Koh Samui aims to implement quarantine-free travel for vaccinated visitors from Oct 1.

"Koh Samui wants to grab tourist demand as there are many destinations globally that require no quarantine," said Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui.

Koh Samui is expected to be the first area in Surat Thani to test entry procedures for foreigners because the island has an airport.

Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are reachable via ferry and they can develop their own entry standards.

Mr Ratchaporn said local communities have no opposition to a quarantine-free tourism plan.

However, some 300,000 vaccine doses have to be administered in Samui to create herd immunity first, he said.

In addition, the government has to allow international commercial flights to transit in Bangkok at a sealed terminal before flying to Koh Samui.

Mr Ratchaporn said there would be one flight per week to get tourists to the island without quarantine in Bangkok.