Restructured tobacco tax regime expected to be effective from Oct 1
A new tobacco tax structure effective from October 1 will bring more than THB60 billion revenue per year, according to the Excise Departments estimates.
The department’s director-general, Lavaron Sangsnit, said that the Minister of Finance would consider the new tobacco tax structure.
It is expected to be presented for Cabinet approval in the last two weeks of September, to be effective on October 1.
Lavaron added that current revenue from cigarette tax is THB60 billion per year. He confirmed that the tax rate will not be lower.
The tax rate was lowered to 20 per cent for cigarette packs priced THB60 or lower. This rate will be used until September 30. The old tax rate was 40 per cent, effective from October 2017. Many cigarette companies decreased their retail price to lower than THB60, to reduce the tax burden.
Meanwhile, many parties have called for an increase in the tax of roll-your-own (RYO) cigarettes to be closer to the cigarette tax, as it is lower by 6 to 7 times. The price of RYO cigarettes is THB10-12 per carton.
Lawaron said there was a discussion on this issue but confirmed that the same rate would be used. He did not want to affect the target group, which was a low-income group, he said.
Bangkok among 5 provinces in phase 2 of tourism reopening plan
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is going ahead with the phase 2 of reopening selected tourist areas in five provinces to foreign visitors from October 1, Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said on Friday.
Thailand has piloted the reopening of tourist provinces under the tourism “sandbox” scheme since July 1 in Phuket, followed by the “Samui Plus Model” on July 15 that links to the “7+7 Phuket Extension” scheme. Under the scheme, vaccinated visitors of the sandbox programme, who stayed in Phuket for seven days and test negative for Covid-19, can travel to seven tourist attractions in Surat Thani, Krabi and Phang Nga provinces. After the tourists stay in these provinces for 14 days and test negative, they can then travel to other provinces of Thailand.
“The reopening of Phuket and nearby provinces has been successful so far, while the planned reopening of Buri Ram has been put on hold following the postponement of the Moto GP tournament to 2022,” said Pipat.
“In the second phase of the reopening, five more provinces — Bangkok, Chiang Mai (Muang, Mae Rim and Doi Tao districts), Prachuap Khiri Khan (only Hua Hin), Phetchaburi (only Cha-Am) and Chonburi (Pattaya, Banglamung and Sattahip districts), will join the scheme.”
Pipat added that the third phase will start on October 15 and cover 22 provinces, namely Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Phrae, Nan, Lamphun, Sukhothai, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Ubon Ratchathani, Loei, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Ranong, Trang, Satun, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Ayutthaya.
“The fourth phase, which is expected to start from January 2022, will focus on extending the travel bubble scheme in border provinces to facilitate cross-border travel with neighbouring countries such as Surin, Sa Kaew, Trat, Chiang Rai, Ranong, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai, Mukdahan, Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Satun,” said Pipat.
“The reopening of a province must be approved by the provincial public health office, which will consider the areas’ readiness based on Covid-19 situation, vaccination rate of local population at over 70 per cent and employed disease control measures,” the minister added.
Thailand reported an increase in new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, but deaths were lower compared to Friday.
There were 15,942 new Covid-19 cases and 257 deaths over the past 24 hours compared to 14,653 and 271, respectively, on Friday. Of the new cases, 277 were found in prisons.
Meanwhile, 20,351 patients have recovered and been discharged over the past 24 hours.
Thailand’s total caseload from Covid stands at 1,265,082 – 1,097,317 of whom have recovered, 155,134 are still in hospitals and 12,631 have died.
Separately, another 375,914 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 546,043 their second shot, and 3,670 a booster dose, bringing total Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 35,218,164.
According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 220.65 million on Saturday, 197.16 million of whom have recovered, 18.92 million are active cases (105,935 in severe condition) and 4.57 million have died (up by 9,441).
Thailand ranks 29th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 40.70 million, followed by India with 32.94 million, Brazil with 20.86 million, Russia with 6.98 million and the UK with 6.90 million.
50km highway in Koh Samui expected to be fully ready next year
About 70 per cent of Highway 4169 in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province, has been finished, and the balance would be ready by March 2022, the Department of Highways said.
The contract for construction of the highway was signed on February 20, 2018.
Of the 50-kilometre long highway around the island, being built at a cost of THB701 million, 34 kilometres have already been finished and opened for public use.
The unfinished part was 15.5km long, from Ban Hua Thanon in Na Muang sub-district to Ban Chaweng in Bo Put sub-district.
The construction of Highway 4169 will support more traffic, enhance safety, promote tourism for Surat Thani and southern Thailand, the authority said.
Phuket authorities urged to push for 3rd vaccine dose as Covid cases increase
Tourism entrepreneurs in Phuket have suggested to authorities to arrange the third dose of Covid-19 vaccine for locals, as new cases are still being found in the province, and this factor could affect tourism.
On Friday, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration announced that 235 cases were found in the past 24 hours in Phuket. Also, in the past seven days, daily new cases had averaged over 200.
The Phuket Boutique Accommodation Consortium said that the infection statistics were undoubtedly related to the decision to travel in the province of foreigners.
Consortium chairman Pachara Luelamai suggested that the government arrange the third dose for Phuket residents in order to boost their immunity.
Separately, Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew admitted that there was an increase in the number of cases among locals. However, only 85 cases were spotted among over 27,000 foreigners who visited Phuket under the sandbox scheme, he added.
He told the press that around 77 per cent of total population in Phuket had already received the second dose, and 400,000 doses of the third jab were being proposed to the central authorities of Thailand.
50km highway in Koh Samui expected to be fully ready next year
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