The extension covers a further period of 5 months from the month of October 2009 to March 2010. The MOTS will grant the 2009 annual allowance of 210 million baht for the project expenditure to reassure the safety of foreign tourists as well as to collaborate with the Office of Insurance Commission(OIC) and The General Insurance Association(GIA).

6 million tourists are expected to be in Thailand during the high season from November 2009 to March 2010 so the government needs to extend the insurance policy to gain tourists’ confidence.

The Cabinet also agreed to shorten the consideration process for the emergence of travel business entrepreneurs. State-owned banks will provide financial help to the travel business entrepreneurs who were affected from the economic downturn. The documents stating Non Performing Loans (NPL) from the previous closure of the 2 airports are not required. The 2 years Minimum Loan Rate (MLR) of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME Bank) will be collected at -3% per year and continue the actual rate onward.

The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr. Chumpol Silpa-archa claimed that the insurance scheme has received positive feedback from tourists and should be made prototypical. The Prime Minister has not yet agreed with the suggestion.