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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    9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand

    Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...

  • Thai curry rice championship set to spice up Bangkok | Thaiger

    Thai curry rice championship set to spice up Bangkok

    Thailand has launched a national curry rice championship to crown the country’s top chefs and promote Khao Gaeng as a global symbol of Thai culinary culture. The event, organised with the Thai Restaurant Association and other partners, aims to showcase Khao Gaeng as an iconic dish that reflects Thailand’s culinary heritage while boosting its profile on the global stage. Tourism…

  • Agoda touts Asia’s hidden gems in Tourism Day push | Thaiger

    Agoda touts Asia’s hidden gems in Tourism Day push

    Agoda has highlighted rising interest in Asia’s secondary destinations as travellers seek unique experiences, with searches outpacing traditional hotspots this year. The digital travel platform revealed that accommodation searches for lesser-known spots are growing 15% faster than for traditional tourist hubs compared to the same period last year. The shift is particularly visible in countries such as Thailand, India, Indonesia,…

  • ‘White Lotus’ stars wow Emmys with glowing praise for Thailand (video) | Thaiger

    ‘White Lotus’ stars wow Emmys with glowing praise for Thailand (video)

    Stars of The White Lotus praised Thailand at the Emmy Awards, sharing their love for its beauty and cuisine after filming the show’s third season there. Thailand took centre stage at the 77th Emmy Awards when The White Lotus Season 3 stars Walton Goggins and Parker Posey shared heartfelt praise for the country, drawing applause from the Hollywood audience. The…

  • Thailand to test seaplane routes to boost island tourism | Thaiger

    Thailand to test seaplane routes to boost island tourism

    Thailand is launching a pilot project with seaplane routes in Trang, aiming to boost tourism by linking remote islands with major travel destinations. Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) has confirmed plans for a pilot seaplane tourism project that could revolutionise the country’s travel industry. The initiative, developed in partnership with private operators Siam Seaplane and Thai Seaplane, will begin test…

  • Pattaya to issue sea walker permits to protect marine life | Thaiger

    Pattaya to issue sea walker permits to protect marine life

    Pattaya will become the first Thai city to issue sea walker permits, aiming to regulate the activity, protect marine life, and ensure tourist safety. Launching next month, the move aims to strike a balance between marine conservation and sustainable tourism, as the underwater activity gains popularity with tourists around the world. Sea walker tourism lets visitors walk on the seabed…

  • Tourism chiefs demand cash coupons for foreign visitors | Thaiger

    Tourism chiefs demand cash coupons for foreign visitors

    Tourism leaders are urging the new minister to launch urgent spending incentives for foreign visitors to boost travel and prepare for the upcoming low season. Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, is pushing the new tourism minister to act fast with competitive measures such as travel cash vouchers for international tourists. The proposal mirrors successful programmes…

  • China slowdown drags Thailand tourist arrivals down 7% | Thaiger

    China slowdown drags Thailand tourist arrivals down 7%

    Thailand recorded a decline in foreign tourist arrivals and revenue as the tourism ministry reported fewer visitors from key markets, led by China and Malaysia. Thailand welcomed 21.88 million international visitors between January and August, according to data released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The figure represents a 7.16% drop compared with the same period last year, with revenue…

  • Agoda names Khao Yai National Park as Asia’s 2nd best rural destination | Thaiger

    Agoda names Khao Yai National Park as Asia’s 2nd best rural destination

    One of the leading travel platforms, Agoda, ranked Khao Yai National Park as the second most popular rural destination in Asia for travellers seeking an escape from the city. Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikarn Wattanachan announced today, September 5, that Agoda placed Khao Yai just behind the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. Other destinations included in the list are Puncak (Indonesia), Fujikawaguchiko…

  • Scotsman’s Thailand trip cut short after ex cancels passport | Thaiger

    Scotsman’s Thailand trip cut short after ex cancels passport

    A Scottish holidaymaker’s dream trip to Thailand turned into a nightmare when his ex-partner cancelled his passport, leading to his detention at the airport and subsequent deportation back to the UK. William Barr, from Inverkeithing, Fife, was detained by immigration officers as soon as he arrived in Phuket, and ultimately deported back to the UK before his holiday even began. “I…

  • Airbnb names Phuket’s Rawai Beach in top foodie destination for 2025 | Thaiger

    Airbnb names Phuket’s Rawai Beach in top foodie destination for 2025

    The short-term accommodation rental platform Airbnb included Rawai Beach in Phuket in its 2025 Summer Travel Trends as one of the world’s top destinations for food lovers. Airbnb’s 2025 survey reveals that more travellers are turning away from overcrowded capitals and instead choosing lesser-known hidden gems. This trend highlights a global shift from congested urban centres to more accessible, culture-rich destinations.…

  • Pattaya’s beach camping proposal faces opposition from tourists | Thaiger

    Pattaya’s beach camping proposal faces opposition from tourists

    A proposal to allow beach camping for a fee in Pattaya has ignited a wave of criticism from both tourists and long-term residents, raising concerns over the potential damage it could cause to the city’s image and its struggling hotel industry. “Beach camping, and what toilets are the campers using?” asked one European visitor, highlighting Pattaya’s ongoing cleanliness issues along…

  • Bangkok hotels face crunch as occupancy rates tumble | Thaiger

    Bangkok hotels face crunch as occupancy rates tumble

    Bangkok’s hotel industry is heading into a storm in the second half of this year, with falling occupancy rates, soaring competition and a sharp drop in Chinese arrivals casting a shadow over the capital’s hospitality market. A report by Knight Frank Chartered (Thailand) revealed that average occupancy slipped by 3.7% to 75.1% in the first half of this year, while…

  • Phuket’s pricey new night market flop shut in 2 months | Thaiger

    Phuket’s pricey new night market flop shut in 2 months

    Phuket’s newest night market has turned into a multimillion-baht flop, shutting its doors just two months after opening in a blaze of publicity. The 30 million baht Plern Pao Night Market, near Surin Circle’s clocktower roundabout, closed abruptly this week. Organiser Plern Pao Co Ltd issued a notice on Monday, September 1, confirming the shutdown and instructing vendors to collect…

  • Pattaya’s Walking Street dazzles with LED, but not all impressed | Thaiger

    Pattaya’s Walking Street dazzles with LED, but not all impressed

    Pattaya’s most famous strip is glowing brighter than ever, but not everyone is dazzled by the city’s latest high-tech addition. Walking Street has unveiled a brand-new LED display, designed to boost Pattaya’s image as a world-class tourist hotspot. City officials say the giant installation is part of efforts to modernise public spaces and cement the street’s reputation as a global…

  • Tourist surge in Phuket drives revenue into the billions | Thaiger

    Tourist surge in Phuket drives revenue into the billions

    Phuket’s tourism industry is riding a wave of recovery, welcoming millions of visitors and raking in staggering revenue in just seven months. According to the Provincial Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Office in Phuket, more than 7.6 million tourists arrived between January and July this year. The influx generated 290 billion baht for the island’s economy, reinforcing Phuket’s status as…