Thai Airways is among suggest airlines in the proposal for the free domestic flight initiative
Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has proposed offering 200,000 free domestic flight tickets to foreign tourists in an effort to boost travel across the country. The initiative, titled “Buy International, Free Thailand Domestic Flights”, is awaiting cabinet approval and would run from September to November.
The scheme would allow international travellers booking flights to Thailand to claim a free round-trip domestic ticket, including luggage, on six participating airlines: Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet. The government has requested 700 million baht from the central budget to fund the campaign, which is expected to generate about 8.8 billion baht in tourism revenue.
Tourism officials hope the plan will encourage visitors to explore less-travelled destinations beyond Bangkok and the main tourist hubs. Industry representatives, however, have suggested the campaign could be more effective if paired with efforts to lower domestic airfare and region-specific marketing.
As of mid-August, Thailand has recorded 20.8 million international arrivals this year, a 7% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. China remains the top source market, with 2.9 million visitors.
