Thailand to announce stimulus package to woo Chinese tourists
Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand said on Saturday, 27th October 2018 that new measures will be announced next month to lure tourists back to the country, especially those from China.
Somkid said measures in the package would include a tax measure for jewellery purchases, a tourism package with free flights to second-tier tourist provinces and a waiver fee for visa-on-arrival.
“The cabinet to approve a stimulus package in the second half of November. It would be effective until the end of December,” said Somkid.
“The measures would involve the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Finance Ministry and Thai Airways International. The measures mainly target Chinese tourists for the sake of national income”, added Somkid.
Thailand received 28.5 million international tourists during the first nine months of the year, depicting 8.7 percent growth from previous year.
In August, Travellers from China dropped by 12 percent, making biggest drop in more than a year, keeping the overall pace of visitor growth near a 16 month low after a tour boat capsized off Phuket in July which killed 47 Chinese tourists.
It is told there used to be seven to 12 charter flights per day from China to Krabi, but now it is down to three flights per day with some having two to three people on board.