15-2-2024 (BANGKOK) The Thai Cabinet has given its approval for an extra holiday to be granted to civil servants during the traditional Songkran festival in April. The move aims to support the recovery of the country’s tourism industry, which has been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The special holiday, scheduled for April 12, will be observed by government offices and other state agencies, effectively extending the Songkran festival period to a five-day break that will last until April 16.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed confidence that this decision would stimulate local tourism and increase consumer spending. Over the past six months, since assuming office, Srettha’s government has implemented various measures to revive the tourism sector, which has experienced sluggish growth, averaging less than 2% over the past decade. Tourism contributes approximately 12% to Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) and accounts for nearly one-fifth of all jobs in the country.
Thailand has witnessed a significant surge in foreign tourist arrivals, with a 48% increase to 4.4 million visitors since the beginning of this year compared to the same period last year. This rise can be attributed in part to the visa-waiver programme that has made it easier for Chinese travellers to visit the country.
During the recent Chinese New Year holidays, Thailand welcomed nearly 200,000 visitors from mainland China, marking a 68% increase from the previous week, according to official data.
The Thai government has set a target of attracting 35 million foreign visitors this year, with 8 million expected to come from China. In 2019, mainland Chinese tourists accounted for over 25% of the total 40 million foreign visitors to Thailand. However, due to the pandemic, their numbers dropped to around 3.5 million out of the 28 million tourists in 2020.
As of February 11, tourism revenue from foreign visitors has reached US$6 billion (RM28.5 billion), as reported by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The additional holiday during the Songkran festival is expected to further boost these figures and provide a much-needed economic boost to the tourism industry.
