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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Malaysian tourists boost Thailand’s economy by 100 million baht
The recent influx of tourists to Thailand’s southern region during Malaysia’s National Day, known as Merdeka Day, is poised to inject approximately 100 million baht into the local economy. Over 13,000 Malaysian tourists crossed into Songkhla through the Sadao checkpoint yesterday, August 31, with an additional 5,000 arriving via the Betong checkpoint in Yala, according to local officials. The substantial…
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Tourism triumph: Can Thailand hit the 2.3 trillion baht jackpot?
Despite a whirlwind of global economic challenges and shrinking wallets worldwide, Thailand’s tourism sector is making a remarkable comeback. The nation is on the brink of welcoming nearly as many visitors as it did in the golden year of 2019, when almost 40 million foreign tourists poured in, generating a staggering 2 trillion baht in international revenue. However, while the…
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Thailand launches inclusive tourism project for disabled and elderly
The Architectural Tour for All People Foundation, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Network of Wheelchair Architects, launched the Tourism for All project. The initiative is designed to foster inclusive and sustainable tourism, particularly for the elderly, the disabled, and families of wheelchair users. These groups will actively participate in the project, collectively announcing the…
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Pattaya’s iconic sign gets a dazzling makeover
In a move set to reinvigorate Pattaya’s skyline, the City Council has greenlit a massive budget to restore the iconic PATTAYA CITY sign perched atop Pattaya Hill. This iconic landmark, which has greeted visitors for years, will soon shine brighter than ever thanks to a major overhaul. Deputy Mayor Manot Nongyai championed a proposal on Tuesday, August 27, to allocate…
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Thailand anticipates 2 million Korean tourists amid Chuseok holiday
Thailand is gearing up for a significant influx of South Korean tourists during the upcoming six-day Chuseok holiday, aiming to maintain a strong momentum as the country anticipates a record high of 2 million Korean visitors by the end of the year. Tourism operators in Thailand remain confident despite fierce competition from Vietnam and Japan in attracting Korean tourists. Chuwit…
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More than 70% of Thai tourists return to Japan and Taiwan
Thai tourists are making repeat trips like never before, with a staggering 74% returning to their favourite destinations, according to Agoda’s latest Return Visitor Ranking. The ranking, based on a recent survey conducted on the Agoda platform, unveils that Japan, Taiwan, and Laos are the top three destinations that Thai travellers simply can’t resist revisiting. These countries are closely followed…
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Thai travel agency faces backlash over delayed plane tickets
Customers have raised complaints about a prominent travel agency, TravizGo, for allegedly failing to issue plane tickets after payment, citing cash flow issues and promising to refund with 7.5% interest per year within 90 days. We Are Consumers (พวกเราคือผู้บริโภค) Facebook members posted warnings about TravizGo, which offers flight, hotel, and tour package bookings via its website and app. “Anyone who…
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Nomad’s land: TAT’s Destination Thailand Visa leaves embassies in fog
Despite the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) pushing the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) as a boon for digital nomads, the Pattaya Mail has discovered a troubling lack of clarity among Thai embassies. This long-stay visa, designed for remote workers and freelancers wishing to reside in Thailand, is meant to be straightforward, but many embassies are failing to provide adequate guidance…
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Chinese man caught red-handed running illegal tours in Thailand
Thai police nabbed a Chinese national running an unauthorised tour business, exposing a shadowy operation exploiting Thailand’s tourism industry. The National Tourist Police, under the leadership of Police Colonel Piyapong Raksa, Deputy Superintendent of the Tourist Police Division, swooped in on Hao, a 41 year old Chinese national, at the bustling Four Regions Floating Market on Sukhumvit Road on Sunday, August…
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Tourism leaders urge government action post-Thai floods
Regional tourism operators are urging the Government of Thailand to develop a comprehensive long-term strategy to manage floods and storms, following recent natural disasters in northern provinces and a deadly landslide in Phuket. Phuket Tourist Association President Thaneth Tantipiriyakij highlighted the urgency of the situation after heavy rains and a landslide in Phuket resulted in the deaths of 13 people,…
