The Public Health Ministry has distributed another 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Krabi to speed up its campaign to cover 70% of local citizens so the province can be reopened to tourists.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said they would be sent to all areas that have not already reopened.
Ko Lanta is expected to be the next area to reopen as it has already vaccinated 90% of its population, while in other parts of the province about 35% of the public have been jabbed, or roughly double this rate among elderly people.
Ko Phi Phi, Ko Ngai and Railay Beach have already started welcoming tourists and they are not connected with the Phuket Sandbox.
They have reached 100% vaccination but have only received 416 visitors since June.
Travellers to these island destinations must observe mandatory health measures such as having two jabs, showing a negative RT-PCR test and following guidelines.
In another step, hotels must have a certified SHA-Plus certificate.
Spokeswoman Traisuree Taisora- nakul said the government has agreed to further ease travel restrictions, halving the quarantine period to seven days and requiring just two negative RT-PCR tests -- one before and one after arrival -- in addition to one further ATK test afterwards.
Moreover, group Certificates of Entry (CoEs) will be issued, commercial flights from Russia to Phuket will be allowed, and the process for visas-on-arrival will be sped up, she added.
Ms Traisuree said Mr Anutin and other officers would visit Krabi and Phang Nga to check on vaccination targets before reopening.