Thailand’s council of the economic ministers has approved in principle new measures proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to boost tourism in the short, medium and long terms.
Visitors at Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) –Thailand’s council of the economic ministers has approved in principle newmeasures proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to boost tourism in theshort, medium and long terms.
Short-termmeasures, which will be implemented in the remaining months of 2019, aim to fulfill the target of welcoming 39.8 million foreign visitors and generating 2.04trillion THB this year.
Kobsak Pootrakool,deputy secretary-general to Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for political affairs, said theshort-term measures include free re-entry visas for foreign tourists who visitneighbouring countries by land, increased value-added tax (VAT) refund agents,more downturn VAT refund venues and VAT refunds in cash on the spot.
Companies will also beallowed to claim deductions of up to two times expenses if they organiseseminars in the country while rules relating to the travel offoreigners, who receive a long-term visa, within Thailand will be reviewed, hesaid.
Kobsak added the government will open checkpoints with Laos and Malaysia around the clockduring weekends and long holidays. This measure is to last three months.
For medium- andlong-term measures, he said hoteland other accommodation providers will be offered financial help, in the form ofloans, to upgrade their properties, while new safety rules will be put in placeto lessen the risks of accidents or death for tourists.
Thailandalso plans to host major entertainment and sporting events in an effort toincrease the number of visitors, while trying to attract more internationalconferences to the country.
Earlierthis week, Thai Ministerof Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has said the ministry is pushingfor cuts in tariffs on branded products to foster tourism sector, a key economic sector of the country.
Last year, Thailand welcomed38.2 million foreign tourist arrivals, a year-on-year increase of 7.3 percent. Next year, thecountry expects to welcome 41.8 million foreign visitors, who will spend 2.22trillion THB./.
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Visitors at Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
