Thais encouraged to travel to help stimulate economy

[snoop1130]

Thais encouraged to travel to help stimulate economy

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - With more public holidays coming up in November and December, the government is encouraging people to travel to different parts of the country and use the government’s spending stimulus measures.

 

As of November 8th, the government’s We Travel Together campaign had 2,275,361 accommodation and 1,828,842 air ticket privileges for travelers. The campaign offers eligible applicants a 40-percent discount on rooms, limited to a maximum 3,000 baht per room per night, with the subsidy capped at 10 rooms or 10 nights. They will also receive food and travel coupons worth up to 900 baht per day. When tourists travel by air, the government will refund 40 percent of the ticket price. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is considering ways to offer more convenience to travelers, while encouraging more people to take part in this campaign.

 

The government’s Kamlang Jai campaign funds holiday travel for public health volunteers and medical personnel at Subdistrict Health Promotion hospitals. The subsidy is limited to 2,000 baht per tourist for a trip of two days and one night, and travel spending can also be used to claim tax deductions.

 

The cabinet has endorsed extra public holidays on November 19th and 20th, which are on Thursday and Friday, resulting in a four-day holiday. In December, another four-day holiday will be from the 10th to the 13th.

 

Thailand has been able to address the COVID-19 situation, thanks to the country’s effective disease-control measures. The government has launched many stimulus campaigns to revive the domestic economy, particularly in the heavily-hit tourism industry.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2020-11-09

 

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[ThailandRyan]

Whose money does the Thai government want them to spend. If the government is supplying the money to travel as well as the food vouchers then it is the government filling up the coffers itself.  Just pay the companies the money directly, give the people the food to eat at home and call it good. 

[mark131v]

More holidays for the majority to enjoy being skint but all very good if your a civil servant on the gravy train, then it's very good more money for nothing...

[Lacessit]

When they say people traveling, is the subsidy for Thai nationals only?

[ThailandRyan]

7 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

When they say people traveling, is the subsidy for Thai nationals only?

Thai's only I believe on this program.

[djayz]

They're asking the - predominantly peasant - nation to travel and spend what they don't have?! Add in the fact that, thanks to lock down, many (more) people are now out of work. 

If you pay pennies, don't expect people to be able to spend thousands. 

[alien365]

Non tourist provinces may not have been affected that much. Life is as normal here in Nakhon Pathom with plenty of money going around. Encouraging us to go spend our money in tourism dependent provinces to help others sounds a good idea to me.

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

With more public holidays coming up in November and December, the government is encouraging people to travel to different parts of the country and use the government’s spending stimulus measures

Please please please.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, alien365 said:

Non tourist provinces may not have been affected that much. Life is as normal here in Nakhon Pathom with plenty of money going around. Encouraging us to go spend our money in tourism dependent provinces to help others sounds a good idea to me.

Agreed I'm in NP too, life is as normal... the old normal.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, djayz said:

They're asking the - predominantly peasant - nation to travel and spend what they don't have?! Add in the fact that, thanks to lock down, many (more) people are now out of work. 

If you pay pennies, don't expect people to be able to spend thousands. 

They're asking the civil servants who will be getting the extra holiday to travel and spend their salaries in resorts to help out.

The peasants will still be working to service the richer patrons.

[trainman34014]

Yes; go travel on a Bus where the driver falls asleep and kills half of you or drives in front of a Train and kills half of you.  Are they offering to pay for Funerals as well ?

[sandyf]

19 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Thai's only I believe on this program.

People should try and understand how the scheme works before spreading misinformation through uninformed comment.

The government only pays a portion of the cost so money is going into the economy from those that make use of the scheme.

Only Thais can register but the scheme is not restricted to Thais, so far I have had 12 nights away under the scheme, something I wouldn't have done had it not been for the scheme.

We will probably have a few more before it comes to an end.

 

If there was any valid criticism it would be that many found it a bit too complicated in the beginning. Now the Half & Half is under way which uses the same software many Thais have made the effort in getting to grips with it and it could be that more may well take up the travel scheme.

