BANGKOK, Sept 25 (TNA) – Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana expressed his satisfaction with the success of the government’s 1,000-baht cash handout and 15% cash rebate scheme to promote tourism as the number of applicants reached its daily quota quickly in the past three days.
Mr Uttama said the registration of applicants started at midnights during its 10-day period and people were keen to join the scheme by registering their applications right from midnight daily. That caused the number of applicants to reach the daily 1-million-participant quota quickly. The quota was filled as early as 6am today, he said.
The finance minister confirmed that the government invited a wide range of vendors to participate in the scheme to boost tourism while trying to screen out shops of alcoholic beverages, lottery tickets and other inappropriate products.
Chankrit Detwitak, vice minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, said about 150,000 shops nationwide joined the project and more shops were applying for the registration that was extended to Oct 15.
Prasong Poontaneat, permanent secretary for finance, said the scheme was successful as the daily quota was fulfilled in the morning. Street food vendors should join the project because tourists depended on them, he said.
The government hoped the scheme would raise the gross domestic product by 0.2%, he said. (TNA)
