BANGKOK, 28 May 2014 – Mr. Suwat Sidthilaw, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) has noted that following a discussion of plans to stimulate tourism, including a request for a reduction in the curfew timeline at popular tourist destinations, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), had announced the new curfew duration of only four hours daily, 00:01 to 4:00 am. nation wide.
Restaurants and entrepreneurs can now cater to the needs of holiday makers and residents in Thailand’s many international tourist destinations, with extended hours of business. Tourists can now easily travel to various attractions and enjoy tourism activities as before.
Moreover, the initiatives which MOTS proposed to the NCPO are to encourage sustainable tourism, a restoration of confidence, security of life and property and urgent action to solve the issue of tourist scams. In addition, MOTS has proposed organizing a trip for foreign journalists to experience the calm atmosphere tourists experience during the coup. This plan is still in the process of discussion with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
The Permanent Secretary of MOTS added that the forecast for international tourist arrivals this year is approximately 26 million people with earnings for the nation of 1.2 trillion baht. While Thai tourists who travel domestically are expected to number 136 million people, generating a value to the economy of 650 billion baht.
Mr. Suwat Sidthilaw is also holding discussions with Admiral Narong Pipattanasai, Naval Commander and Deputy Chief of the NCPO about achieving the revenue targets of the tourism industry.
