People visit a tourism fair in Bangkok in March. (Prakrit Janthawong)

A 1,500-baht cash handout for spending in 55 second-tier provinces will be allocated to 10 million people who register to participate in the scheme on a first-come, first-served basis.

Qualified recipients must be 18 or older, said a source at the Finance Ministry who requested anonymity.

Those who sign up after the quota of 10 million will be put on a waiting list to receive the cash giveaway if registrants don't exercise their right.

The measure, a highlight of the government's stimulus package, will cost 15 billion baht.

After registration is completed, qualified recipients must show up in person to receive the handout at a place of their choosing determined during registration in the 55 second-tier provinces. The money will be transferred via PromptPay to their e-wallet or bank accounts linked by mobile banking apps.

They are required to travel and spend in the second-tier provinces this quarter, the source said. There is no qualification for how they spend the money.

The Finance Ministry is considering details to allow the recipients to withdraw the received money to spend at street stalls, the source said.

The source said the 1,500-baht cash handout is expected to help boost tourist numbers in second-tier provinces.

The Finance Ministry said recently that the stimulus package would seek cabinet approval on April 30, with the aim of preventing the economy from losing momentum and growing below its potential.

The economy is losing steam, dented by the US-China trade spat, which is dealing a blow to global growth, as well as local political uncertainties.

Other measures include a 500-baht handout per child to welfare smartcard holders to buy stationery, school uniforms and textbooks, a 1,000-baht cash giveaway to farmers who are government welfare recipients, and an additional 200-baht-per-month subsidy to be given until September to disabled people who are welfare smartcard holders.

The three measures are estimated to cost 7 billion baht.

For potential measures to stimulate the property sector, they would include a tax deduction for property buyers.