Bangkok, Mar 27 (IANS): Thai authorities have approved a waiver to lift quarantine measures for vaccinated foreign travellers to enter Phuket, the country's largest island, effective from July 1, a Minister confirmed.

In a statement, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said that this move will make Phuket the country's first tourist destination where the quarantine measures for vaccinated visitors will be no longer be enforced upon arrival, reports Xinhua news agency.

The decision was taken during a meeting organised by the government-run Center for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, during this year's second quarter, between April 1 and June 30, the seven-day quarantine measures will be enforced for vaccinated foreign tourists in several famour tourist destinations of Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phang Nga, Krabi and Koh Samui.

During the third quarter, the vaccinated foreign visitors will be officially required to stay in Phuket for at least seven days before they may leave for any other destinations, Phiphat said.

During this year's fourth quarter from October to December, the quarantine measures will be completely lifted for the vaccinated foreign visitors to all of those tourist destinations.

The CESA has planned to reopen the entire country to foreign visitors without quarantine measures from the beginning of next year's first quarter.