The disarray in one of Thailand's domestic travel packages "Tour Tiew Thai" has prompted travel agencies to cancel their tour programmes, with the number of registrations yet to meet half of the available spots. |
Suthiphong Phuanphiphob, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TAT), said that many tour programmes were not approved by the Tour Tiew Thai scheme after the application deadline on March 15.
"This has an impact on tour programme sales and guests who booked such packages in advance," Suthiphong explained. "Travel agencies must refund the payments as the programme will not be backed by the stimulus packages."
The Tour Tiew Thai scheme subsidized up to 40 per cent of tour fees for the total 200,000 Thai people. The subsidy is capped at 5,000 per trip. To be eligible, people must purchase at least a two-night tour package from a selected travel agency.
The benefits, however, cannot be combined with the "Rao Tiew Duay Kan" (We Travel Together) initiative, which subsidizes travel fees for registrants who plan trips without using tour operators.
As of Thursday, the registrants of the Tour Tiew Thai scheme stood at 48,000.
Chotchuang Surangkun, vice president of the Association of Domestic Travel (ADT), urged the government to consider approving the tour programs submitted by travel agencies.
"If not, this will affect tourists who have already planned their trip." Chotchuang stressed. He seeks to avoid losses to tour operators as most of them have suffered from the Covid-19 crisis that has plunged tourism demand.
This is not the first time the domestic tourism stimulus has been criticized. Tourism businesses have complained about the scheme's complex rules and long process, as well as fraudulent practices.
Last year, the Tourism and Sports Ministry considered scrapping the "Tour Teaw Thai" domestic stimulus program if the benefits could not be distributed fairly to the majority of people.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar