Tourism News

Thailand tourism news, travel updates, visa policies, and destination highlights—stay informed on hospitality trends, cultural experiences, and major infrastructure projects. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for Thailand travel news.

  • Tourist in Koh Samui removes ice from drink, fears its ‘unsafe to consume’ | Thaiger

    Tourist in Koh Samui removes ice from drink, fears its ‘unsafe to consume’

    A foreign tourist’s attempt to avoid ice in her drink on Koh Samui has stirred strong reactions online, after she posted a video showing herself removing ice cubes from a glass with her bare hand at a local restaurant. The video, posted on TikTok by user @2brunesenasie, shows a woman reaching into her drink, scooping out the ice and discarding…

  • Thai taxi driver wins hearts after sharing desserts with Australian tourists | Thaiger

    Thai taxi driver wins hearts after sharing desserts with Australian tourists

    An Australian couple shared a video of a friendly service from a Thai taxi driver, who warmly welcomed them despite a language barrier and treated them to traditional Thai desserts during their journey. The video was shared on January 9 via the couple’s TikTok account, TikTok user @whatamidoing.retired. In the caption, the couple wrote… “We met the kindest taxi driver,…

  • Thailand’s Disneyland bid gains embassy support in US | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Disneyland bid gains embassy support in US

    Thailand’s bid to host the first Disneyland in Southeast Asia has received a boost following support from the Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C., according to Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. Today, February 3, Phiphat, who also oversees the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), said the embassy’s recent communication shows the Disneyland Thailand concept is no longer just a…

  • AOT to raise passenger service charge for international flights from May | Thaiger

    AOT to raise passenger service charge for international flights from May

    Airports of Thailand (AOT) confirmed plans to increase the passenger service charge (PSC) for international departures in May this year. While the increase will largely affect foreign travellers, AOT insisted that it will not reduce the number of international visitors to Thailand. The chief executive officer of AOT, Paweena Jariyathitipong, told local media that the PSC for passengers departing on international…

  • Thailand reforms business, visa, and social laws to attract global expats | Thaiger

    Thailand reforms business, visa, and social laws to attract global expats

    Thailand is undertaking its most comprehensive expatriate policy overhaul in decades, introducing reforms across business law, visa regulations, property ownership, and civil rights that collectively aim to position the country as Southeast Asia’s premier destination for foreign residents and investors. Announced progressively throughout 2024 and early 2025, these reforms respond to regional competition for foreign talent and investment, particularly as…

  • Foreign influencer under fire after insulting police in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Foreign influencer under fire after insulting police in Pattaya

    Videos showing a foreign influencer insulting police and mocking locals during a recent trip to Pattaya have triggered backlash on social media. Netizens say the clips highlight growing frustration with disrespectful behaviour among some foreign tourists. Clips shared on Reddit’s r/ThailandTourism forum on January 27 appear to show the man, identified by users as Danish-Arab influencer Ahmarnioff, engaging in behaviour that…

  • Thailand tourism at a tipping point as regional rivals surge, TTF 2026 warns | Thaiger

    Thailand tourism at a tipping point as regional rivals surge, TTF 2026 warns

    Thailand’s tourism industry is approaching a decisive moment. As travel patterns evolve and regional competitors accelerate investment, the kingdom faces mounting pressure to adapt or risk losing its long-held leadership position in Asia-Pacific tourism. For decades, Thailand has been one of the world’s most successful tourism destinations. Today, however, competition is intensifying. While Thailand’s international arrivals declined 7.2% in 2025,…

  • Thai travellers targeted in rising visa scam wave, VFS warns | Thaiger

    Thai travellers targeted in rising visa scam wave, VFS warns

    As outbound travel from Thailand continues to climb, travellers are constantly reminded to watch out for visa-related scams, with increasing reports of fraudulent appointment letters and illegal charges for priority processing. VFS Global, the official visa outsourcing partner for 26 governments in Thailand, issued the warning this week as more Thai travellers prepare for their travels abroad. According to Simon…

  • Phuket Airport sees flight and passenger surge in 2025 recovery | Thaiger

    Phuket Airport sees flight and passenger surge in 2025 recovery

    Phuket International Airport recorded strong growth in both flight movements and passenger numbers in 2025, reflecting a continued recovery in the aviation and tourism sectors and renewed traveller confidence, according to airport director Monchai Tanod. Performance over the past year exceeded 2024 levels and approached figures seen in 2019, the airport’s peak year before the Covid-19 pandemic. The results underline…

  • Bangkok ranked 3rd best city to visit by New York Times | Thaiger

    Bangkok ranked 3rd best city to visit by New York Times

    Bangkok was named the third best city to visit in the world today, January 16, in The New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2026 list, praised for its green spaces, vibrant art scene, and recent innovations in public transport. According to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesperson Aekvarunyoo Amrapala, the city is proud to see its urban development and…

