Bangkok: People’s Party MPs have raised concerns with the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr. Surawong Thienthong, regarding the budget allocation and operational issues of Thailand’s half-price travel program. The MPs pressed for details on the expenditure and accountability in case of any damages stemming from the program. Surawong assured that efforts are underway to address the program’s challenges and strengthen tourism in Thailand.
According to Thai News Agency, the discussions took place during a House of Representatives meeting chaired by Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor Matha. Lt. Col. Somchat Techathaworncharoen, an MP from the Prachachon Party representing Phuket, questioned the Minister about the effectiveness and transparency of the ‘Half-Half’ travel project. The program, funded by a 1.75 billion baht allocation from a 157 billion baht economic stimulus budget, has reportedly underperformed, with less than 10,000 daily redemptions of the travel rights.
Lt. Col. Somchat criticized the government for the new application’s cumbersome registration process and technical issues, which have hindered both users and operators. He highlighted the inefficiency of developing multiple applications, some of which remain largely unknown to the public, and questioned the lack of use of existing platforms like Krungthai Bank’s applications.
In response, Mr. Surawong clarified that this new initiative aims to stimulate domestic tourism, distinct from international markets like that of Chinese tourists. He acknowledged the initial confusion among the public during registration and the technical hiccups, such as email verification issues with Google, which have since been addressed. Surawong committed to enhancing the program’s user experience and transparency.
Despite the initial setbacks, Mr. Surawong reported progress, with over 1.11 million registrations and 140,000 bookings. The program remains open for travel until October 31. He apologized for the inconvenience caused and assured that the government aims to fix the existing problems while considering future phases to boost tourism post-COVID-19.
Pol. Lt. Somchat expressed dissatisfaction with the incomplete answers regarding procurement transparency and accountability for potential damages. He urged the government to improve the application for better user experience and prevent corruption.
Surawong emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring confidence in Thailand’s tourism sector, noting that the absence of Chinese tourists is a global trend, not isolated to Thailand. He assured that corrective measures are in place to enhance the program’s functionality and accountability, reaffirming that the allocated budget was judiciously used.
In conclusion, Mr. Surawong reiterated his apology to the public for any inconvenience and pledged to take swift action to rectify any issues, ensuring minimal public disruption. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports remains focused on attracting tourists back to Thailand and optimizing the travel program for future success.