A revised subsidy scheme to stimulate domestic tourism is set to go before the cabinet meeting next Tuesday.
According to Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the ministry is scheduled to propose a revised budget worth 4 billion baht, with half of the budget allotted to support the fifth phase of the "Rao Tiew Duay Kan" (We Travel Together) hotel subsidy campaign to promote domestic tourism.
Of the total budget, 2 billion baht would be allocated for the fifth phase of the We Travel Together campaign to promote domestic tourism for a total of 500,000 rooms, he said.
Another 2 billion baht would go to the Tourism Authority of Thailand marketing budget for overseas and domestic activities, with the aim of drawing 20 million foreign arrivals generating 2.38 trillion baht this year, said Mr Phiphat.
The We Travel Together hotel subsidy scheme was launched in July 2020 to stimulate local tourism, which was clobbered by the first wave of the pandemic.
Participants in the scheme paid 60% of normal hotel room rates, with the government responsible for the balance as well as an e-voucher worth 600 baht per room per day to be spent at shops such as food outlets and traditional Thai massage venues participating in the scheme.
However, he said the proposed subsidy scheme would cap spending at a maximum of 3,600 baht per person, while the number of room nights would be reduced to five rooms per person per night from 10 rooms per person per night in the fourth phase.
In a related development, Mr Phiphat said Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is scheduled to chair a joint meeting tomorrow of three related ministries to consider measures to support and facilitate Chinese tourists after Beijing announced a policy to allow international travel without quarantine from Jan 8.
Mr Phiphat said the Tourism and Sports Ministry would propose offering vaccinations for tourists entering Thailand who have yet to be inoculated, according to criteria set by the Public Health Ministry.
The vaccination costs will be handled by tourists who want to get vaccinated in Thailand, he said.