Tourism News
Get your daily dose of Tourism News in Thailand with the latest updates on exciting destinations, events, and travel industry developments. We provide relevant and insightful information about Thailand’s diverse travel scene, which includes innovative hospitality trends, cultural experiences, and sustainable tourism practices. Stay informed on various tourism-related matters, including visa policies and major infrastructure projects, to ensure you’re always one step ahead in the vibrant world of travel.
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Sponsored Promoting sustainable tourism at Blue Tree Phuket: Initiatives and impact
Blue Tree Phuket has been offering experiences that are both fun and environmentally conscious for many years. The comprehensive entertainment hub and waterpark has implemented numerous programs to enhance the sustainability of its practices, with its most recent endeavour being...
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Russian tourist loses bag on Pattaya’s Jomtien Beach
A Russian tourist lost her bag, which contained personal items and cash, had mysteriously vanished on Jomtien Beach, Pattaya on Wednesday night. The Russian tourist, Ksenia Testik, made a report at 11.06pm on Wednesday to Police Lieutenant Colonel Chonlawit Athipansi, the Deputy Inspector at the Pattaya Police Station. Testik was not alone during this ordeal. A special services officer was…
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Thailand revealed as best country to visit
Thailand has taken the top spot in the World’s Best Countries to Visit in Your Lifetime in 2024 list, as announced by the CEOWORLD Magazine yesterday. This noteworthy rank came to light following a comprehensive survey conducted by the magazine, which engaged the opinions of 295,000 users, marking it as the most participated survey on their website. The appeal of…
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British tourist left high and dry as hotel vanishes on Koh Samui
An idyllic Thai getaway turned into a financial nightmare for a 30 year old British tourist when he landed on Koh Samui only to discover his booked hotel was nowhere to be found. Glen Parke had his holiday dreams turn into a financial quagmire when he shelled out £282 (approximately 13,000 baht) for a 59-night stay at Lek Lek Residence…
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Frozen pension policy: British expat’s dream turns into nightmare
Expats in Thailand live a life many envy but behind the sunny façade lies a tale of financial struggle and dashed dreams. Three Britons became victims of a decades-long pension policy debacle, turning their golden years into a fight for survival. John Jones, a 77 year old British national, once roamed the globe with the vigour of a jet-setter, but…
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Japan’s hotspots for Golden Week getaways
As Japan gears up for its Golden Week, holidaymakers hunt for the perfect getaway destination. The latest data from travel giant Agoda unveils an intriguing trend: Thailand is stealing the spotlight. Amidst the anticipation for Golden Week, which stretches from April 29 to May 6 this year, Japanese wanderlusts are setting their sights on Thailand like never before, making it…
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Cable theft plunges Phuket Airport underpass into darkness
A daring act of cable theft at the Phuket International Airport underpass plunged the area into darkness, leading to system failures and heightened safety concerns. The busy junction at Phuket Airport on Thepkrasattri Road, where the underpass is located, is now a challenging commute for both residents and tourists. The incident has caused considerable disruption, with the underpass’s lighting system…
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Songkran festival boosts Thailand’s tourism with 140 billion baht
This year’s Songkran festival, spanning over three weeks, spurred a remarkable 140 billion baht influx into Thailand’s tourism sector, surpassing the anticipated 132 billion baht. Foreign tourist arrivals soared to a hefty 1.9 million amidst the celebrations, divulged the Tourism and Sports Ministry. The festival, running from April 1 to April 21, witnessed multiple sectors cashing in on the festive…
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PM Srettha reveals ‘Phuket Model’ to boost tourism and safety
Srettha Thavisin unveiled the Phuket Model which aims to revolutionise tourism management and social security in the tourist hotspot. Addressing a gathering of consular mission heads and law enforcement officials from 12 countries, PM Srettha highlighted the urgent need to prevent Phuket from descending into a haven for safety tourism. “Phuket was the first province I visited after taking office…
