Latest news with #SorawongThienthong
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
TAT seeks B2.8tn income next year
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is targeting 2.8 trillion baht revenue next year and aims to be among the top 10 countries worldwide when it comes to generating the largest amount of tourism revenue. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong said the TAT reported its target for 2026 to the ministry, which saw the overall revenue target rise by 5% to 2.8 trillion baht, noting that this would be implemented under a principal idea of promoting "value over volume". Under this target, foreign arrivals would record a revenue increase of 8% to 1.63 trillion baht, while domestic revenue would increase by 3% to 1.17 trillion baht from 214 million domestic trips, a 5% increase year-on-year. However, Mr Sorawong said even though the TAT has set the direction for next year with a specific goal, the government would enhance the growth to as great a degree as it can to enable the result to exceed the target. TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said the agency aims to change the perspective of Thai tourism to "The New Thailand", prioritising value over volume. It would focus on four aspects: adjusting the structure of the tourism industry to quality tourism, distributing opportunities to local areas, creating new attractions by designing experiences that meet the needs of specific tourist groups, and joining hands with all sectors to head towards sustainability. She said it would achieve a greater balance, with 58% revenue from the international market and 42% from the domestic market. In the short term, it would continue implementing market recovery measures, while boosting new emerging foreign markets to help sustain the industry over the long run. As of July 16, the short-haul markets tallied 12.1 million, a 13.1% decrease year-on-year. It accounted for only 42.8% of the target this year, according to the TAT. Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, deputy governor of international marketing for Asia and South Pacific at the TAT, said short-haul markets still have to face the perception of an unsafe image for Thailand, a sluggish Chinese economy and a flight capacity recovery of only 78% compared to 2019. For the long-haul markets, Thailand welcomed over 5.8 million, increasing 14% year-on-year, as of July 13. Chiravadee Khunsub, the TAT's deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, said the long-haul market is expecting strong forward bookings for the remainder of the year, plus new direct and chartered flights. However, challenges remain with geopolitical tensions, economic pressures as well as rivalry from rising competitors within Asia. In the first five months of 2025, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Japan and China experienced a 21%, 15%, 24% and 30% increase in visitors year-on-year, respectively.
The Star
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Thailand delays tourist entry fee till 2026
FILE PHOTO: Passengers are pictured at the departures terminal at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on October 27, 2021. The rourist entry fee, which was approved in principle by the Cabinet in February 2023, is set at 300 baht (US$9.25) for air arrivals and 150 baht for land or sea entries. - AFP BANGKOK: Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports has announced a delay in the implementation of the long-planned travel fee for foreign tourists, locally referred to as the Kha Yeap Pan Din (literally, 'stepping onto Thai soil' fee). Officials have confirmed that the measure will not be enforced in 2025 as initially planned. Chakrapol Tangsutthitham, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Sports, stated that the decision was made following a review by Minister Sorawong Thienthong, who deemed the current timing inappropriate due to ongoing external uncertainties. 'We must wait to assess international tourist demand during the upcoming high season in Q4 this year,' Chakrapol explained, adding that the ministry needs more time to study the details and determine an appropriate fee structure based on the mode of travel—land, sea, rail, or air. As it stands, the tourist entry fee is expected to be introduced in Q2 or Q3 of 2026. The fee, which was approved in principle by the Cabinet in February 2023, is set at 300 baht (US$9.25) for air arrivals and 150 baht for land or sea entries. The revenue generated will be used to enhance tourist sites and fund insurance coverage for foreign visitors. - The Nation/ANN
Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Thailand delays tourist entry fee till 2026
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The tourist entry fee is expected to be introduced in Q2 or Q3 of 2026. BANGKOK - Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports has announced a delay in the implementation of the long-planned travel fee for foreign tourists, locally referred to as the Kha Yeap Pan Din (literally, 'stepping onto Thai soil' fee). Officials have confirmed that the measure will not be enforced in 2025 as initially planned . Mr Chakrapol Tangsutthitham, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Sports, stated that the decision was made following a review by Minister Sorawong Thienthong, who deemed the current timing inappropriate due to ongoing external uncertainties. 'We must wait to assess international tourist demand during the upcoming high season in Q4 this year,' Mr Chakrapol explained, adding that the ministry needs more time to study the details and determine an appropriate fee structure based on the mode of travel—land, sea, rail, or air. As it stands, the tourist entry fee is expected to be introduced in Q2 or Q3 of 2026. The fee, which was approved in principle by the Cabinet in February 2023, is set at 300 baht (S$11.80) for air arrivals and 150 baht for land or sea entries. The revenue generated will be used to enhance tourist sites and fund insurance coverage for foreign visitors. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw acts against 4 law firms, 1 lawyer over seized properties Business 'Some cannot source outside China': S'pore firms' challenges and support needed amid US tariffs Multimedia From local to global: What made top news in Singapore over the last 180 years? World Trump arms Ukraine and threatens sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil Singapore Turning tragedy into advocacy: Woman finds new purpose after paralysis Opinion Sumiko at 61: Everything goes south when you age, changing your face from a triangle to a rectangle Sport World Aquatics C'ship women's 10km open water swimming event delayed by a day due to water quality Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun
