Thailand approves $807 million relief measures, extends travel scheme

[snoop1130]

FILE PHOTO: Tuk-tuks used to transport tourists around the city are seen idle due to travel bans and border closures from the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in a parking lot in downtown Bangkok, Thailand February 3, 2021. Picture taken February 3, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's cabinet approved on Tuesday a further 27 billion baht ($807.17 million) in COVID-19 relief measures and extended a scheme to boost local travel, officials said, to try to spur domestic activity in a struggling economy.

 

A fierce outbreak since April and stricter containment measures have hit consumption while the tourism sector, a key source of revenue and jobs, remains lacklustre.

 

Some of the curbs have been relaxed https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/thailand-allow-local-flights-resume-covid-risk-areas-2021-08-29 from this month as infections and deaths have declined and vaccinations have increased.

 

The relief measures, such as a subsidy on utilities, will be offered to welfare card holders, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana told a news conference.

 

The government also agreed to extend support for the existing scheme to encourage domestic travel until the end of February as the coronavirus situation eases, he said.

 

The benefits include a subsidy of up to 3,000 baht plus a 600-baht voucher per hotel room per night, and a subsidy of up to 3,000 baht on flights.

 

Cabinet also approved an investment budget of 468 billion baht for state enterprises and subsidiaries in the 2022 fiscal year starting on Oct. 1, said deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek.

 

The investment will help boost economic growth by 0.31 percentage point and create 163,000 jobs, she added.

 

The government also approved investment projects worth 1.9 billion baht to support the rural economy, said deputy government spokeswoman Traisulee Traisoranakul.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-09-21

 

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[BKKTRAVELER]

The fact that they keep promoting domestic travels (bad idea btw) is not very reassuring as to when they will actually freely reopen the borders to international tourists...

[Sir Dude]

They should be helping those that have nothing and have no ability to help themselves.  

[chalawaan]

If I never smell, see, or hear another tuk tuk again, I'm down with it.

Small-time mafioso.

Arrivederci, creeps!

[ronster]

Pretty hard to travel anywhere when you can hardly afford to feed yourself due to having no job because your workplace is shut down !

[Burma Bill]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

27 billion baht ($807.17 million) in COVID-19 relief measures

Manufactured in solid gold?????