Thailand plans free domestic flights to woo overseas visitors

Thailand’s tourism minister plans to offer free domestic flight tickets to 200,000 foreign visitors to boost tourism over a three-month period, say reports.

The ministry expects the offer will generate 8.8 billion baht (about £200 million) in revenue from a budget of 700 million baht (£16 million) but it still needs cabinet approval, according to a report in The Nation Thailand.

Tourism and sports minister Sorawong Thienthong said the ‘Buy International, Free Thailand Domestic Flights’ campaign aims to encourage foreign tourists to visit secondary destinations.

The ministry will submit a proposal to the cabinet next week for the allocation of the budget to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

The TAT will work with six Thai airlines – Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Airways International, Thai Lion Air and Thai VietJet – on joint promotional activities to boost Thailand’s tourism industry as a key driver of economic growth.

Foreigners would be able to claim one round-trip domestic flight ticket for free when booking international flights directly with the airlines or online travel agents, said the reports.

The programme is scheduled to run from September to November, with a government subsidy of 1,750 baht (about £40) per one-way ticket, or 3,500 baht (about £80) for a round-trip ticket, for each tourist.

As of August 17, 20.8 million foreign tourists have visited Thailand so far this year, a fall of 7% year-on-year, added the reports.