Thai Cabinet nods for new shopping tax break

BANGKOK, December 14 (TNA) - The Thai Cabinet has approved a new shopping tax incentive to spur public spending during the upcoming New Year Festival. Thai Tourism and Sports Minister Konkarn Wattanavrangkura told journalists of the update on Tuesday. Under the new tourism stimulus measure, approved by the Thai Cabinet at its weekly meeting earlier in the day, the government will allow a tax deduction of up to 15,000 baht to each Thai traveller who purchase goods and services during their trips in the country, set during December 14-31. The tax rebate for local shoppers came after the government's extension of earlier tourism stimulus measure, endorsed by the Thai Cabinet last month, to offer a 15,000-baht tax deduction for each Thai tourist spending on their tour packages and hotel accommodations on domestic travels during December 1-31, 2016. The minister said that the Thai Cabinet also approved a bill on the establishment of a new national sports ministry and has forwarded it for further legislative procedures before its promulgation in the near future. (TNA)