4 new holidays in Thailand hoped to stimulate domestic travel

Apparently in an effort to boost tourism revenue in Thailand, the Thai Cabinet has approved the creation of 4 new holidays in the middle of next year that allows for extra-long weekends. The government hopes that the creation of these long holiday weekends will encourage domestic travellers to take short getaway holidays around Thailand and stimulate the economy.

The move is an attempt to help the ailing tourism sector that government officials hope is churning back to life after the reopening of the country to international tourists at the beginning of this month. The Deputy Government Spokesperson said that the Covid-19 pandemic had done severe damage to the tourism sector and adding long weekends will give people a chance to take domestic trips and boost the economy.

The 4 new holiday dates launching next year are all on Fridays to create the long weekend:

• July 15
• July 29
• October 14 (King Bhumibol Adulyadej died on October 13, 2016)
• December 31 (New Year’s Eve)

The cabinet is also considering creating more regional holidays across Thailand in addition to these 4 new holidays observed nationally. They did create one additional regional holiday for the end of this year, designating December 28 as a regional holiday in the east to celebrate King Taksin Day. That holiday will be celebrated in the 8 Eastern provinces of Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, and Trat.

SOURCE: National News Bureau of Thailand