Thailand promotes tourism with subsidies, vouchers nationwide

Thailand is promoting tourism by offering rate subsidies on hotels and food vouchers at participating businesses nationwide.

According to Bangkok Post, the Thai Cabinet approved a budget of 3.95 billion baht to stimulate tourism, which includes 2.02 billion baht set aside for food-tour vouchers and room discounts of up to 40%.

Under the government’s “We Travel Together” campaign, 560 hotel room nights would be available at a discounted rate for Thai applicants, according to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

Anucha says the government will use that allotted money to provide a 40% discount on room rates as long as the discount is not over 3,000 baht per night, per room.

Each discount applicant can book no more than five nights in a hotel that participates in the campaign. Those who are 18 years and older will also receive a daily 600 baht voucher to spend on tours and food. The offers are available throughout the country.

Anucha says the programme will benefit around 11 million workers in the tourism industry and other sectors, leading to 12.5 billion baht in economical circulation.

He says the remaining budget of 1.93 billion will be used to encourage foreigners and Thais alike to travel more domestically. Such tourism promotional campaigns and tourism-related product developments would be funded with the remaining budget.

Between January 1 and December 20, 2022, Thailand welcomed 10.9 million tourists from around the world.

The TAT surpassed its goal of 10 million tourists in 2022 in early December.

Thai tourism officials say this Chinese New Year Festival drew over 158,000 tourists to the holiday paradise of Phuket.

From January 21-22, the festival drew 158,414 Thai and foreign tourists to Phuket, said the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office director Nanthasiri Ronnasiri.

Nanthasiri said the festival generated at least 2.6 billion baht, Thai media reported. Over the two days, there were 121 international flights from 40 airlines, which carried 24,809 passengers.

There were also 121 domestic flights, which carried 17,155 passengers.