Domestic Travel

  • Thailand TravelEverything you need to know about Mo Chit Bus Terminal

    Everything you need to know about Mo Chit Bus Terminal

    If you’re itching to explore more of Thailand beyond Bangkok, you need to check out Mo Chit Bus Terminal, or Mochit 2, as it’s often called. As shown in this video from Feverish Chic. This busy spot is a key place for travellers, helping you get to all sorts of places across the country—whether you’re off to the north, northeast,…

  • Thailand NewsOnly 57% of Thais to holiday at home this quarter

    Only 57% of Thais to holiday at home this quarter

    A recent survey reveals a dramatic decline in domestic travel plans among Thais, with only 57% intending to holiday within the country in the third quarter of this year. This is a significant drop from 64% in the second quarter and a steep decline from 74% in the first quarter. The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) surveyed 450 Thai nationals,…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s aviation hub vision depends on domestic travel options

    Thailand’s aviation hub vision depends on domestic travel options

    For Thailand to recognise its goal of becoming a regional aviation hub by 2030, a stronger emphasis must be placed on enhancing its domestic travel capabilities by integrating and developing the various transport modes currently available. Managing Director of Alton Aviation Consultancy, Mabel Kwan emphasised the importance of collaboration within the aviation ecosystem, involving airlines, airports, customers, ground handling, and…

  • Thailand NewsRoad safety concerns rise as upcountry travel surges for Songkran

    Road safety concerns rise as upcountry travel surges for Songkran

    Amid the forthcoming Songkran holiday, a surge in upcountry travel has sparked apprehension among road safety champions, who fear a rise in road mishaps outside the designated seven dangerous days of travelling. The seven dangerous days were initiated today and will conclude on April 17, and it is during these days that the highest incidents of road accidents are expected.…

  • Thailand video newsRe-instatement of mask wearing? & Arresting ‘Mr. Underpants’ | GMT

    Re-instatement of mask wearing? & Arresting ‘Mr. Underpants’ | GMT

    Thai health authorities recommend the re-instatement of mask wearing. Thai police arrest ‘Mr. Underpants:’ The serial thief in the white briefs. Thai netizens go into meltdown over farmers using bathroom cleaner as fertilizer. Smoking and selling green in public is illegal, warns Bangkok’s deputy governor. Latest vaccine guidelines. Suitcases are packed as Thais get ready for domestic travel. All this and more…

  • Tourism NewsSuitcases packed as Thais get ready for domestic travel

    Suitcases packed as Thais get ready for domestic travel

    The number of locals planning their vacations is predicted to spike for the first time since the pandemic broke out over 2 years ago. The President of the Tourism Council of Thailand, Chamnan Srisawat, predicts there will be a high number of Thai nationals travelling domestically in the third quarter of 2022 thanks to the easing of restrictions and regulations…

  • Tourism NewsCome fly with me in Thailand, with a face mask – OPINION

    Come fly with me in Thailand, with a face mask – OPINION

    July 1 is looming as the day Thailand really opens up again, with all the ‘Covid’ paperwork (aka. The Thailand Pass) being binned. They’re even scrapping the TM6 form, at least in the short to medium term (maybe permanently?). But if you want a reminder about some of Thailand’s more hypocritical and absurd Covid restrictions, just go for a flight,…

  • Tourism NewsDomestic travel demand weakened by rising Covid infections, high prices

    Domestic travel demand weakened by rising Covid infections, high prices

    A spike in daily new infections, coupled with high prices for goods and services, has stymied the recovery of domestic tourism. La-Iad Bungsrithong from the northern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association says this is despite government schemes such as We Travel Together and other incentives designed to attract visitors, such as local events. “Bookings from the fourth phase of…

  • Thailand NewsBoost in tourism expected over Loy Krathong Festival

    Boost in tourism expected over Loy Krathong Festival

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand said that they are anticipating a slight boost in tourism for this year’s Loy Krathong Festival. While still much quieter than in the days before the pandemic, this year a bit more travelling and tourism related to the event are expected than last year. The TAT estimates that tourists throughout the country will spend around…

  • Tourism NewsTourism sector not getting its hopes up over domestic travel

    Tourism sector not getting its hopes up over domestic travel

    Those working in Thailand’s tourism sector aren’t getting their hopes up about a big boost to domestic travel any time soon. Wutthiphum Jurangkool, chief executive at Nok Air, says ongoing concerns about Covid-19, coupled with weak purchasing power, will make this November very different to last. “Domestic tourism reached its peak last November, thanks to low infection rates and the…