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British tourist’s beach blunder lands him in trouble
A British tourist found himself in a sticky situation after driving onto the sidewalk and getting trapped in the sand on Kamala Beach on Monday. The mishap led to police intervention and hefty fines for the Brit’s reckless escapade. Officers from the Kamala Police Station, Phuket Province, launched an investigation into the baffling trend of tourists driving onto the sidewalk…
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Thailand expects nearly a million Chinese and Japanese visitors
Tourism in Thailand is set to experience a significant boost as an estimated 996,000 Chinese and Japanese tourists are predicted to visit during the Labour Day holiday and Japan’s Golden Week. This figure indicates a 29% increase from the corresponding period last year, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). From April 26 to May 5, Thailand is expected…
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Thailand’s State Railway unveils tour adventures on Kiha 183 train
To attract tourists, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has rolled out an array of thrilling train tours aboard the Kiha 183 locomotive. Culture vultures are being invited to embark on a journey through the heart of Thailand’s cultural and natural wonders with 14 exhilarating trips spanning nine distinct routes. From Phetchaburi’s tranquil shores to Lopburi’s lush forests, each escapade…
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Thai tourism operators brace for impending annual low season
Thailand is set to face its annual tourism low season, warned Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, the leading figure of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA). The transition into the low season comes after the country’s Songkran Holidays, a peak period for tourism. This shift leaves tourism operators grappling with the challenge of keeping their businesses afloat during the lull in tourist…
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Phuket seeks special administrative zone status for tourism boost
Phuket’s Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) Region 11 branch, led by Wirintra Paphakityotphat, has made four formal requests to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The topmost request is to elevate Phuket to a Special Administrative Zone. The requests were submitted to PM Srettha during his visit to Phuket on Friday, April 19. The purpose of these requests, presented at the Heroines…
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Thai tourism sector proposes 300-baht tax to counter over-tourism
Thai tourism operators are advocating for government regulations to address the rising issue of over-tourism in the country. They propose the implementation of a 300-baht tourism tax, which they believe could alleviate the problem. Their call for action comes in response to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s commitment to make 2025 a pivotal year for Thai tourism. The Federation of Thai…
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Russian to respect: Phuket hospital calls for law-abiding visitors
Vachira Phuket Hospital called upon the Russian community in Phuket to respect Thai laws and hospital regulations following a string of incidents involving Russian nationals. Recent episodes include a Russian man refusing to settle his medical bills, and a woman threatening hospital staff with a baseball bat. A man of Russian nationality was arrested on April 19 for intimidating the…
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Phuket anticipates one million Chinese tourists post-Songkran
The popular tourist resort island of Phuket is gearing up to welcome an additional influx of 1 million Chinese tourists this year. This forecast comes in the wake of a targeted tourism promotion that took place across three Chinese cities. Anupab Vejwanichsanong, who occupies the role of the vice president for the Phuket Administration Organisation, revealed today, April 22, that the roadshow’s…
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Dip in Pattaya hotel occupancy despite Songkran festivities
Pattaya’s hotels and those in neighbouring provinces have seen a dip in occupancy rates during the Wan Lai Songkran festival. This downturn has prompted hoteliers to critique the promotional strategy for the extended 21-day Songkran celebration. Morrakot Kuldilok, head of the eastern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), projected that the occupancy rate in Pattaya would touch 70% over…
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Thailand’s tumble: Is the British love affair fading?
