Poll: Thai people prefer cash handouts to stimulate domestic tourism

A poll showed that Thai people wanted to visit markets the most after business restriction relaxation and the majority of respondents preferred cash handouts to stimulate domestic tourism, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported Saturday.

Bangkok University conducted the opinion survey on 1,204 people to ask them where they want to visit after business lockdown relaxation.

Most respondents (83.1 per cent) said they wanted to go to markets, flea markets and supermarkets; 44.8 per cent would like to visit department stores; and 40.1 per cent wanted to see hairdressers and barbers. The most undesirable places to visit were movie theaters (which concerned 91.1 per cent of respondents), followed by domestic airports (83.8 per cent), and spa and massage parlors (81.5 per cent).

Asked for favorite tourism stimulation measures during July and October, 51.8 per centof respondents wanted cash handouts, 24.1 per cent liked tax rebates based on vacation spending, and 21.2 per cent sought discount vouchers for accommodations and restaurants.

Asked about long holidays in lieu of the cancelled Song Kran festival, 46.6 per cent of respondents proposed they be added to New Year holidays, 33.3 per cent wanted them in months free of national holidays such as September, and 20.1 per cent would like them to follow any extended holidays, report by TNA said.

-- BERNAMA