Raft of measures aimed at driving Thailand recovery
BANGKOK – Thailand’s The Tourism and Sports Ministry has submitted 13 tourism recovery measures for government approval.
The proposals include waiving visa fees, cutting airfares and reducing airport charges.
“The ministry has compiled [the measures] from the needs and proposals from the private sector,” said tourism minister Chumpol Silapa-Archa.
International arrival figures in January were 20 percent down on one year ago as visitors stayed away following last year’s political upheaval which included the siege of Bangkok’s airports.
Among the measures proposed to revive the sector, the tourism ministry will urge Thai Airways International and other carriers to cut fares by 50 per cent to encourage more advanced bookings.
It is also urging the government to waive visa fees for tourists from all countries for six months, with a possible extension of a further six months.
The ministry has also asked the government to reduce value-added tax on hotel room rates for one year, and Airports of Thailand to reduce landing and parking fees at the country’s international airports in a bid to persuade more airlines to restore their Thai operations.
The ministry also plans to promote the major destinations of Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga for local tourism by reducing airport taxes and surcharges. In addition, all national parks should play their part by waiving entrance fees for three years.
Chumpol said the ministry would seek an additional budget from the government to assist the tourism sector.
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved Bt1 billion to help tourism and related businesses, but more funding was needed to support the recovery effort.
Prakit Chinamourphong, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said three- and four-star hotels planned to discount room rates by 50 per cent for people visiting the country in February and March.
Ian Jarrett
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