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.
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With World Kindness Day just two days away on November 13, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how empathy and care can make a real impact, not just in our relationships but in our health, too. This day is...
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World’s best hotel: Bangkok’s Mandarin Oriental steals the show
Bangkok’s iconic Mandarin Oriental Hotel has officially snagged the prestigious title of the Best Hotel in Asia and the World, according to The Telegraph’s Hotel Awards. The British media giant, known for its high standards, placed the luxurious Thai retreat at the top of its 2024 list, beating fierce global competition. This award comes after The Telegraph’s hotel and destination…
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Chiang Rai hotel offers free rooms to flood victims
Silamanee Resort & Spa Hotel in Chiang Rai is offering free accommodation to flood victims. The ongoing flood situation in Mae Sai and Mueang districts has worsened, with continuous water inflow causing severe hardship for many residents, who are desperately awaiting assistance. Hotel Silamanee’s Facebook page recently posted an update. “Due to the flood situation in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai,…
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Langham’s latest hotel to transform Bangkok’s Customs House
Langham Hospitality Group is set to turn heads in Bangkok with its latest luxury venture, The Langham, Customs House, Bangkok. Set in the vibrant Bang Rak district, this glamorous new hotel will breathe new life into the city’s iconic Customs House, perched along the Chao Phraya River. At the heart of this project is the magnificent 1888-built Customs House, a…
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Mid-priced hotels in Thailand struggle amid price-sensitive tourists
Hotels in the mid-priced and budget segments in Thailand faced significant challenges in maintaining room and occupancy rates in August, as tourists remained sensitive to prices. Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), reported that while the average occupancy rate for hotels nationwide improved to 61.8% from 58.4% year-on-year, it still fell short of the pre-pandemic rate of…
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Thai Transport ministry to upgrade 29 piers with billion-baht budget
The Thai Ministry of Transport has initiated a comprehensive plan to upgrade 29 piers across the nation into Smart Piers with a budget of 1.214 billion baht. This initiative aims to enhance tourism and support the efficient transport of goods and passengers. Under the directive of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, the Ministry of Transport is…
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Thailand carves a spot in Agoda’s top destinations for returning tourists
The popular travel booking platform, Agoda, included Thailand among the world’s destinations that tourists cannot get enough of. Other countries at the top of the ranking were Japan and South Korea. Agoda had just released the Return Visitor Ranking on September 5 after surveying travellers who had recently booked their next trip on the platform. The survey suggested that more…
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Agoda: Pattaya tops list for quick weekend getaways from Bangkok
Agoda identified Pattaya as the most-searched destination near Bangkok for quick weekend getaways in August. The travel platform’s recent list highlights top locations ideal for day trips, allowing visitors to leave in the morning and return to Bangkok by evening. Pattaya, situated in Chon Buri province, stands out not just for its beach parties but also for its diverse range…
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Patong boosts public safety in Soi Bangla and Soi Lao crackdown
Patong officials are stepping up efforts to improve public safety and cleanliness in the bustling tourist area, particularly focusing on Soi Bangla and the notorious Soi Lao. This initiative aims to tackle ongoing issues in the area, including drug-related activities, illegal street vending, and misuse of public spaces. A team of officials, led by Kathu District Chief Thammarong Chuay-akson and…
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New travel rules: Thailand’s ETA to shake up visa-free visitors
Thailand is tightening its borders with a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, set to launch between December this year and June 2025. This system will be mandatory for all visa-exempt foreigners entering the country by air, land, or sea. Though not technically a visa, the ETA will act as a computerised security check, similar to the ETIAS programme for…
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Thai woman denied entry to South Korea over bizarre questions
A Thai woman’s trip to South Korea took an unexpected turn when she was shockingly denied entry due to failing to answer bizarre questions about her hotel. The incident, which took place on Tuesday, September 3, has since sparked heated discussions online. Posting in the Facebook group Travelling to Korea by Yourself, the woman revealed her peculiar encounter with immigration…
