Five new measures aim to boost domestic tourism

The government has approved five new measures to boost domestic tourism in the final quarter to prevent the economy from slowing down before the year's end, according to finance permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit.

- WICHIT CHANTANUSORNSIRI

Mr Lavaron said the measures are designed to encourage more Thais to travel domestically, noting that local tourism plays a major role in the national economy, accounting for about 24% of private consumption and 14% of GDP.

He warned that without intervention, domestic tourism will contract by 2.7% this year, compared with an 8.4% expansion in 2024.

The five tourism stimulus measures approved by the cabinet this week include personal income tax deductions for domestic travel expenses, corporate tax deductions for domestic seminars and training, front-loaded government budget disbursement for official meetings and training, tax incentives for hotel renovations and extension of excise tax reduction for entertainment venues.