Aug 11 another public holiday

Aug 11 another public holiday

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has added Aug 11 to the list of public holidays this year in order to create an extra long weekend to boost the tourism sector.

Fewer foreign tourists are visiting Thailand due to the political unrest, so the junta hopes a four-day long weekend from Aug 9-12 will help to re-energise tourism in the country. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)

NCPO spokeswoman Col Sirichan Ngathong said the NPCO meeting on Wednesday agreed to add Aug 12 as another public holiday.

The additional day makes for a four-day-long weekend from Aug 9 to 12.

Aug 9 and 10 fall on Saturday and Sunday and Aug 12 is the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, a national holiday.

The decision was made to promote tourism in the country and revitalise the economy. It was proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports on Monday in talks with Adm Narong Pipattansai, the NCPO deputy chairman and navy commander.

The tourism sector is in a slump due to the street rallies by the People's Democratic Reform Committee followed by the enforcement of martial law and the military coup.

Despite the end of a nationwide curfew, martial law remains in force. Its enforcement since May 22 has prompted a number of foreign countries in the region and further abroad to advise against visiting Thailand for now.

The political unrest in Thailand has prompted tourism authories to scale down the projection of foreign visitors to the country from 28 million to 26 million this year.

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