RCI affiliated resorts in Phuket celebrate return of International Leisure travel

Under the ‘Phuket Sandbox’ programme introduced by Tourism Authority of Thailand, fully vaccinated foreign travellers can visit Phuket without quarantine requirements starting July 1.

RCI, a vacation exchange company under the Panorama portfolio of leading travel membership brands and affiliated resorts in Phuket welcome the positive development.

RCI affiliated resorts including Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao Phuket, Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort Phuket and Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay have been certified SHA+, a certification awarded to hotel operators and businesses who not only meet the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) standards, but also have at least 70 per cent of their staff vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Our members have been scheduling their vacations far ahead in hopes of travelling as soon as flights and international borders reopen,” said Paul Mulcahy, Managing Director for RCI APAC, India & EMEA. “It is great to see that most of our affiliated properties in Phuket are SHA+ certified and we are working closely together with them to fulfill our members’ travel needs.”

RCI launched two new travel products during the COVID-19 pandemic, in view of significant pent-up travel demand from its members. Under the Hotel Exchange programme, members can use their trading power or points to book discounted stays at over 600,000 hotels worldwide, including in Phuket. Members can book stays at multiple hotels for the period of their vacation, in addition to resort stays.

RCI’s Enhanced Exchange Protection provides members with peace of mind for their booking, allowing them to cancel their exchange booking – for any reason at all – up to two business days before their check-in date.Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort Phuket and Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay have reopened since July 2020.

Visitors can expect a refreshed island paradise with fewer crowds, making Phuket a perfect holiday destination for travellers to unwind and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Since the Phuket Sandbox announcement, Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao Phuket has seen its average length of stay for July bookings go up to 6.5 days, up from the usual 3.5 days. The majority of its inbound guests are coming from the Middle East and Europe, with just 25 per cent from domestic Thai travellers. Wyndham Kalim Bay is seeing inbound traveler bookings from Israel, UAE, parts of Europe, and the U.S.

RCI affiliated resorts in other parts of Thailand are waiting for tourism demand arising from the Phuket Sandbox to ramp up before reopening. For instance, Karma Apsara in Koh Samui is scheduled to reopen in September 2021.

“We are starting to see leisure travel returning, with Thailand being the first country in Asia to reopen to international visitors without quarantine,” Mulcahy added. “We look forward to seeing other countries adopting similar models to reopen their borders to international guests and to support the recovery of tourism in the Asia Pacific region.”