Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has said that he will propose to the Cabinet on October 14 a new scheme to stimulate tourism in secondary cities.
The plan under consideration would allow travellers to deduct tourism-related expenses from taxable income at twice the value, up to 40,000 THB (1,230 USD), with implementation expected by the end of this year.
The government will also encourage state agencies to hold seminars outside Bangkok over the next four months to boost both major and secondary city tourism. This will involve a front-loaded budget disbursement, accelerating spending at the start of fiscal 2026 instead of the usual year-end push. Around 8 billion THB (246 million USD) is expected to be spent under this measure.
Ekniti said that Thailand wants to stimulate spending early in the fiscal year. Government agencies that have seminar and training budgets will be instructed to use them within the first four months. State agencies have about 3–4 billion THB allocated, while state enterprises have another 4 billion THB.
For longer-term support, the Finance Ministry will introduce a measure allowing hotel businesses to deduct renovation and upgrade expenses at twice the value for tax purposes, applicable to both primary and secondary city accommodations./.
