s bucketing down, this is monsoon time after all. In a normal year, the low season lasts until October, bringing a respite of calm and a quieter beach, which the locals are grateful for.<\/p>\n

You can’t help but smile at the surfers out there just doing their thing, enjoying the waves. You absolutely could be forgiven for thinking that this is perfect just the way it is.<\/p>\n

Until you know that here in Phuket low season has lasted over a year, starting when Phuket International Airport closed in March 2020 as the pandemic gripped the world.<\/p>\n

A lot is riding on the proposed Phuket Tourism Sandbox recovery plan. The locals would give anything for their beaches to be busy, their bars to be buzzing, and the hotels full. (UPDATED 18 June)<\/p>\n

See end for all the useful Phuket links needed.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Waikiki this might not be, but we have loved every minute of every wander on Kata Beach since we first arrived at the beginning of 2021. Those that stop to linger before diving headlong into the swell, will sense that change is afoot.<\/p>\n

The Kata streets are still eerily quiet, although a few restaurants have recently dusted off their menus to reopen on July 1st and we are happy to see that the massage and spas can reopen. Sadly, however, as Phuket prepares to open up, and with interprovincial travel discouraged, more hotels than ever, like The Boathouse, have finally succumbed and temporarily closed for the month of June.<\/p>\n

If you head to the beach, you will find new signs up, sun loungers and street art have appeared, and it’s all action!<\/p>\n

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And I’m not just talking about the surfers…<\/p>\n

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