Thailand mulls offering free flights to vaccinated tourists
Thailand’s Tourism Ministry is considering offering foreign tourists free domestic flights to disperse tourism spending around the country.
Starting in July vaccinated tourists will be able to come to Phuket and could be ‘tempted to extend their stay after spending 10 days in Phuket if we can provide them free or discounted air tickets to other provinces," said Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
Phuket is the first destination in the ‘sandbox’ initiative to open up specific destinations for quarantine-free stays for inoculated travellers.
Phiphat said the government hopes to attraction about 100,000 tourists in the first three months before other destinations reopen.
"We may offer free or discounted tickets, but we have to ensure tourists are confident to travel," he said.
Under the sandbox scheme travellers have to spend time in Phuket but are then able to travel elsewhere in the country subject to using a government managed tracking app.
Krabi, Samui, Pattaya, Phangnga and Chiang Mai are expected to join the sandbox scheme from the fourth quarter of this year.
Along with Phuket these six destinations generate about 80% of Thailand’s tourism revenue.
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