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🇹🇭 Thailand /Economy & Trade

Retailers urge action to lift spending

From Bangkok Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Thailand's Retailers Association (TRA) urges the government to implement short-, medium-, and long-term measures to boost the struggling retail sector.
  • Proposed measures include reviving the Easy E-Receipt tax deduction scheme and promoting provincial investment to encourage consumer spending.
  • The TRA also suggests establishing special shopping zones with reduced taxes for foreign travelers and ensuring fairer e-commerce practices to support the industry's recovery.

The Thai Retailers Association (TRA) is pressing the government for immediate action to support the nation's retail sector, which is grappling with weakened consumer purchasing power. The association is advocating for a multi-pronged approach, encompassing short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to revitalize sales.

The Thai Retailers Association is urging the government to consider additional measures to support the retail sector.

— Thai Retailers AssociationThe article states the TRA's call for government support.

Key proposals include the relaunch of the "Easy E-Receipt" scheme, which allows individuals to claim tax deductions on purchases. The TRA believes this measure, along with extending the "Thailand Plus" payment scheme, would help distribute spending more widely across the retail landscape. Additionally, the association suggests introducing a value-added tax (VAT) refund at the point of purchase for foreign travelers, similar to European Union practices, to lower retail prices for lifestyle products.

Further recommendations focus on stimulating investment and ensuring fair competition. The TRA proposes offering special incentives for investment in designated areas and urges the government to guarantee equitable practices within the e-commerce sector, particularly concerning the examination of sellers' tax compliance. These measures aim to counter the influx of foreign goods amid global trade tensions and foster a more balanced market.

The household debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 85.8% in the first quarter of 2026, dealing with a weakened consumer purchasing power.

— Bank of ThailandThe TRA president cited this economic indicator to explain the industry's struggles.

Despite persistent challenges, the TRA anticipates the retail industry will rebound to mirror last year's performance in the fourth quarter, driven by the upcoming "Thailand Grand Sale" campaign and the peak tourist season. The association forecasts the industry's value to reach 4.83 trillion baht in 2026, a 3% increase from this year, and projects a total market value of 4.18 trillion baht for 2026, with various retail formats accounting for 55% of this figure.

Such measures would help increase domestic spending, which would help boost the retail industry.

— Nath VongpanichThe TRA president explained the expected impact of the Easy E-Receipt scheme.
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Originally published by Bangkok Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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