Thailand
is gearing up to offer free domestic flights to foreign visitors in a bid to
boost tourism during its slower tourism months, as well as encourage travelers
to spread out more widely across the country.
The nation’s
Tourism and Sports Ministry has proposed giving 200,000 international arrivals
one round-trip domestic flight ticket, complete with 20 kg (44 lbs) of baggage,
at no cost. The initiative, dubbed “Buy International, Free Thailand Domestic
Flights,” is still awaiting approval from the Thai cabinet.
If approved, the
campaign would run from September through November, with the government
budgeting 700 million baht ($21.6 million) to subsidize roundtrip flights that
typically cost around 3,500 baht ($108) each. Officials hope the scheme could
generate up to 8.8 billion baht (around $272 million) in tourism revenue.
Tourists could
claim free flights when booking international tickets directly with airlines or
through online travel agents. Six Thai carriers are expected to participate:
Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai
Vietjet.
The Bangkok Post reported that Thailand’s Tourism
and Sports Minister, Sorawong Thienthong, said, “This is an exclusive campaign
for foreign visitors who haven’t yet booked a ticket.” According to the Independent,
Thienthong also explained, “The initiative aims to attract at least 200,000
foreign tourists, covering destinations across Thailand, with a particular
focus on UNESCO-designated cities, popular tourist spots and key destinations
nationwide.”
Rungroj Santadvanit, president of the lower northeastern
chapter of the Thai Hotels Association, noted that some regions may not benefit
much from this scheme, since they are not top destinations for foreign tourists.
He pointed to the northeastern provinces as examples, although he did highlight
Buri Ram and Ubon Ratchathani as exceptions.
Santadvanit also
recommended pairing the flight giveaways with tailored marketing campaigns and
local activities, such as promoting Buri Ram as a sports tourism hub or Ubon
Ratchathani’s Mekong River attractions. Furthermore, he mentioned, “The
government must ensure tourism safety and clearly communicate which areas are
safe to visit, especially amid the ongoing Thailand-Cambodia border tensions.”
Thailand’s
government is eager to recover pre-pandemic tourist levels. In 2024, the
country saw 35 million foreign arrivals, but officials aim to welcome around 40
million visitors in 2025. However, as of mid-August, only 20.8 million tourists
had visited, down seven percent from the previous year. China remains the country’s
largest source market, accounting for 2.9 million arrivals.
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