The government has also set aside a budget of US$68 million to help the 350,000 travellers left stranded by the eight-day siege of Bangkok's international and domestic airports by anti-government protesters.

'The cabinet has already approved in principle a healing operation to help stranded passengers return home,' tourism and sport ministry permanent secretary Sasithara Pichaichannarong told reporters.

The ministry was discussing a plan to give 20 billion baht in loans for Thai tourism and tourism-related businesses to help revitalise the industry, Mr Sasithara said.

'But we still have to discuss about the 20-billion-baht budget plan with tourism and related business associations,' Mr Sasithara said.

'The budget is likely to offer short-term loans with low interest rates.'

The ministry would seek cabinet approval for a 1.9-billion-baht public relations campaign called 'Apologies Thailand' in an attempt to woo disgruntled tourists back to the kingdom, Sasithara added.

Tourism Authority of Thailand deputy chief Jutaporn Reungronasa said that because of the turmoil the country was expecting half as many tourists this year as it got in 2007, when 14.5 million people visited the kingdom. -- AFP