Prayut’s new economic panel targets 1m jobs, tourism boost

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Prayut’s new economic panel targets 1m jobs, tourism boost

 

 

The new committee tasked with steering the economy through the virus crisis got off to a fast start on Wednesday, announcing measures to boost tourism and create 1 million jobs.

 

Set up following the Cabinet reshuffle earlier this month, the panel’s first meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and attended by economics ministers and experts. 

 

They agreed to increase subsidies for local tourists and make jobs available for 400,000 new graduates, said Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow, after Wednesday’s meeting.

 

The government plans to boost local tourism by expanding its 40 per cent subsidy for accommodation costs from five to 10 nights. The government launched the tourism subsidies in mid-July, but so far only 660,000 of the available 5 million subsidised nights have been booked. Travellers will also see their Bt1,000 discount on air tickets boosted to Bt2,000, he said. Meanwhile large corporates will be invited to make use of the subsidies by organising seminar or training in other parts of the country. The measures will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval on August 25.

 

The Labour Ministry will also propose measures aimed at creating 1 million jobs in the near future to combat growing unemployment. The government has prioritised finding another 400,000 jobs for graduates by funding companies to hire and retain workers, he said. The jobs will be available at private companies and government agencies, he said. 

 

The government will also launch other job creating projects funded by the Bt400-billion economic stimulus package.

 

The unemployment rate in the second quarter rose 1.95 per cent to 745,000 people, according to the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). The NESDC is also worried about significant further job losses as 1.7 million workers are currently furloughed. The state think-tank forecast the economy will shrink 7.5 per cent this year following a plunge of 12.2 per cent in the second quarter.

 

Supattanapong said the government aims to shore up the economy and keep the contraction lower than projected.

Meanwhile, Bank of Thailand governor Veerathai Santiprabhob said more small and medium-sized enterprises will apply for loans under the Bt500-billion soft loans scheme.

 

Launched by the central bank in April, the scheme has attracted fewer than expected borrowers due to strict loan conditions. The government on Tuesday relaxed the conditions by tasking the state run-Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation to guarantee loans, which will encourage commercial banks to lend more.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30393218

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-08-20

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

 

[RichardColeman]

OK, just how much holiday do Thais get - I mean to make this work substantially they will have to start declaring mass new public holidays.

 

 

[Chelseafan]

The government launched the tourism subsidies in mid-July, but so far only 660,000 of the available 5 million subsidised nights have been booked.

 

I think that says it all. People are trying to get food on the table, holidays are the last thing on their mind.

 

[yellowboat]

They better beat the bushes over in China: "Have a steady job?  Why not holiday in Thailand?"  

 

As usual, it is not inspiring.   If they were to do what Malaysia and Vietnam does, and not turn away, hassle repeat business, they would see housing fill up.  This makes demand go up making prices, profits go up.   Thais prefer charging more when things are bad.  A counter logical environment we all know too well.

[brain150]

More Socialism ... Government can not create productive jobs !!! Only more jobs paid for by the taxpayer !!!

[Venom]

Close the country and create massive debt. ????

[JoePai]

15 minutes ago, Venom said:

Close the country and create massive debt. ????

Yes, just like the rest of the world is doing - maybe they are copying Thailand 

[AhFarangJa]

2 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The new committee tasked with steering the economy through the virus crisis got off to a fast start on Wednesday, announcing measures to boost tourism and create 1 million jobs.

The meeting may have got off to a fast start, but I can see all the plans coming to a screeching halt in the near future, or we will simply never hear of it again.

[Phuketshrew]

3 hours ago, Chelseafan said:

The government launched the tourism subsidies in mid-July, but so far only 660,000 of the available 5 million subsidised nights have been booked.

 

I think that says it all. People are trying to get food on the table, holidays are the last thing on their mind.

Also, you can get better deals through Agoda. Just booking a deluxe pool view room in Patong for Saturday night in Patong for 257 baht . If I use my 200 baht credit that's costing me 57 baht .... Bargains to be had.

[Rmac442]

A bit of ..'shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic' right now !!

[bloodyholly]

39 minutes ago, Phuketshrew said:

Also, you can get better deals through Agoda. Just booking a deluxe pool view room in Patong for Saturday night in Patong for 257 baht . If I use my 200 baht credit that's costing me 57 baht .... Bargains to be had.

‘57 baht’

 

i costs more than that to park a car overnight in Patong????