[sandyf]

6 hours ago, alien365 said:

Non tourist provinces may not have been affected that much. Life is as normal here in Nakhon Pathom with plenty of money going around. Encouraging us to go spend our money in tourism dependent provinces to help others sounds a good idea to me.

We have been to Ao Nang, Khao Kho, Saraburi, Chantaburi city, Laem Sing and Bangkok under the scheme. In Bangkok we stayed at the Ibis on the River and in the evening went to a restaurant upriver to make use of the food voucher. In the time we were there, there wasn't another customer so I am fairly sure the restaurant was quite glad of the scheme that evening.

There were tour buses at most of the hotels, Bangkok and Saraburi being the exceptions.

 

Here at home in Mueang Chonburi, apart from masks, everything is much the same as before but busier, it is as if the population has increased. Shops and food stalls opening everywhere and a significant increase in traffic congestion.

[djayz]

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

They're asking the civil servants who will be getting the extra holiday to travel and spend their salaries in resorts to help out.

The peasants will still be working to service the richer patrons.

Suppose you're right. Never thought of that. 

[from the home of CC]

3 hours ago, sandyf said:

We have been to Ao Nang, Khao Kho, Saraburi, Chantaburi city, Laem Sing and Bangkok under the scheme. In Bangkok we stayed at the Ibis on the River and in the evening went to a restaurant upriver to make use of the food voucher. In the time we were there, there wasn't another customer so I am fairly sure the restaurant was quite glad of the scheme that evening.

There were tour buses at most of the hotels, Bangkok and Saraburi being the exceptions.

 

Here at home in Mueang Chonburi, apart from masks, everything is much the same as before but busier, it is as if the population has increased. Shops and food stalls opening everywhere and a significant increase in traffic congestion.

they have also subsidized the buying of certain items with the government paying for half the cost of the purchased items, this being aimed mostly for the small independents rather than the chain stores. Between programs as this and the long weekend generated travel it's helping some to survive especially in areas where Thais like to visit..

[Traubert]

As usual the people who would travel do, whereas the people who wouldn't, don't.

 

Each to their own. No need to sneer.

[talahtnut]

Heaps of Thais can't afford bus fares, its them that need the support, give them 1000B

a week until this covid nonsense is finished, and relax the foreign tourists nightmare regulations

to get the cash flowing.

 

[sandyf]

20 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

they have also subsidized the buying of certain items with the government paying for half the cost of the purchased items, this being aimed mostly for the small independents rather than the chain stores. Between programs as this and the long weekend generated travel it's helping some to survive especially in areas where Thais like to visit..

Yes, that scheme it is probably better for the people but and I have been a bit surprised at how many have taken to using their phone to pay. As you say, between the two schemes quite a few should see some benefit.

It started just before we went to Laem Sing and my wife spotted a small shop just selling rice that had the notice up. She was straight in and bought 300 baht worth of rice and again the following morning, guy was over the moon. Yet to find a shop locally selling rice other than the cooked variety.

[from the home of CC]

40 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Yes, that scheme it is probably better for the people but and I have been a bit surprised at how many have taken to using their phone to pay. As you say, between the two schemes quite a few should see some benefit.

It started just before we went to Laem Sing and my wife spotted a small shop just selling rice that had the notice up. She was straight in and bought 300 baht worth of rice and again the following morning, guy was over the moon. Yet to find a shop locally selling rice other than the cooked variety.

about 50% of the wife's business right now is through this scheme, it takes her a couple of days to receive the governments portion but no issues so far. It is definitely stimulating sales..

[martin81]

The thais money will in this way be spent in other provinces than their home. If they have got a lot of savings that otherwise would not be spent this year it might be good for Thailands total BNP in 2020. But if they have no substantial savings they would just spend money they would otherwise have spent in their home province and then very small impact on Thailands total BNP.

 

My guess is this scheme will have some impact on Thailands BNP as there are many well off thai people with excess savings to spend in places like Pattaya, Bang Saen, Hua Hin, Cha-am and Phuket.