PM breaks Thai hearts - scraps 1,500 baht cash handout for domestic tourists

[rooster59 20904]

PM breaks Thai hearts - scraps 1,500 baht cash handout for domestic tourists

 

Image: Daily News

 

The Finance Ministry has decided to ditch plans to give 10 million domestic tourists 1,500 baht each to visit 55 second-tier provinces not usually on the tourist trail. 

 

It had earlier been hoped that this would be a good stimulus package for the economy. 

 

But word came down from on high - in the shape of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha that it was not a good use of budgets. In fact Daily News used the term "wasteful". 

 

It was to cost the government 15 billion baht and it was reported that sourcing the money had proved difficult. 

Besides the cash could be better spent elsewhere.

 

Now the focus has shifted to providing domestic tourists with an extension of six months to the period in which they can claim tax breaks on travel. The ceiling for the tax breaks has also been raised from 15,000 baht to 20,000 baht. 

 

Many saw the scheme as just a populist policy in an effort to form a government in the wake of the election on March 24th. 

 

PM Prayut had dismissed this criticism but has now backed down. 

 

He was reportedly furious that his plans were leaked out before they could be enacted. 

 

Now there are ideas to provide parents of people on state benefits with 500 baht extra for their children among other ideas being discussed. 

 

Daily News said "Big Too" - the PM's nickname - had broken Thai hearts. 

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-04-27

 

[RotBenz8888 24165]

22 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

"Big Too" - the PM's nickname -

Shouldn't that be Big Joke Too?

[fforest1 5620]

What? A well thought out plan like this has been scraped?

[Isaanbiker 6940]

 

He was reportedly furious that his plans were leaked out before they could be enacted.

 

Now let's hope that Big Too will follow Big Joke's footpath and end up in an inactive post! 

 

 

[bluesofa 43936]

23 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

It was to cost the government 15 billion baht and it was reported that sourcing the money had proved difficult. 

Besides the cash could be better spent elsewhere.

If they love the population so much, then a good way to show it would be to finance it themselves, with the sale of a few watches or donating some of the backhander that must have been paid for the high-speed railway (non-construction so far).

[colinneil 84371]

It was just a publicity stunt anyway.

[shady86 3265]

Not surprised with this kind of brains running the country.

[Cadbury 16608]

 

36 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

PM breaks Thai hearts

Oh that big cuddly heartbreaker! Don't you just want to hug him.

The election is over. No further need for vote buying by the junta. 

[Toknarok 2398]

     What on Earth were they thinking when they first thought this up? Goodness me 15 billion baht could go well towards purchasing another submarine!

[PatOngo 50413]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Besides the cash could be better spent elsewhere.

Can't for the life of me think where...…...hang on......I think I do know!

[Eric Loh 22759]

The election is over. No need to buy votes. Back to the scraps for the peasant policy. 

[PatOngo 50413]

28 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

 

Oh that big cuddly heartbreaker! 

Such a kind face, the kind you'd love to slap!

[Odysseus123 14236]

9 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Such a kind face, the kind you'd love to slap!

"Father Know's Best"-with a touch of "Leave it to Beaver."

[Spidey 8364]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

It was to cost the government 15 billion baht and it was reported that sourcing the money had proved difficult. 

Besides the cash could be better spent elsewhere.

A windfall for Rolex then.

[atsiii 441]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Besides the cash could be better spent elsewhere.

...like on, maybe... I don't know... a new submarine?

[Lupatria 13598]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

It was to cost the government 15 billion baht and it was reported that sourcing the money had proved difficult. Besides the cash could be better spent elsewhere...

But word came down from on high - in the shape of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha that it was not a good use of budgets.

Because:

[geoffbezoz 7111]

Yet another one of his no hope schemes that did'nt happen.

[bluesofa 43936]

1 minute ago, Lupatria said:

Because:

But just not enough water...

[beautifulthailand99 4011]

At least no-one can be under the illusion that only Thaksin bought votes literally and through 'popular' policies. 

[jaiyen 3184]

Need the money to pay compensation for the Hopewell project. Make the poor people pay it !!

[Sir Dude 3436]

1 hour ago, Cadbury said:

 

Oh that big cuddly heartbreaker! Don't you just want to hug him.

The election is over. No further need for vote buying by the junta. 

Man ... that photo, makes your skin crawl. 

[Reigntax 11505]

1 hour ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Shouldn't that be Big Joke Too?

Just "Biggest Joke " is more appropriate !

[gunderhill 7570]

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

it was not a good use of budgets

And  that ordering a  3rd or 4th submarine or  indeed submariner watch  would be a  much  better use.

[gunderhill 7570]

1 hour ago, PatOngo said:

Such a kind face, the kind you'd love to slap!

with a  cricket bat

[malibukid 2857]

just raise the financial requirement for the retirement ex.

[geisha 2270]

If he wanted to  do some good , he could give help to the Thais who can’t afford to go on holiday ! 

[Fex Bluse 10221]

1 hour ago, jaiyen said:

Need the money to pay compensation for the Hopewell project. Make the poor people pay it !!

And their Chinese cousins stopped coming, so tourist money way down. So sad. Feel sorry for them.

[sawadeeken 1242]

Get used to it Thailand.  It’s just the beginning.   More to come.  

[sawadeeken 1242]

We need the money for our new Submarines and Tanks.... LOL...

[Myran 2390]

Good call on the PM's part.