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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Sponsored Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
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Thailand raises compensation for flight delays and cancellations
Passengers flying in Thailand will soon receive higher flight compensation for long delays and cancellations, under new regulations issued by the Civil Aviation Committee. Regulation No. 101, which outlines measures to protect passenger rights on both domestic and international scheduled flights, will take effect on November 20, 2025. For domestic flights, passengers affected by delays of more than five hours…
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Pattaya to issue sea walker permits to protect marine life
Pattaya will become the first Thai city to issue sea walker permits, aiming to regulate the activity, protect marine life, and ensure tourist safety. Launching next month, the move aims to strike a balance between marine conservation and sustainable tourism, as the underwater activity gains popularity with tourists around the world. Sea walker tourism lets visitors walk on the seabed…
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Tourism chiefs demand cash coupons for foreign visitors
Tourism leaders are urging the new minister to launch urgent spending incentives for foreign visitors to boost travel and prepare for the upcoming low season. Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, is pushing the new tourism minister to act fast with competitive measures such as travel cash vouchers for international tourists. The proposal mirrors successful programmes…
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China slowdown drags Thailand tourist arrivals down 7%
Thailand recorded a decline in foreign tourist arrivals and revenue as the tourism ministry reported fewer visitors from key markets, led by China and Malaysia. Thailand welcomed 21.88 million international visitors between January and August, according to data released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The figure represents a 7.16% drop compared with the same period last year, with revenue…
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Thailand aims for top 100 green tourism status by 2030
Thailand is stepping up its eco-game with the launch of the Thailand Green Tourism Plan 2030, aiming to position the nation’s destinations among the world’s top 100 sustainable tourism hotspots by 2030. The plan, themed Igniting the Path to Global Green Success, was announced by the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The goal is clear:…
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Scotsman’s Thailand trip cut short after ex cancels passport
A Scottish holidaymaker’s dream trip to Thailand turned into a nightmare when his ex-partner cancelled his passport, leading to his detention at the airport and subsequent deportation back to the UK. William Barr, from Inverkeithing, Fife, was detained by immigration officers as soon as he arrived in Phuket, and ultimately deported back to the UK before his holiday even began. “I…
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Airbnb names Phuket’s Rawai Beach in top foodie destination for 2025
The short-term accommodation rental platform Airbnb included Rawai Beach in Phuket in its 2025 Summer Travel Trends as one of the world’s top destinations for food lovers. Airbnb’s 2025 survey reveals that more travellers are turning away from overcrowded capitals and instead choosing lesser-known hidden gems. This trend highlights a global shift from congested urban centres to more accessible, culture-rich destinations.…
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Pattaya’s beach camping proposal faces opposition from tourists
A proposal to allow beach camping for a fee in Pattaya has ignited a wave of criticism from both tourists and long-term residents, raising concerns over the potential damage it could cause to the city’s image and its struggling hotel industry. “Beach camping, and what toilets are the campers using?” asked one European visitor, highlighting Pattaya’s ongoing cleanliness issues along…
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Thailand’s oldest hippo Mae Mali prepares for 60th birthday bash
Thailand’s most famous hippo is about to become the star of a birthday party like no other. Mae Mali, the beloved hippopotamus at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri, will celebrate her 60th birthday with a three-day festival complete with games, exhibitions and a giant fruit cake. The celebrations will run from September 6 to 8 at the zoo’s…
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Phuket’s pricey new night market flop shut in 2 months
Phuket’s newest night market has turned into a multimillion-baht flop, shutting its doors just two months after opening in a blaze of publicity. The 30 million baht Plern Pao Night Market, near Surin Circle’s clocktower roundabout, closed abruptly this week. Organiser Plern Pao Co Ltd issued a notice on Monday, September 1, confirming the shutdown and instructing vendors to collect…
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Pattaya’s Walking Street dazzles with LED, but not all impressed
Pattaya’s most famous strip is glowing brighter than ever, but not everyone is dazzled by the city’s latest high-tech addition. Walking Street has unveiled a brand-new LED display, designed to boost Pattaya’s image as a world-class tourist hotspot. City officials say the giant installation is part of efforts to modernise public spaces and cement the street’s reputation as a global…
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Tourist surge in Phuket drives revenue into the billions
Phuket’s tourism industry is riding a wave of recovery, welcoming millions of visitors and raking in staggering revenue in just seven months. According to the Provincial Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Office in Phuket, more than 7.6 million tourists arrived between January and July this year. The influx generated 290 billion baht for the island’s economy, reinforcing Phuket’s status as…
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Thailand sees nearly 21 million tourists, 992 billion baht revenue
Tourism and Sports Minister Sarawong Thianthong revealed that nearly 21 million foreign tourists have visited Thailand in almost eight months, generating approximately 992 billion baht. Chinese tourists, numbering 3 million, surpassed Malaysians, making them the top visitors. As of August 24, Thailand had welcomed 21 million foreign tourists since January 1, 2025, bringing in 992,058 million baht (US$30 million) in…
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Thais hooked on AI holidays as 98% trust tech to plan trips
Thais are embracing artificial intelligence like no other, with almost everyone wanting AI to plan their next trip, according to a global survey by Booking.com. The Global AI Sentiment Report, which polled more than 37,000 people across 33 countries, shows Thailand topping the charts for enthusiasm, with 98% of respondents excited about AI and 96% saying they would use it…
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Thailand eyes 5 million Malaysian tourists amid China competition
Malaysia’s tourist target for this year has been adjusted to 5 million, mirroring the figures from 2024, yet this market might achieve a similar number of arrivals as China, remaining unaffected by the border province conditions. Patsee Permvongsenee, the executive director for the ASEAN, South Asia, and South Pacific region at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), noted optimism for…
