RCI Affiliated Resorts In Phuket Celebrate Return Of International Leisure Travel
Thursday, July 8, 2021
The world’s leading vacation ownership external exchange company, RCI, is celebrating with its affiliated resorts in Phuket on the return of international leisure travel as the Phuket Sandbox is reopening.
The ‘Phuket Sandbox’ program was introduced by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. This program allows for fully vaccinated foreign travelers to visit Phuket without quarantine requirements as of July 1, 2021.
RCI affiliated resorts in Phuket include Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao Phuket, Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort Phuket, and Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay. They have all been certified SHA+, meaning they meet the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) standards and have at least 70-percent 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.”
During the pandemic, RCI launched two new travel products to aid in the pent-up travel demand from its members. The Hotel Exchange program allows members to use their trading power or points to book discounted stays at over 600,000 hotels worldwide (Phuket included).
RCI’s Enhanced Exchange Protection gives members peace of mind for their booking, allowing them to cancel their exchange booking up to 2 business days before check-in.
Visitors can feel confident traveling to Phuket as resorts have enhanced cleaning protocols in place and the island will have fewer crowds for the perfect relaxing escape.
“Once you are here on the island it is business as usual, and apart from mandatory masks you have all the freedom as your prior visits to Phuket,” said Lyndon Ellis, General Manager of Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao Phuket. “Expect rejuvenated beaches and lesser crowds.”
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 3.5 days. The majority of its guests are coming from the Middle East and Europe, with just 25-percent of travelers from Thailand. Wyndham Kalim Bay is seeing 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 more before reopening. Learn more about RCI and its catalog of affiliated resorts worldwide by visiting their website.
