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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Many expats feel worried that their pre-existing health problems will stop them from getting insurance in a new country. This fear is common, especially when medical care can be expensive. But the good news is, some insurance, like the plans...
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Thai govt urges electric incense use during Chinese New Year
Deputy Government Spokesperson Karom Phonphonklang yesterday shared a statement concerning the upcoming Chinese New Year Celebration, which is to be held from February 8 to 10. The focus of his statement was on the need to monitor the lighting of incense, candles, firecrackers, and the burning of paper money. Karom Phonphonklang expressed the Thai government’s concern over the potential health…
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Thai Tourist Police enhance Grand Palace facilities ahead of Chinese New Year
In a recent endeavour to uplift the image of Thailand’s tourism, the Thai Tourist Police and associated agencies carried out an intensive inspection at the iconic Grand Palace in Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, at 10am on February 7. The operation was part of an initiative to gear up for the arrival of tourists, especially considering the upcoming Chinese New Year. In…
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How the Apple Vision Pro will affect Thailand?
The much-loved tech legend Steve Jobs himself and the Apple team spent more than 16 years developing the Apple Vision Pro, unveiled on February 2, 2024, based on an iPod pattern concept. The device has gained recognition as Apple’s first foray into “Spatial Computing.” Despite its early success with many exceptional features that set Apple apart from opponents, the Apple…
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Flight fright: Air Canada-Thailand flight detours to Hong Kong as passenger falls ill
An Air Canada flight destined for Bangkok was forced to make an emergency diversion to Hong Kong after a passenger fell ill onboard. The Air Canada Boeing 787, which operates flights between Vancouver and Bangkok, declared an emergency on February 4, prompting its redirection to Hong Kong. Flight AC65, a routine scheduled service, is typically operated between Vancouver and Bangkok…
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Agoda reveals hotspots: Bangkok heats up rankings
Agoda unveiled the hottest must-visit destinations with the Big Mango, Bangkok sizzling in second place. Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam emerged as the unrivalled favourites, igniting a tourism frenzy in the first month alone. Moreover, Malaysia and South Korea are hot on their heels, rounding up the top five inbound markets. According to Agoda’s January 2024 booking rankings, Asian travel destinations have…
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Thailand’s iconic Maya Bay: From Hollywood glamour to environmental struggle
Maya Bay, nestled in Thailand’s Phang-Nga province, clinched third place in the world’s beaches, according to the Lonely Planet travel guide. Dubbed “a slip of a beach hidden by limestone cliffs,” Maya Bay skyrocketed to international fame when acclaimed director Danny Boyle handpicked it as the backdrop for his blockbuster hit The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Despite its cinematic allure,…
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Chiang Mai tourism booms as Chinese New Year approaches
The northern city of Chiang Mai in Thailand is experiencing a tourism bonanza as hotel bookings surge to a staggering 90%, with Chinese New Year reservations already topping 60%. Paisan Sukcharoen, president of the Northern Upper Region Hotel Association of Thailand affirms that Chiang Mai’s tourism scene is on an upward trajectory. The cool embrace of Chiang Mai’s weather further…
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World Songkran Festival to last from April 1 to 21
In an exciting announcement, government spokesman Chai Wacharonke yesterday revealed that plans were underway to organise World Songkran Festival activities nationwide. This decision comes hot on the heels of UNESCO’s recent recognition of the Songkran festival as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. “The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has formally acknowledged the significance of the Songkran…
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Thailand targets 35 million international tourists
The Tourism and Sports Ministry of Thailand is optimistic about its ability to attract 35 million international tourists this year. This confidence stems from the fact that in the first month of the year alone, the country recorded three million foreign visitors. The encouraging figure was aided by daily arrivals exceeding 90,000 on weekdays and 100,000 during the weekends in…
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Phuket lights up with lanterns for annual Chinese New Year festival
The popular seaside resort of Phuket has been brightly lit up with lanterns, signalling the start of the Phuket Lantern Festival. This annual event is an integral part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, with this year marking the Year of the Dragon. Saroj Angkhanapilas, the Mayor of Phuket Town, inaugurated the festival on a Saturday night at the Chartered…
