Thailand gives away 200,000 free air tickets to foreign tourists

The campaign, themed "Buy international air tickets, get free domestic air tickets in Thailand," will encourage foreign tourists to visit secondary destinations, said Thai Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong.

Foreigners holding international flight tickets will be able to receive a free round-trip domestic flight ticket with 20 kg of checked baggage on six Thai airlines - Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet , the minister said.

The free tickets will be offered when travelers book international flights directly with airlines or online travel agents. "This is a campaign specifically for foreign travelers who have not yet booked tickets," Mr. Sorawong said.

PHOTO: Somchai Poomlard

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is expected to submit the program to the cabinet for approval next week, with the central government providing 700 million baht in support and expected to generate 8.8 billion baht in revenue.

The program is scheduled to run from September to November this year, with a government subsidy of 1,750 baht per one-way ticket, or 3,500 baht per round-trip ticket, per visitor.

In addition to free flights, experts say governments should plan marketing strategies and activities tailored to each location’s target market. They should also ensure tourism safety and clearly communicate which areas are safe to visit… to attract tourists.

As of August 17, 20.8 million foreign tourists had visited Thailand this year, down 7% from the same period last year. The largest market was China, with 2.9 million visitors, but down more than 30%.