SURAT THANI: Koh Samui will receive its first delivery of Covid-19 vaccine before the end of the month and inoculations will begin early next month, with people in the disease control and tourism sectors among the first.
Surat Thani governor Wichawut Jinto said on Thursday that the tourist resort island would receive 2,500 initial doses of the vaccine, which would be given to 1,250 people.
The vaccine would arrive this month, and vaccinations begin next month.
Half would be reserved for medical and health personnel, health screening workers and local government officials.
He said people in the tourism industry - including airport workers, people providing shuttle services, and hotel quarantine facilities - would get 22% of the allocated doses.
He said 26% would be for village-based health volunteers and the general public and 2% reserved for provincial Covid-19 inspectors.
Mr Wichawut also said that Koh Samui authorities had proposed that visitors be allowed to quarantine on their yachts, at villa hotels and wellness centres. There was demand from potential visitors in these areas.
Supakan Yodshun, chief of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's office on Koh Samui, said local tourism businesses on Koh Samui and nearby Koh Phangan and Koh Tao were offering discounts for accommodation, restaurants, spas, tourist boats and air fares from this month until April.
She also said Indian families were interested in visiting Koh Samui on chartered flights for weddings and spa services.