A tourist enjoys the scenic view in Mae Fah Luang Arboretum in Chiang Rai. (Photo: Pongpet Mekloy via Bangkok Post) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism andSports is poised to start collecting a 500 THB (15 USD) tourism feefor a "tourism transformation fund" next year.
The Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) lastweek approved the establishment of the fund, which is expected to subsidise projectsthat transform the industry, focusing on high-value and sustainable tourism, the BangkokPost reported.
Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the fee collection of 500 THB per person should start next year,with the aim of collecting 5 billion baht within the first year, assuming 10 millionforeign arrivals in 2022.
The National Tourism Policy Committee already gave thenod to start the fund earlier this year, with a proposed fee of 300 THB perperson.
Yuthasak said the additional 200 THB will be earmarkedfor projects initiated by the private sector, community enterprises, or socialenterprises that would like to transform their business to meet the fund'sstrategy; helping the country restructure from mass tourism to high-value or abio-, circular and green economic model; and environmentally concerned tourism.
The fund is also meant to budget insurance anddevelopment projects for foreign visitors that require government initiativesrather than the private sector, including those needing matching grants fromlocal administrations, said Yuthasak.
After the concept is approved, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and TAT are required to have discussions with related authoritiesabout setting up the fund committee and funding mechanisms, such as how tocollect the fee from tourists, he said.
The committee must develop a criteria to determinewhich projects are eligible for financial support.
He said the fund's objective is not to tackle thefinancial impact of the pandemic, but rather focus on long-term local economicgrowth./.
The Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) lastweek approved the establishment of the fund, which is expected to subsidise projectsthat transform the industry, focusing on high-value and sustainable tourism, the BangkokPost reported.
Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the fee collection of 500 THB per person should start next year,with the aim of collecting 5 billion baht within the first year, assuming 10 millionforeign arrivals in 2022.
The National Tourism Policy Committee already gave thenod to start the fund earlier this year, with a proposed fee of 300 THB perperson.
Yuthasak said the additional 200 THB will be earmarkedfor projects initiated by the private sector, community enterprises, or socialenterprises that would like to transform their business to meet the fund'sstrategy; helping the country restructure from mass tourism to high-value or abio-, circular and green economic model; and environmentally concerned tourism.
The fund is also meant to budget insurance anddevelopment projects for foreign visitors that require government initiativesrather than the private sector, including those needing matching grants fromlocal administrations, said Yuthasak.
After the concept is approved, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and TAT are required to have discussions with related authoritiesabout setting up the fund committee and funding mechanisms, such as how tocollect the fee from tourists, he said.
The committee must develop a criteria to determinewhich projects are eligible for financial support.
He said the fund's objective is not to tackle thefinancial impact of the pandemic, but rather focus on long-term local economicgrowth./.
VNA
