If Thailand wasn’t on your travel list for this autumn, then you’ll want to amend that pronto.
It’s not just because the country is a bucket list destination home to countless majestic temples, beaches so beautiful you’ll shed a tear and a couple of the world’s best cities. It’s also because thousands of travellers could be given flights for free.
Yes, you read that right. To boost visitor numbers during the low season, Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry has proposed giving away domestic plane tickets to 200,000 international travellers flying into the country between September and November.
To qualify, you’ll need an international flight ticket – arrivals by boat or bus don’t count – and in return, the government will cover one-way domestic flights up to 1,750 baht (£40) and round-trips up to 3,500 baht (£80).
It’s hoped the campaign, called ‘Buy International, Free Thailand Domestic Flights’, will encourage travellers to explore beyond Thailand’s tourist hotspots, including cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, to under-the-radar gems.
Six airlines are on board: Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, and Thai Vietjet. And each free ticket even comes with 20kg of baggage, so you can pack all the souvenirs you like.
But there are a few catches. The scheme still needs the cabinet’s final approval (although it is expected soon), and you won’t be able to claim a free domestic ticket if your international flight to Thailand is already booked – so hold off for now. On top of that, locals aren’t eligible, which has drawn some criticism.
Still, if the campaign gets the go-ahead, there’s never been a better excuse to book that Thailand trip. Free flights mean more money (and time) to soak up everything else this incredible country has to offer.
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