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Labour costs outpace revenue growth in Thai tourism sector
Rising labour costs in the tourism sector are outpacing revenue growth, resulting in increased hotel expenses, as revealed by hospitality market analyst STR. Jesper Palmqvist, senior director for Asia-Pacific at STR, warned that the only risk for hotels this year is maintaining cost controls in light of the extraordinary growth of labour costs and room rates. Over the past one…
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Scottish woman’s cliff plunge in Thailand sparks insurance debacle: Scot left hanging
An insurance company left a Scottish woman hanging after they refused to pay out after she almost plunged 20 metres to her death off a cliff on Ko Lanta island in West Thailand. Glasgow-born NHS nurse Kerry Hughes almost fell to her death after renting a scooter on the West Thailand island. Despite the swift action of an emergency rescue…
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Bangkok’s Chinatown kicked off Chinese New Year celebrations
Thailand kicked off its grandest Chinese New Year celebration in the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown on Yaowarat Road. Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, joined forces with Wu Zhiwu from the Embassy of The People’s Republic of China to officially inaugurate the festivities. The Chalermphrakiat Gate, Odeon Circle, Yaowarat Road, now hosts the Tunnel of Golden Dragon, symbolising…
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Thai Cheese Tour unleashes culinary delight across Thailand
In a cheesy twist to the conventional travel experience, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) kick-started the Thai Cheese Tour 2023-2024 last November. This year-long gastronomic journey, sponsored by TAT, has been spreading the love for Thailand’s burgeoning artisanal cheese industry through an array of pop-up events in tourist hotspots, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and beyond. What began as…
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Thai hotels hit hard as property tax breaks end
Thai hotels are facing an uphill battle this year as the government pulls the plug on property tax reductions and energy prices soar, sending operating costs skyrocketing by 10%. Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, the President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), reveals the dire consequences for hotel owners who enjoyed a 90% tax discount in 2020-21, only to see it evaporate…
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Thai tourism makes big sales on livestream event for Chinese visitors
A livestreaming event on February 1, titled Super World Tour BOSS LIVE, orchestrated by Trip.com Group, headquartered in Shanghai, raked in a jaw-dropping 100 million baht in sales within a single day. Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol declared the event a resounding success. “It was successful. Sales surpassed 100 million baht in a day, with more than 20 million…
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Thailand to expect 1 million tourists from China and Hong Kong during CNY
Alipay+ reported a prediction from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) that nearly 1 million foreign tourists, primarily from China and Hong Kong, are poised to flood into Thailand during the upcoming Chinese New Year, unleashing a potential economic windfall of 28.4 billion baht. Trip.com shared the staggering numbers, highlighting the skyrocketing outbound travel bookings from China leading up to…
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TripAdvisor ranks Pattaya as 7th Best of the Best Destinations in 2024
Popular online travel platform Tripadvisor ranked Pattaya in Thailand 7th in the Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best Destination for 2024, suggesting the beach city is the perfect choice for great resorts, outdoor activities, cabaret and cultural tours. Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Award Best of the Best for 2024, is divided into five categories including destinations, restaurants, beaches, hotels and…
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Samui Airport sees remarkable surge in tourist arrivals in 2023
The year 2023 witnessed an outstanding surge in tourist arrivals at Samui Airport, in Thailand, with 2.2 million holidaymakers marking their footprints on the east coast island. The figure indicates a significant 66.65% increase compared to the previous year’s numbers. Located in the Surat Thani province, the Koh Samui district is home to Samui Airport. The district’s director, Jirawat Wutthiwatworakun,…
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Visa applications in Thailand surge, overtaking pre-Covid figures
Visa applications from Thailand have surged, surpassing 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Visa application volumes from Thailand, after a turbulent spell, are on the brink of eclipsing pre-pandemic levels, signalling a remarkable recovery in global travel confidence. A 35% increase in applications last year compared to 2022 promises a boost to international tourism. Key points: Visa applications rebounded with a 35% surge…