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Phetchaburi considers alcohol sales on Buddhist days to boost tourism
Phetchaburi is considering permitting the sale of alcoholic beverages on Cha-am beach and surrounding areas during five significant Buddhist days to enhance tourism and boost the local economy. Deputy provincial governor Wanpen Mungsri announced yesterday, August 25, that the proposal suggests allowing alcohol sales on Visakha Bucha, Asarnha Bucha, Makha Bucha, Buddhist Lent, and the end of Buddhist Lent days.…
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Lost Chinese gran saved by ID bracelet in Pattaya
An elderly Chinese tourist became stranded and confused in the middle of Pattaya traffic until a tiny bracelet saved the day. Thai police successfully reunited an 80 year old Chinese woman with her family after she was found disoriented and alone on a traffic island in South Pattaya yesterday, August 22. The woman, identified only as Zhang, was discovered around…
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China eyes Phuket as Thailand’s next film hotspot
Phuket may soon be the next big-screen sensation as top Chinese film officials tour the island to explore its potential as an international filming destination. A senior delegation from China’s Hainan Province, led by Chen Jiyang, Deputy Minister of Public Relations and Secretary-General of the Hainan International Film Festival Organising Committee, visited Phuket on Wednesday, August 20. Their mission was…
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Pattaya Film Festival goes big with ghosts, guns and AI
Get ready for thrills, screams and cinema under the stars. Pattaya Film Festival 2025 is rolling out the red carpet from August 28 to 30 with an ambitious line-up of screenings, seminars and spooky showings in unexpected locations, including a temple. The event, held at SF Cinema Central Marina, marks the city’s latest push to brand itself as a film…
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Suvarnabhumi super expansion to handle 120 million flyers
Suvarnabhumi Airport is about to get supersized. Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) has updated its master plan to double the airport’s capacity. The revised target is to handle up to 120 million passengers annually as part of a bold new development push. According to acting AoT president Paweena Jariyathitipong, over 70% of this year’s master plan study is now complete…
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EEC Travel Mart puts Thailand’s tourism in the spotlight
Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) provinces have pulled out all the stops to turbocharge the country’s tourism industry, unveiling a high-powered showcase billed as a game-changer for the region. The EEC Travel Mart, staged yesterday, August 19, at the Nong Nooch Pattaya International Convention and Exhibition Centre, brought together hundreds of top names from the tourism sector. Business leaders, hoteliers,…
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Thailand taps Polish Airlines to lure big-spending tourists
Thailand is stepping up its campaign for European tourists with a bold new partnership with LOT Polish Airlines, spearheaded by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool. The deal targets high-spending Eastern Europeans, with Poland leading the charge, and aims to reinforce Bangkok’s ambition to become Southeast Asia’s aviation capital. The push comes as overall foreign arrivals…
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Bangkok’s Banthat Thong to become global street food hub
Bangkok’s famous Banthat Thong Road could soon rival the world’s top foodie destinations after the Commerce Ministry unveiled bold plans to transform it into a global street food landmark. Once packed with up to 40,000 visitors a day, the bustling stretch has seen numbers dwindle amid rising rents, falling Thai spending power, and tougher competition. Business operators say survival has…
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Thailand’s tourist numbers slide as 2025 forecast cut again
Thailand’s tourism dreams have hit another bump after the Tourism and Sports Ministry revealed foreign arrivals plunged by more than 7% this year, forcing officials to scale back growth forecasts yet again. From January 1 to August 17, the country welcomed 20.81 million international visitors, down 7.04% compared to the same period last year. Despite the overall decline, China remains…
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Bangkok tops global Gen Z city list
Move over New York and London—Bangkok just stole the spotlight as the ultimate Gen Z city in the world. The Thai capital has clinched the- top spot in Time Out’s 2025 global ranking of the Best Cities for Gen Z, leaving some of the world’s most iconic destinations trailing in its wake. The survey gathered insights from over 18,500 locals…
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Thailand tourism faces slowdown amid Vietnam, South Korea competition
As travellers are shifting their sights to Vietnam and South Korea, intensified competition in Asia’s tourism market may lead to a slowdown in Thailand’s tourism sector for the rest of 2025. According to industry experts, the expansion of visa exemptions from the two nations will most likely siphon tourists away from the Kingdom. Additionally, the domestic co-payment subsidy initiative has…
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Phuket prepares to host global green tourism summit
Phuket’s power players jetted to Fiji for a high-profile eco-tourism summit, returning with ideas, allies, and a mission to make next year’s event the island’s greenest showpiece yet. A high-level Phuket delegation has returned from Fiji after taking part in the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference (GSTC) 2025—a key step in preparing the island to host the world-class event next year.…
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Jet ski heroes drag tourist from Phuket rip current (video)
A dramatic jet ski rescue unfolded off Phuket’s Bang Tao-Surin Beach on Wednesday when two quick-thinking lifeguards hauled an unconscious foreign tourist from a deadly rip current. Footage of the daring save, posted by Facebook user Witsarut Saman yesterday evening, August 7, shows the moment the lifeguards tore through pounding surf on a jet ski to reach the struggling swimmer.…
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Jurassic World shoot sparks tourism surge in Thailand
Thailand’s stunning southern landscapes just scored a Hollywood blockbuster boost—and the dinosaurs aren’t the only stars drawing attention. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has teamed up with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for a global influencer campaign to promote Jurassic World Rebirth, the latest instalment in the iconic franchise. The campaign flew in 30 top influencers from around the world…
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Thailand falls behind Japan and Vietnam in tourism race
Thailand’s once-booming tourist scene has hit a bump in the road. The kingdom welcomed 19.29 million international arrivals between January and July this year—a 6% drop compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Meanwhile, regional rivals are leaving Thailand in the dust. Japan raked in 21.5 million foreign visitors…
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