Thailand has long been a magnet for Australian travellers. From pristine islands and floating markets to sizzling street food and glittering temples, we just can’t get enough of the ‘Land of Smiles’. In the past 12 months alone, it ranked as Australia’s sixth-most popular overseas destination, welcoming more than 643,530 Aussie visitors. But it seems the rest of the world hasn’t been paying the Southeast Asian country quite as much attention. International arrivals to Thailand dropped seven per cent over the past year, leaving many local businesses missing out on the tourist dollars they usually rely on.
To turn things around, the Thai government hopes to launch a new campaign directed at tourists – and while it might disappoint some locals, it’s great news for foreign travellers. As part of the proposed ‘Buy International, Free Thailand Domestic Flights’ campaign, the Tourism and Sports Ministry plans to give away 200,000 free domestic flight tickets to overseas visitors. Yep, Aussie travellers included!
So, how can you score free flights? From September to November, tourists who book a ticket to Thailand could score a free round-trip domestic flight, complete with 20 kilograms of baggage. The golden tickets will be distributed via online travel agents and international airlines, including Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet. As always, there’s a catch – if you’ve already bought a flight to Thailand, you can’t cash in on this deal. It’s exclusively for those who haven’t flights booked yet.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry expects the free-flight campaign to generate THB 8.8 billion (AUD $419.5 million) for the local economy, with subsidies of THB 1,750 (AUD $84) per one-way ticket or THB 3,500 (AUD $167) for a return trip. And while Thailand has no shortage of breathtaking islands and buzzing capital cities, the campaign’s real goal is to nudge travellers beyond the usual hotspots of Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket — and into the country’s lesser-known gems.
The campaign is still awaiting cabinet approval, but we’re crossing our fingers and will keep you updated if it gets the green light.