Government's 1 Billion Baht Tourism Stimulus Package Ignores Phu

A THB1billion baht emergency Thai Government emergency stimulus package has prioritized the "Royal Coast Tourism Development Plan" which has been approved by the cabinet, while ignoring for the most part the countries leading resort destination Phuket. The plan is targeting Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Ranong as areas of growth to attract high end tourism. A long term national initiative has adopted the strategy of growing these destinations due to their proximity near large metropolitan population concentrations.
Draft versions of a pending National Tourism Agenda have been recently released which focus mainly on SME loans to small cap tourism operators and businesses, reductions in aircraft landing fees and entrance to National Parks, tax benefits aimed for domestic tourism and a hotel operator tax holiday. While these initiatives have merit, there remains skepticism that the current Government has yet to show its acknowledgment of tourism as a leading proponent of GDP.