Bangkok Post
11-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Travel subsidy fails to attract Thais
The tourism and sports minister says the number of local tourists using co-payment privileges was lower than expected for the first 10 days of the scheme despite 1.58 million registrants, as travel sentiment may be unfavourable due to economic conditions. As of July 11, the number of successful registrants totalled 1.58 million, but the number of redemptions tallied 91,008, leaving 408,992 privileges unused. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong said the ministry predicted the 500,000 privileges would be used up rapidly, but registrants appear hesitant to book. Despite a discount of up to 50%, many Thai travellers who registered for the 1.75-billion-baht scheme that launched on July 1 have not booked rooms, largely attributed to the sluggish local economy hampering travel sentiment, he said. Mr Sorawong said the slow bookings could also be the result of limited accommodation choices as the number of approved hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other tourism services totalled only 5,254, while the number of applicants tallied more than 40,000. He said the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) should have opened the system for operators to register well before the scheme was approved by the cabinet last month. Operators were allowed to enrol in this scheme starting on June 25, while the verification process is lengthy, which the ministry says is needed to ensure transparency. Registration of new participants was closed to fix system glitches from July 4-9, but Mr Sorawong said it is not necessary to extend the scheme from the October deadline. "The scheme was already extended once from September. The current time frame gives tourists plenty of time to book their trips," he said. "Previously we didn't expect to expand the scheme to October, as this is considered the start of the high season. Despite this extension, bookings were still slower than we anticipated." Mr Sorawong said the ministry does not oppose increasing the number of privileges from 500,000, but the TAT will have to monitor booking trends this month in more detail. If budget remains after all privileges in the first phase are fully redeemed, he said it is possible the TAT could increase the number of privileges without asking for more stimulus funds from the government, which is focused on mitigating the impact of new US tariff rates.
Bangkok Post
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Travel scheme farce
The rollout of the "Tiew Thai Khon La Krung" campaign, or Thailand Travel Co-pay scheme, last week has proved to be unmitigated disaster, with no resolution in sight. This embarrassing episode reflects not only gross incompetence, but entrenched political pettiness among policy-makers. The scheme was designed to stimulate domestic tourism by subsidising travel and accommodation costs -- similar to the We Travel Together" campaign under the Prayut government, to boost Covid-hit tourism. Under the latest scheme, the government would cover up to 50% of hotel room rates during the low season. A total of 500,000 entitlements were allocated to the public, funded by money diverted from the suspended digital wallet initiative. But within minutes of registration opening, the system buckled and stopped. Registrants were instructed to verify their identity via the Interior Ministry's ThaID app. Without prior testing, the ThaiP platform crashed under the volume of users. Developers hastily removed the ThaID requirement and redirected users to verify their identity via email using a one-time password (OTP). This solution, too, failed. Most users registered with Gmail accounts, which flagged the mass-sent OTPs as spam, rendering verification impossible. Later, a new problem emerged: hotel prices on the platform were noticeably higher than on other booking sites. Some opportunistic hotel owners were accused of price-gouging to reap profit from the stimulus scheme. However, they explained the system forced them to apply a flat rate, regardless of weekdays, weekends, or peak-season differences. This left them with no choice but to set higher prices to cover costs. Several hotels, in an effort to avoid public backlash, suspended bookings through the programme altogether. Eventually, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) suspended new registrations until the system issues could be addressed. This debacle exposes unprofessionalism at every level, ranging from Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong who fast-tracked the scheme without preparation, to the implementing agencies that failed to communicate clearly or anticipate foreseeable problems. From the outset, the public was led to believe the entitlements would be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, prompting a stampede. Only after the system collapsed did TAT clarify that the 500,000 quota would only be counted upon actual booking and payment. Perhaps most galling is the government's refusal to use the Pao Tang application, developed by Krungthai Bank under the previous administration of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. The app is a proven stable platform that has handled numerous government schemes, including the "We Travel Together" campaign. Yet the current administration ditched Pao Tang. The only likely explanation is it does not want to give credit to the achievements of Prayut government. This backward, partisan decision-making is both wasteful and counterproductive. Why should taxpayers foot the bill to build new ineffective applications when a capable, well-tested system is already available? The Thailand Travel Co-pay fiasco is not simply a case of technical failure. It reflects a broader dysfunction, a mindset that places political image above public interest, and pride above practical governance. What could have been a showcase economic stimulus project and a feather in the government's cap, now stands as a black mark against Pheu Thai's record.
