Thailand's government plans a 15.6 billion baht ($450 million) package for reviving its important tourist sector, badly hit by a crippling week-long airport blockade, the Tourism Minister said on Thursday. "If businesses fail, it will cause damage to the country," Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-Archa told reporters after meeting with private tourism operators.

The 4-year rescue plan will help a tourist industry suffering from the effects of the closure of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport closure during November as it was blockaded by anti-government protesters.

Copyright Reuters, 2008