Tourism News
Get your daily dose of Tourism News in Thailand with the latest updates on exciting destinations, events, and travel industry developments. We provide relevant and insightful information about Thailand’s diverse travel scene, which includes innovative hospitality trends, cultural experiences, and sustainable tourism practices. Stay informed on various tourism-related matters, including visa policies and major infrastructure projects, to ensure you’re always one step ahead in the vibrant world of travel.
To keep up with the most updated tourism news in Thailand, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
-
Sponsored Infinito helps hotels in Thailand with revenue management
Maximising revenue and profit–isn’t that the ultimate goal for every business in the hospitality industry? If you run a hotel, you might have heard that revenue management is an effective way to boost your top-line revenue. It involves using data...
-
Phuket’s golden opportunity: Chinese tourists set to make waves this weekend
The renowned resort island of Phuket is preparing for an influx of Chinese tourists as China gears up for Golden Week starting this weekend and the continuation of the visa-free scheme for Chinese nationals. The surge in tourists is expected to start towards the end of the week. The anticipation also extends to the forthcoming Chinese New Year, which will…
-
Tourist surge at Si Thep sparks concerns over sacred site damage
An unexpected surge in tourists at Si Thep Historical Park, recently declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on September 19, sparked concerns among locals in Phetchabun. The locals are worried about the increasing number of visitors scaling Khao Klang Nok, a historical site within the park. The site, considered sacred and located approximately 2 kilometres from the old city…
-
THAI’S high-flying ambition: Soaring to new heights in tourist traffic
Thai Airways International (THAI) unveiled an ambitious plan to expand its international flight offerings in the forthcoming high season. The airline’s primary focus is to draw in a higher number of tourists. A notable feature of this expansion is the airline’s decision to recommence flights to Istanbul, Turkey, which is a significant aviation hub for Asia, Europe, and Africa. This…
-
Lost in translation: Thai road sign riddle baffles tourists
The director of the Phitsanulok Highway District, Awirut Thapthimthae, addressed the public confusion caused by the road sign for Wat Chan Thawan Ok. The sign, situated on the Phitsanulok-Nakhon Sawan highway or Si Racha Dechochai Road, in Wat Chan, Mueang, Phitsanulok, has been in place for over a decade. However, it has led to mispronunciations by foreign tourists, causing confusion…
-
TAT’s the spirit: E-book showcasing Thailand’s spiritual sites to boost faith-based tourism
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has sponsored an e-book titled Connecting to Spiritual Thailand: A Guide to 60 Powerspots, which showcases 60 lesser-known spiritual sites in Thailand, reflecting the country’s rich cultural and religious diversity. The e-book has been crafted in response to the global rise in faith-based tourism, which is projected to triple in economic value over the…
-
Thailand anticipates Chinese tourism boost with visa-free scheme in 2024
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) indicated that the revival of charter flights and large Chinese tourism groups could occur by the first quarter of 2024. This projected resurgence comes despite the forthcoming implementation of a visa-free scheme set to kick off this month. A preparation phase will span the final quarter of 2023 with charter flights beginning to cater…
-
AIS and Trip.com partner to boost Chinese tourism in Thailand
Thailand’s leading 5G digital service provider, Advanced Info Service (AIS), is partnering with China’s top online travel agent, Trip.com, to create a smooth travel experience for Chinese tourists. This move comes in response to the government’s recent introduction of a visa-free policy for Chinese visitors. AIS aims to stimulate Thailand’s tourism sector by offering a comprehensive user experience for Chinese…
-
Rise in expatriate residence in Thailand prompts tourism benefits plan
Thailand’s popularity as a residence of choice for expatriates and remote workers is on the rise. As per the data from the Employment Department and Colliers Thailand, the first quarter of this year saw 156,596 expatriates, with over half based in Bangkok. The leading nationalities were Japanese, Chinese, and Indian last year. However, recent reports show an increased interest among…
-
Thailand’s visa-free initiative welcomes Chinese, Kazakhstani tourists
Chinese and Kazakhstani tourists will be welcomed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at Suvarnabhumi Airport tomorrow, signalling the start of the government’s new visa-free initiative. Srettha will be accompanied by a delegation of ministers and officials at a reception organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to greet Chinese travellers aboard Thai AirAsia X flight XJ761, scheduled to arrive…
