Dreaming of exploring Thailand beyond the usual hotspots? Get ready for an incredible journey! Thailand is now offering international visitors FREE domestic flights to discover its hidden gems and support sustainable tourism. Imagine ancient ruins, serene beaches, and vibrant local cultures awaiting you. Where would you fly first?
Thailand is spearheading an innovative tourism campaign designed to reshape the travel landscape, offering international visitors free domestic flights to encourage the exploration of its lesser-known “hidden gems Thailand” and foster “sustainable travel” practices.
This strategic initiative, running from September to November 2025, aims to attract a projected 16.8 million international visitors in 2025 by incentivizing direct bookings with a consortium of major airlines, including Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, and AirAsia. The core objective is to decentralize tourism, moving beyond overcrowded hotspots.
The “Thailand tourism” ministry recognizes the environmental and social strains placed on popular cities like Bangkok and Phuket. By providing “free domestic flights,” the government seeks to alleviate this pressure, redirecting tourist flow towards tranquil secondary destinations and culturally rich UNESCO World Heritage sites, promoting “eco-tourism Thailand.”
This distribution strategy not only enhances the visitor experience by offering diverse cultural and natural attractions but also injects vital economic stimulus into rural and less developed regions. Local businesses in these areas stand to gain significantly from increased tourist traffic and revenue.
International tourists who book their flights directly with one of the six participating carriers – Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, or VietJet Thailand – will receive a voucher for one complimentary domestic flight. This simplifies the process, allowing flexibility for travelers to plan their internal journeys after arrival.
The campaign highlights destinations like Ayutthaya, renowned for its ancient ruins, and Krabi, celebrated for its serene natural beauty. These locations provide an authentic Thai experience, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in local customs and landscapes without the typical tourist throngs.
Ultimately, this forward-thinking program solidifies Thailand’s commitment to becoming a leader in “sustainable tourism.” It serves as a blueprint for responsible travel, demonstrating how government incentives can effectively balance economic growth with environmental preservation and cultural respect, potentially inspiring similar global “tourism incentives.”
Beyond environmental considerations, the initiative is expected to bolster Thailand’s domestic aviation sector, increasing demand for intra-country flights and strengthening local airlines. This aligns with broader efforts to revitalize the post-pandemic tourism sector and ensure a more equitable distribution of its benefits across the nation.
