Outlook for new BoT chief

Ashort period, said Mr Punlop.

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He said the central bank should also keep interest rates at appropriate and fair levels, especially because many tourism operators are SMEs that are unable to access loans due to high interest rates and stringent lending requirements. Some businesses have accumulated heavy debts as a result of the volatile tourism industry this year, said Mr Punlop.

He advised the central bank to introduce special measures targeting SMEs such as debt repayment suspension or debt restructuring, while also calling for improvements in account-freezing mechanisms meant to curb scams that have inadvertently harmed legitimate operators.

LIQUIDITY AND DEBT Households and SMEs remain at the heart of Thailand's debt concerns.

Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said addressing debt must be a top priority for the new central bank governor, requiring coordination with the government. He said fiscal stimulus alone is insufficient without complementary monetary policy support.

Though household debt fell slightly earlier this year, it remains substantial.