Thailand to boost local spending by closing duty-free shops at airports

To boost tourism and spending in Thailand, the Cabinet has backed the Finance Ministry's proposal to boost domestic consumption by closing duty-free shops at international airports.

The Finance Ministry has studied the effects of this change. They expect foreign tourists to spend about US$16 more on every visit to Thailand. The change is expected to benefit local tourism businesses, generating an increase of up to US$98 million per year.

Currently, three companies run duty-free shops at Thailand's eight international airports, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Muang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, U-Tapao, Samui and Krabi. These operators have agreed to stop duty-free sales in arrival areas.