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 Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Chon Buri launches Travel Mart 2024 to boost tourism revenue
Chon Buri has taken a major step to boost its tourism industry with the launch of the Chon Buri Travel Mart 2024. Governor Thawatchai Srithong, along with leaders from both the public and private sectors, inaugurated the tourism hotspot showcasing event, aiming to generate over a billion baht in tourism revenue. The event promoted business-to-business (B2B) networking with travel trade…
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The White Lotus effect ignites travel frenzy on Koh Samui
Koh Samui, the idyllic paradise island in the Gulf of Thailand, is basking in a wave of tourism enthusiasm. Recent data from Agoda shows a remarkable spike in interest, with international searches for accommodation soaring by 26% and domestic searches rising by 8% in June compared to the same period last year. The surge in interest coincides with the buzz…
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Thailand’s 60-day visa exemption unleashes unlimited entry by land
Three days into Thailand’s 60-day entry visa exemption, a tourist discovered there are no restrictions on the number of entries by land in a calendar year. Tod Daniels, ASEAN NOW‘s visa expert reported that the tourist did two free stamp land entries this year, left Thailand then entered the country again, and got a new 60-day entry with no issues.…
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Pattaya launches training to enhance staff’s document writing skills
Pattaya City has initiated a new training program designed to improve the skills of its employees in writing official letters and documenting meeting minutes. The project, led by the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Pattaya City, Dr Siwat Boonkerd, aims to ensure that staff members can draft accurate and effective official documents, thus enhancing communication efficiency within the city administration. Head…
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Mae Hong Son cracks down on inappropriate tourist behaviour
Mae Hong Son Governor Chucheep Pongchai issued an urgent directive to tighten regulations and enhance supervision of tourism activities in the Pai district, following reports of inappropriate behaviour by some foreign tourists during river tubing on the Pai River. The matter came to the fore when a local resort owner in Pai raised concerns about the current state of tubing…
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Marriott International report reveals trends amongst affluent Asia Pacific travellers
A recent Marriott International report has outlined key emerging trends amongst high-income travellers in the Asia Pacific. The New Luxe Landscapes Report written by The Luxury Group (a brand which falls under the Marriott International business portfolio) explored how affluent tourists prefer to travel. The data included insights from the wealthiest 10% of people across six markets, Australia, Singapore, South…
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Agoda prepares for tourist boom in India as report shows growing interest from Thais
Multinational travel agency Agoda is preparing for increased tourism in India, as Thais have shown a growing interest in travelling to the country. Agoda, according to data from their digital platform, has observed a 16% increase in searches from Thailand looking for accommodation in India. This growth in search volume comes days after the Indian government announced they would waive…
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Thai tourism must shift to supply-driven strategy for 2025, says TAT
The Thai tourism industry must adopt a supply-driven strategy to enhance its competitiveness, according to the former governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The TAT outlined its marketing direction for 2025, aiming to increase revenue by 7.5% from 2024, targeting 39 million foreign arrivals and 205 million domestic trips. This figure is a revision from the 220 million…
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Transformer explosion traps tourist in Pattaya condo elevator
An electrical transformer explosion late last night at 11.30pm caused significant disruption at a luxury condominium in Pattaya. The incident, yesterday, July 16, left a young female foreign tourist trapped inside an elevator for over 20 minutes. The condominium, situated in Soi 16, Na Kluea, Banglamung District, Chon Buri Province, stands eight floors tall. Residents and condo officials quickly mobilised…
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TAT unveils 2025 plan to boost tourism
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled its 2025 marketing plan to revitalise Thai tourism. The annual TAT Strategic Direction conference was a star-studded affair, featuring Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports H.E. Sermsak Pongpanit, and TAT’s Chairperson of the Board Natthriya Thaweevong. TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool declared that recognising 2025 as another challenging year, TAT will be putting its best…
