The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is setting up a tourism policy task force to accelerate tourism-led economic stimulus measures in the second half of the year, according to minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul.
The task force would help ensure that the ministry’s tourism policies are aligned with the government’s broader economic strategy, he said on Wednesday.
The minister also said that the next domestic tourism stimulus package would extend beyond subsidies for accommodation and meals. It could also cover travel-related expenses, including support for bus operators, to help spread tourism income more widely throughout the supply chain.
The ministry will also consider the number of benefit entitlements, subsidy levels, incentives for travel to both major and secondary cities, and additional measures to encourage weekday as well as weekend travel.
Mr Surasak also said the ministry would not develop a new application for the domestic tourism stimulus programme. Instead, it plans to use existing digital platforms familiar to the public to avoid confusion.
One option under consideration is the Pao Tang mobile application, allowing users to register for and redeem their tourism benefits more conveniently.
The new task force, meanwhile, will coordinate efforts with the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) chaired by the prime minister, which has already compiled recommendations from the private sector.
The task force will prepare data and policy proposals to submit to the tourism and small and medium-sized enterprise subcommittee of the JSCCIB. The aim is to increase private-sector participation in shaping tourism policy in line with the prime minister’s directives.
The ministry plans to invite major tourism organisations to join the task force, including the Domestic Tourism Business Association, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), the Tourism Council of Thailand, tour guide associations, hotel associations and passenger transport operators.
Mr Surasak said the task force would meet with government agencies and private sector representatives next week to finalise proposals before submitting them to the tourism and SME subcommittee for consideration and cabinet approval.
