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

[rooster59]

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]

22 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

"Big Too" - the PM's nickname -

Shouldn't that be Big Joke Too?

[fforest1]

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

[Isaanbiker]

 

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]

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]

It was just a publicity stunt anyway.

[shady86]

Not surprised with this kind of brains running the country.

[Cadbury]

 

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]

     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]

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]

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

[PatOngo]

28 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

 

Oh that big cuddly heartbreaker! 

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

[Odysseus123]

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]

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]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Besides the cash could be better spent elsewhere.

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

[Lupatria]

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]

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

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, Lupatria said:

Because:

But just not enough water...

[beautifulthailand99]

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

[jaiyen]

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

[Sir Dude]

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]

1 hour ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Shouldn't that be Big Joke Too?

Just "Biggest Joke " is more appropriate !

[gunderhill]

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]

1 hour ago, PatOngo said:

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

with a  cricket bat

[malibukid]

just raise the financial requirement for the retirement ex.

[geisha]

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

[Fex Bluse]

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]

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

[sawadeeken]

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

[Myran]

Good call on the PM's part.