Thailand approves tax measures to boost local tourism, official says

The measures, which cover the period from May to November, include tax deductions for companies organizing conventions and seminars, he said.

Additional measures were designed to increase domestic travel to secondary cities, including allowing income tax deductions for home stay and non-hotel accommodation expenses.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the measures would cost the government 1.5 billion baht ($41 million) in revenue, but said the benefits would be greater.

Thailand recorded 14.9 million foreign tourists arrivals in the January to early June period this year, the Tourism Ministry said on Tuesday.

Foreign tourists have generated revenue of 709 billion baht ($19.40 billion) so far this year, it said.

The government is targeting 35 million foreign arrivals for the full year.