A Fiasco Unfolds: The Thailand Travel Co-pay Scheme
The launch of the “Tiew Thai Khon La Krung” campaign, also known as the Thailand Travel Co-pay scheme, last week has turned into a major disaster, with no clear resolution in sight. This incident highlights not only a lack of competence but also deep-seated political conflicts among decision-makers.
The initiative was intended to boost domestic tourism by subsidizing travel and accommodation costs. It was modeled after the “We Travel Together” campaign during the Prayut government’s tenure, which aimed to revive the tourism sector hit by the pandemic. Under this new program, the government would cover up to 50% of hotel room rates during the low season.
A total of 500,000 entitlements were made available to the public, funded by money previously allocated for a suspended digital wallet project. However, within minutes of the registration opening, the system crashed due to an overwhelming number of users. Registrants were initially asked to verify their identity through the Interior Ministry’s ThaID app.
Without prior testing, the ThaiP platform could not handle the surge in traffic. Developers quickly removed the ThaID requirement and redirected users to verify their identity via email using a one-time password (OTP). Unfortunately, this solution also failed. Most users registered with Gmail accounts, which flagged the mass-sent OTPs as spam, making verification impossible.
Another issue emerged when users noticed that hotel prices on the platform were significantly higher than those on other booking sites. Some hotel owners were accused of price-gouging to take advantage of the stimulus program. However, they claimed that the system forced them to apply a flat rate regardless of weekdays, weekends, or peak seasons. This left them with no choice but to set higher prices to cover their costs.
Several hotels, in an effort to avoid public backlash, decided to suspend bookings through the program altogether. Eventually, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) had to suspend new registrations until the system issues could be resolved.
This entire situation reveals a lack of professionalism at every level, from Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong, who fast-tracked the scheme without proper preparation, to the implementing agencies that failed to communicate clearly or anticipate potential problems. From the start, the public was led to believe that the entitlements would be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, leading to a rush. Only after the system collapsed did TAT clarify that the 500,000 quota would only be counted upon actual booking and payment.
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect is the government’s refusal to use the Pao Tang application, developed by Krungthai Bank under the previous administration of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. This app is a proven stable platform that has successfully managed several government schemes, including the “We Travel Together” campaign. However, the current administration chose to ignore it, likely because it does not want to give credit to the achievements of the previous government.
This backward, partisan decision-making is both wasteful and counterproductive. Why should taxpayers bear the cost of building new ineffective applications when a capable, well-tested system already exists?
The Thailand Travel Co-pay fiasco is more than just a technical failure. It reflects a broader dysfunction, a mindset that prioritizes political image over public interest and pride over practical governance. What could have been a showcase economic stimulus project and a feather in the government’s cap now stands as a black mark against Pheu Thai’s record.
