PM invites public to travel in Thailand during 5-day holiday

BANGKOK, 6 May 2016 (NNT) - Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged the public to travel on this long weekend in order to help stimulate the economy and ensured maximum security for them.

Government Spokesman Sansern Kaeokamnerd said the five-day long weekend, from 5 -9 May, was created after the Cabinet declared this 6 May a public holiday. The PM urged people to travel since it was the government's policy to support tourism-related businesses, he said.

The spokesman added that tax invoices from purchases of domestic tour packages or hotel stays in 2016 were entitled to 15,000 baht tax reduction.

The spokesman stated further that the PM were concerned about the public's journeys during the long holiday and urged everyone to be more careful when driving or using the roads.


-- NNT 2016-05-06

Looks like they're way ahead of him, the roads were crazy around here Thursday night.

If I don't need to use the car in the next days I'll be happy.

It's a good thing he let them know, as everyone probably had no idea what to do with their time.

Today (6th) is a holiday? Government offices closed?

Yes. Stock exchange and banks too!

/Sarcasm on . . .

"Yes, but only those that can afford to travel, can travel. Those that can't afford to travel, should not travel. Do not complain to me if you cannot afford to travel."

Along the lines of the consumption of seafood rant that I saw one Friday night.

/Sarcasm off . . .

Yes, come to Pattaya to experience the worst traffic congestion in your life. Songkran BKK-Isaan got nothing, 150m/h is true living. Pack pampers as you ain't getting out of the car.

Edited May 6, 201610 yr by DrTuner

With nearly critical levels of defaulting on mortgages, credit cards, and new car payments.... perhaps encouraging thriftiness might be more prudent in the long term. Oh wait, sorry, I forgot where I was. Hahahahaha, I'll just go make a nice pot of tea to bring me back to reality.

okay thanks for the heads up mr "pm" prayoo, i will minimize my travel over the next few days.

Backside with moving dentures....

Whilst at it come and clean the streets, catch some criminals and stop corruption. We can't do it so please help!

Wasn't there just a holiday for Songkarn? LOS = the hub of days off.

Whatever happened to hobbies? Maybe it's me just getting older, but between my instrument practice, songwriting, gardening, and photography I have more than enough to do at home. Most Thai people I know watch TV all night. I turned the plug off UBC over 10 years ago and never looked back. Unless I am going somewhere spectacular, why should I rent some room in some hot dusty Thai hotel?

12 People in a Pick up. 2 bottles of Hong. A mat. Icebox. I love that!

those that support the subsistence economy promoted by the government are welcome to hitch hike, but no tax rebate for the poor

I find these kind of OP's confusing, to say the least. I have to conclude it's the interpretation.

Para 1 General encourages and wants people to travel Para 4. General is 'concerned' about people travelling.

Para 1. How does travelling affect 'security'? No elaboration.

I know it's unfair, but this country seems recently to be on permanent holiday, with the cabinet granting special holidays to give long week-ends. If I was a cynic I would believe it is all part of the softening up process, prior to the referendum. Happiness brings 'yes'.

Too many holidays here.

It is a long holiday? We (private comapny) are open Friday as normal. I guess it is just for government officials.

Too many holidays here.

Yes, people should work every day and walk around glum and in despair.

Too many holiday? Ohhh, it must be time to go home. Bye bitter pill.

Too many holidays here.

That's right. The economy is stuffed and all the government can do is give people time off work, encouraging them to spend what little they have.

Might want to remind him that for normal people:

Friday is a working day.

Monday is a working day...

You know the people working in actual companies, not in government offices....

Our dearest Kim graciously implies the gift of freedom to travel ... we bow, and give a weak quivering lip smile of obedience.

Yes, come to Pattaya to experience the worst traffic congestion in your life. Songkran BKK-Isaan got nothing, 150m/h is true living. Pack pampers as you ain't getting out of the car.

No disrespect, but have you ever been to Bangkok ? I've flipped between the 2 on a weekly basis for a number of years now, the jams you see at times over the weekends in Pattaya are an everyday occurrence in Bangkok. I'd take Pattaya for traffic anytime.

Dear people,

Please spend your meager savings, so as to marginally improve the economy, which we are so clearly mismanaging.

Love,

Some rich guy running the country into the ground.

This guy is frivolously giving out holidays. No holiday for my company. Now the banks and government offices are closed and a normal working day disrupted and productivity suffer.

If you're farang, be careful walking too near groups of young men. You may want to carry a can of mace. Ooops, sorry, can't buy spray mace in Thailand.

Yup,i agree,12 people in a pick up.6 bottles Hong Tong and lao khoa(never could spell that) several cases of Chang.All barreling up the Sukhumvit.What a great way to further decrease the surplus population.

Wasn't there just a holiday for Songkarn? LOS = the hub of days off.

Including paid leave I got 31 days in the UK....here my wife gets 32. Wow...a whole day more.

12 People in a Pick up. 2 bottles of Hong. A mat. Icebox. I love that!

AND

A few hours later Overturned pickup 12 bodies dead in ditch and probably they ran over an innocent family on a motorbike on the way into the ditch

Happy holidays thank you Generalissimo

Too many holidays here.

Yes, people should work every day and walk around glum and in despair.

Too many holiday? Ohhh, it must be time to go home. Bye bitter pill.

What incoherent nonsense. Thailand already has lots of public holidays, and seriously needs to focus on ways of making it's labour force more competitive. The idiots that call themselves the government are instead sending out a message that people need to take yet more time off work, and spend their money, when they should be doing the exact opposite.

"We declare tomorrow a holiday! Go now and make plans for your long holiday, we just gave you!"