The cabinet has approved extra public holidays in May and July to boost tourism, the Minister of Tourism and Sports says.
Speaking after the cabinet's meeting on Monday, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said the cabinet had approved the ministry's proposal for additional public holidays on Friday, May 6, and Monday, July 18.
This year, Coronation Day falls on Thursday, May 5, and now with May 6 becoming a public holiday it will allow people to take a long break from May 5 to May 8, she said.
Asarnha Bucha Day falls on Tuesday, July 19, and Buddhist Lent Day falls on Wednesday, July 20. With the addition of July 18 as holiday people will be entitled to take a five-day break from Monday 16 to Wednesday 20, she added.
Long holiday breaks would help stimulate local tourism, Ms Kobkarn said.
Add the new holidays (in red) to existing official holidays and weekends, and the country winds up with two very long weekends in coming months - which Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul and the government hope you will use to spend money touring the country. (Main photo by Thanarak Khunton)
