Marco Crisciotti Thailand plans to give away 200,000 free domestic flights to foreign visitors between September and November 2025 to boost tourism and promote lesser-known regions.
Thailand is trying to breathe new life into its flagging tourism industry with a bold gamble. The government in Bangkok is weighing a plan to give away 200,000 domestic flights to foreign visitors arriving between September and November 2025. It would be an unprecedented move in Southeast Asia, designed both to reverse the slide in arrivals and to spotlight corners of the kingdom that rarely make it onto glossy travel brochures.
A $19 million plan
The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sorawong Thienthong, introduced the program under the name “Buy International, Free Thailand Domestic Flights.” To make it work, the government will need to inject 700 million baht ($19.5 million) into the scheme. That money will cover the cost of the domestic tickets, which will be offered free of charge to tourists.
The premise is simple enough. Anyone who books an international flight to Thailand will receive a free domestic round trip. The gift will be capped at about $97 (€90) and will include a baggage allowance of 44 pounds (20 kilos). Tourists can request the free flight at the moment they book their international ticket, whether through an airline or a travel agency.
Six airlines on board
So far, six carriers have pledged to participate: Thai Airways International, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, and Thai Vietjet. All of them are ready to collaborate on a campaign that could, quite literally, change the course of Thai tourism.
The stated goal is clear. Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai still attract the lion’s share of visitors, leaving much of the country overlooked. With the lure of free flights, the government hopes to nudge travelers toward lesser-known regions—places every bit as fascinating, though often ignored.
Answering a tourism slowdown
The context explains the urgency. In the first seven months of 2025, arrivals in Thailand dropped by 6% compared with the same period last year. For a sector that has long been a cornerstone of the Thai economy, the numbers are troubling. The new campaign is expected to pull in at least 200,000 extra visitors during the autumn low season, precisely when hotels and restaurants tend to feel the pinch most.
The idea isn’t without precedent. In 2020, Japan Airlines offered 50,000 free tickets to promote less-visited areas of the archipelago. Thailand, however, is aiming for something on a larger scale—an experiment that could either pay off handsomely or prove to be an expensive gamble.
The proposal is now awaiting final approval from the government. Should it pass, it may not only mark a turning point for Thai tourism but also present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those dreaming of discovering the Land of Smiles.
