Picture courtesy of NDTV Travel

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is determined to keep its 200,000 free domestic flight tickets plan in motion, despite waiting for cabinet approval. Despite impending political shifts, TAT remains committed to promoting tourism.

 

Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool stated that tourists should book trips without banking on the free flights, given the soaring airfares during peak season. Political momentum is building for Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, poised for the prime ministerial vote, potentially influencing tourism policy.

 

Since taking over from the Bhumjaithai Party in 2023, the Pheu Thai Party has overseen the Tourism and Sports Ministry. TAT submitted the "Buy International, Get Free Thailand Domestic Flights" scheme to the cabinet and awaits approval, seeing potential benefits for traveller demand.

 

Ms Thapanee emphasised that the programme won’t be dropped even if a new government requires resubmission. As high season approaches, she advised tourists not to delay travel plans, since rising airfares are driven by growing demand from local and international visitors.

 

The scheme, worth 700 million baht, targets second-tier cities, not major urban centres. Current foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand reached 21.8 million as of August, a 7.16% decrease from the previous year. Visitors from China and Malaysia make up 28% of this figure, reported the Bangkok Post.

 

Travel confidence issues are impacting short-haul markets, particularly from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Meanwhile, TAT’s presence at the Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City 2025 aims to boost arrivals from neighbouring countries to 2.8 million this year.

 

Anticipating a robust high season, TAT is lining up major events like China's Golden Week and Diwali to draw tourists, especially from India. The agency remains hopeful that these celebrations will further energise Thailand's thriving tourism industry.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-09-05

 

 

Ignore the European travelers lets go for the Chinese and indian markets tells me all about this proposed freebie from TAT. The lure of the Chinese Golden Week, and the Indian Diwali festivals will save Thai tourism in the run up to this next high season.

It is highly doubtful if foreigners will get a free flight. They will probably pay excess on their flight to cover the cost of the free tickets that are issued.

Imagine the delight of the local inhabitants when hordes of Indians show up in their towns and start the shenanigans like like public defecation and groping women walking from the water to the well. 

Nothings free.... 

On 9/5/2025 at 1:27 PM, BarraMarra said:

Ignore the European travelers lets go for the Chinese and indian markets tells me all about this proposed freebie from TAT. The lure of the Chinese Golden Week, and the Indian Diwali festivals will save Thai tourism in the run up to this next high season.

Obviously the Indians will be the main target of this protracted initiative to increase tourist numbers and thus revenue. The Indians are particularly popular with TAT as they quite happily live, eat and <deleted> on the local beaches, and hey TAT, the Indians don't even need a bloody tent! So its a win win situation, camping on the beaches, ablutions dug in and lurking beneath the sand, eventually it will fill up under the beach like a huge fecal plateau stretching as far as the eye can see. future generations will marvel at this rich bio diversity beneath the sand, eventually marvelling in how it is almost turning to crude oil, but a bit browner, looser and smellier.

When the complaints begin about the Indians again they will be moaning and asking why are so many coming damaging the image of Thailand.