The Tourism and Sports Ministry of Thailand has planned to launch a new exciting program to promote tourism in the country by giving away 200,000 free domestic flight tickets to foreigners between September and November 2025.
The campaign, titled, Buy International, Free Thailand Domestic Flights, will focus on getting travelers to visit destinations outside of the most popular destinations in the country, such as Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, to explore new areas.
This program is modeled after a successful program in Japan and aims to spread the tourism revenue more equitably, ease the overpopulation in the big cities, and display the cultural and natural diversity of Thailand.
This is a breakdown of how the program works, who qualifies and how it can impact travelers as well as expert opinions on how travelers can maximize this opportunity.
The Free Domestic Flights Program: How it Works
The Buy International, Free Thailand Domestic Flights campaign is simple: purchase an international flight to Thailand and you will receive a free round-trip domestic flight. The Thai government has set aside a budget of 700 million baht (approximately USD 21.5 million) to subsidize these tickets, to cover 200,000 round-trip flights at 3,500 baht (about USD 107) each, or 1,750 baht (about USD 54) one-way.
The tickets also come with a 20 kg baggage allowance that makes it convenient to the tourist to visit different destinations. The program is awaiting the approval of the cabinet, and is proposed to be implemented between August to December 2025, and travel between September and November 2025, when Thailand experiences its high tourist season.
Key Details
- Eligibility: Non-Thai citizens who book standard international airfare travel to Thailand during the promotional period (exact dates to be confirmed).
- Booking Process: Free domestic tickets are available during the process of booking international flights with participating airlines or online travel agents (OTAs). Once in Thailand, the eligible travelers will be given a voucher to be used in a domestic flight to any of the participating destinations.
- Participating Airlines: There are six large Thai airlines that are involved: Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, and Thai Vietjet.
- Destinations: The campaign focuses on secondary destinations, such as UNESCO-listed Ayutthaya, cultural Chiang Rai, and scenic Krabi and Surat Thani.
Who May Benefit?
This initiative is aimed at foreign tourists who have not yet made their international flights to Thailand, and it aims at making the travel plans spontaneous. Travelers are required to:
- Be non-Thais.
- Buy international tickets with participating airlines or OTA.
- Do not make advance bookings of domestic flights because the offer is only available to those who have not booked their domestic flights.
This exclusivity is meant to attract new customers and encourage them to explore the less popular parts of Thailand, including quiet river towns, remote islands or culturally rich cities in the northeast. As an illustration, one can go to see the White Temple in Chiang Rai, the limestone cliffs in Krabi or Surat Thani as a gateway to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
Why is Thailand Doing This?
Tourism is a pillar of the Thai economy, which makes it the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia in terms of 2024 GDP. Nevertheless, when compared to the year before, the number of international visitors who arrived in the country as of August 17, 2025, reached 20.8 million, which represents a 7 percent decline, the government is eager to increase the number of visitors and revenue.
The campaign will yield 8.8 billion baht (approximately USD 270 million) in tourism revenue with a total estimated economic impact of 21.8 billion baht. The initiative will help to promote the secondary destinations and achieve the following goals:
- Minimize Overcrowding: Relieve the load on the most popular destinations such as Bangkok and Phuket, which can become overcrowded during peak periods.
- Stimulate Local Economies: Direct income to under-visited areas, benefiting local enterprises including hotels restaurants and tour operators.
- Facilitate Sustainability: Support a more sustainable form of tourism in line with the Thailand 2025 campaign of the “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year” that integrates tourism into cultural and sporting events.
This strategy is similar to the one that has succeeded in Japan where the country offered free domestic flights to international tourists in an effort to encourage regional tourism and alleviate congestion in the cities.
Experience and Expertise and Possible Problems
Though the initiative has created buzz, local tourism experts and stakeholders are divided on how effective it would prove and how it would be implemented:
Opportunities
- Economic Impact: The estimated 8.8 billion baht of revenue indicates the potential of the campaign to boost local economies, especially in secondary destinations. As an example, provinces such as Ayutthaya and Chiang Rai can expect to have more visitors spending on hotels restaurants and culture tours.
- Cultural Exposure: The program exposes the tourists to the rich culture of Thailand, such as ancient ruins, and lively local markets.
- Convenience of Travel: The 20 kg baggage allowance and collaboration with six major airlines make it convenient to travel to various regions and explore them.
