Representatives of the private sector have urged the government to review the duty-free business concession granted for all airports.
Chairperson of the Thai Duty Free Shop Trade Association, Ravitha Pongnuchit and Executive Director of the Thai Retailers Association Chartchai Tuongratanaphan on Wednesday represented their respective organizations and the Thai Shopping Center Association, in the submission of an open letter to Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha through Deputy Permanent Secretary to the PM’s Office, Sompas Nilapund.
In their letter, the associations asked the PM to update the system, the conditions and the consideration to grant any duty free shop concession at any international airports before the next round of bidding is opened.
Among their suggestions was an assertion that the concession criteria should be in accordance with the groups of products and a new condition that allows more than one concessionaire to be awarded the contracts, while the decision criteria must be in tandem with international standards.
In addition, they asked for lower rates of import duty for products found to be very popular among foreign visitors and items Thais have tended to buy from other countries during their trips.
The petitioners believe that such changes will help improve the overall economic condition of Thailand.
