Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai Government is planningto reopen border checkpoints in the deep South by December 16 to promotetourism amid the reducing daily COVID-19 infection number.

Deputy government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek wasquoted by local media as saying on November 13 that vaccine rollout in theprovinces of Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat has been accelerated,adding that the aim was to deliver at least one jab to more than 60 percent ofthe population.

The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) isplanning to reopen Sadao checkpoint in Songkhla, Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat,Betong in Yala and Satun’s Wang Prachan checkpoint by December 16 in a bid toimprove the tourism sector in the South, Ratchada said.

So far, Thailand has opened 46 border gates, while theremaining 51 have still been closed due to COVID-19.

Two weeks after the country reopened, the private sector isseeing signs of tourism recovery despite lower-than-expected arrivals ofinternational tourists.

To help cash-strapped operators back on their feet,businesses are urging the government to lessen entry regulations, further relaxCOVID-19 curbs and roll out financial packages in a bid to boost the industry.

By the end of this year, Thailand will have procured 155.6million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, far exceeding the 100-million doses targetthe government had set in April.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has set a new target to be achieved before year-end – 80 percent of the populationmust have got at least the first shot and 70 percent their second shot.

Tourism contributed 3,000 billion THB (91.5 billion USD) to the Thai economyin 2019 and 300 billion THB in 2020.

The country expects 10-15 million tourists in 2022 withrevenue of 1,500 billion THB (45.7 billion USD)./.