Thailand plans three travel stimulus schemes for the low season
The Tourism and Sports Ministry is seeking 2.45 billion baht for domestic subsidies and flight incentives it expects to return about 56 billion baht.
Thailand's Tourism and Sports Ministry is moving quickly to launch three tourism stimulus programmes during the low season of September and October 2026. Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said on 31 July that the ministry wants to start the measures early rather than wait for the fiscal 2027 central budget, which could push them into the high season. Together the three programmes would need about 2.45 billion baht and are projected to generate roughly 56 billion baht in tourism revenue.
To avoid delays, the ministry is looking at an emergency borrowing decree that authorises loans of up to 400 billion baht. Part of that facility is set aside to help households and businesses affected by higher energy costs, and officials believe the tourism measures could qualify. Surasak said the ministry will discuss the final figures with Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas before the proposals go to the Cabinet by the end of August 2026.
The first scheme, Thai Tiew Thai Plus, is a co-payment programme for domestic travel. The government and the traveller would each cover half of eligible spending, with 500,000 entitlements offered across all 77 provinces and up to five per person. Hotel support would be capped at 3,000 baht per entitlement, with additional coupons worth up to 500 baht. The eligible categories are broad: hotels, restaurants, attractions, One Tambon One Product shops, spas and health-massage services, one-day tours, rental cars, public transport and chartered boats. The ministry estimates an economic impact of about 32 billion baht on a budget of 1.75 billion baht.
The second programme, Fly Thai All the Feelings, would discount domestic airfares to steer travellers toward secondary destinations. It covers 400,000 seats, with 400 baht off flights to major hubs and 600 baht off flights to secondary ones. Six Thailand-based airlines would take part, promotional codes would be issued on a first-come basis, and the ministry expects at least 200,000 people to travel on a budget of 200 million baht.
The third measure, Thailand Air Connect, focuses on visitors arriving from abroad. With 500 million baht for joint marketing with airlines and charter operators, it targets at least 600 flights, about 87,000 charter passengers and a further 400,000 travellers through airline promotions, for a combined 487,000 arrivals and revenue of at least 23 billion baht. The emphasis is on secondary cities and newer source markets, spreading spending beyond Bangkok and Phuket.
For a visitor, the practical read is simple. September and October fall in Thailand's green season, and cheaper flights plus subsidised ground services could make it an easier time to explore quieter provinces. As more travellers reach smaller towns and islands, local transport becomes part of the plan, and the co-payment list already includes rental cars and public transport among eligible spending.
That last mile is where Balm Rentals fits in. The marketplace brings bike, scooter and car rentals from legal, verified providers into a single app for iOS and Android, and it shows the price, deposit and conditions in the traveller's own language before any payment is made. It is meant to complement local operators and the wider industry's work, making the rental step clearer and more convenient for tourists heading to the destinations these schemes aim to open up.
The programmes still need sign-off from the Finance Ministry and the Cabinet, and Surasak said a second phase could follow in the next low season if the first succeeds. Travellers interested in the subsidies should check official guidance for the final terms and start dates once the measures are approved.