Challenges
- Timing Issues: Certain observers, such as Punlop Saejew, vice president of the Chiang Mai tourism board, have stated that the timing of the campaign (high season, September to November) will likely limit the effectiveness of the campaign, since popular destinations are already crowded. A low-season launch would help to bring more visitors to smaller cities during the period when tourism is not in full swing.
- Regional Disparities: Rungroj Santadvanit who is the president of the lower northeastern chapter of Thai Hotels Association points out that provinces in northeast such as Buri Ram and Ubon Ratchathani may not get as much benefit since they are not popular with foreign tourists. The region can be promoted in a tailored manner like marketing Buri Ram as a sports tourism destination or Ubon Ratchathani as a destination with Mekong River attractions.
- Safety Communication: In the context of the current Thailand-Cambodia border tensions, communication of the safe travel areas is essential to ensure the tourists feel safe and the campaign is still appealing.
- Accessibility: Domestic air fare prices are also a hindrance to some people. Experts recommend wider subsidies or other incentives to go along with the free flights.
Recommendations on how to maximize impact
In order to make the campaign successful, the following recommendations have been made:
- Targeted Marketing: Market certain attractions based on regional strength like sports events in Buri Ram, nature tourism in the north of Thailand to Australian and New Zealand tourists or beach destinations in the south to Scandinavian tourists.
- Infrastructure Improvements: The Thai government is already working on the upgrading of roads, rail and ferry systems, modernization of airport terminals and bus stations to accommodate more tourists in secondary locations.
- Safety Assurance: Inform people about safe travel areas in real-time through official sources such as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) site or airline partners to alleviate fears of border tensions.
- Complementary Promotions: Combine the free flights with discounts on accommodations or tours in secondary destinations to make the whole travel experience.
Tips to Travelers
Here is how you can take advantage of the free domestic flights offer in Thailand in late 2025:
- Book Early: Book your international flight as soon as the promotional period is announced to make sure that you are eligible and have the domestic flights available.
- Research Secondary Destinations: It is possible to visit such places as:
- Ayutthaya: Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites and ancient ruins.
- Chiang Rai: See the White Temple and the Golden Triangle.
- Krabi: See beautiful beaches and island hopping to Phi Phi or Railay.
- Surat Thani: It serves as a gateway to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao.
- Visa Requirements: Nationals of 93 countries, including India, have a visa-free entry to Thailand, and it becomes easier to plan a trip. Before departure, always check the visa requirements and Thailand Pass requirements.
- Keep Up-to-date: Be sure to check the Tourism Authority of Thailand or the airlines involved in the campaign to get the exact dates of the campaign and the procedures to follow when making bookings.
- Pack Smart: Make use of the 20 kg baggage allowance to carry necessities to explore various destinations, including beachwear to Krabi and comfortable footwear to explore the ruins of Ayutthaya.
Wider Context: The Thailand Tourism Scenario
In 2025 as of August 17, Thailand received 20.8 million international tourists with China topping as the largest market (2.9 million visitors). Nonetheless, the 7% drop in comparison to the previous year shows that such innovative campaigns are necessary.
The Buy International, Free Thailand Domestic Flights initiative is part of the country-wide 2025 Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year strategy to incorporate tourism with cultural and sports activities. Moreover, such initiatives as the “Half-Price Thailand Travel” have already achieved its success, with the major tourist cities already reaching booking capacity and 54,075 spots left in secondary cities as of August 2025.
The campaign also capitalises on Thailand making strides in improving accessibility, including visa-free travel to 93 countries and the redesign of the Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa, making it a popular destination among travellers in key markets, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, India, and Japan.
Final Thoughts
Free domestic flights campaign in Thailand is a daring step to revive the tourism and to demonstrate the country as a land of secrets. The campaign will not only provide people with the opportunity to travel to Thailand at a lower price but also to explore the country more thoroughly as the country has diverse landscapes that include countryside towns and cultural centers.
Although there are some issues related to timing and regional differences, its effect could be enhanced through strategic marketing and infrastructure developments. This is an exclusive chance to visit some of the less famous destinations in Thailand without having to take internal flights.
Be on the lookout of official announcements by the Tourism Authority of Thailand or the airlines involved to take advantage of this offer and design an unforgettable trip in late 2025.