Phuket needs fully vaccinated Thai tourists to help the recovery of local tourism, according to provincial authorities.

The deputy governor said the lockdown in Phuket is causing hardship to the local economy.

Phuket is under lockdown despite 75% of its population having two vaccine doses.

In practice, the province should now have gained herd immunity while foreign visitors in Phuket as part of the tourism sandbox programme are also fully vaccinated.

However, the deputy governor said the province remains under lockdown. Some other provinces which have reported far more new infections than Phuket have not imposed entry restrictions for their visitors.

Sandbox travellers were also subject to at least three swabs during their stay in Phuket. At the same time, the swab requirement does not apply to fully vaccinated Thai nationals in the province.

He said if Thai tourists who have received two doses of the vaccine could visit Phuket, provided they have taken a swab test before arriving, it would boost Phuket's tourism.

They should be able to travel to the island province by land, sea and air.

It has been proposed that people from all at-risk provinces must be fully vaccinated and have undertaken a swab test within 48 hours prior to entry to Phuket. The proposal will be raised for discussion with the local communicable disease committee.