Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said new measures will be announced next month to woo tourists back to the country, especially those from China, in the lead up to the New Year.

A temple in Bangkok (Source: Xinhua)

The Deputy PM added measures in the package will include a tax measure for jewellery purchases, a tourism package with free flights to second-tier tourist provinces and a waiver for visa-on-arrival.

The planned exemption will include the 2,000-baht visa-on-arrival fee, along with double-entry visas.

The cabinet will approve a stimulus package in the second half of November. It will be effective until the end of December, said Somkid.

The measures will involve the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Finance Ministry and Thai Airways International.

Over the past 9 months, Thailand received 28.5 million international tourists, representing 8.7% year-on-year growth.

However, travellers from China slid 12% in August, the biggest drop in more than a year, keeping the overall pace of visitor growth near a 16-month low after a tour boat capsized off Phuket in July which killed 47 Chinese tourists.

The Tourism Council of Thailand has predicted Chinese arrivals would plunge around a quarter to 1.9 million in October through December from a year earlier.

It said there used to be seven to 12 charter flights per day from China to Krabi, but now it is down to three flights per day with some having 2 to 3 people on board.

(Source: VNA)