The government is expected to allow vaccinated tourists to visit Phuket without having to undergo quarantine, starting in July.

Supattanapong Punmeechaow, deputy prime minister, said the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA), will today consider a reopening plan approved by business operators on the island.

The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the plan could serve as a model for the reopening process for other provinces that rely on tourism.

Local entrepreneurs and communities have agreed the island province could reopen to foreign tourists, Mr Supattanapong said.

Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), has said the reopening plan will  depend largely on vaccine allocation to the Andaman Sea island.

He said herd immunity must be achieved by inoculating 70% of the population before foreign visitors are allowed in by the reopening date.

The plan is said to include a vaccination proposal, complete with the number of doses needed and an inoculation timeline suitable for a safe reopening of the tourist island.