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Thai bus firms under siege as Chinese rivals drive them up the wall
The Thai bus industry is under siege with Chinese bus operators flooding the market with cut-rate prices and dodgy tactics, leaving Thai companies struggling to keep up. The Thai Transportation Operators Association has sounded the alarm on this cut-throat competition. Wasuchet Sophonsathien, the association’s president, laid bare the ongoing crisis. Illegal foreign bus operators are muscling in on the market,…
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Koh Samui eyes approval of 12.1 billion baht cruise terminal
A new cruise terminal in Koh Samui, set to open in 2032, aims to significantly boost tourism in Surat Thani, Thailand, according to Deputy Caretaker Minister Manaporn Charoensri. Manaporn, along with Caretaker Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, visited Koh Samui to review the progress of major transport infrastructure projects. Suriya revealed that the ministry has several new initiatives underway to enhance…
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Thailand is Somali’s new medical oasis
Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, has a surprising new destination in mind for his compatriots seeking medical treatment—Thailand. After a recent visit, he’s convinced it could be the next big thing for Somali medical tourism. Ambassador Abdulle visited Thailand from August 13 to 21 as part of an initiative by the Royal Thai Embassy in Nairobi to showcase…
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Thailand’s tourism boom tainted by zero-dollar tours
Thailand’s booming tourism sector is thriving under a new visa-free policy, attracting millions of foreign tourists. Yet, while Chinese visitors top the list, concerns are mounting over the resurgence of Chinese zero-dollar tours, which could be draining potential revenue from the Thai economy. From January 1 to August 18, Thailand welcomed a staggering 22,474,172 international tourists, who pumped 1.05 trillion…
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Koh Pha Ngan shopkeeper’s laughing gas caper goes up in smoke
A Koh Pha Ngan shopkeeper has been caught red-handed peddling balloons stuffed with nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, without a licence, and it’s no laughing matter! Rangsiman Jaisamer was busted by police in his Haad Rin shop early today, August 22, where officers discovered two cylinders of the giggly gas and a stash of balloons ready for sale.…
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Australian tourists help collect rubbish on Koh Samui (video)
A group of Australian tourists on Koh Samui became an unexpected viral sensation by helping local municipal workers collect rubbish in the early morning hours. Their enthusiastic efforts, captured on video, brought smiles and laughter to viewers, especially Thais. The incident took place yesterday at around 4am, today, August 22, when the tourists, hanging off the back of a garbage…
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Thailand’s ‘Nihao Month’ set to woo Chinese tourists
Thailand is pulling out all the stops to lure Chinese tourists back in droves with the launch of its ambitious Nihao Month campaign. With a staggering target of attracting 8 million Chinese visitors by the end of the year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is betting big on a series of irresistible promotions and star-studded events. Since the beginning…
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Irishman’s fatal fall leaves Pattaya hotel guests stunned
Tragedy struck a swanky 5-star hotel in Pattaya in the early hours of this morning when an Irishman plunged to his death from the 31st floor. The Irishman, Michael Browne, shocked hotel staff and patrons as he fell to his death from the 31st floor today, August 19. The shocking incident, which has left the Pattaya police baffled, raises questions…
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Thailand’s economy grows 2.3% in Q2, surpassing forecasts
Thailand’s economy roared back to life in the second quarter, fuelled by a surge in consumption, tourism, and exports, according to today’s eye-popping official data. This economic boost has prompted the government to up its growth forecast for the year. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) revealed that Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy expanded by 2.3% from the same…
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Thai Vietjet takes off: Targets nearly 8 million passengers this year
Low-cost airline Thai Vietjet aims to attract nearly eight million passengers this year by enhancing aircraft utilisation and increasing flights on existing routes, with plans to introduce new Boeing 737 Max jets next year. Thai Vietjet Chief Executive Woranate Laprabang highlighted that the visa-free scheme has significantly boosted demand on international routes, particularly to China. The airline operates flights to over…
