Tourism News
Thailand tourism news, travel updates, visa policies, and destination highlights—stay informed on hospitality trends, cultural experiences, and major infrastructure projects. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for Thailand travel news.
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Thai taxi driver wins hearts after sharing desserts with Australian tourists
An Australian couple shared a video of a friendly service from a Thai taxi driver, who warmly welcomed them despite a language barrier and treated them to traditional Thai desserts during their journey. The video was shared on January 9 via the couple’s TikTok account, TikTok user @whatamidoing.retired. In the caption, the couple wrote… “We met the kindest taxi driver,…
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Thailand’s Disneyland bid gains embassy support in US
Thailand’s bid to host the first Disneyland in Southeast Asia has received a boost following support from the Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C., according to Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. Today, February 3, Phiphat, who also oversees the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), said the embassy’s recent communication shows the Disneyland Thailand concept is no longer just a…
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AOT to raise passenger service charge for international flights from May
Airports of Thailand (AOT) confirmed plans to increase the passenger service charge (PSC) for international departures in May this year. While the increase will largely affect foreign travellers, AOT insisted that it will not reduce the number of international visitors to Thailand. The chief executive officer of AOT, Paweena Jariyathitipong, told local media that the PSC for passengers departing on international…
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Pattaya rolls out colour-coded beach umbrellas to boost seaside views
Pattaya introduced new rule assigning specific umbrella colours to beach chair operators, saying the move will improve orderliness and create a more attractive seaside view for visitors. The mayor of Pattaya City, Porramate Ngampichate, shared the update on his official Facebook page yesterday, January 29, stating that umbrella colours and designs above beach chairs across the city would be standardised…
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Foreign influencer under fire after insulting police in Pattaya
Videos showing a foreign influencer insulting police and mocking locals during a recent trip to Pattaya have triggered backlash on social media. Netizens say the clips highlight growing frustration with disrespectful behaviour among some foreign tourists. Clips shared on Reddit’s r/ThailandTourism forum on January 27 appear to show the man, identified by users as Danish-Arab influencer Ahmarnioff, engaging in behaviour that…
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Thailand tourism at a tipping point as regional rivals surge, TTF 2026 warns
Thailand’s tourism industry is approaching a decisive moment. As travel patterns evolve and regional competitors accelerate investment, the kingdom faces mounting pressure to adapt or risk losing its long-held leadership position in Asia-Pacific tourism. For decades, Thailand has been one of the world’s most successful tourism destinations. Today, however, competition is intensifying. While Thailand’s international arrivals declined 7.2% in 2025,…
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Thai travellers targeted in rising visa scam wave, VFS warns
As outbound travel from Thailand continues to climb, travellers are constantly reminded to watch out for visa-related scams, with increasing reports of fraudulent appointment letters and illegal charges for priority processing. VFS Global, the official visa outsourcing partner for 26 governments in Thailand, issued the warning this week as more Thai travellers prepare for their travels abroad. According to Simon…
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Foreign man seen rolling on Phuket street near EDC event
A video clip showing a foreign man rolling around in the middle of a busy road in Phuket was shared online today, January 19, quickly going viral on social media. The incident itself took place two nights earlier, on January 17, near the site of the EDC Thailand 2026 event, during heavy traffic. The 12-second video, originally posted by the…
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Bangkok ranked 3rd best city to visit by New York Times
Bangkok was named the third best city to visit in the world today, January 16, in The New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2026 list, praised for its green spaces, vibrant art scene, and recent innovations in public transport. According to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesperson Aekvarunyoo Amrapala, the city is proud to see its urban development and…
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Phuket unveils ‘Dheveena’ sea goddess sculpture as new landmark
Phuket unveiled a new landmark, “Dheveena,” a large-scale public sculpture installed along the seafront at Saphan Hin Park in the Wichit sub-district, as part of the Thailand Biennale 2025. The fourth edition of the Thailand Biennale returned to Phuket on November 29 last year and will run for five months until April 30 this year. Under the theme “Eternal Kalpa,”…
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Filipina tourist apologises after viral rant about English in Thailand
The Filipina tourist, Ann Berdin, who sparked online backlash for complaining that English is useless in Thailand, has responded in a video posted today, January 13, clarifying that she meant no harm and was simply sharing her experience. In the now-deleted viral clip, the tourist had vented her frustration, saying no one in Thailand seemed to understand English, including…
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Amazing Thailand x LISA teaser drops ahead of full film release
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) released the teaser for its latest tourism advertising film featuring Thai-born K-pop star Lalisa Manobal on Friday, January 9. The full film is scheduled to launch on January 28. TAT first announced Lisa as its global tourism ambassador in October, encouraging fans to look forward to a campaign showcasing Thailand’s most beautiful destinations through…
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Tomorrowland heads to Thailand as first full-scale Asian festival
For the first time, Thailand is set to host Tomorrowland from December 11 to 13, 2026, at Wisdom Valley, Pattaya, Chonburi. Organised in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the three-day event marks Tomorrowland’s debut as a full-scale Asian festival. Tomorrowland Thailand will feature six stages, including the Mainstage, CORE, and FREEDOM, along with new designs created specifically for…
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South Korean embassy clarifies Thai civil servant’s denied entry
The South Korean embassy in Bangkok responded to online criticism yesterday, December 6, after a 37 year old Thai civil servant was denied entry at Incheon International Airport, urging the public not to spread misinformation that could harm diplomatic ties. The woman shared her experience in a Facebook group for independent travellers to Korea, saying she was refused entry without…
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Bangkok unveils model for first pedestrian bridge across Chao Phraya River
Bangkok revealed plans for a new landmark, the city’s first pedestrian bridge across the Chao Phraya River, aimed at improving connectivity between both sides of the river and creating a new check-in spot for tourists. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) recently unveiled a model of the proposed bridge to the public. The design features a modern structure formed from an intricate lattice…
