The “Chim, Shop, Chai” (Eat, Shop, Spend) program was fully subscribed in less than three hours following the opening of registration at midnight, with one million people signed up for the 1,000-baht giveaway, to be spent to promote domestic tourism.
The two hours and 56 minutes was the fastest time to reach the one million per day target in the five days since the launch of the program on Monday. On Monday, the one million applicant target was achieved at 1.43 pm, 8.11 am on the second day, 6.18 am on the third day and 5.40 am on the fourth day.
The government has set a target of 10 million applicants for the program which is expected to be reached in the next five days.
Mr. Payong Srivanich, managing director of the state-run Krung Thai Bank, which is involved in the program, said that the bank has been closely monitoring the online registration to ensure a smooth, safe and convenient application process while maintaining data privacy.
The 1,000-baht giveaway can be spent, starting today, in the provinces chosen by the applicants. Out of one million who applied on the first day, 800,000 passed the screening but the rest, whose applications were rejected, can reapply.
Successful applicants must spend the 1,000 baht within 14 days at shops which have joined the program.
If the applicants do not spend the handout in 14 days, the giveaway will be forfeited and they will not be able to reapply.
According to Mr. Lawan Saengsanit, director of Fiscal Police Office, 54% of the applicants are in the 31-60 age group, 32% in the 22-30 age group, 8% in the 18-21 age group and 6% in the over 60s group.
People living in the central region account for 43% of the applicants, followed by 16% northeasterners, 15% easterners, 11% southerners, 9% northerners and 6% westerners.
