Thailand to offer free domestic flights to 200,000 foreign travelers
Thailand is looking at any means to boost tourism. The Kingdom tries reverting a slump of 6% of its arrivals in the first seven months of 2025. The country is gearing up to hand out free domestic flights in a bid to lure more foreign visitors. And entice them to go deeper into the country.
Tourism and sports minister Sorawong Thienthong announced on August 20 that he will ask the Cabinet for a THB 700 million (US$19.5 million) budget to launch a new campaign called “Buy International, Free Thailand Domestic Flights.”
The initiative, could bring at least 200,000 international tourists to destinations beyond Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, stated the minister.
“We want visitors to see more than just the big cities,” Sorawong said. The minister pointed to UNESCO heritage towns and off-the-beaten-path hot spots as key targets.
Under the plan, international travelers booking tickets to Thailand through airlines’ websites, partner carriers, or online travel agents would receive two free domestic flight tickets—round trip or one-way—with a 20-kilogram baggage allowance.
Possible start still in August?
The scheme could still start before the end of August if rapidly adopted. However, travelers would be able to use the reward between September and November. Just before the start of the peak season.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will team up with six airlines—Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, and Thai VietJet—to make the promotion fly. Ticket subsidies will be capped at THB 1,750 ($49) per leg, or THB 3,500 ($98) for a round trip.
Officials project the campaign could generate at least US$246 million in direct tourism spending and fuel a wider economic impact of US$609 million (THB 21.8 billion).
The concept is not new. Japan implemented a similar scheme of free domestic flights to spread tourist traffic into secondary cities after the Covid pandemics. “This is about boosting tourism and boosting the economy,” Sorawong said to local media. “And making sure visitors discover the full beauty of Thailand.”
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