The Tourism and Sports Ministry plans to ask the cabinet to allow nightspots in certain tourist spots to stay open until 4:00 a.m. after a study showed that it could help increase their income.
On Saturday, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said studies had found that nightspot revenues would rise by 40% if they were allowed to operate until 4:00 a.m. as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
However, officials should hold a public referendum before deciding where nightlife venues will be allowed to operate during those hours, Mr. Phiphat added.
According to Mr. Phiphat, the ministry has advanced plans to develop more attractive destinations for visitors and residents in four provinces clusters, relying on unique local cultures, traditions, and histories to promote tourism.
Such plans come after Covid-19 was downgraded from a dangerous communicable disease to a communicable disease under surveillance this month.
The minister revealed that the government had conducted a study to promote low-carbon tourism in Phangnga, part of the Andaman cluster.
In addition, there is a project designed for Phuket, specifically for Thalang district’s tambon Mai Khao, with the private sector’s potential participation in terms of investment.
Officials hope to develop a plan to transform state land into sports complexes, yacht clubs, and a convention hall that will be linked to a project to promote wellness tourism on the island.
Mr. Phipat explained that each activity will be carried out according to the season to attract tourists and increase the local population’s income.
Official figures showed that more than 39.8 million tourists came to Thailand and spent over 3 billion baht in 2019, before the pandemic.
However, the Covid-19 lockdown and communicable disease prevention measures greatly affected the tourism industry. The government joined forces with various agencies to launch the Phuket Sandbox scheme in July 2021, hoping to ease the pandemic’s impact on the sector.
This year, when the Covid-related measures have been relaxed, foreign visitors and spectators flocked to Thailand for the 2022 MotoGP World Championship in Buri Ram between September 30 and October 2, boosting the local economy.
Now, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has designed a campaign to attract international visitors to future MotoGP events.
Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry continues its efforts to motivate people to get vaccinated and has provided Pfizer jabs to children.