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Viral TikTok shows British tourist amazed by 5G at sea in Thailand
During his New Year holiday in Thailand, a British traveller was stunned to find strong 5G signal in the middle of the sea in Phang Nga province, prompting him to share a video poking fun at the mobile coverage back home in London. The video, posted by @koopatrooping on TikTok during his trip to Thailand, quickly went viral for…
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Wat Arun photographers warned for exploiting public space for personal gain
Thai Tourist Police moved to regulate the activities of local photographers at Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan in Bangkok following complaints that some photographers were exploiting the popular tourist attraction and public space for personal gain. The issue gained widespread attention after Krisda “Pond” Witthayakhajorndet, founder of the entertainment company Be On Cloud, shared his experience on X on January 2.…
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Malaysian woman shares eerie hotel experience in Thailand
A Malaysian woman recently took to Facebook to share a chilling experience during her 10-day stay at a popular hotel in Thailand, where she claimed to have encountered strange and unexplained events nearly every night. She said the first sign of trouble came right after check-in, when the bathroom light began flickering nonstop. Although the light was fixed, more unexplained…
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Passenger fee hike set for Thailand’s international flights from Feb 2026
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) will raise the passenger service fee for all inbound and outbound flights to 25 baht per person, effective February 1, 2026. The increase from the current 15 baht is aimed at stabilising the agency’s finances, which have been running at a deficit for years. Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director-General of CAAT, said the fee…
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Thai woman denied entry to South Korea despite valid documents
What was meant to be a New Year holiday in South Korea ended before it started for a Thai woman, after immigration officers at Incheon Airport denied her entry despite meeting all entry requirements. The incident occurred at Incheon International Airport, where the 37 year old woman, a government employee from Loei province, claimed she was stopped and turned away…
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Will Thailand’s 2026 election reshape tourism, foreign investment, and transport policy?
As Thailand moves toward its 2026 general election, the future of the country’s tourism industry has become a central issue for investors, operators, and local communities. With tourism accounting for a significant share of national income, the policies adopted by the next government are expected to influence foreign direct investment, public safety, and long-term infrastructure planning, particularly in rail transport.…
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Boat taxi from Phuket Airport to Patong tested again in congestion relief plan
Phuket launched another trial run of a boat taxi service linking Phuket International Airport and Patong Beach yesterday, December 29, as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion across the province. The boat taxi project has been discussed by Phuket officials for years. Officials believe the service could significantly reduce travel time between the airport and Patong Beach, cutting journeys…
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TAT to unveil first tourism film with Lisa as ambassador in January
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced that the teaser advertising film featuring Lalisa Manobal in her role as Amazing Thailand Ambassador will be released in early January next year. TAT first revealed in October that the Thai-born K-pop star, Lisa, would officially join the agency to help promote Thai tourism worldwide. The announcement received an overwhelmingly positive response online,…
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Bangkok crowned world’s most visited city in 2025
Bangkok has been ranked the most-visited city in the world in 2025, according to a leading international survey, highlighting Thailand’s tourism rebound and reinforcing the capital’s global reputation as a top destination. Deputy Government Spokesperson Aiyarin Phanrit confirmed the news, citing the Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025 by Euromonitor International, a global market research firm. The index places Bangkok…
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South Korean YouTubers say they fell in love with Bangkok within one day
Two South Korean YouTubers shared their unexpected experiences during their holiday in Bangkok, saying “they fell in love with Bangkok very quickly within one day.” The South Korean siblings, who choose to keep their personal details private, uploaded a travel vlog of their Bangkok trip on their YouTube channel, 누룽지자매 nurungji sisters, on Friday, December 13. They stated in the…
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Thailand tightens screening for visa-free arrivals
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has tightened screening measures at airports this month after border clashes raised concerns that foreign mercenaries could enter under visa-free schemes. The move follows growing concerns on social media from academics who warned that foreign mercenaries could pose a threat to national security. The analysts’ warnings came after new clashes that erupted along the Thai-Cambodian border, prompting…
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Tourism operators calls for clarity on new Thai immigration rules
Tourism operators want Thai authorities to clearly publicise new immigration rules after a rise in the number of tourists being denied entry. The concerns follow new measures introduced by the Immigration Bureau to crack down on multiple visa runs and prevent the misuse of visa-free entry. The updated rules aim to stop foreigners from entering the country while engaging in…
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Thai government studies Disneyland project instead of casino complex
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed a new plan to bring Disneyland to Thailand, replacing the previously proposed entertainment complex. The earlier proposal introduced by the Pheu Thai Party aimed to create a large entertainment complex to boost tourism and the national economy. The project was expected to include theme parks, water parks, sports stadiums, concert…
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Tourist denied entry at Don Mueang Airport over minimum cash rule
A foreign tourist took to social media to warn travellers to avoid Don Mueang Airport after immigration officers denied her entry into Thailand. In a video posted online, the woman said officers at Don Mueang Immigration denied her entry because of a lack of sufficient funds. She insisted she had never been informed of this rule before, despite entering Thailand…
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Patong roads close for Phuket Carnival parade on December 19
Patong Municipality has advised residents and visitors to steer clear of the main roads at the southern end of Patong and Thaweewong Road, also known as Patong Beach Road, on the evening of December 19. This request is due to the annual parade of the ‘Phuket Carnival‘ marking the official start of the tourism high season. The parade is scheduled…
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