Thailand expects tourism revenues to go up in September

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is expecting tourism revenues in September to grow by 20% compared to the same month last year, after the government approved September 4 and 7 as compensation holidays for this year’s Songkran Festival.

The festival was postponed due to the pandemic. TAT’s governor has said the long weekend in September will stimulate people to take advantage of the ‘Rao Tiew Duay Kan’ (We Travel Together) tourism stimulus campaign. September normally has no national holidays, and schools nationwide are already open.

In addition, the TAT aims to organise a fair to stimulate the tourism sector this month. Numerous hotel operators and airlines will be invited to have booths there with promotions, Nation Thailand has reported.

At a recent meeting between the TAT and entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, businesses demanded that the government assist them in reductions of their major costs; they are seeking suspension of debt payment to be expanded, and asked the Social Security Office to take care of their staff.

The entrepreneurs demanded that the government support their financial liquidity, and hasten the return of tourists to visit the country’s “safe and sealed areas” which are strictly controlled.