Thailand's 'Half-Price Travel' Scheme Revamped to Boost Regional Tourism

The Thai government is set to overhaul its "Half-Price Thai Travel" scheme, introducing revised conditions designed to stimulate tourism in secondary cities and encourage weekday travel. 

The initiative, which offers a 50% subsidy on accommodation costs, aims to distribute the benefits of tourism more evenly across Thailand's 77 provinces.

Jakkaphon Tangsutthitham, Tourism vice minister, confirmed that the proposed changes are currently under review by the Bureau of the Budget, with a budget of approximately 3 billion baht allocated to the project.

Jakkaphon Tangsutthitham

The scheme will continue to offer a 50% government subsidy, with travellers covering the remaining half of their accommodation expenses.

A key adjustment involves the allocation of the one million available privileges. To promote travel to less-visited regions, discussions are centred on implementing a quota system. 
 

Two potential models are being considered: a 5:5 split between major and secondary cities, or a 4:6 split favouring secondary destinations. A final decision on the allocation is pending.

Furthermore, the scheme will now primarily focus on weekday travel, with subsidies applicable only from Monday to Friday. For example, a stay commencing on Friday can be extended to Saturday under the subsidy, but Saturday and Sunday nights will not be covered. This adjustment aims to distribute tourism revenue more evenly throughout the week.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is also exploring the possibility of extending the scheme to government officials, encouraging "workation" trips that combine work and leisure. This move is intended to further stimulate domestic tourism.