Govt may offer 'unlimited travel pass' to help boost struggling airlines in Thailand

[webfact]

The government may offer a subsidy for an unlimited travel pass who buy domestic air tickets in advance to help struggling airlines in Thailand

Paphamon Arayasukawat

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The government looks to offer a subsidy for an unlimited travel pass to people who buy domestic air tickets in advance to help struggling airlines in Thailand.

 

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the redemption rate on airfare for the ongoing “We travel together” stimulus campaign has been slow in the past seven months when compared with the 6 million hotel room nights that were used.

 

There are 1.3 million airline seats left out of 2 million available seats, prompting the TAT to discuss new tactics for the campaign with airlines to accelerate travel demand and help airlines stay in business.

 

He said among several ideas that were proposed, an unlimited pass was an interesting option that could be implemented under the same budget.

 

The government will offer 2,000 baht subsidy for unlimited passes or buffet tickets purchased from local airlines.

 

This method is more flexible as this type of tickets allows users to make purchases in advance without a set schedule.

 

This approach would also increase frequency of travel as people will plan more trips to maximise utility.

 

Mr Yuthasak said the agency will also propose a new allotment for the hotel room subsidy, which will be the third extension as there is remaining budget of 5 million rooms and 1 million from the first and second phases, respectively.

 

Due to a stagnant market that saw five-star hotels discount room rates to extraordinarily low levels, the price each tourist spent on hotel room is no higher than 2,700 baht. The maximum subsidy was capped at 7,500 baht per room.

 

The third phase subsidy could be extended to September, which can help hotels attract more guests during low season in the third quarter.

 

This project also needs a major revamp on fraud prevention as the agency is considering an amendment in the consent form for hotels joining this programme.

 

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-02-19

 

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[Phuketshrew]

Only yesterday they were predicting 30 million flights this year. Can't believe this wasn't true .....

[mtls2005]

If you're a masochist this pass might work for you. Jamming long needles into your eyes might be less painful.

 

Just get ready to deal with restrictions, cancellations and other challenges. Read the terms and conditions very, very, very carefully.

 

The AirAsia pass got mixed reviews. For some, esp those who travel on core routes weekly, and are somewhat flxible, it was a bargain.

 

https://promotion.airasia.com/campaign/en/gb/fd-unlimited-pass.html

 

 

[Fex Bluse]

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

The government may offer a subsidy for an unlimited travel pass who buy domestic air tickets in advance to help struggling airlines in Thailand

 

@sandyf I guess this is sort of what you have been talking about for months. The Thai domestic tourism is going to take over. No need for the foreign tourism anymore. You were correct.

[Orton Rd]

3 minutes ago, Fex Bluse said:

 

@sandyf I guess this is sort of what you have been talking about for months. The Thai domestic tourism is going to take over. No need for the foreign tourism anymore. You were correct.

Only as long as they were getting subsidized hotels, now that is fully booked out they will be staying at home. Mrs already cancelled for next week as no more minus 40%, still dead cheap, but they do love their freebies.

[canopus1969]

19 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

If you're a masochist this pass might work for you. Jamming long needles into your eyes might be less painful.

 

Just get ready to deal with restrictions, cancellations and other challenges. Read the terms and conditions very, very, very carefully.

 

The AirAsia pass got mixed reviews. For some, esp those who travel on core routes weekly, and are somewhat flxible, it was a bargain.

 

https://promotion.airasia.com/campaign/en/gb/fd-unlimited-pass.html

 

 

Hmmm just had my Air Asia flights cancelled - again - every month for the past 3 months  ????

[PatOngo]

50 minutes ago, webfact said:

to help struggling airlines in Thailand.

Right off Thai Airways, it's run by (living) dead people!

[connda]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

There are 1.3 million airline seats left out of 2 million available seats, prompting the TAT to discuss new tactics for the campaign with airlines to accelerate travel demand and help airlines stay in business.

That speaks volumes.  Do you hear that sound?  Yeah, neither do I.  It's called silence. 
Nobody wants to come here, not with the expense and regulatory nightmare that one has to navigate.  Why bother coming to a country that basically despises foreigners when places like Mexico are open for business as usual.  The problem they have here is of their own making and Thai xenophobia will never allow them to loosen up the restrictions until they have all but lost most of the market share of tourism to other countries which actually welcome tourists and tourism with none of the Thai drama.

[billd766]

All the subsidies paid for by the government AKA known as taxpayers.

 

Foreign international tourists bring foreign income to Thailand which is what is needed.

 

Domestic tourists only move Thai money from province to province and bring no income to Thailand, and in fact are paid by the government subsidies to do so.

[onebir]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

The government will offer 2,000 baht subsidy for unlimited passes or buffet tickets purchased from local airlines.

If we're having buffet tickets, unlimited passes must surely be "all-you-can-eat buffet tickets"...

[internationalism]

it's just subsidising airlines from pockets of poor people, who do never travel by airplane.

it's not even for thai airways, which are partially state owned, but not operating now.

why not put this money into free/cheap train travel?

railways are run by the government, so some money would come back to treasury.

why the government is so concerned about private enterprise and multi billion investments?

Edited February 19, 2021 by internationalism

[Patong2021]

4 hours ago, connda said:

That speaks volumes.  Do you hear that sound?  Yeah, neither do I.  It's called silence. 
Nobody wants to come here, not with the expense and regulatory nightmare that one has to navigate.  Why bother coming to a country that basically despises foreigners when places like Mexico are open for business as usual.  The problem they have here is of their own making and Thai xenophobia will never allow them to loosen up the restrictions until they have all but lost most of the market share of tourism to other countries which actually welcome tourists and tourism with none of the Thai drama.

Ok, and your point is what?

This is a DOMESTIC travel program. These  promotions are intended for DOMESTIC travel and are nothing new. Many EU and North America airlines offer these passes. Are you angry because Thailand will offer same product?

 

You think Thailand is alone in restricting travel? Please ask how easy it is to enter Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK, Finland and others. 

 

Yes, Mexico has open border and  the result is that the country is red carded with many countries blocking flights and travel to Mexico now. Tourists were flying back from Mexico infected and now countries suffer from selfish idiots. You  are angry at Thailand because it does not follow same stupidity as Mexico or USA. Brilliant.

 

No one is making you travel to Thailand. If it is so bad, then please go to one of your preferred destinations like Cambodia, Haiti,  Sierra Leone and others where there  are few restrictions. Enjoy. Try Texas, I hear it is an open state.

 

[Albert Zweistein]

2 hours ago, onebir said:

If we're having buffet tickets, unlimited passes must surely be "all-you-can-eat buffet tickets"...

Only for Chinese.