Bangkok: The "Thai Travel Plus" initiative is set to deploy a 2 billion baht loan in a strategic move to invigorate Thailand's tourism sector by the end of the year. Collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Finance aim to ensure that the program is both cost-effective and beneficial to all participating businesses.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Ms. Supajee Suthamphan, who oversees the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, disclosed the ongoing deliberations about leveraging funds from the 1.75 to 2 billion baht emergency loan decree for the "Thai Tourism Plus" project. She highlighted ongoing discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapha.
Ms. Supajee stressed the importance of efficient planning, whether using loan funds or regular budget allocations, to ensure that financial aid reaches tourism entrepreneurs and stimulates genuine economic growth. Concurrently, the Ministry of Finance is reviewing the outcomes of the "Thai Helps Thai Plus" project to gauge its impact.
Moreover, Ms. Supajee mentioned that the timing of the Thai Tourism Plus project does not have to coincide with the Thai Help Thai Plus Phase Two initiative. She noted that tourism projects should ideally be launched during peak tourist seasons, from the year's end into the following year, while the Thai Help Thai Plus project will be evaluated based on immediate necessities.
The next phase involves awaiting the committee's assessment, chaired by Mr. Ekniti, before the proposal is submitted to the Cabinet for final approval.