-
Phuket hotels thrive amid economic uncertainty, thanks to diverse visitor base
Phuket hotels are showing resilience amid a sluggish European economy and a weak British pound, with Laguna Phuket setting sights on its best high season yet. This optimism is fuelled by the return of Chinese tourists and a rebound in international travel demand. Paul Wilson, who holds the position of Vice-President and Deputy Managing Director at Laguna Phuket, revealed that…
-
Box office shocker: Thai trafficking thriller spooks Chinese tourists from coming to Thailand (video)
A Thai box office movie highlighting the real-life dangers of human trafficking in Thailand and Southeast Asia has been blamed for scaring Chinese tourists away from the kingdom. The movie, No More Bets, is a gripping thriller grounded in true events. It follows the harrowing journey of a computer programmer who finds himself ensnared in a violent scamming ring in…
-
Phuket’s 191 hotline control room gets ‘ready to dial’
The Phuket control room, part of the National Emergency Notification Center and commonly referred to as the 191 police hotline, yesterday underwent an operational readiness inspection. Police Major General Saksira Phueakam, the Deputy Commander of Region 8 Police, conducted the assessment. This control room serves as a crucial hub for receiving reports from both Thai and foreign tourists, as well…
-
Weixin Pay rolls out red carpet for tourists in Thailand with new payment perks
Tencent’s Weixin Pay, commonly known as WeChat Pay, a Chinese payment service provider, has introduced innovative features aimed at simplifying payments for foreign tourists in China and cross-border transactions in Thailand. These features allow visitors to conveniently make payments by scanning QR codes, streamlining the payment process. Starting in July, Tencent has been collaborating closely with major global credit card…
-
Phuket’s tourism boom: Visa-free policy sparks influx of Chinese and Kazakhstani visitors
The popular tourist destination of Phuket is on the cusp of a significant increase in Chinese and Kazakhstani visitors, thanks to a new visa-free policy set to take effect next week. The policy, unveiled in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, grants 30-day visa-free stays for nationals from both countries, starting from Monday and extending until February 29. The Tourism Authority…
-
Thai economy to be driven by private consumption, tourism in 2023
Stimulating private consumption is a reasonable strategy for the government to maintain economic growth amidst global uncertainties, according to Tim Leelahaphan, an economist at Standard Chartered Bank Thailand. The first half of 2023 saw a 7% year-on-year increase in the country’s private consumption. Expectations are high for private consumption and tourism to be the main drivers of economic growth in…
-
Four Thailand hotels make a ‘suite’ entrance in world’s 50 best awards
Four celebrated Thai hotels proved life is “suite” at the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels grand awards ceremony held at London’s Guildhall. The prestigious event, held yesterday, September 19, marked the first-ever global gathering of the hotel industry, celebrating the crème de la crème of hospitality experiences worldwide. Drawing from a diverse array of hotels spanning 35 destinations across six…
-
Visa-free Chinese tourism raises concerns over illegal Thailand tour operations
The recent decision to exempt Chinese visitors from visa requirements sparked concerns within the Tourism Department about potential loopholes for illegal zero-dollar tours and unlicensed tour guides. The worry stems from the inability to verify the legitimacy of tour companies during the visa-free period. The department’s director-general, Jaturon Phakdeewanit, revealed that this issue was flagged to Tourism and Sports Minister…
-
Chinese tourism to Thailand lags despite lifted travel restrictions
The number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand continues to fall behind predictions, despite China lifting travel restrictions over eight months ago. By September 10, a total of 2.28 million Chinese arrivals had been recorded for the year, with estimates for the end of the year standing between 4 and 4.4 million. This falls short of the initial target of 5…
-
Visa-free policy for Chinese, Kazakh tourists boosts Suvarnabhumi Airport readiness
Suvarnabhumi International Airport is preparing to welcome an influx of tourists from China and Kazakhstan following the announcement of a new visa-free policy, effective from next week. The Immigration Bureau (IB) is set to bolster its officer presence at the airport in anticipation of the increased arrivals. The visa-free policy, approved on Wednesday, September 13 and publicised in the Royal…
-
Spider senses tarantula tingling: Arachnologists spin a web of discovery in Thailand