In 2011, Thailand witnessed the zenith of British affection, with nearly 900,000 entries logged by British passport holders, as per Thai immigration data. Yet, this figure might have swelled by accounting re-entries, diluting the actual count. Sadly, the Thai immigration bureau has ceased its detailed country-specific data release, leaving a void. Meanwhile, the UK government’s once sensational annual report, British…
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Japan’s visitor count hits record high with Thai tourists in the mix
Japan experienced a surge in foreign visitors in March, surpassing the three million mark for the first time in a single month. Thai tourists to Japan ranked sixth, contributing to the notable increase in visitors. South Korea topped the list with 663,100 visitors marking a 13.2% rise from 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Taiwan and China followed with 484,400 and 452,400 visitors…
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TAT to launch Nihao Festival in October to woo Chinese tourists
To captivate the hearts of Chinese tourists, the Thailand Tourism Authority (TAT) has unveiled a month-long extravaganza, the Nihao Festival, set to take place for the entire month of October. Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool announced the grand scheme yesterday, aiming to entice holidaymakers during China’s National Day Golden Week, renowned for its bustling travel fervour. The festivity will unfurl across Bangkok’s…
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Phuket launches free electric bus to drive sustainable tourism
Phuket is gearing up for a greener future with the launch of a free air-conditioned electric bus service in the heart of the city. Scheduled to accelerate on May 9, this eco-friendly initiative is driven by a collaboration between local companies under the banner of PKCD and the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation. The announcement for the 22-seat Smart Bus EV…
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Jomtien Beach’s Songkran splash sees a dip in tourists
Jomtien Beach in Chon Buri experienced a noticeable dip in the usual influx of visitors during the recent Songkran celebration. The local businesses situated in the area attribute this decline to the newly introduced one-way traffic system, which they believe has puzzled and deterred potential tourists. Poolsawat Singhsawasdi, a vendor operating on the beachfront, expressed her concerns to the local…
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Can a radical proposal save Phuket’s tourism crisis?
In a bid for autonomy, Phuket Mayor Saroj Angkanapilas is leading a daring move to transform the city into a special administrative organisation to save it from a tourism crisis. The current system, he claims, is holding back progress, leaving the island paradise struggling to keep pace with global rivals. “Tourist cities in many countries are far ahead in their…
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Thailand scraps visa requirements for Kazakhstan tourists
The Thai Cabinet gave its nod for the permanent removal of visa requirements for tourists from Kazakhstan, a government spokesperson announced. This move aims to increase the influx of tourists from Kazakhstan, one of the rapidly evolving markets for Thailand’s tourism sector and a significant contributor to the nation’s economic development. Data released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand indicates…
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Thailand’s aviation sector set for soaring recovery
Thailand’s skies are set for a dramatic rebound as aviation bodies predict a swift recovery in passenger numbers by next year. In a statement to the press, Yongyut Lujintanon, the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) area manager for Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, highlighted the intricate web of factors influencing the country’s aviation resurgence. Despite the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s…
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Thai trial shows railway’s agricultural haul potential
A recent trial by Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) has demonstrated the vast potential of railway logistics for long-distance transportation of agricultural products. The experiment resulted in a 13-fold reduction of carbon emissions compared to air freight, as well as significant cost savings. Running the trial with high-efficiency mobile refrigerated container trains, TSRI transported the Royal Project’s fresh produce…
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Thailand’s foreign tourism boom: 10 million visitors fuel 500 billion windfall
Thailand has welcomed over 10 million foreign tourists this year alone, leading to revenue exceeding 500 billion baht, reported the Tourism and Sports Ministry. The data, up to date as of yesterday, shows 10,723,953 foreign visitors have contributed to an income of 518 billion baht (US$14 billion). Chinese tourists led the pack with over 2 million visitors, followed by 1.39…
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April alcohol sales set to double, spiking road accidents feared
The CEO of Carabao Group, Sathien Sathientham, predicts that April’s alcohol sales are set to double, except for December. This increase is anticipated due to the prolonged Songkran festival and the extension of bar and pub opening hours in several areas, including Bangkok and Phuket. Nuttapong Boontob, a board member and assistant secretary of the ThaiRoads Foundation, expressed concerns about…
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Songkran festival anticipates 100,000 Malaysian tourists in Hat Yai
Hat Yai district of Songkhla anticipates the arrival of approximately 100,000 Malaysian tourists this weekend during the Songkran Festival. The influx of Malaysian visitors has seen an increase this year due to the festivities aligning with the end of Ramadan, according to Sitthipong Sittipatprapha, the president of the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotel Association. A special train service named My Sawasdee arrived…
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The dark secrets of Thailand’s elephant tourism industry
In a recent interview, concerns about the welfare of domesticated elephants have surged. These gentle giants, pivotal to Thailand’s economy since ancient times, now face a crisis that threatens their very existence. During the Rattanakosin era, domesticated elephants bolstered Thailand’s economy by logging. However, a tragic turn in 1988, when floods and landslides claimed lives, forced a shift. Former Agriculture…
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