Year-end tourism campaigns expected to generate B630m

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects three flagship year-end campaigns to generate 630 million baht in domestic tourism revenue, contributing to a projected 206 million domestic trips worth 1.1 trillion baht for the year.

The agency had invested more than 100 million baht in the three projects to encourage Thais to travel during the year-end, Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, TAT deputy governor for domestic marketing, said.

The projects include stimulus schemes for domestic air travel, domestic tour packages and events targeting solo travellers.

The first programme offers a 500-baht discount per one-way domestic flight booking via seven Thai airlines, for a total of 99,000 bookings. Travellers can book from now until mid-December for flights until mid-January.

This programme eases high airfares as jet fuel prices skyrocket as a result of the Middle east war, Ms Pattaraanong said.

Under the second programme,. The TAT is partnering with nine travel associations to subsidise travel packages at a rate of 10,000 baht per day for a tour busy carrying at least 30 passengers, with a ceiling of 40,000 baht per trip. 

In addition, the agency is offering 2,500 baht per day for vans with at least six passengers, with a ceiling of 10,000 baht per trip.

Eligible trip packages must last at least two days and one night and include an itinerary covering more than one province, said Ms Pattaraanong.

More than 500 tour companies have already applied to join this programme, in which they create and sell travel packages for Thai tourists. The TAT expects to award roughly 50,000 travellers with this programme, she said.

The final scheme is called Single Journey 2026, and offers eight experiences for solo travellers, including an outdoor silent cinema in Chon Buri, eco-trail tourism in Chiang Mai and a train trip on the SRT Royal Blossom.

These three programmes are expected to generate more than 200,000 domestic trips and 630 million baht in revenue, the TAT noted.