Tourism tax rebate proposal draws split decisions from leading economists

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Tourism tax rebate proposal draws split decisions from leading economists



BANGKOK: -- The tourism tax rebates to promote domestic tourism draws split decisions from leading economists, Bangkok Poll revealed Tuesday.

Bangkok Poll, in association with Bangkok University’s Faculty of Economics, jointly conducted a survey of 66 economists at 29 organisations from August 15-25 on the proposal of the Tourism Council of Thailand to the National Council for Peace and Order to promote domestic tourism with tax rebates.

Under its proposals, it asked that the NCPO allows Thai tourists to deduct 20,000 baht domestic tourism expenditures from their annual personal income tax payment reasoning that this would promote Thai people to tour in the country rather than foreign countries.

Bills from hotel accommodations, tour services were proposed as evidence for the tax rebate claim, it said.

Bangkok Poll said the leading economists were asked if they agreed with such proposal of the council.

The result showed a split decision with both agreeing and disagreeing ended with equal 45.5% votes.
Those who agreed with the proposal of tourism tax rebate reasoned that it would promote tourism, and encourage people to tour in the country, instead of touring overseas.

However those disagreed said it would not help to promote domestic tourism, but benefit only high income earners, certain business groups, and would not benefit low income earners.

Asked about the 20,000 baht rebate should be a short-term or long-term measure, decision was also split with 45.5% votes.

Of those supporting it as a short-term measure, 28.8% suggested it should not stay longer than a year.

Source: Thai Rath

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tourism-tax-rebate-proposal-draws-split-decisions-leading-economists/


-- Thai PBS 2014-09-02

[SoFarAndNear]

I bet more then half of this country understand the word holiday as only the few days every year to be able to visit their parents in the provinces...spending 20k thb for hotels is more like something for the upper 30%...so this tax rebate is more for the wealthy...

[EricBerg]

I bet more then half of this country understand the word holiday as only the few days every year to be able to visit their parents in the provinces...spending 20k thb for hotels is more like something for the upper 30%...so this tax rebate is more for the wealthy...

... unless there will be a lively trade in fake bills for hotels, restaurants and other places. Then more people can benefit. I don't think Thailand will have the capacity to check the huge bulk of bills with the places that are supposed to have given them.

Corruption after all is a national sport.

[taony]

What income goes on the annual filing? I thought all thai taxes were withheld at the source.