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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Phuket Airport sees flight and passenger surge in 2025 recovery
Phuket International Airport recorded strong growth in both flight movements and passenger numbers in 2025, reflecting a continued recovery in the aviation and tourism sectors and renewed traveller confidence, according to airport director Monchai Tanod. Performance over the past year exceeded 2024 levels and approached figures seen in 2019, the airport’s peak year before the Covid-19 pandemic. The results underline…
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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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Russian man arrested in Phuket for illegally working as tour guide
Thai police arrested a Russian man illegally working as a tour guide at a pier in Phuket yesterday, January 7, just moments before escorting tourists on an Andaman Sea excursion. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) said officers from the Phuket Marine Police arrested 33 year old Lapa at a pier in Phuket province and charged him with working without a…
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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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Thailand’s national parks see 1.5M visitors during New Year break
Thailand welcomed over 1.5 million visitors to its national parks and nature sites during the New Year holidays, as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) promoted sustainable tourism and waste reduction campaigns. The ministry reported that between 31 December 2024 and 4 January 2025, parks and natural attractions under its supervision saw a rise in both local and…
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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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Phuket Tourist Checkpoint Police Evasion Explained
Widespread public criticism has erupted across Thailand after a video surfaced showing foreign tourists speeding through a police checkpoint in Phuket, ignoring officers’ instructions and fleeing the scene without stopping for inspection. The incident has reignited concerns over road safety, uneven law enforcement, and the conduct of some visitors in major tourist destinations. The incident occurred on the night of…
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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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