Thailand launches domestic tourism subsidies and reports travel trends

The Thai government, through the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and nine industry partners, has launched the ‘Amazing Thailand: Travel Thailand with Tours’ project. Running from October 15, 2026, to January 31, 2027, the initiative provides subsidies for organized group tours to stimulate regional economies and encourage travel across provincial borders.

Subsidies for chartered buses are capped at 10,000 Baht per day, with a maximum of 40,000 Baht per trip, provided there are at least 30 passengers. For vans, the subsidy is 2,500 Baht per day, capped at 10,000 Baht per trip, with a minimum of six passengers. To qualify, trips must include at least one overnight stay in a different province and feature specific highlight activities such as cultural, religious, or adventure-based programs.

In related travel data, a Bangkok Bank survey indicates that 13.06 million Thais traveled abroad in the past year, a 11.4% increase from the previous year. Top destinations included China, Malaysia, Laos, and Japan. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported that while foreign arrivals to Thailand reached over 24 million through mid-October 2026, this represents a 4.12% decrease compared to the same period last year.