The government is focused on stimulating the domestic economy and promoting community-based enterprises in the first half of the year as the global economic recovery appears set to remain sluggish.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said yesterday at a cabinet meeting that in light of the weak global economy, Thai exports were unlikely to help as much as in the past, while state investment in infrastructure projects such as rail and mass transit would take until the latter half of the year to bear fruit for the economy.
The government thus needs to rely on local works such as water supply development for agricultural purposes in rural areas, agricultural product processing and machinery support.
In a bid to boost the domestic economy, Mr Somkid recently asked Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, the Prime Minister's Office minister, to organise a workshop among the 1,300 leaders who handle Village Funds to urge them to speed up disbursement.
Private-sector groups such as the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) have agreed to join the government in developing community-based enterprises and functioning as a distribution and marketing channel for local products.
The government also aims to promote construction of community rice mills and central silos and foster investment in necessary equipment for crop production.
Officials will set up a panel on developing the grassroots economy, with members to include representatives from government agencies, state banks, civil society and the TCC.
Mr Somkid said tourism would also be a major contributor to the economy this year, and he called on related agencies to boost tourism in provincial areas.
The government must invest heavily in improving facilities at tourism spots, he said.
Tambon and provincial administrations will become instrumental in developing tourism destinations and community-specific products.
Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn, the deputy prime minister overseeing the Tourism and Sports Ministry, told the cabinet that the ministry would focus on attracting better-quality visitors who spend more.
The ministry said foreign tourist arrivals reached 29.99 million in 2015. Overall tourism revenue totalled 2.2 trillion baht, of which 1.4 trillion was from foreign tourists.
Foreign tourist arrivals are expected to increase to 32.5 million this year, while tourism revenue is estimated at 2.3 trillion baht.