Thailand is considering offering free flights to international visitors in a bid to attract tourists, amid a slump in foreign arrivals this year.
The country’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports will propose a plan for the government to subsidise international tourists’ domestic flights this week. Visitors with an international flight ticket would be able to claim one free round-trip domestic flight on any of six Thai airlines, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong.
“The government will support domestic flight tickets priced at TH฿1,750 (US$54, A$83) per one-way trip (฿3,500 for round trips),” said Sorawong.
“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.”
If approved by Thailand’s cabinet, these subsidies would apply from September to November 2025.
The plan is projected to cost TH฿700 million, and could generate direct revenue of at least ฿8.81 billion, per the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
Six Thai domestic airlines, including Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, and Nok Air, are set to participate. Thailand’s government would also collaborate on promotional activities with these carriers.
Japan Airlines also introduced a similar scheme in late 2024, offering free flights within Japan to passengers from countries like the United States, China, India, and Australia.
International tourist arrivals in Thailand from January to August were down 7.04% from the same period in 2024. The country’s National Economic and Social Development Council lowered its yearly forecast for foreign visitors from 37 million to 33 million last week.
The decline in tourism has been driven by a sharp decrease in visitors from China and Malaysia. The number of Chinese arrivals fell by 34% in the first half of 2025, while Malaysian visitors declined by 17%.
Last month, Thailand’s Tourism Authority unveiled a TH฿4.5 billion set of strategic initiatives, which it said would emphasise precision marketing, balancing tourism across regions, and curated experiences.
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