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, Chelseafan said:

The government launched the tourism subsidies in mid-July, but so far only 660,000 of the available 5 million subsidised nights have been booked.

 

I think that says it all. People are trying to get food on the table, holidays are the last thing on their mind.

 

Exactly, and doubling the nights from 5 to 10 is not going to make more people book... they're working trying to re-coup lost revenue to pay for debts, school fees and a host of other things. Only a minority have the time or funds to take advantage of holidays which is what the figures so far indicate, otherwise the total would have already been taken up.

The new experts are as clueless as the last lot, coming out with the same short term useless give-aways.

[Foghorn]

Give some jobs to people to enforce laws and apprehend people who don’t abide by the laws . Get some to open public pathways that are stolen by traders and remove all obstacles in the pavements , make pavements child friendly 

[Wongkitlo]

Unfortunately the new economic team seem as stupid and impractical as the rest of the government. 

[JusticeGB]

I went to dinner the other night in Pattaya the car park attendant wanted 100 baht an hour for my wife to park in his small car park. We parked in the empty Second Road for free. With the scammers in tourist resorts tourists won't want to come anyway.

[robertson468]

I notice that they don't say what jobs they will be creating!

[KC 71]

2 hours ago, bloodyholly said:

‘57 baht’

 

i costs more than that to park a car overnight in Patong????

has it all started opening up again ?

 

[sammieuk1]

Wonder what these created jobs will be other than a few hundred watch polishers that could urgently be needed????

[Flying Saucage]

7 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

OK, just how much holiday do Thais get - I mean to make this work substantially they will have to start declaring mass new public holidays.

 

 

Many have a lot of time for travelling now, as they are jobless ????

 

Edited August 20, 2020 by Flying Saucage

[Jimbo2014]

Another 2 months and the annual 6 month Pollution Apocalypse will begin.  Any excess submarine money could be better spent on machinery to help avoid this massive deterrent to any tourism.

[SteveK]

Chasing domestic tourism will never provide the boost to the coffers that they are looking for.

[Laughing Gravy]

7 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

OK, just how much holiday do Thais get - I mean to make this work substantially they will have to start declaring mass new public holidays.

 

 

I agree with you but like me you don't seen to understand Thai mathematics.????

[Aussie Col]

Shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic springs to mind.

Only one thing can save the Thai tourist industry and millions of jobs and that is make it easier for Farangs to come here for longer.

[Grumpy John]

I had a quick dash down to Bangkok to get something I need and at 4 in the arvo about 3 girlie on the street a lot of clubs and bars shut.  I left the hotel at 7 to get dinner and the situation had hardly improved!  Walked back at quarter to 8 and still bleak!  I thought there will be somewhere to get a coffee in the morning...come 5:30am walking past darker shops I saw one drunk Thai girl with a farang and then one farang with a couple of girls having a brew at the sidewalk bar.  Weird times don't you think?   Ps: I finally got a coffee at the Morchit mini bus station...2 mouthfuls in a tinny cup for 45 baht!  Ripoff! ????

[Scot123]

6 hours ago, JoePai said:

Yes, just like the rest of the world is doing - maybe they are copying Thailand 

Nope. I can only speak for the UK. My wife went out to a restaurant with friends last night, had to book their table and the place was really busy infact so busy while they were there waiters 3 times dropped dishes as so rushed and were ushered from their table as soon as the last spoon went on the plate. Tables were turning around fast. So not quite the picture the media is portraying. But hay maybe we live in one of those Thai style bubbles in the C19 free country of Thailand. 

[Redline]

Just send them to another country to work-that counts right?

The North Korean model 

[Knocker33]

11 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

OK, just how much holiday do Thais get - I mean to make this work substantially they will have to start declaring mass new public holidays.

 

 

Too many. It's been one a month lately. And still more to come. But yes after the lock down ended there were 100's of Thais traveling to where I live. Now it's just a few every weekend 

[CANSIAM]

15 hours ago, bloodyholly said:

‘57 baht’

 

i costs more than that to park a car overnight in Patong????

Wish I could get there, the Hilton is probably 1000 baht per night Seaview .......

[Soikhaonoiken]

Another brain dead ideas, but I am sure by the time they have fudged all the figure's they will announce it was a success, but the true results will show in the economy 

[ChaiyaTH]

Not sure what is more sad, the stupidity of normal people, their governments or both.
Honestly, starting to consider a jump myself with all this <deleted>...

Edited August 20, 2020 by ChaiyaTH