  • Phuket unveils ‘Dheveena’ sea goddess sculpture as new landmark | Thaiger

    Phuket unveils ‘Dheveena’ sea goddess sculpture as new landmark

    Phuket unveiled a new landmark, “Dheveena,” a large-scale public sculpture installed along the seafront at Saphan Hin Park in the Wichit sub-district, as part of the Thailand Biennale 2025. The fourth edition of the Thailand Biennale returned to Phuket on November 29 last year and will run for five months until April 30 this year. Under the theme “Eternal Kalpa,”…

  • Filipina tourist apologises after viral rant about English in Thailand | Thaiger

    Filipina tourist apologises after viral rant about English in Thailand

      The Filipina tourist, Ann Berdin, who sparked online backlash for complaining that English is useless in Thailand, has responded in a video posted today, January 13, clarifying that she meant no harm and was simply sharing her experience. In the now-deleted viral clip, the tourist had vented her frustration, saying no one in Thailand seemed to understand English, including…

  • Russian man arrested in Phuket for illegally working as tour guide | Thaiger

    Russian man arrested in Phuket for illegally working as tour guide

    Thai police arrested a Russian man illegally working as a tour guide at a pier in Phuket yesterday, January 7, just moments before escorting tourists on an Andaman Sea excursion. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) said officers from the Phuket Marine Police arrested 33 year old Lapa at a pier in Phuket province and charged him with working without a…

  • Tomorrowland heads to Thailand as first full-scale Asian festival | Thaiger

    Tomorrowland heads to Thailand as first full-scale Asian festival

      For the first time, Thailand is set to host Tomorrowland from December 11 to 13, 2026, at Wisdom Valley, Pattaya, Chonburi. Organised in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the three-day event marks Tomorrowland’s debut as a full-scale Asian festival. Tomorrowland Thailand will feature six stages, including the Mainstage, CORE, and FREEDOM, along with new designs created specifically for…

  • South Korean embassy clarifies Thai civil servant’s denied entry | Thaiger

    South Korean embassy clarifies Thai civil servant’s denied entry

    The South Korean embassy in Bangkok responded to online criticism yesterday, December 6, after a 37 year old Thai civil servant was denied entry at Incheon International Airport, urging the public not to spread misinformation that could harm diplomatic ties. The woman shared her experience in a Facebook group for independent travellers to Korea, saying she was refused entry without…

  • Bangkok unveils model for first pedestrian bridge across Chao Phraya River | Thaiger

    Bangkok unveils model for first pedestrian bridge across Chao Phraya River

    Bangkok revealed plans for a new landmark, the city’s first pedestrian bridge across the Chao Phraya River, aimed at improving connectivity between both sides of the river and creating a new check-in spot for tourists. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) recently unveiled a model of the proposed bridge to the public. The design features a modern structure formed from an intricate lattice…

  • Thailand’s national parks see 1.5M visitors during New Year break | Thaiger

    Thailand’s national parks see 1.5M visitors during New Year break

    Thailand welcomed over 1.5 million visitors to its national parks and nature sites during the New Year holidays, as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) promoted sustainable tourism and waste reduction campaigns. The ministry reported that between 31 December 2024 and 4 January 2025, parks and natural attractions under its supervision saw a rise in both local and…

  • Wat Arun photographers warned for exploiting public space for personal gain | Thaiger

    Wat Arun photographers warned for exploiting public space for personal gain

    Thai Tourist Police moved to regulate the activities of local photographers at Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan in Bangkok following complaints that some photographers were exploiting the popular tourist attraction and public space for personal gain. The issue gained widespread attention after Krisda “Pond” Witthayakhajorndet, founder of the entertainment company Be On Cloud, shared his experience on X on January 2.…

  • Malaysian woman shares eerie hotel experience in Thailand | Thaiger

    Malaysian woman shares eerie hotel experience in Thailand

    A Malaysian woman recently took to Facebook to share a chilling experience during her 10-day stay at a popular hotel in Thailand, where she claimed to have encountered strange and unexplained events nearly every night. She said the first sign of trouble came right after check-in, when the bathroom light began flickering nonstop. Although the light was fixed, more unexplained…

  • Passenger fee hike set for Thailand’s international flights from Feb 2026 | Thaiger

    Passenger fee hike set for Thailand’s international flights from Feb 2026

    Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) will raise the passenger service fee for all inbound and outbound flights to 25 baht per person, effective February 1, 2026. The increase from the current 15 baht is aimed at stabilising the agency’s finances, which have been running at a deficit for years. Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director-General of CAAT, said the fee…