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TAT urges government to extend tourist visas
Thailand is seeking to revolutionise its tourism sector, urging the government to extend visa-free stays for long-haul tourists, including those from the United States and Europe. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to elevate long-haul revenue to a whopping 40% of the country’s total in 2024. Thailand’s Deputy Governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, Siripakorn…
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Free visa policy to boost Thai tourism stocks amid Chinese arrivals
An agreement for a free visa policy between Thailand and China is set to greatly boost seven Thai tourism-related stocks, as projected by brokerages. This policy, signed earlier this week, is anticipated to cause a significant uptick in Chinese arrivals in Thailand this year. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) set a target of attracting 8.2 million Chinese tourists in…
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Taiwanese tourism in Thailand set to hit one million mark
The Taiwanese tourism market in Thailand is projected to reach a milestone of one million visitors this year, provided that Thailand’s government prolongs its visa-free scheme until the end of the year. Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), stated that despite the delayed visa exemption approval for Taiwanese tourists in November last year, the total…
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Phuket Airport’s got trunks: Viral sensation as tourists make splash in speedos
A Facebook user sparked viral attention after sharing an image in the Thai Tourism group, Du Lịch Thái Lan, capturing the unusual sight of two foreign tourists clad in tiny speedo trunks at Phuket International Airport. The social media post, by Bui Thi Huong, which rapidly garnered over 500 likes, featured a caption in Vietnamese saying, “Heard that Phuket Airport…
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Thailand prime minister requests another giant panda from China
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently voiced his desire for China to send another giant panda to Thailand. This request follows the death of Lin Hui, a beloved panda who had been a significant attraction in the country. The prime minister’s request received support from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, highlighting the close diplomatic relations between the two nations that span…
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Visa-lah! Thailand and China ink deal to waive visas, turbocharging tourism
After much anticipation and months of talks, Thailand and China yesterday officially sealed the deal on a reciprocal visa-waiver agreement, aimed at ramping up tourism between the two nations when it kicks into gear come March. Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, solidified the pact at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok. Dubbed the Agreement…
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China’s Lunar New Year tourism surge unlikely to reach pre-pandemic levels
Anticipations are high for an increased number of Chinese tourists venturing abroad during the forthcoming Lunar New Year. However, industry analysts predict the numbers will not reach the pre-pandemic levels due to the prevailing uncertain economic situation and evolving consumer trends. A significant surge in passenger traffic during the 40-day festive travel period, known as Chun Yun, is suggested by…
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Thailand tops ASEAN for international tourist arrivals
Thailand emerges as the top destination for international tourists in the ASEAN region, as revealed by Sudawan Wangsuphakitgosol, the Minister of Tourism and Sports, during the 27th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2024) in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The forum’s theme, Quality and Responsible Tourism – Sustaining ASEAN Future, reflected a collective intent among ASEAN tourism ministers to restore and…
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Bangkok version of Monopoly helps to boost tourism
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) teamed up with Winning Moves, one of the top board game publishers, to introduce the Bangkok edition of the popular economics-themed game, Monopoly. This Thai twist on the classic Monopoly game boasts 22 dazzling properties, each a stunning showcase of Bangkok’s iconic landmarks and attractions. From the majestic Grand Palace to the serene Wat Pho,…
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Chinese foreign minister begins four-day visit to Thailand
Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will sign a Thailand-China visa exemption agreement during his much-anticipated four-day official visit to Thailand. Wang Yi and his Thai counterpart, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, are prepared to co-sign the Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption. This deal will reshape the travel landscape for ordinary passport holders and passport-wielding public figures starting March 1. Starting…
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