'Supachai' reveals that 'Thai Tiew Thai Plus' will not be proposed to the Cabinet in August, noting that further review is needed while awaiting budget approval; it remains unclear if it will be implemented by year-end.
On 6 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Supachai Suthamphan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, serving as Chair of the Subcommittee on Trade, Tourism, and Community Economy Development under the Joint Public-Private Sector Committee to Solve Economic Problems (JPSC), commented on the consideration of the Thai Tiew Thai Plus project. She said discussions are ongoing because the available funds are limited, and it is necessary to see how much budget can be approved in the final allocation.
She said there have been talks with Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, about pushing the project forward. It will be similar to the 'Khon La Khrueng' tourism program. The focus is to ensure the measures benefit entrepreneurs widely, including small and micro enterprises, rather than concentrating benefits in a single group. The system should already be in place since the 'Thai Chuay Thai Plus' project exists.
When asked if, after the hearing process, the project could be submitted to the Cabinet meeting within this month, Supachai said no, that it will take longer. Currently, Surasak Phanjaroenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, has raised the issue. Ekniti must review the budget, and as the overseer of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, she must ensure the plan is reasonable. Her goal is to stimulate the economy while ensuring income is distributed fairly to tourism operators.
When asked again about the possibility of the 'Thai Tiew Thai Plus' project being used by the end of this year, Supachai said it is still under consideration regarding the type of project to implement and the available budget.