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Singaporean tourists assault hotel guard at Patong hotel
A confrontation between two Singaporean tourists and a hotel security guard in Patong yesterday led to all three individuals being hospitalised. The incident took place at the Patong Bay Residence Hotel, where the tourists reportedly tried to leave without completing the mandatory check-out procedure. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phongpipat Khamchumphu, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation at Patong Police Station, was alerted to the…
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Thai Lion Air expands fleet, aims for 7 million passengers
Thai Lion Air is expanding its fleet and reinstating routes in response to rising tourism demand, aiming for 6-7 million passengers and achieving its first post-pandemic profit. Thai Lion Air chief Nuntaporn Komonsittivate made known that domestic and international routes have recovered by 60%, supported by an increase in operational jets to 20 from 11 in recent years. The average…
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Thai tourist praised for removing sticker from Mount Fuji
A Thai tourist removed a controversial sticker placed by a popular travel page on Mount Fuji, sparking widespread gratitude on social media. The travel page, followed by over 37,000 people, recently orchestrated a romantic proposal at the summit of Japan’s iconic mountain. They marked the occasion by attaching a sticker bearing their page’s name to a pole along the hiking…
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Tax breaks fall flat: Hoteliers sceptical of Thailand govt incentives
The hospitality industry in Thailand is abuzz as the government unveils a new policy aimed at boosting tourism in secondary provinces through tax benefits for hoteliers. But the response from hotel entrepreneurs has been lukewarm at best. According to the latest hospitality operators’ confidence index, a survey conducted by the Thai Hotels Association (THA) and the Bank of Thailand, 50%…
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DEPA proposes single window to boost digital tourism in Thailand
The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) called for the establishment of a single-window paradigm to streamline business operations for foreigners and bolster the digital-driven tourism industry in Thailand. This initiative aims to unify data exchanges among various state agencies, enhancing the ease of doing business. The proposed single window would function as a platform-as-a-service, operated via a centralised data portal…
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Hat Yai in southern Thailand hailed Asia’s most affordable travel destination
One of the globe’s most popular online travel platforms hailed Hat Yai district in the southern province of Songkhla as the most affordable travel destination in Asia. Agoda released a ranking of cities that offer the most affordable stays in Asia, providing suggestions for users seeking budget-friendly holidays or those wishing to extend their trips within a limited budget. The…
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Thailand’s tourism boom: Revenue set to soar to 2.8 trillion baht
Hold onto your sun hats! Thailand’s tourism sector is on the brink of a massive surge in the latter half of the year, with an eye-popping revenue forecast of 1.46 trillion baht. That’s set to push the annual total to a whopping 2.8 trillion baht—up a staggering 25% from last year, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The…
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Pattaya rolls out the red carpet: Aiming for film-tastic UNESCO spot
The seaside resort of Pattaya is gearing up to host the Pattaya Film Festival 2024 in a bid to establish itself as a UNESCO Creative City of Film. The festival seeks to boost tourism through film-related activities and position Pattaya as a central hub in the film industry as part of its development plan for 2023-2030. A press conference was…
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Billion baht boatloads: Bangkok’s big splash in water transport
Thailand’s Office of Transport and Traffic Policy Planning (OTP) announced an ambitious plan to invest 8.87 billion baht to enhance water transport networks in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. This comprehensive development plan aims to bolster public transport by boat, spanning from 2024 to 2032. Panya Chupanich, Director-General of the OTP, confirmed that the Transport Ministry approved the project, which…
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Phuket your plans: Steer clear of roadwork zones at night
Motorists are being urged to steer clear of Thepkrasattri Road, Dibuk Road, and Phuket Road in Phuket Town during nighttime due to ongoing construction work aimed at installing power cables underground. Phuket Town Mayor Saroj Angkhanapilas announced that this project, which started on November 14 last year and is set to conclude by November 7 this year, aims to enhance…
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