Bangkok: The Thai government’s “Aew Nuea Khon La Khrueng” tourism campaign has faced criticism for being more of a publicity effort than a genuine attempt to boost domestic travel. The initiative, which offers a modest 400 baht subsidy to only 10,000 participants, has left both tourists and business operators questioning its impact on the economy and its ability to stimulate tourism effectively.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Nattapol Towijakchaikul, a Chiang Mai MP and member of the House of Representatives Tourism Committee, expressed skepticism about the project’s efficacy. He highlighted that the campaign’s scale is negligible, offering benefits to just 0.005% of the tourists who visited Chiang Mai during the previous peak season. The project’s limited reach and the absence of a clear registration process for business operators have further fueled criticism. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has acknowledged that the campaign was primarily designed to generate interest rather than significantly
boost travel bookings.
Mr. Nattapol questioned the rationale behind the campaign’s financial incentives, noting that it did not align with established marketing strategies. He suggested that more substantial discounts, based on average tourist expenditure, would have been more effective in driving travel. Additionally, he pointed out logistical issues, such as unfindable registration websites and unclear guidelines for business participation, which have left many potential participants in the dark.
The TAT responded by stating that the campaign was funded by an internal budget of 4 million baht and acknowledged limitations in expanding the initiative without additional Cabinet approval. Mr. Nattapol proposed reallocating funds from other TAT projects to enhance the campaign’s impact. He emphasized the need for future government projects to be data-driven and results-oriented to genuinely support tourism growth in Thailand.