As popular tourist spots across the Asia-Pacific reopen, locals are hopeful but cautious

Popular tourist destinations across South-East Asia and the Pacific are beginning to reopen their borders to international visitors, with measures in place to try and minimise the risk of further outbreaks. Key points: COVID lockdowns devastated Asia-Pacific tourism Trials have begun to allow tourists to visit with limits Experts warn there are risks to reopening Thailand has already experimented by reopening its biggest island, Phuket, to overseas tourists as a "sandbox", and Vietnam plans to follow suit allowing international visitors to the island of Phu Quoc, starting next month. "I’m very happy, and I hope overseas tourists can come on vacation to Bali really soon.” Thailand's 'sandbox' model for international tourism The vast majority of Phuket's income is linked to tourism and it was lost when Thailand tightened its borders and enforced strict rules. "For 15 months we had no international tourists in Phuket at all — like anywhere in the world, it's definitely been a challenge," said Daniel Meury, the general manager of Andara Resort near Phuket's Kamala Beach. "It's a good way to start, because we are talking about big countries with lots of people, so you can't just open the whole country," he said.