Jonathan Fairfield Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RichardColeman Posted August 19, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted August 19, 2020 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. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chelseafan Posted August 19, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted August 19, 2020 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. 20 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post yellowboat Posted August 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2020 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. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post brain150 Posted August 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2020 More Socialism ... Government can not create productive jobs !!! Only more jobs paid for by the taxpayer !!! 7 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venom Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Close the country and create massive debt. ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoePai Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 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 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AhFarangJa Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 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. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phuketshrew Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Rmac442 Posted August 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2020 A bit of ..'shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic' right now !! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloodyholly Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 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???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hotchilli Posted August 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2020 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. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foghorn Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 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 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Wongkitlo Posted August 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2020 Unfortunately the new economic team seem as stupid and impractical as the rest of the government. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JusticeGB Posted August 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2020 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. 5 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertson468 Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 I notice that they don't say what jobs they will be creating! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC 71 Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 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 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammieuk1 Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Wonder what these created jobs will be other than a few hundred watch polishers that could urgently be needed???? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Saucage Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo2014 Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 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. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SteveK Posted August 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2020 Chasing domestic tourism will never provide the boost to the coffers that they are looking for. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Gravy Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 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.???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Aussie Col Posted August 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2020 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. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy John Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 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! ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scot123 Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redline Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Just send them to another country to work-that counts right? The North Korean model Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knocker33 Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANSIAM Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 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 ....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soikhaonoiken Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChaiyaTH Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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