Thailand endorses duty-free scheme for domestic travellers

Dermot Davitt

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The programme is among proposals aimed at reviving tourism in the tsunami-stricken Andaman provinces

The Thai cabinet has endorsed a Bt3.8bn ($98.7m) budget to revive the country's six southern Andaman provinces hit by the December tsunami. The scheme is aimed at restoring tourism to the region and includes a provision for a series of duty-free shops, which could be open to domestic tourists. Final details have still to be negotiated between the finance ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, which administers the country's duty-free trade.

Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop said that the injection of cash was being made to encourage foreign tourists, while the government has aslo approved a further Bt790m ($2.05m) to market Thailand's tourism industry overseas. Suwat said he was confident that the Andaman tourism industry would return to pre-tsunami levels by October.

RavenFox.com understands that King Power is interested in operating any new shops approved in the Andaman region.