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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Pattaya island Koh Larn draws in 130,000 tourists this month
Pattaya‘s picturesque island of Koh Larn is proving to be a hit with tourists this month, with over 130,000 tourists flocking to the island. Officials expect this number to rise as Chinese tourists start to return to the area. Pattaya Deputy Mayor Manote Nongyai said on Wednesday, March 15, that Koh Larn saw an average of 10,000 visitors per day…
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Koh Samui needs more direct flights to boost post-pandemic recovery
Koh Samui Tourism Association chief is urging authorities to enhance the island’s tourist infrastructure and increase flight capacity to boost a full post-pandemic recovery of the popular holiday resort. Association president Ratchaporn Poolsawadee revealed that only 70% of independent hotels with three or four-star have resumed operations following the pandemic. This is due to slow cash flow in comparison to…
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Thailand responds to incoming Russians with extradition treaty
Thailand is responding to the flock of incoming Russians fleeing their home country with a new extradition treaty. The Cabinet approved a draft extradition treaty with Russia that is similar to agreements with other nations. According to The Star, the treaty would boost collaboration to help curb crime and does not need Parliament’s approval. The mass exodus of Russians from…
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Tourist police crackdown on overcharging on Khao San Road
Bangkok Tourist Police on Khao San Road yesterday were approached by several angry foreign tourists after they had been ripped off. The victims told officers that tuk tuk and taxi drivers in the area had tricked them into buying expensive products and services. According to the Bangkok Tourist Police, some tuk tuk and taxi drivers near Khao San Road reportedly…
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Phuket taxi driver praised after returning Louis Vuitton bag to tourist
A Phuket taxi driver is being praised after returning a 150,000 baht Louis Vuitton purse to a Chinese tourist. The Phuket Info Centre, operated by the Phuket office of the Ministry of Interior, posted about the incident. According to Phuket News, the post was titled, “Good deeds must be admired.” The Centre said the bag was returned to the tourist…
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TAT plans to discuss more Hua Hin flights
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s Prachuap Khiri Khan office plans to discuss more flights to and from Hua Hin Airport, as part of an effort to bolster tourism in the region. Currently, the airport only serves Air Asia flights between Hua Hin and Chiang Mai, but the TAT hopes to expand the airport’s reach by adding more destinations. TAT plans…
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Thailand looks to go Dutch with tourists from the Netherlands
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) roadshow continues to gather a head of steam with the Netherlands the latest European country on its hit list. Last week, the TAT was in Germany at the ITB Berlin 2023 event to officially launch the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters’ campaign, which aims to promote sustainable and responsible tourism in Thailand,…
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China eases visa restrictions coming out of Covid
China is relaxing some of its pandemic travel restrictions again. On Wednesday, the mainland will begin issuing a range of visas to foreign nationals, according to the country’s foreign ministry. The move inches China closer to full reopening, marking a departure from the zero-Covid strategy they had held tightly to up until a few months ago. A social media account…
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Record numbers of Russian tourists affect economy
Thailand has seen a sharp rise in the number of Russian tourists in the country. So far this year over 370,000 Russian visitors have arrived in Thailand. That’s 67% of last year’s entire total of 435,000. Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nutchanart, the deputy commander of the Immigration Bureau assures though that the influx has not increased Russian criminal activity. The…
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4 new unique airlines look to open in Thailand
Thailand’s Transport Ministry revealed that four new airlines are seeking to operate in the country, according to a source who spoke to the Thai news site Thansettakij. The four companies are P80 Air, Really Cool Air, Landarch Airline and Siam Seaplane. The source added that it would take some time to obtain air service licences. The four airlines were expected…
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Tigerair Taiwan to launch only direct Taiwan – Phuket route
Budget airline Tigerair is launching direct flights between Taiwan and Phuket, southern Thailand, in May. Tigerair, a subsidiary of China Airlines, will be the only airline currently servicing the Taipei – Phuket route directly, twice per week. Phuket will become the airline’s second destination in Thailand. Tigerair currently serves direct flights between Taoyuan and Don Mueang Airport (DMX) in Bangkok.…
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Vocational education to aid Phuket labour shortage
Phuket tourism completed a full turnaround from the Covid-19 pandemic days of no customers to so many customers that there aren’t enough workers to take care of them. Now, an agreement has been signed between the Office of Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) and representatives of the business sector in Phuket to address the labour shortage in the province’s tourism and service…
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Thai officials look to food trucks to draw tourists
Thai officials are looking to food trucks to draw tourists. The Department of Business Development (DBD) in Thailand is exploring the potential of food trucks as a new tourist attraction in the country. According to Thosapone Dansuputra, the director-general of DBD, food trucks could serve as “destinations” that will not only stimulate the economy but also raise awareness of Thai…
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Pattaya mayor attends Thailand tourism event in Germany
Thailand continues to make its mark as a tourism destination across the globe. Pattaya’s mayor this week visited Germany to attend a Thailand tourism event. Mayor Poramase Ngampiches visited Berlin to attend the ‘Discover Thailand, Journey to Happiness.’ The tourism stimulus expo was set to run from March 9 to 11, Pattaya News reported. The event aimed to attract high-spending…
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Two Thai destinations win awards in Germany for sustainable tourism
Two Thai destinations have won prestigious awards in Germany for sustainable tourism. The destinations are the island of Koh Mak, located in the eastern Trat province, and Huay Pu Keng village in the northern Mae Hong Son province. The two picturesque locations won top spots at the Green Destinations Story Awards held at ITB Berlin 2023 in Germany. The awards…
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TAT predicts 6 million European tourists to Thailand