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Udon Thani hotel calls for delay in electricity rate hike
A prominent hotel in Udon Thani urged the government to delay the planned electricity rate hike, citing concerns about the current purchasing power of consumers. They argue that customers are only spending on necessities, and an increase in electricity costs could further impact the number of patrons using their services. Apicha Veerachatiyanukul, the managing director of Udon Plaza Co., Ltd.,…
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Thailand govt debunks reports of deserted tourist spots
Reports of tourist spots Cha-am Beach and Amphawa Floating Market being deserted have been debunked by government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke. Contrary to a viral video showing a quiet Cha-am Beach in Phetchaburi on a Sunday and social media claims about a lack of visitors at Amphawa Floating Market in Samut Songkhram, tourists continue to frequent both destinations. A video depicting an…
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Govenor enforces stricter tourism rules after indecency incident
Mae Hong Son Governor Chucheep Phongchai announced immediate measures to regulate tourism activities following an incident involving a foreign tourist couple engaging in indecent behaviour after tubing and consuming alcohol at a resort in Pai District, northern Thailand. Concerned about the potential negative impact on Pai’s tourism image, the governor emphasised the need for stringent guidelines and enhanced tourism management.…
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Thailand energy, finance, tourism to boost revenue in fiscal 2024
Energy businesses, financial institutions, and tourism are expected to be the primary revenue contributors for the Revenue Department this year, according to its chief. These sectors have shown strong performance and are anticipated to generate significant tax revenues during the first nine months of fiscal 2024 (October 2023 to June 2024). Revenue Department Director-General Kulaya Tantitemit highlighted that while these…
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Tourists warned of dietary supplement scam ring in Pattaya
A group of foreign nationals has come under scrutiny in Pattaya, accused by locals of running a scam ring targeting tourists. Operating mainly at the Made in Thailand Night Plaza on Pattaya’s Second Road, the gang is also seen near the Avenue Shopping Mall and on Beach Road, according to local reports. These men, described as possibly Pakistani or Middle…
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Motorbike taxi speeds along Patong Beach, alarming tourists (video)
A motorbike taxi was seen speeding along Patong Beach in Phuket, causing confusion among the many tourists relaxing on the shore. Lifeguards attempted to intervene but were unable to catch the rider. A video showing a motorbike taxi riding on Patong Beach in Kathu district, Phuket, was shared by Monsoongarbage Thailand and Newshawk Phuket, causing a stir on social media.…
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Rail ale rally: Bangkok victims group derails alcohol repeal bid
Over 50 members of the Bangkok Drunk Driving Victims Network, led by President Jessada Yamsabai, submitted a petition opposing the repeal of the ban on alcohol sales and consumption on trains and at train stations to the acting Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, Jarae Rungthanee. This petition, submitted yesterday, July 11, follows a tragic 2014 incident where a…
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Thai rice enthusiasts in US could win a trip to Thailand
The Thai Trade Centre in New York launched a tantalising campaign, Love Thai Food, Eat Thai Rice, inviting food lovers across the United States to share their passion for Thai food on social media. The prize of a trip to Thailand worth up to US$5,000 (around 180,000 baht) is up for grabs. Ketsuree Vijaranakorn, Director of the Thai Trade Centre,…
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Japanese tourists to flock to Thailand despite economic woes
To revive tourism, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled dynamic strategies to draw Japanese tourists back to the Land of Smiles. Despite the yen’s depreciation, TAT Tokyo Office Director Kajorndet Apichartrakul remains optimistic about reversing the deficit in tourist numbers with Japan. Last year, 995,000 Thai tourists visited Japan, while only 804,000 Japanese tourists came to Thailand, resulting in…
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Tourism Ministry reinstates guarantee for outbound tour operators
Thai travellers faced significant setbacks after some licenced outbound tour operators left them stranded despite purchasing premium packages. In response, the Tourism and Sports Ministry is now seeking enhanced consumer protection measures. The Tourism Department, under the ministry’s supervision, plans to reinstate the guarantee amount for licenced outbound tour companies to 200,000 baht next year. This comes after a pandemic-era…
