Thailand Greenlights Tax Cuts on Booze and Nightclubs to Reignite Tourism
Bangkok – Get ready for happy hour in Thailand to get a whole lot crazier. In a boozy bid to accelerate tourism, Thailand is slashing alcohol taxes on beer, wine and spirits along with halving levies on bustling entertainment venues.
The Thai government announced Tuesday that excise taxes on alcoholic drinks will plunge, with wine dropping from 10% down to 5% and liquor plummeting all the way from 10% to zero. Taxes on nightclubs, bars and other venues will also be cut in half from 10% to 5%.
The tax break aims to reignite Thailand’s nightlife and entertainment scene, a major tourist draw left gasping from pandemic restrictions. Thailand is now moving aggressively to reboot tourism, which accounted for 12% of GDP pre-COVID.
“The main reason for the tax reduction is to stimulate tourism and spending,” explained government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek.
In November, Thailand also extended operating hours for nightlife establishments until 4am, creating more leeway for raucous revelry. Waiving and reducing tourist visa fees is another strategy to entice visitors back.
While travel is rebounding after Thailand reopened borders in 2021, arrivals remain far below pre-pandemic levels of nearly 40 million. The country attracted only 11.5 million tourists last year.
The tax incentives to spur spending form part of urgent economic efforts to close the gap. Thailand expects tourism revenue to nearly triple in 2023 as nightlife sizzles once more.
So get ready to sing along heartily with live bands, indulge in exotic cocktails and show off dance moves until the wee hours! With Thailand rolling out the red carpet to tourists and waving through booze and entertainment, the slashed taxes promise to amplify the intoxicating good times that lure adventurers and revellers.
