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 12Go introduces Japan Rail Passes to enhance travel accessibility for international travellers
For those who have travelled throughout Thailand, 12Go is a well-known provider of various trips, though the platform itself has a much wider reach. Ranging from buses to planes, 12Go is undoubtedly a leading booking platform for travel throughout the...
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Phuket court to revive tourist section amid rising crime against visitors
The Phuket Provincial Court is set to revive its tourist section in response to an increasing number of court cases involving tourists. This initiative is led by the acting chief justice of the Phuket Provincial Court, Kriangsak Rodpunshoo. He disclosed that the influx of both local and international tourists in Phuket has led to a spike in both criminal and…
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Dive tour boat Sea World 1 catches fire in Phuket
A fire broke out yesterday on a well-known dive tour boat, Sea World 1, at Thap Lamu in Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga, north of Phuket, causing substantial damage. The Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command (3AC) was alerted to the blaze at 6.30pm yesterday. Despite the main headquarters of the 3AC being located in Cape Panwa, Phuket, they operate…
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Thailand tourism revolution: Five key strategies
In a monumental event dubbed Ignite Tourism Thailand, the government revealed a groundbreaking roadmap aimed at catapulting Thailand to the zenith of global tourism. With Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin and Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsupakitkosol at the helm, the unveiling at Government House marked a pivotal moment in Thailand’s ambition to become a multifaceted tourism hub…
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Airlines urge Thailand to take flight with airport upgrades
Several international airlines have urged Thailand to enhance its key airport facilities and improve transport links between airports and cities, to meet its ambition of becoming a regional aviation hub. The Thai government has laid out a goal of handling 150 million passengers annually by 2030. Egaluk Ngiwprom, Southeast Asia marketing manager of Spring Airlines, believes this is a challenging…
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Songkran festival sees Rama II Road works delay till June 2025
Thailand’s transport minister announced that construction delays on Rama II Road will persist during the upcoming Songkran festival. Despite efforts to expedite the work, the completion date is now set for June 2025. The minister assured that compensation will be paid to the contractors to encourage faster progress. Government spokesperson Suriya Jungrungreangkit addressed the state of transportation during the Songkran…
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Thailand waives tolls for Songkran festival to ease travel costs
The Thai Cabinet approved a toll exemption for vehicles on Motorway No. 7 and Motorway No. 9 during the seven-day Songkran festival period to alleviate traffic congestion and facilitate convenience for travellers. The exemption will be in effect from 12.01am on April 11 to midnight on April 17, in time for the country’s traditional new year celebrations. The decision was…
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British backpacker murderers make fresh appeal against sentence (video)
The British backpacker murderers have made fresh appeals against their sentence claiming they are innocent of beating an English couple to death in Thailand ten years ago Two Burmese bar workers were accused of murdering British couple David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on Koh Tao Island in 2014. The bar workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, who have consistently maintained…
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Don Mueang Airport prepares for Songkran holiday travel spike
Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport gears up for an influx of approximately 625,000 passengers during the Songkran holiday period, which runs from April 11 to 17. It expects over 4,000 flights, marking a substantial 10.58% rise from the previous year’s data. Don Mueang Airport General Manager Wichit Kaewsaitiam attributed this surge to the government’s strategic policies aimed at bolstering domestic…
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Srettha inaugurates Thailand Tourism Festival 2024
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin inaugurated the 42nd Thailand Tourism Festival 2024 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok. Joined by officials from the government and private sectors, including Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol and TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the event kicked off with grandeur. “Tourism is at the forefront of our nation’s socio-economic development. We’re leveraging our…
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Pattaya Port Authority prepares 700 speedboats for Songkran
