The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) has proposed an extension of Thailand’s long New Year holiday, one of the tourism stimulus measures for the Tourism and Sports Ministry to forward to the Cabinet for consideration, said Piyaman Tejapaibul, TCT chairperson.
She said the New Year’s extension will include five days off from December 31 this year through January 4 next year,
Ms Piyaman proposed the idea when she met with Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul on Monday.
A study conducted by the Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University found that 36 per cent of the public will travel during the New Year holiday. The additional day off will increase travel rate by 26 per cent to 62 per cent.
The minister will forward the proposal to the Cabinet meeting, she added.
Regarding the murder of two British tourists on Ko Tao, she said the council instructed local members to cooperate with the authorities in stepping up security measures for tourists.
She recommended that the government strictly punish the culprits to prevent recurrence of the incident.