If you go down in the Thailand woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise, but it’s almost guaranteed there’ll be no Teddy Bears’ picnic, as arachnologists found while discovering a new species of tarantula. Arachnologists discovered the new species of tarantula deep in a mangrove forest in Phang Nga province, on the southwestern coast of Thailand. They stumbled upon…
-
Former Thai deputy minister says ‘pandamonium’ not worth it, urges ‘elefant-astic’ focus on local treasures
The former Thai Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education voiced her opposition to the idea of importing new pandas from China, citing high rental costs and a declining interest in pandas. Instead, she suggests, the focus should be on the increasingly popular Thai elephants. Kanchana Silpa-archa, advisor and head of the Thai Nation Development Party, yesterday posted a message…
-
Thai PM’s ‘spice of life’ plan: Srettha Thavisin to boost Thai-Indian tourism in Modi meet
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced his impending visit to India, scheduled for later this year, with an agenda to discuss boosting Indian tourism in Thailand with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders aim to resolve ongoing issues with visa application procedures and achieve approval for a visa-free policy for Indian tourists. Srettha told the media yesterday that he…
-
Srettha Thavisin to bolster Thai-Chinese tourism, bilateral ties in China visit
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is slated for a diplomatic visit to China from Oct 8-10 to negotiate on 10 pivotal issues, among which strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing Thai-Chinese tourism cooperation take precedence. The announcement came yesterday during his visit to Chiang Mai, where he also hinted at the renewal of the Thai-Chinese memorandum of understanding on the loaning of…
-
Chaiya Pier 60m baht investment to boost Surat Thani tourism
A significant boost to Chaiya district’s tourism is on the horizon as provincial authorities of Surat Thani have earmarked a budget of 60 million baht for the construction of a new pier. The announcement came from Surat Thani governor, Witchawut Jinto, who confirmed that construction will commence shortly. The construction is said to be positioned near a public park in…
-
Weighing passengers to become standard for Bangkok Airways
Your chance to weigh in on airport and flight practices in Thailand may be coming, quite literally. Bangkok Airways is looking to join a number of international airlines that will be weighing passengers before boarding. On September 16, it became clear that airlines were getting a bit nosy about passengers’ pounds. Foreign giants like Korean Air and Air New Zealand…
-
Thailand and Laos in talks to link tourism routes and build second bridge
In a bid to boost tourism and enhance relations, Thailand and Laos initiated discussions to connect tourism routes and expedite the construction of a second Thai-Lao friendship bridge in the Pak Chom district of Loei. The talks took place yesterday between Tawee Sermpakdeekul, the governor of Loei, and Khamphan Sithidampha, the governor of Laos’ Vientiane province, during the 20th Thai-Lao…
-
Online immigration system launched for foreign tenant registration
Phuket Immigration called for property owners and managers across Thailand to register for the new online notification system for foreign tenants. This system, which became operational yesterday, replaces the previous one. This digital registration demands the submission of pertinent documents, but immigration officials have guaranteed that the approval process will be automatic. They further stipulated that property owners previously registered…
-
Thailand’s airlines resist price war despite rising operational costs
Despite escalating operational costs, Thailand’s airlines are unlikely to trigger a new price war, while the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) intends to retain the existing ceiling for ticket prices. This information was shared by Suttipong Kongpool, the CAAT director, during a seminar co-hosted by the Airlines Association of Thailand (AAT) and CAAT this week. Suttipong indicated that with…
-
Myanmar’s surprise cash checks: Dollars and insurance needed for entry
According to the Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar has announced that it will randomly inspect foreign tourists on arrival. US dollars in cash and medical insurance are required for entry. The embassy yesterday, September 14, reported that the Burmese authorities urged foreigners entering the country for less than 14 days to prepare for a random inspection upon arrival. According…
-
Thai tourism aims sky-high: 3 trillion baht revenue target unveiled
The Thai tourism and sports minister announced an ambitious new target for foreign tourism revenue: an unprecedented 3 trillion baht. The minister, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, revealed the goal, which marks a considerable increase from the 1.9 trillion baht recorded in 2019, is part of a broader strategy to position the nation as a leading hub for sports and entertainment. Sudawan acknowledged…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.