Thai gov’t boosting economic recovery through tourism

The Thai government has pledged to continue promoting tourism activities to boost economic recovery, despite the surge of COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant.

Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha had asked government agencies to support the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ plan for tourism promotion, with the new campaign "Amazing Thailand New Chapter" set for launch within this month.

The government is also planning to charge a 300 baht per person arrival tariff for international visitors from April, which shall be included in the travelers’ airfares or collected separately. This new entry fee will be used to further develop tourism attractions and provide insurance coverage against accidents and deaths in the country.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports now anticipates a 1.3-1.8 trillion baht in tourism revenue this year, from around 5-15 million foreign visitors. This projection is based on the condition that there will be no lockdowns.

The government is expected to continue rolling out domestic tourism campaigns, with stringent disease control measures as a top priority./.

VNA