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Aussies now need an ETA to enter Thailand
Australians planning a getaway to Thailand will soon have an extra step to complete before boarding their flight. The Thai government is introducing a mandatory electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which must be obtained ahead of travel. This new system, introduced by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is designed to enhance the screening and tracking of foreigners entering the country. “The…
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Bangkok taxi driver returns tourist’s lost bag with 75,100 baht
A taxi driver in Bangkok made headlines yesterday after returning a significant amount of foreign currency to an Israeli tourist. The taxi driver, 54 year old Wirat Soi-udom from Roi Et province, discovered a black handbag in his taxi, containing foreign currencies and documents. The bag belonged to Nathanel Avinoam, an Israeli national. Wirat had picked up Avinoam from Thanon…
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Rising tourism in Thailand to boost sluggish motorcycle market
Increased tourism activity later this year is anticipated to boost Thailand’s domestic motorcycle market, which has experienced sluggish sales in the first seven months of 2024, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Surapong Paisitpatanapong, Vice-Chairman of the FTI and spokesperson for its Automotive Industry Club, stated that the number of foreign tourist arrivals is on the rise and…
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Malaysian tourists boost Thailand’s economy by 100 million baht
The recent influx of tourists to Thailand’s southern region during Malaysia’s National Day, known as Merdeka Day, is poised to inject approximately 100 million baht into the local economy. Over 13,000 Malaysian tourists crossed into Songkhla through the Sadao checkpoint yesterday, August 31, with an additional 5,000 arriving via the Betong checkpoint in Yala, according to local officials. The substantial…
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Tourism triumph: Can Thailand hit the 2.3 trillion baht jackpot?
Despite a whirlwind of global economic challenges and shrinking wallets worldwide, Thailand’s tourism sector is making a remarkable comeback. The nation is on the brink of welcoming nearly as many visitors as it did in the golden year of 2019, when almost 40 million foreign tourists poured in, generating a staggering 2 trillion baht in international revenue. However, while the…
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Thailand launches inclusive tourism project for disabled and elderly
The Architectural Tour for All People Foundation, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Network of Wheelchair Architects, launched the Tourism for All project. The initiative is designed to foster inclusive and sustainable tourism, particularly for the elderly, the disabled, and families of wheelchair users. These groups will actively participate in the project, collectively announcing the…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport to handle 80 million passengers yearly by 2031
Airports of Thailand (AoT) announced ambitious plans to upgrade Suvarnabhumi International Airport in a bid to accommodate 80 million passengers annually by 2031. AoT President Kerati Kijmanawat stated yesterday, August 28, that the agency is revising its master plan to expand the airport’s capacity over the next decade. This move aligns with the government’s goal to see Suvarnabhumi Airport rank…
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Thailand anticipates 2 million Korean tourists amid Chuseok holiday
Thailand is gearing up for a significant influx of South Korean tourists during the upcoming six-day Chuseok holiday, aiming to maintain a strong momentum as the country anticipates a record high of 2 million Korean visitors by the end of the year. Tourism operators in Thailand remain confident despite fierce competition from Vietnam and Japan in attracting Korean tourists. Chuwit…
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More than 70% of Thai tourists return to Japan and Taiwan
Thai tourists are making repeat trips like never before, with a staggering 74% returning to their favourite destinations, according to Agoda’s latest Return Visitor Ranking. The ranking, based on a recent survey conducted on the Agoda platform, unveils that Japan, Taiwan, and Laos are the top three destinations that Thai travellers simply can’t resist revisiting. These countries are closely followed…
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Thai travel agency faces backlash over delayed plane tickets
Customers have raised complaints about a prominent travel agency, TravizGo, for allegedly failing to issue plane tickets after payment, citing cash flow issues and promising to refund with 7.5% interest per year within 90 days. We Are Consumers (พวกเราคือผู้บริโภค) Facebook members posted warnings about TravizGo, which offers flight, hotel, and tour package bookings via its website and app. “Anyone who…