As the Songkran Festival looms closer, Pattaya Port Authority prepares for an influx of travellers with an initiative to ensure safety and convenience. From April 11 to 17, they are set to facilitate seamless water travel between Koh Larn and Pattaya. To cater to the needs of both locals and tourists, the authority has orchestrated a fleet comprising 60 passenger…
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Thai hotel industry resists proposed minimum wage hike
The tourism industry has voiced its concerns over the recent approval by the tripartite wage committee to increase the minimum wage to 400 baht for four-star hotels in 10 key tourism cities, beginning with the Songkran holiday. Hoteliers argue that the implementation of the wage hike is unjust as the recovery from the pandemic has been uneven across the targeted…
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Chiang Mai tourism expects rebound despite hotel booking slump
Chiang Mai, once bustling with tourists, has been grappling with a slump in hotel bookings as recorded on Wednesday. The Northern Thai Hotels Association advisor, La-iad Bungsrithong, disclosed that the reservations were only 30% full compared to the beginning of April last year. However, she projected a silver lining in the looming clouds of despair. The occupancy would bounce back…
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Malaysian tourists inquire Thai immigration arrival card exemption
Inquiries from Malaysian tourists have flooded hotel operators, eager for the inside scoop on Thailand’s immigration policy regarding the exemption of arrival cards for travellers from Malaysia. Songchai Mungprasitthichai, chairman of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association, revealed that Malaysians are particularly curious about potential extensions beyond the current expiry date of April 30. Travellers from all corners of the globe…
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Thai AirAsia sees triple surge in China flight bookings
In the wake of the permanent visa-free arrangement between Thailand and China, Thai AirAsia saw a wave of soaring bookings, catapulting towards a threefold increase in flights from Thailand to mainland China. Tansita Akrarittipirom, the director of commercial operations at Thai AirAsia, revealed that the company is witnessing a seismic shift in passenger demographics. “Previously, only 10% of our passengers…
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Bangkok travel: Airbnb’s ultimate creative guide revealed
Airbnb has rolled out its inaugural city guide, Airbnb Creative Guide to Bangkok, shedding light on the capital’s creative hubs, diverse neighbourhoods, and local influencers. Aligned with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) mission to foster creative tourism and amplify Thailand’s soft power on the global stage, this guide is a collaborative effort, drawing insights from prominent Thai tastemakers and revered…
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Thai tourism federation calls for urgent supply development
The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA) has revealed its intention to present an urgent demand for supply development to the government. The appeal is due to a rising demand that is overburdening the existing infrastructure. This was disclosed by FETTA Secretary-General Adith Chairattananon. Adith explained that while the government has been keen on stimulating demand by granting visa exemptions…
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Visa-free travel sparks surge in Thai-Chinese tourism expectations
A recent measure granting visa-free travel between Thailand and China has sparked a surge in tourism expectations. As per the reports collected by five Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) overseas offices located in Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Chengdu, and Guangzhou, it’s predicted that tourism between the two nations could dramatically rise by the end of 2024. The visa-exemption agreement, which has…
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US ambassador Godec to address town hall meeting in Phuket
The US Ambassador to Thailand is set to visit Phuket next week for a town hall meeting. The event will address issues concerning consular services and other matters impacting US citizens residing on the island. The town hall with US Ambassador Robert F. Godec gathering is scheduled to take place at The Westin Siray Bay Resort and Spa on Thursday, April 4.…
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Surfs up as Patong Beach launches safety sandbox for tourists
Phuket’s esteemed Patong Beach hosted a riveting safety demonstration for the Minister of Health, yesterday. The demonstration, which included surf life-saving techniques and appropriate medical responses to common injuries, was part of the grand launch of the Phuket Island Safety Sandbox scheme. This initiative is designed to reaffirm the island’s commitment to safety, thus reassuring tourists of a secure vacation…
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Thai-China high-speed rail set to boost ASEAN connectivity
Chinese Ambassador Han Zhiqiang projected a significant enhancement in the collaboration between Thailand and China upon the conclusion of the anticipated high-speed rail project. The statement came during a seminar addressing the economic ties between the two nations and the Thai-China visa-free agreement, held by the Thai-Chinese Journalists Association recently. The ambassador emphasised that the completion of the Thai-China high-speed…
