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Young Skål Thailand
receives healthy donation
Young Skål Director Scott Smith receives a
Bt100,000
donation from the club’s good friend Corry Bik.
Andrew Wood
The Bangkok Skål Club hosted a very successful joint Skål / PATA
Christmas lunch in December 2008 and a presentation of Bt100,000 was
made by Mrs Corry Bik to the director of Young Skål Thailand, Scott
Smith, to assist the club provide help and support to this important and
growing group of young tourism professionals.
Young Skål is open to all travel and tourism professionals between 20-29
years old. For details on the programme please contact Scott Smith,
email: youngskalthailand @gmail.com
Thai stimulus
measures welcomed
Watchiranont Thongtep, TTG Asia
The Cabinet’s approval of five tourism stimulus measures will
help to revive the slump in business and draw tourists back, but more
can be done for travel agents, according to the trade.
Last week, the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration endorsed a visa fee
waiver for all tourists for three months, while entrance fees at all
national parks will be waived for two years.
Airlines operating regular flights to Airports of Thailand’s facilities
will receive a 20 percent rebate for landing and parking fees, while
those operating to Department of Civil Aviation’s airports will receive
a 50 percent reduction until September.
Meanwhile, Thai hotels will not have to pay the annual license fee for
next year; and Thai-based companies holding meetings and seminars in
Thailand can submit the amount for a tax deduction at double the value
for the amount paid.
These measures are expected to take effect beginning this week.
Siam@Siam Design Hotel and Spa general manager, Sanya Seangboon, said
the stimulus measures would help hotels defray rising costs amid lower
demand arising from the impact of last year’s closure of two Bangkok
airports and the global economic recession.
He said landing and parking incentives for airlines would help to
convince them to maintain their flights to Thailand, as well as increase
competitiveness for the aviation industry.
However, Jetour (Thailand) deputy managing director, Pornsri
Visvachaipan, said she would have liked to see measures aimed directly
at helping travel agencies. “Thai travel agencies could use some
government financial support or tax incentives to survive,” she said.
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