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Music is the food of love for TAT festival in Hat Yai this weekend
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is rolling out the red carpet for a spectacular celebration of art, music, and culture in southern Thailand with the HATYAI OUTLOUD festival. Scheduled from August 30 to September 1, this vibrant event will light up the Robinson Department Store parking lot and the Sino-European Building Sai 1 on Niphat Uthit 1 Road in…
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Chinese man caught red-handed running illegal tours in Thailand
Thai police nabbed a Chinese national running an unauthorised tour business, exposing a shadowy operation exploiting Thailand’s tourism industry. The National Tourist Police, under the leadership of Police Colonel Piyapong Raksa, Deputy Superintendent of the Tourist Police Division, swooped in on Hao, a 41 year old Chinese national, at the bustling Four Regions Floating Market on Sukhumvit Road on Sunday, August…
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Tourism leaders urge government action post-Thai floods
Regional tourism operators are urging the Government of Thailand to develop a comprehensive long-term strategy to manage floods and storms, following recent natural disasters in northern provinces and a deadly landslide in Phuket. Phuket Tourist Association President Thaneth Tantipiriyakij highlighted the urgency of the situation after heavy rains and a landslide in Phuket resulted in the deaths of 13 people,…
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Thai bus firms under siege as Chinese rivals drive them up the wall
The Thai bus industry is under siege with Chinese bus operators flooding the market with cut-rate prices and dodgy tactics, leaving Thai companies struggling to keep up. The Thai Transportation Operators Association has sounded the alarm on this cut-throat competition. Wasuchet Sophonsathien, the association’s president, laid bare the ongoing crisis. Illegal foreign bus operators are muscling in on the market,…
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Tourist Police crack down on illegal tour operators in Pattaya
The Tourist Police Bureau’s Investigation Division arrested several individuals operating illegal tour businesses in a decisive move to safeguard Thailand’s tourism industry. This operation, under the direction of Police Lieutenant General Saksira Pueak-am, Commander-in-Chief of the Tourist Police Bureau, alongside his Deputy Commanders in Cheif Police Majaor General Phongsayam Mee-khanthong and Police Majar General Kritsana Warit, underscores the government’s commitment…
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Thailand is Somali’s new medical oasis
Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, has a surprising new destination in mind for his compatriots seeking medical treatment—Thailand. After a recent visit, he’s convinced it could be the next big thing for Somali medical tourism. Ambassador Abdulle visited Thailand from August 13 to 21 as part of an initiative by the Royal Thai Embassy in Nairobi to showcase…
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Thailand’s tourism boom tainted by zero-dollar tours
Thailand’s booming tourism sector is thriving under a new visa-free policy, attracting millions of foreign tourists. Yet, while Chinese visitors top the list, concerns are mounting over the resurgence of Chinese zero-dollar tours, which could be draining potential revenue from the Thai economy. From January 1 to August 18, Thailand welcomed a staggering 22,474,172 international tourists, who pumped 1.05 trillion…
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Koh Pha Ngan shopkeeper’s laughing gas caper goes up in smoke
A Koh Pha Ngan shopkeeper has been caught red-handed peddling balloons stuffed with nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, without a licence, and it’s no laughing matter! Rangsiman Jaisamer was busted by police in his Haad Rin shop early today, August 22, where officers discovered two cylinders of the giggly gas and a stash of balloons ready for sale.…
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Authentic Thai flavours invade Kazakhstan
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce turned up the heat in Kazakhstan, recognising three Thai restaurants for delivering an unbeatable authentic taste with the prestigious Thai SELECT certification. At the forefront of this culinary accolade is Bangkok Thai Café in Almaty, a restaurant that leaves no stone unturned in bringing the true essence of Thailand to Central Asia. With skilled Thai chefs…
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Thailand’s ‘Nihao Month’ set to woo Chinese tourists
Thailand is pulling out all the stops to lure Chinese tourists back in droves with the launch of its ambitious Nihao Month campaign. With a staggering target of attracting 8 million Chinese visitors by the end of the year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is betting big on a series of irresistible promotions and star-studded events. Since the beginning…
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