Duty-free scheme launched to drive tourism to Andaman

Tina Milton

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The Thai finance ministry has launched a duty-free incentive programme to attract tourists to three southern provinces on the Andaman coast

A duty-free incentive scheme has been introduced across stores in Phuket, Krabi and Phang-nga to drive local tourism levels.

Under the initiative, which will run from September 1 to December 31, Thai tourists who stay for one night are entitled to a coupon allowing them to buy a duty-free item of up to Bht20,000 ($488). There is no limit to the value if two items are purchased. Visitors who stay for two and three nights will be issued with a coupon to buy a duty-free product of up to Bht40,000 ($976) and Bht50,000 ($1,222) respectively. There is no limit for multiple purchases.

The deputy finance minister Varathep Rattanakorn predicted the incentives would help increase tourism numbers by 20% to 700,000. The provinces have attracted up to 1m annual visitors but levels sharply decreased after the tsunami tragedy in December 2004.