THAILAND is trying to woo wealthy foreigners to stay long term in the country and has approved a raft of measures to attract them.
The Bangkok Post reports that the Thai cabinet has given its green light in principle to economic stimulus and investment measures, hoping to draw up to one million high potential new foreign residents.
According to government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, the plan aimed to draw four groups – wealthy global citizens, pensioners from overseas, those wanting to work in Thailand and highly skilled professionals.
Under the plan, long term visas would be issued for high potential foreigners, who would be granted exemptions and benefits during their stay, such as not having to report to the authorities every 90 days.
Thanakorn said there would also be amendments to laws and regulations relating to land holding, work management and permission for foreign nationals to work for employers in and outside the country, exemption from regulations on employment of foreign and Thai employees, tax exemption and other benefits.
The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) is working with the Board of Investment Office, the Interior Ministry, the Labour Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the police on ironing out the various issues.
The NESDC hopes that over the next five years, one million foreigners will take up the programme, with a spending of around one trillion baht.
The Thai cabinet has also approved the NESDC's proposal to evaluate the plan every five years, including the tax benefits and land holdings that will expire after that period.
Meanwhile in another development, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has confirmed that five areas in the country will reopen to tourism on Oct 1 as planned.
They are Bangkok, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chiang Mai.
The minister said 21 other provinces will follow suit on Oct 15, dispelling doubts over whether the government would be able to proceed with its plan due to the high number of Covid-19 cases in the country.
According to the Post, he said although the current rate of infections was a major issue, the ministry was still fully prepared for the reopening.
On the over 200 new cases of Covid-19 being recorded daily in Phuket, he said it was due to active case finding in every community, including migrant workers.
The province was the first to reopen its tourism sector under the Phuket sandbox scheme in July.
Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has also reaffirmed that the ministry was fully prepared for the Oct 1 reopening.
Phetchaburi's deputy governor Natthawut Phetpromsorn said there were effective and strict Covid-19 controls were in place to reduce the threat of new infections.
Bubble and seal measures applied at factories and markets have reduced the number of new cases, he added.
Natthawut said all sectors were well prepared and tourists can confidently visit popular destinations such as the Cha-am district, which is safe and free from the virus.
Phetchaburi public health office chief Phetchakit Thaensawat said 54 per cent of targeted groups in the province have been vaccinated.
He said the vaccination rate would reach 70 per cent when more vaccines arrive.