Thailand set to welcome visitors after almost two years

15 Sept 16:56 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand lifts quarantine for fully vaccinated visitors from 63 countries, aiming to revive its tourism-dependent economy after a drastic two-year decline in visitor numbers.
The reopening is an important milestone, with forecasts predicting 180,000 visitors and 13.5 billion baht in revenue by year-end, though a rapid rebound is not expected.
Challenges persist due to low domestic vaccination rates and global travel restrictions, indicating a gradual increase in foreign tourist arrivals, with Bangkok expecting normalcy by mid-2022.
Domestic tourism, bolstered by government subsidies, has provided a "silver lining" for the hotel industry, and operators are adapting to the growing "Workation" trend, with Thai cities ranking high for remote work destinations.

New home loan scheme aims to boost property sector with Bt125 billion

20 Oct 11:38 Key points summarised by AI

The Cabinet approved a new Bt50-billion 'A House for Each PLUS' home loan scheme from the Government Housing Bank, offering up to Bt3 million with 40-year repayment terms for low- and middle-income earners.
This initiative aims to significantly boost the property sector and national economy, projecting to generate Bt125 billion in economic activity and create jobs.