Thai government to turn off tourism aid after cases of fraud

Industry calls for further help while lobbying to open up to vaccinated foreigners

Thailand's tourism industry has been hit hard by the loss of foreign tourists who brought in about two-thirds of the country's total tourism revenue of 3 trillion baht in 2019. © Reuters

APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT, Nikkei staff writer

March 12, 2021 13:53 JST

BANGKOK -- Thailand's tourism industry faces another blow after the government shut the door on more domestic travel subsidies following revelations that many hotel operators had abused the system.

The Thai cabinet earlier this week turned down a proposal by the Tourism Authority of Thailand to extend the subsidy scheme called "We Travel Together" after many hotels and guesthouses were found to have defrauded authorities.