Thailand will stop having duty-free stores at the airports where passengers arrive to encourage people to spend more money elsewhere in the country.
According to Bangkok Post, the three outbound duty-free businesses that operate at eight foreign flights, including Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Meaung, have agreed to suspend procedures, according to a deputy state spokesperson cited by the media outlet.
The various airports are in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Rayong, Samui and Krabi.
According to several media reports, no date has been set for the end of email duty-free activities.
Last year, revenue from Thailand’s northbound duty- free stores amounted to 3.02 billion baht ( US$ 82.9 million ), according to its customs office.
According to the government, their shutdown will cause an increase in international visitors ‘ saving of 570 ringgit per person, per trip.
The World Bank projects that Thailand will attract more than 36 million customers this time.
From Jan 1 to April 14, it welcomed 10.72 million foreign tourist immigrants, according to figures from the hospitality and sports department. Over two million travelers were from China, followed by Malaysia, Russia, South Korea and India.
Before the COVID- 19 crisis, commerce accounted for about 20 per cent of the region’s economy.