The Thai Restaurant Association has called on the new government to introduce an emergency “90-day rescue plan” within its first three months in office to prevent widespread closures across the hospitality sector. Industry leaders are demanding a three-month injection of liquidity to counter rising operational costs and weakening consumer spending. The proposal was outlined on Sunday, 15 February 2026.
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Thaniwan Kulmongkol, president of the Association, said the sector can no longer wait for long-term structural reforms. She urged the administration to be “fast-acting, receptive, and inclusive” during its first 90 days. Businesses are currently facing what she described as a combination of surging costs and subdued consumer demand.
As part of the plan, the Association is calling for the revival of co-payment schemes similar to the previous Kon La Khrueng (Half-and-Half) initiative. Thaniwan described the scheme as a “gold standard” intervention, noting that although it was not exclusively for restaurants, it benefited more than one million small-scale operators and 20 million consumers. She said its success stemmed from effective consultation between the government and private sector.
In contrast, she criticised recent “Soft Power” initiatives, stating that despite strong political promotion they failed to deliver practical results. According to Thaniwan, a lack of consultation with industry practitioners resulted in measures that were “impractical for real-world business”.
The Association’s proposals include targeted government spending to boost purchasing power and help venues manage high raw material costs. It has also suggested hosting major food festivals in 10 key provinces to stimulate domestic tourism if direct subsidies are not introduced. A longer-term proposal, the ‘Super Street Food’ project, aims to formalise and promote regional specialities, beginning with Khao Gaeng (curry and rice) stalls.
The group also raised concerns about foreign entrepreneurs from China, South Korea and Western countries “harvesting” Thai recipes to open profitable businesses abroad without Thai involvement. It warned that without stronger domestic support and strategic planning, Thailand could lose economic opportunities linked to its culinary reputation.
The Nation reported that the Association is seeking direct involvement in policy-making to ensure any stimulus measures are workable and aligned with industry needs. The government has yet to formally respond to the proposal.
Cover picture courtesy of The Nation
Key Takeaways
• The Thai Restaurant Association is demanding a 90-day rescue plan including a three-month liquidity injection.
• It is calling for the revival of the Kon La Khrueng co-payment scheme, which previously supported over one million operators and 20 million consumers.
• The group wants a formal role in policy-making and warns of rising foreign competition.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 17 Feb 2026
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