Domestic tourism schemes ‘to generate Bt70bn from Bt22.4bn budget’

The packages to stimulate domestic tourism, which are being rolled out with a whopping budget of Bt22.4 billion, were approved by the Cabinet on June 16. They will run for four months between July and October.
The Tiew Pan Suk (Trips to share happiness) package is designed to help transport businesses, from airlines to car rental firms. It will subsidise at least 2 million travellers by paying 40 per cent of their travel fares, not exceeding Bt1,000. The project will cost Bt2 billion.
The Rao Pai Tiew Gun (Let’s travel together) package will offer a 40-per-cent discount on accommodation costing up to Bt3,000 per night for a maximum of five nights. Recipients are required to travel outside their hometowns.
This package will also fill tourists’ e-wallets with Bt600 per night for a maximum of five nights, to be used to pay for tourism activities such as spa services, souvenirs and restaurants. The scheme, which will subsidise up to 5 million nights of stay, will cost Bt18 billion.
The Kum Lang Jai (Encouragement) package will reward about 1.2 million village health volunteers and subdistrict hospital staff for their work during the Covid-19 outbreak. It will offer a subsidy of Bt2,000 per person on travel costs for a minimum of two days. This scheme will cost the government Bt2.4 billion.
Tourism Council chief Chairat added that he wants the government to provide financial aid to small and medium-sized tourism operators, who are short of liquidity.
Thai Hotels Association president Supawan Tanomkietipume expects the travel mood to return in August following the launch of the three packages. She predicts this would boost the hotel occupancy rate nationwide to around 40 per cent from July to October – enough to keep hoteliers in business while they wait for the return of foreign travellers early next year.
Foreign tourists account for 60 per cent of the country's tourism income.