BANGKOK – The Thai government today has approved a 22.4 billion baht (US$720 million) domestic tourism stimulus package as part of efforts to accelerate recovery of the Covid-hit travel sector.
The project, which encompasses three stimulus packages, is expected to stimulate two million domestic trips during 1 July – 31 October, 2020, and is aimed at generating income for accommodation establishments, airlines, tour companies, restaurants, and related businesses.
The 18-billion-baht Rao Pai Thiao Kan package will fund subsidies for accommodation and restaurants at destinations across the country. The budget will benefit 24,700 accommodation establishments and 36,755 restaurants and related businesses.
A total of five million nights of accommodation will be offered to domestic tourists, who will be responsible for 60% of the room rates. The subsidy will cover the other 40% but is limited to 3,000 baht per night for up to five nights.
Subsidies for food and attractions will be capped at 600 baht per night for up to five nights. Likewise, domestic tourists will pay 60% of the actual expenses while the subsidy will cover the remaining 40%.
Another two million baht for Thiao Pan Suk is to fund subsidies for two million domestic air tickets. The subsidy will cover 40% of the domestic flight fares with a cap of 1,000 baht per tourist. Tourists must book accommodation establishments under the Rao Pai Thiao Kan package to be eligible for the flight subsidy.
The remaining 2.4 million baht for Kamlangjai is to fund domestic holiday travel for 1.2 million health volunteers and officials of sub-districts hospitals. They must engage the services of tour companies to be eligible for the subsidy that is limited to 2,000 baht per tourist for a trip of at least two days and one night. This subsidy is expected to help 13,000 tour companies and generate 6.5 billion baht for the local economy.