BANGKOK – The Thai Cabinet has approved two additional vacation days for civil servants and employees of government agencies and state enterprises, who registered with the Travel Together campaign, to encourage and promote domestic tourism.
A Government Spokesman, Anucha Burapachaisri, announced today, September 16, 2020, that the Thai Cabinet has approved a proposal from the Emergency Loans consideration committee to give two extra days of leave to civil servants, employees, and contract workers at government agencies and state enterprises, provided they have signed up for the Travel Together campaign and intend to utilize the campaign’s benefits.
This extra allowance is intended to help boost tourism activities during the week, generating spending to stimulate the economy. The leave days are meant to be taken during the week and with approval from the government employee’s supervisor or manager.
Travel Together is a campaign introduced by the government, where the government will subsidize the cost of hotel stays and flights, and provide allowances for purchases during the trip for signed up persons. The campaign started in July, and is set to end in October this year.
The Pattaya News notes that the government is also considering a universal holiday in early November for all residents to help encourage domestic spending. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic borders remain closed to foreign tourists which has heavily damaged the economy, especially in places like Pattaya and Phuket.
A previous holiday weekend saw heavy traffic in Pattaya and many domestic tourists.
With source material from The Thai National News Bureau.