The private sector on Phuket has joined forces to push for a self-funded vaccination program, to inoculate up to 70% of its population, in the hope that the resort island will be able to reopen to foreign tourists on October 1st, which is the start of the annual tourism season.

The president of Tourism Business Association, Poommikit Raktae-ngarm, said that all the tourism-related businesses agreed that Phuket must reopen on October 1st to foreign tourists who have been vaccinated, otherwise many businesses in Phuket will go bankrupt.