Push for policy to lift competitiveness

With the Bhumjaithai Party expected to lead the government for a full four-year term with a high degree of stability, tourism operators are urging the government to focus on long-term investment rather than short-term stimulus in order to compete with regional rivals such as Vietnam.

- MOLPASORN SHOOWONG

Tourists wait to depart Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Tourism operators urge the government to address persistent problems, including transport.

(SOMCHAI POOMLARD)

Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), said that based on the election results and political analysis, the government led by the Bhumjaithai Party is expected to be highly stable and to serve a full term, enabling it to focus on long-term projects, particularly supply improvements.

“We cannot afford to be patient, as Vietnam has been overtaking us in many aspects,’ said Mr Thienprasit. “We need policies to uplift competitiveness.”

Those include building new attractions in second-tier cities as part of a cluster tourism strategy.