Tourism Ministry Seeks 1 Billion Baht for New Routes

[webfact]

 

In a bid to uplift Thailand's tourism sector, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is planning to request a 1 billion baht budget from the central emergency reserve fund. The primary goal is to develop new tourism routes linking major cities to 55 notable destinations and enhance existing infrastructure, including the improvement of restrooms in these secondary cities.

 

This ambitious proposal aims to foster long-term tourism strategies, ensuring that both local and international visitors have a significantly improved travel experience. While the focus is on internal developments and events, the ministry isn’t seeking additional funds for international marketing. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) already has a dedicated budget for that purpose.

 

The government is setting its sights on eclipsing TAT's tourist targets and revenue but intends to utilise the existing allocated funds before requesting more.

 

Additionally, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to seek Cabinet approval to extend an existing compensation programme for foreign tourists injured or killed in Thailand due to accidents, crimes or other incidents. This programme, covering incidents from January 1 to August 31, 2024, may now be extended until December 31.

 

In the initial five months of the year, more than 50 foreign tourists applied for compensation, with seven cases approved, including four fatalities and three injuries, resulting in payouts amounting to approximately 4 million baht. There remains about 45 million baht from the originally approved 50 million baht budget.

 

Embassies are being urged to inform their tourists about travel safety practices in Thailand, especially regarding road safety and compensation criteria. The compensation can reach up to 1 million baht for death, while permanent disability or loss of sight could result in 300,000 baht. Medical expenses are covered up to 500,000 baht.

 

Tourists can apply for compensation at various Ministry offices and assistance centres nationwide. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Arun Boonchai, emphasised that developing tourism routes is a key part of their short-term plan for this year. The long-term plan, "Ignite Tourism Thailand," includes five key areas: ensuring a good experience, promoting must-do activities, integrating cities, establishing Thailand as Asia’s hub, and hosting world-class events.

 

The departments tasked with these initiatives will collaborate with other ministries for effective implementation.

 

TOP: Tourism and Sports Minister Sermsak Pongpanich. File photo courtesy: Wikipedia

 

-- 2024-06-18

 

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[Gottfrid]

Result! More depreciation of the baht as the investment fails.

[ChrisY1]

Money from the " central emergency reserve fund." Things must be crook with tourism....or maybe this fund is the go to when a billion is needed for nefarious ideas!

Is this guy related to the Hun Sen family.....very similar and likely just as bad!

Edited June 18 by ChrisY1

[pattjock]

One day they say there are too many tourists, crowding the tourist areas. Next day they say there is not enough tourists. One day they say they will collect 300Baht tourist tax to pay for tourist infrastructure improvements. Next day they cancel that and take the money from the tax payers ????

[Tropicalevo]

As mum used to say 'You have to earn the money before you can spend it'.

[Pouatchee]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Tourists can apply for compensation at various Ministry offices and assistance centres nationwide.

 

i am sure that if a tourist shows up at said places asking for compensation he would ne laughed out of the building

[mancub]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

There remains about 45 million baht from the originally approved 50 million baht budget.

and only 7 from 50+ cases approved !  Hmm.

[JoePai]

Needs a  new watch

[brianthainess]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

In a bid to uplift Thailand's tourism sector, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is planning to request a 1 billion baht budget from the central emergency reserve fund.

Has anyone checked recently if the reserve fund is still there ?

Edit; so tourism is now an emergency, lets hope no real emergencies happen then, like a Tsunami. 

Edited June 18 by brianthainess

[khunjeff]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The primary goal is to develop new tourism routes linking major cities to 55 notable destinations

 

Can anyone translate this into English for me? What does it mean - putting up signs in these cities pointing to the "notable destinations"?

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The primary goal is to develop new tourism routes linking major cities to 55 notable destinations and enhance existing infrastructure, including the improvement of restrooms in these secondary cities.

1 billion for new karzies?

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Embassies are being urged to inform their tourists about travel safety practices in Thailand, especially regarding road safety and compensation criteria

What would TAT say if the embassies recommended not using pedestrian crossroads, not using sea-faring boats, not using mini-buses, or tour buses, be mindful of using taxis in high density tourist areas, Win taxis at your discretion.

Never ever hire a motorbike.

Do not take to the skies in parachutes on the beach, Zip line excursions, or other dangerous sports.

Stay away from amusement rides etc etc...

Or would telling the actual truth not help tourists?

[natway09]

Before he even thinks about opening up "new areas" to tourism they need to spend some of the ill gotten gains on R&M,  water resource development etc on the existing places that are over utilized

[Dr B]

7 hours ago, khunjeff said:

 

Can anyone translate this into English for me? What does it mean - putting up signs in these cities pointing to the "notable destinations"?

The Minister doesn't know, and doesn't care. All any Thai Minister wants is to have a big slab of money to spend, like Baht 1 Billion. He knows he will get at least 15% of that, just for agreeing to award a contract to somebody, and Baht 150 million is still quite a lot of pocket money.

[john donson]

1 billion more...  what exactly does this ?  buy more minivans? tuk tuks

 

or mansions ?

[watchcat]

On 6/17/2024 at 11:14 PM, webfact said:

Embassies are being urged to inform their tourists about travel safety practices in Thailand, especially regarding road safety

 

There is no such thing in Thailand.

 

[steven100]

On 6/18/2024 at 6:14 AM, webfact said:

The primary goal is to

 

get a couple of houses in the UK 

[steven100]

17 hours ago, hotchilli said:

What would TAT say if the embassies recommended not using pedestrian crossroads, not using sea-faring boats, not using mini-buses, or tour buses, be mindful of using taxis in high density tourist areas, Win taxis at your discretion.

Never ever hire a motorbike.

Do not take to the skies in parachutes on the beach, Zip line excursions, or other dangerous sports.

Stay away from amusement rides etc etc...

Or would telling the actual truth not help tourists?

 

Do not go to the waterfalls because it's very likely you'll slip and sprain an ankle on our rocks there.  

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

 

Do not go to the waterfalls because it's very likely you'll slip and sprain an ankle on our rocks there.  

Not a real danger, last time I went they wanted 400 baht per foreigner and 40 baht per local..

I never returned, they priced themselves out of favour.

[steven100]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Not a real danger, last time I went they wanted 400 baht per foreigner and 40 baht per local..

I never returned, they priced themselves out of favour.

400 baht ... for National parks ...  that's darn expensive  !

[hotchilli]

27 minutes ago, steven100 said:

400 baht ... for National parks ...  that's darn expensive  !

Erawan waterfalls near Kancanaburi  pre-Covid.