Plans to give tourists cash coupons widely criticised - “It’s like paying foreigners to visit Thailand”

 

 

Leading politicians have questioned tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn's proposals to hand out vouchers to foreigners in a move to boost tourism and dampen problems from the strength of the Thai baht. 

 

The "Eat, Shop, Spend" scheme last year saw 1,000 baht vouchers handed out to Thais in a move to stimulate the sluggish economy. 

 

The scheme proved so popular it ran for three separate phases throughout 2019.

 

In total more than 11.7 million people signed up to the scheme, with  participants spending Bt13.11 billion.

 

According to Thai media, Pipat wants to introduce a similar scheme for visitors to Thailand, essentially offering foreign tourists a cash coupon they can spend on tourist related activities or in restaurants and shops. 

 

Sirikanya Tansakun of the Future Forward party wanted to know several things. 

 

Not least of all where the money was coming from and would it be 1,000 baht or what?

 

She said that the free Visa on Arrival scheme that is set to run until August would already cost the state 12 billion baht.

 

Had the government done any research to show that more visitors would really come to Thailand if they were given spending vouchers or would it just be wasted money, she asked. 

 

Pheu Thai’s deputy leader Phaophum Rojanasakul also criticised the idea saying the plans were like paying foreigners to come to Thailand, adding that he urged the government to rethink the proposal.

 

However, late on Friday, TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn told Thai daily Khaosod the whole thing was a misunderstanding. 

 

He said that tourism minister Pipat was merely sounding out ideas, rather making an official policy announcement and that foreign tourists to Thailand will not be given cash coupons.

 

Source: Thai Rath
 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-01-25

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How about a voucher entitling me to enter a park for the same price as Thais?

Or how about a voucher that stops Thai immigration from turning me back at the airport, even though they sold me a VISA to come here?

Edited January 25, 20206 yr by BritManToo

Yep, never give a discount to a farang!! What the hell were they thinking?

That wasnt a very Thai thing to suggest at all.

"We are giving free vouchers to tourists!"

"Have you thought this through?"

Back flip worthy of an Olympic gold later...

"We are not giving free vouchers to tourists. Bad idea!"

Bar fine tokens sounds reasonable....

15 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Pheu Thai’s deputy leader Phaophum Rojanasakul also criticised the idea saying the plans were like paying foreigners to come to Thailand, adding that he urged the government to rethink the proposal.

Given the alleged success of the "Eat, Shop, Spend" scheme last year, is he saying it should only be used to encourge Thais to visit Thailand?

32 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

offering foreign tourists a cash coupon they can spend on tourist related activities or in restaurants and shops. 

Even if they did launch something extraordinary like this, foreigners would only face extra fees to compensate for the Thais loss, like increase the double pricing. No way they would let foreigners get away cheaper, in particular falangs.

Edited January 25, 20206 yr by RotBenz8888

How about cancelling the 225 surcharge to use an atm in thailand...it's pure theft!

Lets try free one night staying hospital vouchers.

How about stop the double charging and turning people away at the airport. That would be a good start.

This is Thailand. Money only come in. Never give out, especially to farang!

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

In total more than 11.7 million people signed up to the scheme, with  participants spending Bt13.11 billion.

yeah yeah yeah yeah yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

If I was a tourist, I think free flights, lodging and 2500eur/d would be the lower limit for me to consider holiday in Thailand. Ah yes and free N95 masks.

34 minutes ago, Youlike said:

How about cancelling the 225 surcharge to use an atm in thailand...it's pure theft!

Free for over the counter withdrawals

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

In total more than 11.7 million people signed up to the scheme, with  participants spending Bt13.11 billion.

So people spent on average 1120 baht thanks to this plan handing out 1000 baht vouchers, truely a success.

 

Foreigners don't come here expecting to save 30bucks, they will spend this voucher if they happen to visit a shop AND remember they have it. If they visit a shop with the intent of spending this voucher you can be sure they won't spend much more.

3 hours ago, Chazar said:

yeah yeah yeah yeah yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

a whopping 1,200 baht per person. Better give free visas to these high rollers.

13 hours ago, rooster59 said:

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn told Thai daily Khaosod the whole thing was a misunderstanding. 

He said that tourism minister Pipat was merely sounding out ideas, rather making an official policy announcement and that foreign tourists to Thailand will not be given cash coupons.

TAT to the rescue! And using the tried and proven Misunderstanding Tool: He did not make a public announcement, he announced an idea publicly!

12 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

TAT to the rescue! And using the tried and proven Misunderstanding Tool: He did not make a public announcement, he announced an idea publicly!

Ha ha, yeah!

Plus I think 'Misunderstanding Tool' - tool should be used in the broader sense of the word.

13 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Plans to give tourists cash coupons widely criticised - “It’s like paying foreigners to visit Thailand”

 

It's not really paying foreigners to visit Thailand. After all, most of these 'cash vouchers' will end up in the pockets of government officials. So it's more like....paying government officials to pretend to pay foreigners to visit Thailand.

 

 

Why not use that money to clean the beaches, up grade the sewage system, repair the side walks? That would be a win win for everyone!

lol...  giving tax payers money to stimulate the economy

 

TIT

How about a complimentary bar fine? Or three free vouchers for the national parks? Or some courtesy from the immigration agents? After all, they are some of the first Thai people we interact with, after a long flight. 

Sirikanya Tansakun of the Future Forward party wanted to know several things. 

 

Not least of all where the money was coming from and would it be 1,000 baht or what?

 

How refreshing at last a politician with a brain from a different party. Ohh they are not in charge of the country, YET.

Pipat wants to introduce a similar scheme for visitors to Thailand, essentially offering foreign tourists a cash coupon they can spend on tourist related activities or in restaurants and shops. 

 

So desperate to get at tourists money they now want to bribe aliens to become tourists.

16 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Had the government done any research to show that more visitors would really come to Thailand if they were given spending vouchers or would it just be wasted money, she asked. 

Rest assured Luv, People are not going to attend Thailand for a £20 voucher

Perhaps they can start charging those of us on long stay visas or extensions for 90 day reports and TM30s...and then they can use that money to pay more Indians and Chinese to come for a few weeks.

Political motives from one side or another of the Thai system aside, I tend to agree with the idea that giving a cash-like “spend” voucher to a tourist (defined here as a genuine short-stay foreigner) isn’t really the best way forward.

 

Purely of my own thinking a genuine upper mid- to upper-level spend type tourist (whose daily aggregate spend might be in the range of US$1000 daily or more excluding hotel/airfare) won’t be radically swayed into their vacation planning over a voucher type system with a total value of less than US$100 or the like.
 

i think IF the goal is to attract this segment then you’ll have to offer them more native “experiences” as opposed to mass-volume tourist sites and show them you can offer it in a value-for-money level while also showing you have security, safety, and a well designed process.
 

I also think if one can do that, you’ll stand a better chance to attract the upper value tourist crowd, but also I’ll be there will be some level of trickle down to also positively impacts perhaps the lower-middle market as well.

 

 

Paying them so they have foreigners to rip off. Remember when the Thai family in Hua Hin got the foreigner rip off treatment and we’re outraged.  The Thai netizen went crazy at the situation!

Edited January 26, 20206 yr by Rawnthai

However farangs blame double pricing etc. Avoid these places and don't go there!

But even better the money goes to Thai people instead to tourists who come anyway!

Can I use the V for my airport taxi????????????

I need to queue up 5 weeks in advance to collect that V but then again  might get arrested for overstating by few days????