The government plans to boost the second-tier tourism

Chatrudee Theparat

The government plans to boost the second-tier tourism provinces and increase spending per head to drive the national economy.

Prime Minister Sreetha Thavisin yesterday assign Tourism and Sports Ministry, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to implement four policies, including asking related agencies to play an active role in boosting second tier-tourism provinces, to stimulate tourism during high season, to facilitate tourism networks and increase spending among the visitors.

“The government aims to boost tourism industry as a significant tool to drive the Thai economy.”

He gave a speech to Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakitkosol, TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool and 45 directors of TAT’s provincial Office that the related agencies in the industry should boost tourism in the second-tier tourism provinces in order to distribute income to those provinces. The agencies should promote a uniqueness of each community such as cultural, food and local products and new tourism plots in those second-tier tourism provinces.

Related agencies were told to promote tourism all the year to make as high season throughout the year in order to attract both domestic and foreign visitors, leading to create more jobs and better income earnings. Tourism website were also told to get update with more attractive tourism information to meet visitors' demand. Service should be improved to build visitor's impression.

From left : TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Prime Minister Sreetha Thavisin, Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakitkosol

He said spending per head of visitors should be upgraded, The number of overnight stay in Thailand among tourists from France, Italy, Spain and the UK should be promoted to become longer from 7-10 days currently.

Ms Sudawan said the ministry is expected to receive an additional 500 million baht budget to boost tourism in early next year.

The ministry also will implement measures to boost tourism, especially in growing foreign visitor spendings per trip next year from an average spending per trip of 43,000 baht this year, with average overnight 9-10 days.

Ms Thapanee said spending per day per head of foreign visitors in 2019 was 5,100 baht. However, spending per day this year might slightly decline from 2019. It is likely Malaysian tourists to Thailand would be the top rank this year, but in term of spending they spend less than western visitors.