  • Phuket Tourist Checkpoint Police Evasion Explained | Thaiger

    Phuket Tourist Checkpoint Police Evasion Explained

    Widespread public criticism has erupted across Thailand after a video surfaced showing foreign tourists speeding through a police checkpoint in Phuket, ignoring officers’ instructions and fleeing the scene without stopping for inspection. The incident has reignited concerns over road safety, uneven law enforcement, and the conduct of some visitors in major tourist destinations. The incident occurred on the night of…

  • Will Thailand’s 2026 election reshape tourism, foreign investment, and transport policy? | Thaiger

    Will Thailand’s 2026 election reshape tourism, foreign investment, and transport policy?

    As Thailand moves toward its 2026 general election, the future of the country’s tourism industry has become a central issue for investors, operators, and local communities. With tourism accounting for a significant share of national income, the policies adopted by the next government are expected to influence foreign direct investment, public safety, and long-term infrastructure planning, particularly in rail transport.…

  • Boat taxi from Phuket Airport to Patong tested again in congestion relief plan | Thaiger

    Boat taxi from Phuket Airport to Patong tested again in congestion relief plan

    Phuket launched another trial run of a boat taxi service linking Phuket International Airport and Patong Beach yesterday, December 29, as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion across the province. The boat taxi project has been discussed by Phuket officials for years. Officials believe the service could significantly reduce travel time between the airport and Patong Beach, cutting journeys…

  • TAT to unveil first tourism film with Lisa as ambassador in January | Thaiger

    TAT to unveil first tourism film with Lisa as ambassador in January

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced that the teaser advertising film featuring Lalisa Manobal in her role as Amazing Thailand Ambassador will be released in early January next year. TAT first revealed in October that the Thai-born K-pop star, Lisa, would officially join the agency to help promote Thai tourism worldwide. The announcement received an overwhelmingly positive response online,…

  • Thailand hits 10 million long-haul tourist milestone with UK on top | Thaiger

    Thailand hits 10 million long-haul tourist milestone with UK on top

    Thailand crossed a tourism landmark this year as long-haul arrivals surpassed 10 million for the first time, a milestone symbolically marked by a Thai Airways flight landing in Bangkok from London today, December 17. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool and representatives from partner agencies greeted passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport this morning. The UK also became the first…

  • South Korean YouTubers say they fell in love with Bangkok within one day | Thaiger

    South Korean YouTubers say they fell in love with Bangkok within one day

    Two South Korean YouTubers shared their unexpected experiences during their holiday in Bangkok, saying “they fell in love with Bangkok very quickly within one day.” The South Korean siblings, who choose to keep their personal details private, uploaded a travel vlog of their Bangkok trip on their YouTube channel, 누룽지자매 nurungji sisters, on Friday, December 13. They stated in the…

  • Thailand tightens screening for visa-free arrivals | Thaiger

    Thailand tightens screening for visa-free arrivals

    Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has tightened screening measures at airports this month after border clashes raised concerns that foreign mercenaries could enter under visa-free schemes. The move follows growing concerns on social media from academics who warned that foreign mercenaries could pose a threat to national security. The analysts’ warnings came after new clashes that erupted along the Thai-Cambodian border, prompting…

  • Tourism operators calls for clarity on new Thai immigration rules | Thaiger

    Tourism operators calls for clarity on new Thai immigration rules

    Tourism operators want Thai authorities to clearly publicise new immigration rules after a rise in the number of tourists being denied entry. The concerns follow new measures introduced by the Immigration Bureau to crack down on multiple visa runs and prevent the misuse of visa-free entry. The updated rules aim to stop foreigners from entering the country while engaging in…

  • ‘Gigachad’ Thai taxi driver saves tourist from missing flight | Thaiger

    ‘Gigachad’ Thai taxi driver saves tourist from missing flight

    A foreign traveller has shared his appreciation for a Bangkok taxi driver who went above and beyond to help him reach the correct airport in time for his international flight. The traveller, @QuintenFrancois on X, explained that he mistakenly went to Don Mueang Airport instead of Suvarnabhumi Airport, where his flight to Tokyo was scheduled to depart. With just over…

  • Tourist denied entry at Don Mueang Airport over minimum cash rule | Thaiger

    Tourist denied entry at Don Mueang Airport over minimum cash rule

    A foreign tourist took to social media to warn travellers to avoid Don Mueang Airport after immigration officers denied her entry into Thailand. In a video posted online, the woman said officers at Don Mueang Immigration denied her entry because of a lack of sufficient funds. She insisted she had never been informed of this rule before, despite entering Thailand…

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