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Thailand targets 3.5 trillion baht in tourism revenue by 2025
The Tourism and Sports Ministry is contemplating increasing the tourism revenue target for 2025, suggesting that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) should aim higher than the 3.5 trillion baht goal set for this year. At the TAT Action Plan 2025 meeting held yesterday, July 9, the agency announced a target of 3.4 trillion baht (US$ 93 billion) for next…
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Phuket to become Asia’s wellness tourism hub with health expo
Phuket is set to make waves in the wellness tourism industry with the launch of the Phuket Health Expo later this month. Provincial officials, led by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, announced the event during a press conference at the Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, July 9. The expo, scheduled for July 24 to 28 at Central Festival Phuket, aims to catapult the…
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New bus routes from Phuket Airport to major tourist hotspots
A new agreement between Airports of Thailand (AoT) and state-run bus operator The Transport Co, better known by its Thai initials BorKorSor (บขส), will introduce new bus services from Phuket International Airport before the year ends. BorKorSor Acting President, Atthawit Rakjamroon, announced yesterday, July 9, that this initiative will see buses operating directly from three key airports managed by AoT:…
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TAT’s gastronomic extravaganza set to sizzle
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) rolled out the Amazing Food Festival 2024 to showcase the diversity of Thai cuisine and cement Thailand’s reputation as a world-class destination for gastronomy tourism. Following a successful event in Phuket on July 5 to 7, the festival is gearing up for its next instalments in Chiang Mai from July 20 to 22 and…
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Thailand ranks 6th best for expats
Thailand ranks 6th best country for expats, according to InterNations‘ annual report, maintaining its position from last year. The survey, conducted in February, gathered responses from over 12,500 expats and evaluated 53 countries on various indices, including quality of life, ease of settling in, working abroad, personal finance, and essential services like housing, administration, language, and digital life. Panama took…
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Thailand on track to upgrade third-class trains with air-con & seats
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to improve the service and facilities of its third-class trains by spending 780 million baht on new seats and air conditioning. For the first phase, 130 third-class carriages will be equipped with air conditioning by next year. The Deputy Minister of Transport, Surapong Piyachote, told DailyNews that the SRT is now seeking operators…
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TAT unveils Visa Thailand Grand Sale 2024
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled the Visa Thailand Grand Sale 2024, designed to draw international tourists to Thailand and encourage spending at prominent shopping venues such as King Power Duty-Free, Siam Paragon, Emporium, EmQuartier, Emsphere, Icon Siam, and Gaysorn. The effort comes as Thailand experiences a significant surge in tourism, welcoming over 14 million visitors in the first…
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Thailand aims for 3.4 trillion baht in tourism revenue by 2025
Thailand’s Tourism Authority (TAT) plans to achieve 7.5% revenue growth or 3.4 trillion baht in 2025, while private operators advocate for airfare subsidies to boost income, to mark the upcoming year as Thailand Grand Tourism Year. During the TAT Action Plan 2025 meeting yesterday, July 8, Chairman Natthriya Thaweevong announced that the government aims to mark 2025 as the Thailand…
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Thai outbound travel unaffected by cheap tour packages
Thai outbound tour groups remain largely unaffected by cheaper travel packages, as the majority of current outbound travellers possess high purchasing power and seek quality offerings. Price dumping for package tours has been prevalent in destinations such as South Korea, Macau, and Italy, leading to governmental crackdowns on these practices. The Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) Vice-President, Chotechuang Soorangura, remarked…
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Thailand targets top 20 ranking for Suvarnabhumi Airport by 2029
The Ministry of Transport is aiming to elevate Suvarnabhumi International Airport into the world’s top 20 airports by 2029, aligning with the government’s ambition to make Thailand a global aviation hub, according to government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit set the target following Suvarnabhumi Airport’s ranking of 58th on the 2024 World’s Best…
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