Ministry seeks B2.45bn for tourism

Funding from the borrowing decree enables low-season rollout of stimulus Local travellers are expected to use the subsidy for domestic tourism from September. The government plans to launch tourism stimulus projects worth 2.45 billion baht in September, relying on funding from the 200-billion-baht borrowing decree allocated to ease cost-of-living pressures amid the surge in energy prices, says the Tourism and Sports Ministry.Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said to lift tourism during the low season, the ministry wants to seek funding from the emergency loan decree, which was issued to address the economic downturn, rather than waiting for the central budget for fiscal 2027. The stimulus schemes comprise: the "Thai Teaw Thai Plus" domestic co-payment programme valued at 1.75 billion baht for 500,000 privileges with up to 3,000 baht per booking; the "Fly Thai All the Feelings" domestic flight discount scheme valued at 200 million baht; and the "Thailand Air Connect" international flight subsidy worth 500 million baht for charter flights and commercial flights. The three schemes are expected to generate 56 billion baht in revenue. Mr Surasak said if the ministry waits for next year's central budget, these schemes may not be launched until the year-end high season, missing an opportunity to boost travel activities during a typically quiet September and October. The 400-billion-baht emergency loan decree was divided into two components: 200 billion to support Thailand's transition to renewable and clean energy, and 200 billion to offer immediate relief measures for vulnerable households and businesses affected by the energy crisis. He said the stimulus schemes could fall under the latter category, which was already used to launch the "Thais Help Thais Plus" co-payment scheme, as tourism operators and airlines were directly impacted by the energy crisis. The three schemes were approved by the ministry's public-private committee meeting last month. The ministry expects to finalise the budget details with Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas next week, aiming to propose them to the cabinet by the end of August. Mr Surasak said if the first phase is successful, the ministry will launch a second phase of stimulus during the next low season. Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta), said launching these schemes during the low season would provide greater benefits to the tourism industry, helping operators increase occupancy rates before the start of the high season. There is strong demand from overseas operators to arrange charter flights to Thailand, particularly from China, he said. The subsidy would help ease operators' costs as fuel prices and airfares surge, said Mr Thanapol. Atta hosted the "Thailand Tourism Leadership Forum 2026" yesterday, featuring business-to-business matching sessions that brought together more than 600 buyers and sellers from across Thailand.