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Longing to experience Thailand’s white sands, lush jungles and buzzing street markets? Now might be a great moment to book your next getaway.
Thailand is planning to give away free domestic flights for 200,000 international visitors over the next three months.
The campaign, dubbed ‘Buy International, Free Thailand Domestic Flights,’ would allow eligible foreign tourists to claim a free round-trip flight within the country when booking international flights directly through airlines or travel agencies.
Backed by the country’s tourism ministry, the scheme is set to run from September to November, if it receives cabinet approval. The government would subsidise up to THB 1,750 (€40) for a one-way ticket or THB 3,500 (€80) for a round-trip. Each ticket would also come with 20kg of checked baggage.
Why does Thailand want to give away free flights?
The goal is to push travellers beyond perennial favourites like Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai and towards under-the-radar provinces rich with temples, exciting culinary traditions and lesser-visited beaches and islands.
Six air carriers – Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet – are already on board.
Officials hope the promotion will generate around THB 8.8 billion (€200 million) in revenue from a THB 700 million (€16 million) budget.
There are caveats, though. Only air arrivals qualify (visitors entering by bus or boat are excluded), and existing bookings made before the programme launches won’t count.
Thailand’s tourism woes persist
The free flights are the latest attempt to revive an industry that has been the country’s economic engine for decades.
In 2019, nearly 40 million foreign tourists flocked to Thailand to lounge on tropical beaches, feast on fragrant curries or dive into Bangkok’s world-class nightlife.
That record has yet to be matched. Thailand set a goal of 39 million arrivals in 2025, but it is set to fall short. The Bank of Thailand recently cut its forecast to 33 million visitors, down from 37.5 million earlier this year. So far, 20.8 million international arrivals have been recorded, a 7 per cent drop from last year.
Part of the problem is perception. Recent violent incidents in Bangkok have made headlines, while the border flare-up with Cambodia last month further dented Thailand’s image as a safe, carefree destination.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has struggled to reconcile its talk of “quality over quantity” with ambitious former targets, such as 68.5 million arrivals by 2028.
Casinos, visa schemes and delayed fees aim to lure back visitors
The government has rolled out other sweeteners, delaying entry fees, lifting visa restrictions for Chinese tourists – Thailand’s largest market – and creating digital nomad visas to attract remote workers. It has even floated building casinos.
The free-flight scheme may be the most attention-grabbing move yet. But for now, would-be visitors might want to hold off until the cabinet signs off on the plan before booking their Thailand holidays.
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