ID :
46147
Tue, 02/17/2009 - 22:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/46147
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Cabinet approves Bt200 mn budget to help tourism operators
BANGKOK, Feb 17 (TNA) - Thai Cabinet granted a budget of Bt214 million (US$6.1 million) to shoulder the burden of interest payments for tourism business operators for two years, a senior government official announced on Tuesday.
Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Sasithara Pichaichannarong said that the budget would help lessen the financial burden of tourism-related businesses, who have debts with commercial banks and financial institutions.
The cabinet, she said, also resolved to have the Small Business Credit Guarantee Corporation guarantee credit risks for four tourism-related business sectors such as four-star hotels, restaurants, transport and tour companies battered by the closure of the country's two main airports in late 2008.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) earlier projected that the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand in 2009 would rise to 14.5 million.
The Bank of Thailand, however, forecast that tourist arrivals this year would drop by 8.8 percent from 12.8 million in 2008.
The central bank has estimated the country would lose 290 billion baht ($8.3 billion) as a result of the closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports from late November to early December by the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). (TNA)
Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Sasithara Pichaichannarong said that the budget would help lessen the financial burden of tourism-related businesses, who have debts with commercial banks and financial institutions.
The cabinet, she said, also resolved to have the Small Business Credit Guarantee Corporation guarantee credit risks for four tourism-related business sectors such as four-star hotels, restaurants, transport and tour companies battered by the closure of the country's two main airports in late 2008.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) earlier projected that the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand in 2009 would rise to 14.5 million.
The Bank of Thailand, however, forecast that tourist arrivals this year would drop by 8.8 percent from 12.8 million in 2008.
The central bank has estimated the country would lose 290 billion baht ($8.3 billion) as a result of the closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports from late November to early December by the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). (TNA)
