News roundup: Thailand scraps proposed tourism fee, plus other stories

For PropertyGuru’s real estate news roundup, Thailand scrapped the proposed tourism fee for visiting tourists. In other updates, the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s hospitality campaign encourages frontline staff and members of the public to “smile more,” and Ho Chi Minh City River Festival 2024 has attracted nearly 4.5 million visitors.

Thailand scraps proposed tourism fee

Thailand has scrapped a plan to implement a THB300 (USD8.20) tourism fee for visitors arriving in the country by air.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced the government’s decision to drop the plan during a visit to Chiang Mai last 8th June.

“The fee … was abandoned with the rationale that its elimination could encourage higher tourist spending in other areas, thereby providing a more substantial boost to the economy,” Thailand’s Government Public Relations Department said on its website on Monday.

Thailand’s previous government approved the controversial fee in February 2023, with a spokesperson for the country’s Prime Minister’s Office saying at the time that collected fees would “be used to manage and develop tourism”. The fee faced opposition from the private sector, however, the Government Public Relations Department said in a CNA report.

‘We should smile more’: Hong Kong launches hospitality drive to promote courtesy towards visitors

The Hong Kong Tourism Board’s (HKTB) “Let’s Go the Extra Mile” hospitality campaign encourages frontline staff and members of the public to make a special effort with visitors.

The HKTB said its new TV promotion, starring actors Louis Koo and Ng Siu-hin, shows “how we can all better demonstrate hospitality by going the extra mile with small gestures, while highlighting the city’s professional-quality services, thus leaving a positive impression on customers.”

Last month, HKTB chair Pang Yiu-kai said the top complaints from visitors in 2023 included poor telecoms and wi-fi services, unfriendly retailers, waiters, and taxi drivers. HKFP said the HKTB chair urged customer service staff to smile more.

Ho Chi Minh City River Festival 2024 lures nearly 4.5 million visitors

The second Ho Chi Minh City River Festival 2024 has attracted nearly 4.5 million visitors, as reported by the municipal Department of Tourism.

The southern metropolis welcomed about 1.3 million travellers, including 121,000 foreigners and 1.18 million domestic tourists from 31st May to 9th June. According to VietnamPlus, the event also brought VND4.2 trillion (USD165 million) in tourism and service revenue to the city.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].