2 weeks ago
Thailand Unveils Tourism Subsidy Plan, Proposes Foreign Visitor Fee
Thailand is a country that many people like to visit on holiday.
The government there wants to help people who live in Thailand travel and have fun in their own country.
They are starting a special program called Thai Travel Thai Plus.
This program will pay for half of people's travel costs, up to a certain amount of money.
People can get help paying for food, fun activities, guided tours and even car rentals.
This is supposed to help many different businesses, not just hotels and restaurants.
Thailand is also thinking about charging visitors from other countries a small fee to enter.
That money would be used to keep tourist places nice and safe and to help nature recover.
But the fee is still just an idea, with no amount or start date decided yet.
It is not in effect right now.
Thailand plans to launch the four-month Thai Travel Thai Plus domestic tourism subsidy in September during the Green Season.
The programme has a preliminary budget of 1.75 billion baht and will provide 500,000 entitlements via Krungthai Bank's Pao Tang application.
The government would subsidise 50% of eligible spending, with a maximum subsidy of 3,000 baht per entitlement and up to five entitlements per participant.
The voucher linked to each entitlement would increase from 500 to 1,000 baht and cover meals, attraction admission, tours, car hire and other tourism-related goods.
Thailand is separately proposing a fee for foreign visitors to fund the Thailand Tourism Promotion Fund, with no amount, collection method or launch date announced.
- Who
- Thailand's government and Tourism and Sports Ministry, domestic tourists in the Thai Travel Thai Plus scheme, and foreign visitors who may face a new entry fee.
- What
- Launching the Thai Travel Thai Plus domestic tourism subsidy programme and proposing a fee for foreign visitors to fund tourism infrastructure, visitor safety and environmental restoration.
- Where
- Thailand, with particular focus on spreading benefits to secondary tourism cities.
- When
- Thai Travel Thai Plus is expected to launch in September during Thailand's Green Season; no launch date has been announced for the foreign visitor fee.
- Why
- To encourage spending across the wider tourism economy and to fund tourism infrastructure, visitor safety and rehabilitation of natural destinations.
Key facts
- Programme
- Thai Travel Thai Plus domestic tourism subsidy
- Budget
- 1.75 billion baht preliminary budget
- Entitlements
- 500,000 entitlements via Krungthai Bank's Pao Tang application
- Subsidy
- 50% of eligible spending, up to 3,000 baht per entitlement
- Voucher value
- Increased from 500 to 1,000 baht per entitlement
- Launch
- September, during Thailand's Green Season
- Estimated economic impact
- More than 26 billion baht in economic circulation
- Foreign visitor fee
- Proposed; revenue to go to the Thailand Tourism Promotion Fund
Sources
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