  • Tourism NewsDomestic tourism hoped to generate 882 billion baht in 2022

    Domestic tourism hoped to generate 882 billion baht in 2022

    Perhaps not putting all of its eggs in the foreign tourism basket, the Thai government has now set a target for domestic tourism revenue next year to reach close to 1 trillion baht. While international travel is slowly finally opening back up in Thailand, it is more of a trickle than a flood, and government officials are looking towards domestic…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket entry update October 1: Checkpoints, testing, vaccines

    Phuket entry update October 1: Checkpoints, testing, vaccines

    Starting tomorrow, the rules for entering (and exiting) Phuket are changing. The Phuket Sandbox will be reducing the time arriving international travellers must stay on the island to one week, meaning they won’t need as many Covid-19 tests as well. But revisions also go into effect for domestic travellers and overland entry onto the island, making it easier for tourism…

  • Transport NewsThai government officials offered special promotional fares on Air Asia

    Thai government officials offered special promotional fares on Air Asia

    Thai Air Asia has launched a promotional deal targeting government officials, members of the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Chamber of Commerce, as well as employees of state enterprises. The perks will also apply to their travel companions. The thinking behind the deal is that government officials were some of the first to be vaccinated and are not…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Phuket eases domestic entry, Thitisan transferred to BKK prison | Sept 3 | Thaiger

    Thailand News Today | Phuket eases domestic entry, Thitisan transferred to BKK prison | Sept 3

    The deputy head of the national police has briefed a House Committee on the legal case against former cop Thitisan Utthanaphon. As Phuket prepares to carefully allow domestic tourists back onto the island, new Covid-19 infection number remain relatively stable. The Baiya vaccine, a plant-based Covid-19 vaccine being developed in Thailand, is ready to begin phase 1 clinical trials this…

  • Phuket NewsVaccinated domestic travellers allowed to enter Phuket starting next week

    Vaccinated domestic travellers allowed to enter Phuket starting next week

    Domestic travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be allowed to enter Phuket starting on September 8, Phuket Governor Narong Woonsiew announced. Travellers from overseas have been able to enter the island province under the “Sandbox” model, but with the rise of Covid-19 cases, Phuket officials imposed tight restrictions on domestic entry. Travellers will need to book and pay for…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket lays on Suvarnabhumi bus service for stranded sandbox tourists

    Phuket lays on Suvarnabhumi bus service for stranded sandbox tourists

    The governor of Phuket has announced that a special bus service will transport stranded sandbox tourists from the southern island to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. As a result of the cancellation of domestic flights, sandbox visitors who had plans to visit elsewhere in Thailand after their 14 days on Phuket now find themselves stuck. Governor Narong Wunsiew says a dedicated bus…

  • Phuket NewsDomestic travel to Phuket all but banned starting August 2

    Domestic travel to Phuket all but banned starting August 2

    The Phuket government has found itself in a precarious predicament, caught between domestic and international tourism. While walking a tightrope between local and international, authorities have just announced what essentially amounts to a domestic lockout with new travel restrictions into Phuket going into effect on August 3. The Sandbox scheme is a critical step for international tourism to finally return…

  • Thailand NewsPhuket order says visitors must test negative for Covid before granted entry, with exceptions

    Phuket order says visitors must test negative for Covid before granted entry, with exceptions

    The Phuket Governor, Narong Woonciew, issued an order today that stipulated that “anyone” who wishes to enter Phuket from a “red”, or “dark red” zone must test negative for Covid before they are granted entry. The restriction applies to those who have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from being infected. The order is set to take effect July 15…

  • Tourism NewsTourism Minister threatens to cancel travel stimulus if only some operators benefit

    Tourism Minister threatens to cancel travel stimulus if only some operators benefit

    Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister says if all operators cannot benefit from a domestic travel stimulus scheme, it may be cancelled. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn says he will meet with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to ensure everyone in the sector can be helped by the scheme. According to the Bangkok Post, the government plans to launch the Tour Teaw Thai scheme…

  • World NewsGlobal travel demand driven by vaccine rollouts: Tripadvisor survey

    Global travel demand driven by vaccine rollouts: Tripadvisor survey

    Research into the latest travel trends shows that the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines is a big determining factor in how long tourists plan to stay and how much they will spend. A TTR Weekly report focuses on research carried out by Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel platform. Travellers across 6 large international markets were surveyed, to determine the impact of…

