BANGKOK (NNT) - The Thai government has pledged to continue promoting tourism activities to boost economic recovery, despite the surge of COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant.

 

Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha had asked government agencies to support the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ plan for tourism promotion, with the new campaign "Amazing Thailand New Chapter" set for launch within this month.

 

The government is also planning to charge a 300 baht per person arrival tariff for international visitors from April, which shall be included in the travelers’ airfares or collected separately. This new entry fee will be used to further develop tourism attractions and provide insurance coverage against accidents and deaths in the country.

 

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports now anticipates a 1.3-1.8 trillion baht tourism revenue this year, from around 5-15 million foreign visitors. This projection is based on the condition that there will be no lockdowns.

 

The government is expected to continue rolling out domestic tourism campaigns, with stringent disease control measures as a top priority.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-01-13

 

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So in future Thailand a tourist breaks his leg and unfortunately has no insurance.  Am I to believe that the tourist has easy access to these insurance funds? Or will it be a nightmare of collecting documents and stamps and visiting 6 different govt offices only to find out they don't qualify because ___________(any feeble excuse) 

This goverment never stop surprise me with their ideas.And allways talk about money.

2 hours ago, marcusb said:

So in future Thailand a tourist breaks his leg and unfortunately has no insurance.  Am I to believe that the tourist has easy access to these insurance funds? Or will it be a nightmare of collecting documents and stamps and visiting 6 different govt offices only to find out they don't qualify because ___________(any feeble excuse) 

What they mean by insurance is, it is a bit of clawback money when the one in 100,000 tourists cannot pay their inflated hospital bill; orrrr will just go into a back pocket. Highly unlikely any tourist would benefit directly. 

maybe they should start by fixing the THAILAND PASS web sites or CANCELL it completely, especially

the failed PSAS web sites which does not allow to pay for PCR tests.

by doing this, they will earn much more than 300 baht per tourist.

they will earn THOUSANDS of new tourists right now !!

 

countries who truly want tourists are doing what the UK and FRANCE are doing now: they

cancel restrictions as much as possible. USA even allowed two weeks ago all travel from all africa,

because it just does not make sense to block them when there is local transmission,

4 hours ago, stigar said:

This goverment never stop surprise me with their ideas.And allways talk about money.

Money number 1

8 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

from around 5-15 million foreign visitors

Seem to  be covering lots of bets with that prediction. with sandboxes and AQ's for potentially the first half year, even if they put in the test and go in July they will be at best 2-3million this year - booking season for foreigners is now , not in july !

It's nothing but a pathetic attempt to portray themselves in a positive light. They spent gazillions on opening up, bringing in a ludicrous Opera singer and running a myriad of promotions only to slam the door shut within weeks. Clearly no one in the tourism industry has any confidence in anything done by TAT or this gang of so called government ministers.

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This new entry fee will be used to further develop tourism attractions

And what does this mean? Do we not pay enough in National park fees already? 

Left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Is the Ministry of Sports and Tourism aware that the Ministries of Immigration and Health are currently doing everything in their power to make sure there will be a minimal number of tourists arriving in Thailand this year?

5-15 million tourists this year? Not under the current rules and restrictions which will likely be in place for months.

38 minutes ago, alien365 said:

And what does this mean? Do we not pay enough in National park fees already? 

there IS A NEW ZIPLINE on Koh Larn.......what more do you want???

this is a NEW tourist attraction !!!

no idea of the price THO'

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The government is also planning to charge a 300 baht per person arrival tariff for international visitors from April, which shall be included in the travelers’ airfares or collected separately. Th

So the 300 Baht is going to be applied to anybody entering the Country via Rail or Bus Etc as well,

2 hours ago, big dendrobenaes said:

there IS A NEW ZIPLINE on Koh Larn.......what more do you want???

this is a NEW tourist attraction !!!

no idea of the price THO'

I also see a new venture called a " Skim Park " on Soi Siam down by the Lake

What is a Skim Park

Please excuse my ignorance

1 minute ago, Cake Monster said:

I also see a new venture called a " Skim Park " on Soi Siam down by the Lake

What is a Skim Park

Please excuse my ignorance

no idea......think mis-spelt.......could be SIAM PARK......!!!

1 hour ago, big dendrobenaes said:

no idea......think mis-spelt.......could be SIAM PARK......!!!

Oh ! OK !

The great command of the English word in action.

On 1/13/2022 at 7:30 PM, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

countries who truly want tourists are doing what the UK and FRANCE are doing now: they

cancel restrictions as much as possible. USA even allowed two weeks ago all travel from all africa,

because it just does not make sense to block them when there is local transmission,

I agree 100%

23 hours ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

Money number 1

 

but they can't see the wood for the trees, focusing on grabbing relatively small, and unnecessary, income through costs to enter the country is deterring visitors who would contribute far more if they were able to enter the country with ease.

18 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

I also see a new venture called a " Skim Park " on Soi Siam down by the Lake

What is a Skim Park

Please excuse my ignorance

https://www.shutterstock.com/search/skimboarding

On 1/14/2022 at 8:01 AM, big dendrobenaes said:

there IS A NEW ZIPLINE on Koh Larn.......what more do you want???

this is a NEW tourist attraction !!!

no idea of the price THO'

Whatever it is, there will be 2 widely different ones.....

Man up and show some courage, by cancelling all restrictions, make the sacrifices needed to improve the tourism experience here, start treating foreigners with a bit of respect and dignity, and you might see a return of 2 million tourists this year, and 3 to 5 million a year, five years from now. 

 

Tourism will never fully recover here. You dunces have utterly slaughtered the Golden Goose. And you have forgotten the golden rule. Thailand needs the world 100x more than the world needs Thailand. Tourism will be greatly diminished here. Arrogance, surliness and hubris has a price. 

4 hours ago, morrobay said:

https://www.shutterstock.com/search/skimboarding

But this looks like a Beach activity, not one for Soi Siam Country Club 

1 hour ago, Cake Monster said:

But this looks like a Beach activity, not one for Soi Siam Country Club 

It can be done with just a layer of water on smooth flat surface