Nearly 10,000 foreign visitors were left stranded on three islands of this southern province, including about 5,700 on Koh Samui, when passenger flights were halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tikamporn Sutti-udomrat, Surat Thani's tourism and sports chief, said on Wednesday that besides the 5,700 visitors to Koh Samui, there were around 3,300 other international tourists on Koh Phangan and around 1,000 on Koh Tao.

"We have issues with housing, transport, and increasing expense issues. I have requested assistance from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports," he said. Mr. Tikamporn has requested local officials and hoteliers to allow the foreigners to remain before Surat Thani can depart.

His office arranged accommodation for foreigners who were experiencing acute issues but they would have to go to health checks, he added.

Meanwhile, Thailand's branch on Koh Samui Tourism Authority said the Turkish embassy in Thailand had scheduled a chartered flight, Turkish Airlines flight THY 6102/59, to repatriate Turkish visitors. The flight was scheduled to depart Thursday at 6 pm from Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province.