Thailand is expecting to welcome six million tourists from Europe this year, generating over 420 billion baht in revenue. The figure represents approximately 80% of pre-pandemic levels. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn expressed confidence in Thailand’s ability to maintain its popularity as a tourist destination for European markets. He noted that pent-up demand for travel among…
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Thailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan province gets tourism blast from long weekend
Thailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan province got a tourism blast during the recent long weekend. The province generated a revenue of over 548 million baht, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The director of TAT’s Prachuap Khiri Khan Office, Atchawun Kongkapan, reported that the tourism atmosphere in the province was very lively during the holiday weekend, with hotel occupancy…
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THAI Airways announces 2023 summer schedule
THAI Airways has announced its summer schedule and expanded its services around the globe. The flagship carrier of Thailand will add 39 routes to Europe, nine to Asia, and 30 routes to China for the summer. Between March 26 and October 28, more routes will operate and flights will run more frequently on the most travelled routes. THAI Airways kickstarted…
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Chinese tourists could be fined for wearing Thai student uniforms
A Thai lawyer has warned Chinese tourists to stop wearing Thai student uniforms while travelling in Thailand as it could result in a fine of 1,000 baht. Wearing a Thai student uniform when travelling in Thailand has gained momentum among Chinese tourists after the well-known Chinese actress and singer, Ju Jingyi, posted a picture of herself wearing a Thai student…
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Thailand tourism industry hails success of We Travel Together scheme
The Tourism Authority of Thailand hailed the success of its We Travel Together scheme after holidaymakers rushed to book hotels during the latest phase of the programme. Within just six hours of the hotel subsidy programme’s availability, a remarkable 112,876 room nights were reserved out of the 560,000 available, demonstrating a high level of demand. According to Tourism Authority of…
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Koh Samui welcomes inaugural flight from Chengdu, China
On Sunday, Koh Samui Airport in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, welcomed a flight from Chengdu in China for the first time in over three years. Chengdu Airlines flight EU2807 landed in Koh Samui at 5.40pm with 130 Chinese tourists on board. Samui Airport held a special welcome ceremony for the inaugural flight by using fire engines to spray water…
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Swedish tourist found dead inside tent on Ao Nang Beach in Thailand
A Swedish tourist was found dead inside a tent on Ao Nang Beach in Krabi province in southern Thailand yesterday. At 1pm, officers at Ao Nang Police Station were informed that a tourist discovered a foreigner lying dead inside a tent. Police, doctors from Krabi Hospital and rescue workers rushed to the scene. Police found a blue camping tent pitched…
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Thai men deny sexual harassment charges against Taiwanese YouTuber
Two Thai men denied sexual harassment accusations after a photo and video emerged of them hugging and inappropriately touching Taiwanese YouTuber Ar Yuan (一隻阿圓). The Two Thai men were condemned by Thai and Taiwanese netizens after they were spotted in the picture and video that they touched the Taiwanese YouTuber, Ar Yuan, without her consent. One man was seen hugging…
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US tourist takes legal action against slap happy Bangkok security guard (video)
The US tourist slapped by a security guard in a Bangkok nightclub says he still loves Thailand despite the assault but added he will be taking legal action against two guards. The tourist, Rodric Carkhuff, was slapped and handcuffed by a security guard last month outside The Club Khaosan nightclub on Khao San Road after the 34 year old took…
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4 guides arrested leading Chinese tour group without ID
Police have been cracking down on illegal tour groups and guides, recently arresting a Russian man mid-tour. Now four Thai female tour guides have been arrested around Bangkok while leading Chinese tour groups. The guides turned out to be licensed, but they did not have the proper documentation. The arrests took place in the tourist area of Tha Rua, Tha…
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Thai govt launches mouth-watering e-guidebook for foreign foodies
Hold on to your buckled belts foodies, because the Thai government has just cooked up something delicious – a mouth-watering e-guidebook aimed at promoting gastronomy tourism for Muslim and foreign visitors alike. The guidebook is so good, it’ll have travellers licking their lips in no time! So, whether you’re foodies seeking new culinary adventures or a traveller looking to spice…
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Thai Airways profits nearly tripled in last year’s final quarter
Thai Airways International (THAI) had a strong financial performance in the final quarter of 2022, reflecting the gradual recovery of Thailand’s tourism industry. According to the national flag carrier’s annual financial statement filed with the Thai Stock Exchange on February 24, the net income for the fourth quarter of 2022 surged to 11.15 billion baht, almost triple the 4 billion…
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Thailand strengthens tourism ties with China in high-profile meeting
Thailand is strengthening its tourism ties with China after the two countries inked a letter of intent in a high-profile meeting. Chinese Culture and Tourism Minister, Hu Heping, and Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, signed the Letter of Intent between the TAT and China Tourism Group Travel Services. As 2023 marks 48 years of diplomacy between the two…
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Thailand wins award for ‘Best Tourist Country’ in Sweden
Thailand continues to make waves across the globe for its reputation as a tourist magnet. Thailand has been recognised as the Best Tourist Country at the 30th annual Grand Travel Awards 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. Organised by TravelNews, the award is based on a survey conducted by research company Nordic Bench, which collected responses from 3,227 Swedish travellers and travel professionals…
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Hong Kong launches free airline ticket giveaway to reboot tourism
Hong Kong’s government-supported “Hello, Hong Kong” ticket giveaway of half a million free airline tickets is swamping airline websites. Cathay Pacific, one of the carriers participating in the programme, said it had allocated all 17,400 round-trip tickets from Thailand to Hong Kong within the first hour of the giveaway, even though it was scheduled to last seven days. The airline…
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