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Chao Phraya Princess enhances cruise services to boost tourism
Thailand’s tourism industry is witnessing a revival, with operators enhancing their services to attract the global inflow of tourists. A sought-after experience for many first-time visitors in Bangkok is a scenic cruise along the Chao Phraya River, the country’s main thoroughfare. Chao Phraya Princess, among the largest river cruise operators, has weathered several crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic. To survive…
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7-Eleven stores to get police reporting points for tourist safety
The Tourist Police Bureau, in partnership with CP All Public Company Limited, is rolling out a new initiative to boost tourist safety with the help of 7-Eleven convenience stores. This project will establish incident reporting points in 7-Eleven convenience stores across 20 major tourist hotspots in the country. This move is part of a broader strategy to promote Thailand’s tourism image and…
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Rouble trouble: Russian woman fined for assaulting pregnant Thai
The violent Russian woman who blamed her period for assaulting a pregnant Thai woman in Koh Pha Ngan has been fined 500 baht and handed a suspended 15-day jail sentence. Immigration authorities in Surat Thani are deliberating whether to revoke her visa due to the criminal offence. Alena Kupriyanova, the Russian woman in question, confessed to kicking the shop owner,…
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Hong Kong man arrested in Phuket for illegal tour operations
A 31 year old man from Hong Kong has been apprehended in the tourist hotspot of Phuket. The arrest occurred in a car park close to the iconic Phuket Big Buddha, officially known as Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakakiri, on Nakkerd Hill in the Mueang district’s Karon Subdistrict, yesterday around 5pm. The local tourist police disclosed that Wong Tsz Kin has…
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Phayao to become Thailand’s next eco-tourism hotspot
In a move set to transform Phayao into Thailand’s next eco-tourism hotspot, the Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, unleashed a whopping 300 million baht across 13 projects. This ambitious blueprint not only aims to catapult Phayao onto the global sustainable travel map but also promises a future where rubber farmers rejoice over record-breaking profits. PM Srettha, who also…
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Political unrest fuels growth in Thailand Privilege Card membership
Political unrest and geopolitical conflicts worldwide have propelled the Thailand Privilege Card’s membership count to a staggering 3,871, according to the card’s operator. The card’s operator, Thailand Privilege Card Co (TPC), noted that the long-stay visa, spanning from five to 20 years across four membership categories, has been a significant draw for individuals in countries facing severe political challenges. Russia,…
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Thailand targets diverse travel groups to boost tourism revenue
Thailand‘s aim of generating 3.5 trillion baht (US$97 billion) in tourism revenue this year requires a broader appeal beyond just leisure travellers to be competitive with other destinations, as per Dusit International. Suphajee Suthumpun, the CEO of Dusit Group, pointed out that while the new visa-free scheme is likely to ease travel, it alone would not suffice to boost revenue.…
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Thai cops uncover British man’s drug stash in Phuket
A British man is facing a lifetime behind bars after Thai cops swooped on his hotel room and reportedly found a significant stash of illegal drugs. The British man, Stephen Mullady, was arrested on the spot for suspected cocaine dealing. The father of one, who had been socialising with friends, was arrested by Thai police who allegedly uncovered various illegal…
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Thai Cabinet grants 300 million baht for northern provinces
A significant financial boost of 300 million baht (US$8.3 million) has been granted by the Thai Cabinet for the development of 13 projects aimed at tourism growth across four northern provinces; Phayao, Chiang Rai, Phrae, and Nan. The decision was made during a mobile meeting in Phayao, overseen by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin during his two-day visit to the region.…
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Sawasdee Thailand: AXA unveils enhanced travel insurance for international visitors amid tourist boom
We are witnessing a remarkable resurgence of Thailand’s tourism industry in 2024. This revival is spearheaded by the influx of 34 million international visitors, achieving an 85% recovery to the pre-pandemic visitor levels of 2019. This revitalization significantly contributes to the expansion of the travel insurance sector, highlighted by the surge of ‘Sawasdee Thailand’, a travel insurance plan for international…
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