Thailand is planning to offer free domestic flights to foreign tourists who purchase international tickets to the country at regular prices. The program is being revived by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in response to mounting pressure on the tourism sector caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool stated that the proposal will be resubmitted to the new government. The initiative had previously been proposed to the former administration but has yet to be realized and remains under further review.
“This program is expected to encourage tourists to travel to more destinations within the country,” she said, as quoted by VnExpress on Tuesday (March 18).
The urgency is clear. Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism estimates that the country could lose around 596,000 tourists and up to 40.9 billion baht (approximately US$1.29 billion) in revenue if the conflict continues for more than eight weeks.
Thailand recorded 6.5 million foreign tourist arrivals in the first two months of 2026, marking a 4.2 percent decline compared to the same period last year.
Airlines Call for Tax Cuts, Songkran Flights Discounted 30%
In the aviation sector, pressure is mounting due to rising operational costs driven by fluctuations in global oil prices. Airlines under the Airlines Association of Thailand (AAT) are urging the government to consider a temporary reduction in excise tax on jet fuel for domestic flights to keep ticket prices affordable.
AAT President Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth emphasized that such measures are crucial to maintaining Thailand’s competitiveness.
“Appropriate support measures at a time when the aviation industry is facing volatility due to external factors will help strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness and support long-term economic growth,” he said, as quoted by The Nation on Friday (March 20).
In the short term, AAT member airlines, including Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, and VietJet Thailand, have agreed to add special flights and cut ticket prices by up to 30 percent in anticipation of the Songkran Festival 2026.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is monitoring ticket prices and airline capacity, particularly for domestic travel, during the holiday period from 10 to 15 April 2026.
Shifting Focus to Asia, China Becomes Key Market
Amid a decline in long-haul tourists from Europe and the United States, reported by The Nation to have dropped by as much as 30 percent, Thailand is now shifting its focus toward short-haul markets. TAT is expanding its targets to include China, South Korea, Japan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Adith Chairattananon, Secretary-General of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), noted that the Chinese market remains the industry’s biggest hope. A two-way promotional strategy between Thailand and China has proven effective, reflected in the increase of Thai passengers on Thailand–China routes to 30–40 percent, up from just 10 percent before the Covid-19 pandemic.
TAT will also utilize the remaining budget from the “Thailand Summer Blast” program to support airlines in opening additional routes to major cities and secondary destinations, with the application deadline for support extended until July 2026.
Thailand is targeting 36.7 million tourist arrivals in 2026, although ongoing global geopolitical uncertainties are making that goal increasingly challenging to achieve.
