5-day break in May backed by Cabinet

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: The Cabinet yesterday approved a proposal to make May 4 a public holiday to extend the holiday period between Labour Day and Coronation Day to five days.

The new holiday will be added to the existing public holidays: Labour Day, which falls on Friday May 1, and Coronation Day, which falls on Tuesday, May 5.

This will increase the length of the break during the period to five days.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said the five days of public holidays would stimulate tourism revenue by 10 per cent during this period. She said it was similar to the long New Year holiday, which gave a successful boost to the economy.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha had encouraged the ministry to pay close attention to promoting quality tourism for both local and foreign tourists, as well as increasing the safety of individual tourists at major destinations, Ms Kobkarn said.

— Phuket Gazette Editors