New Thai government urged to lift martial law in tourist areas

BANGKOK, September 4 (TNA) - The new Thai government has been urged to end the martial law enforcement in provinces, where there are tourist attractions, to boost the national economy in the fourth quarter of this year. Thanavath Phonvichai, Director of Bangkok-based University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce's Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting, made the call on Thursday, suggesting as well that the government clearly stimulate the national economy to create confidence in Thailand and to also speed up disbursements of state budgets. Thanavath acknowledged that the Thai economy has not yet recovered significantly, as farm product prices and Thai export growth remain low, although the country's consumer confidence index (CCI) rose for the fourth consecutive month and made its new high in 13 months in August 2014, standing at 80.1 points, boosted by now stable Thai politics. Meanwhile, the Thai Chamber of Commerce predicted that the country's exports should grow by 1-1.5 per cent this year, instead of 1.2-2 per cent earlier anticipated. (TNA)