  • Best ofTop 10 Must Visit Destinations in Thailand

    Top 10 Must Visit Destinations in Thailand

    Who hasn’t longed for a getaway to escape the trials and tribulations of everyday life? We’ve all done some armchair travel, and for many of us, Thailand is the first place our wanderlust takes us. For the time being, fantasy trips will have to suffice. But if conditions allow for safe travel once again, we’ll be sure to visit one…

  • Chiang Mai NewsTourism officials slash Songkran travel expectations by half

    Tourism officials slash Songkran travel expectations by half

    The TAT, ever the optimists regarding anything tourism related, even domestic tourism, predict that the Bangkok clusters that have emerged in the week before the Songkran break could reduce traffic and spending by up to half. Today the CCSA is reporting 789 new infections and one additional death. 522 were local infections, mostly walk-ins to Bangkok hospitals, 259 were discovered through…

  • Covid-19 NewsAs Covid-19 spreads, more hotels in Phuket close

    As Covid-19 spreads, more hotels in Phuket close

    Phuket tourism and hospitality business are hit again by the current Covid-19 outbreak with more hotels closing down. Many hotels are starting to close again due to a significant number of bookings cancellations. Most of them can’t handle the costs to stay open and some are expected to permanently shut down. Bill Barnett from c9Hotelworks.com says that the latest outbreak is…

  • Tourism NewsHoliday season travel expected to drop by 5 million trips due to recent Covid-19 cases

    Holiday season travel expected to drop by 5 million trips due to recent Covid-19 cases

    Due to the recent cluster of Covid-19 infections in Samut Sakhon, hitting a record high in daily infections, tourism officials say the yearly tally for domestic trips is likely to fall by 5 million. With lockdown measures and international travel restrictions this year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand focused on local travel and set a goal of 100 million domestic…

  • Tourism NewsTourism authority calls for expansion of domestic travel stimulus scheme

    Tourism authority calls for expansion of domestic travel stimulus scheme

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand is calling on the government to improve the existing domestic travel stimulus programme, in the hope of boosting home-grown tourism. The current scheme provides Thai tourists with a 40% subsidy on hotel rates, up to a maximum of 3,000 baht a night, for 10 nights. It also subsidises air fares to a maximum of 2,000…

  • Tourism NewsGovernment pledges help for Phuket tourism industry

    Government pledges help for Phuket tourism industry

    As Phuket’s tourism industry continues to fight for survival amid ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, the PM is ordering an advisory team to finish work on recovery proposals received from the private sector and submit them to the government’s Covid-19 task force for approval. Danucha Pichayanan, from the National Economic and Social Development Council, says this is expected to happen shortly, as…

  • Transport NewsBangkok Airways offers unlimited flights through new membership program

    Bangkok Airways offers unlimited flights through new membership program

    Bangkok Airways is now offering unlimited domestic flights through a new membership program. The airline launched the new Elite Card for 100,000 baht, allowing unlimited travel throughout 2021. Those interested can apply for the card from now until November 30. Tickets for flights from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 can be booked starting on December 16. Air Asia…

  • Bangkok NewsGlobal economics report expects Bangkok to have the highest tourist drop

    Global economics report expects Bangkok to have the highest tourist drop

    International travel restrictions have crippled Thailand’s tourism industry so much that Bangkok might end up with the highest loss of tourists out of all the major cities in the world. A report from the global forecasting company Oxford Economics predicts Bangkok will lose about 14.5 million incoming foreign tourists by the end of the year. Cities across the world are…

  • Tourism NewsTravelling domestically in Thailand brings Covid-style hotel accommodations

    Travelling domestically in Thailand brings Covid-style hotel accommodations

    As Thailand remains closed to international tourists with travel bubbles being postponed indefinitely, the country has shifted to relying on domestic tourism to close some of the gaps in profit losses. As it heavily relies on tourism, which accounts for around 15% of its GDP, hotels are adapting to welcoming domestic tourists by offering Covid-conscious accommodations. But as the popular…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand eases up on social distancing requirements for domestic travel

    Thailand eases up on social distancing requirements for domestic travel

    The requirement for Thailand’s airlines to leave every second seat empty, as part of the conditions under which domestic services could resume, is being done away with. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand says carriers can now sell every seat on a flight (whether or not airlines manage to do so is another matter). However, the CAAT says airlines must…