Thai government to introduce new tourism stimulus

BANGKOK, August 18 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Finance, has approved in principle a new tourism stimulus package to promote domestic tourism. Permanent Secretary for Finance Somchai Sujjapongse told journalists on Friday that Thai Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong has initially endorsed the new tourism stimulus package, but asking the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to make a review to ensure that the new tourism stimulus package will benefit not only major Thai tourist destinations, but also other local communities where tourist sites are being promoted. According to the senior official, the new tourism stimulus package, proposed by TAT, comprises of three categories, including tax cuts of 15,000 baht totally for each tourist spending his/her money while travelling in 14 major Thai tourist provinces, 30,000 baht totally for each tourist spending his/her money while travelling in 12 local tourist destinations campaigned as "must not miss" by TAT and 50,000 baht totally for each tourist spending his/her money while travelling in 51 minor Thai tourist provinces. Meanwhile, the senior official said that his ministry plans to submit a new measure to support low income earners to the Thai Cabinet for further consideration and decision next week. (TNA)