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Phuket welcomed back its first batch international tourists on July 1. It was only 347 people, some of them returning Thais, but it was at least the reboot promised by the Thai government. Amid a resurgence of Covid across Thailand, the Phuket Sandbox remains a vital blueprint for the reopening of the country and kickstart of the tourism industry. Between the economic realities and the public health imperatives is, hopefully, a balance moving forward.