The tourism minister has ordered a probe into the use of 1.8 million baht in state budget to hold a four-hour meeting chaired by the prime minister on Friday.
Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said on Saturday she was looking into the details of the spending.
"I admit I haven't seen the documents since the budget was approved at officials' level. But I'll look into the facts," she said.
The meeting, attended by the permanent secretaries of all ministries, was one of the annual gatherings so top officials have a chance to meet with the prime minister and learn about his policies and to meet their peers. Ministries take turns holding the meeting each year.
According to the government's website, the meeting was held to follow up on the progress of key missions of the government and to brainstorm solutions to existing administrative problems such as those involving integration, human resource management and closer cooperation among ministries.
It also discussed work plans for the remaining 18 months of the government.
The No. 2/2559 meeting was held at one of the meeting rooms at the Tourism Ministry on Ratchadamnoen Nok Aveneue on Friday amid reports of the extravagant use of the budget for it.
Thai media reported earlier that the budget had been used to hire one of the ministry's long-time outsourced organiser, Com Arts Production Co Ltd.
The company was contracted to prepare the venue, organise exhibitions showcasing tourism products, provide food, beverages and snacks, as well as waiters and take photos and video clips.
After the news about the spending was leaked, many have criticised the budget was excessively high and not cost-effective considering the meeting's duration and the fact that only 30% of the flowers used were real. (Story continues below)
The atmosphere in the meeting room. (Photo by Phrakrit Juntawong)
Permanent secretary Pongpanu Svetarundra said he would ask officials who had approved the budget for explanations.
"Personally, I think the budget should have been less than a million baht. The lunch — tom yum kung and masman curry — was prepared by Rajabhat University's Suan Dusit campus, which does not charge much. Souvenirs are cloth bags, a folk gift costing 200-300 baht each," he said.
A source at Playmaker Organizer Co Ltd, which subcontracted the job from Com Arts, said it had spent a week preparing the event.
There were two exhibitions showing cultural dances and festivities, as well as two meals — breakfast and lunch — and snack boxes.
Ministry officials said outsourcing was necessary because the event involved 580 people — permanent secretaries, their teams, media and security guards — while the ministry's venue accommodated up to 250.
As a result, the meeting room had to be modified to support a larger audience. Additional projectors, audio equipment and microphones also had to be installed.
The ministry also lacked human resources to prepare what was needed such as food, service and technicians for engineering and decoration works.
One of the exhibitions held for the event. (Photo by Phrakrit Juntawong)
The exterior of the ministry on Thursday. (Photo by Phrakrit Juntawong)