The Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) has approved tourism promotion and stimulus measures proposed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to lure back foreign tourists to Thailand.
The measures comprise special tour packages and the approval for Thailand Elite Card holders to invest in property and other investments.
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn, in partnership with tour operators and Thai Airways International Plc, said the packages will be offered to foreign tourists who pass the quarantine requirements, with the government subsidising transport expenses.
TAT plans to use 20 million baht of its own budget to subsidise free lodging and transport expenses to provincial areas for foreign visitors, he said.
The agency projects the scheme will attract 2,000 foreign visitors a month, spending 93,000 to 100,000 baht per person per head.
The programme will be implemented between December to March 2021, coinciding with the period when flights for the national carrier are scheduled to restart to Europe and the Asia-Pacific markets.
CESA also approved offering work permits and visas to Elite Card holders who invest US$1 million in Thailand within one year after approval.
They are allowed to invest in property, company shares and the Stock Exchange of Thailand. They are also required to maintain their investments for at least five years.
Existing holders of the Elite Cards are eligible to join the scheme on the condition they must have validity for their card for at least five years. New members who apply for the packages have to pay the card's fee, worth more than 1 million baht.
The TAT reported there were 372 foreign visitors travelling to Thailand between July 9 and Nov 16 under the special tourism visa scheme, most of them from China.
Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council, said the centre also yesterday approved in principle the second phase of the co-payment scheme following a positive response to the first phase of the scheme.
The Finance Ministry was told to prepare more details of the new phase and propose them to the next meeting of CESA on Dec 2.