Thailand’s free domestic flights plan for tourists is part of a wider emergency effort to lift foreign arrivals, spread spending beyond major hubs and support off-season travel.
Thailand is preparing a tourism rescue package after foreign arrivals fell by more than 7% since the start of the year. The government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) are now examining a plan built around vouchers, regional travel and free domestic flights for international visitors.
Why the plan matters
The latest outlook has already been cut from 37 million foreign tourists at the end of 2025 to about 33 million. That drop is putting pressure on hotels, restaurants and businesses that depend on visitor spending. Officials want to respond quickly while also spreading the benefits of tourism more evenly across the country.
Vouchers beyond the main hubs
One part of the proposal would give foreign guests special tourism vouchers. These could be used in hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions across Thailand. The goal is to encourage travellers to look beyond Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya and explore places such as historic Ayutthaya and the mountain regions of northern Thailand.
That shift could also help smaller businesses and local communities that have felt the slowdown most sharply. For travellers, it may mean more incentives to stay longer and spend in more destinations, rather than concentrating a short break in just one or two major cities.
How the free domestic flights scheme could work
The headline idea is a program offering as many as 200,000 free domestic tickets. Under the early model, buying an international ticket would give a traveller the right to one free internal flight within Thailand.
That could make it easier to combine major gateways with secondary destinations such as Krabi, Chiang Mai and Isan without adding another transport bill. The policy is also designed to push the average length of stay beyond the current level of seven days.
Off-season travel and business demand
Thailand also plans to promote travel more aggressively from May to October, the off-season. During those months, accommodation and services are usually cheaper and many sights are less crowded.
The campaign is expected to include offers for both leisure travellers and the business events market. Officials want to attract conferences, trade fairs and international events so that visitor flows remain steadier through the year.
What is decided now
For now, these measures are still under analysis and planning. The budget and the exact rules for vouchers and free domestic flights still need government approval.
Thailand’s tourism sector is watching closely. In 2024, tourism generated more than $42.7 billion in revenue and supported hundreds of thousands of jobs, so the outcome of this proposal could shape the sector’s direction in 2025.
