Government Weighs Tourism Stimulus Package Funding Options

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachee Panitchpakdi revealed progress on the next phase of economic stimulus measures, saying the government is currently consulting with Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas to review all measures thoroughly. The government has not yet decided whether to fund the packages through loans or regular budget allocations, as officials must ensure funds are used with maximum efficiency, benefit the public broadly, and not create unnecessary fiscal burden.

Paramount is that measures should not be short-term cash injections alone but must help generate genuine income for the economy, particularly tourism, retail, local businesses, and travel-inclined citizens, circulating money throughout regions and stimulating economic activity widely. "This requires careful consideration and proper planning first, as we must use funds as efficiently as possible and distribute them as widely as possible," Panitchpakdi said.

The government is still evaluating responses from previous measures and proposals from Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilpraparth, who wants comprehensive results from the "Plus" group initiatives before moving forward with new packages. For "Thailand Travel Thailand" and "Thais Helping Thais," Panitchpakdi said there is no need to launch everything simultaneously, as each measure has different objectives, timelines, and target groups that must be tailored to necessity and appropriateness for maximum public benefit.

Tourism measures should align with seasonal demand to maximize travel incentive across hotels, restaurants, and transport, while urgent assistance or measures to unlock domestic economic potential may roll out at different stages depending on cost-of-living conditions and consumer purchasing power. All details will be reviewed by Ekniti's working group—including budget size, funding sources, target groups, duration, and economic impact—before resubmission to the Cabinet.