Thailand Tourism Stimulus Program Set to Launch October 1
Thailand's government will launch a 1.75 billion baht tourism stimulus program on October 1 to boost domestic travel and support hotels and related businesses. The initiative aims to circulate at least 5 billion baht through the tourism sec
Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenvorrakul announced on August 18 that the National Economic and Social Development Council is finalizing spending conditions for the Thailand Tourism Plus program ahead of its October 1 launch. While the Tourism Ministry has not yet formally submitted the proposal to the cabinet, the council reported progress on the initiative during cabinet discussions, with plans to meet the October 1 deadline while incorporating feedback from the hotel industry, which has requested expedited rollout by September.
The minister said the initial phase budget is 1.75 billion baht, with success potentially triggering further phases to stimulate domestic tourism. He acknowledged some slowdown in domestic travel but noted improvements following energy-related challenges. Foreign visitor arrivals have declined 2-3 percent against a forecast of over 33 million for the year, though the ministry expects a rebound in the final quarter alongside new international airline routes.
When asked about the program's economic impact, Surasak projected spending circulation of at least 5 billion baht across tourism services, hotels, accommodations, and tourism businesses, providing broad-based stimulus across the sector.
