With the aim to promote Thailand as a center for tourism and spending, the Cabinet acknowledged a proposal by the Ministry of Finance to increase domestic consumption and circulation of goods within the country by suspending arrival duty-free shops at Thailand’s international airports.
The Ministry of Finance has conducted research on the benefits and impacts of the suspension of duty-free shops. For foreign tourists, it is expected that they will spend more in domestic markets, around USD 16 per person per trip; while for the domestic business operators in tourism industries, it is expected that they will receive up to USD 98 million more per year.
At present, there are three business operators that have licenses to establish and operate duty-free shops in eight international airports nationwide, namely Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Phuket International Airport, Hat Yai International Airport, U-Tapao Airport, Samui International Airport, and Krabi International Airport. All three operators are willing to suspend their duty-free operations in the arrivals area. (PRD)
