In a bold effort to rejuvenate the country’s tourism industry, Thailand’s government has officially introduced the “Co-Pay Thai Travel” initiative, backed by nearly two billion baht in funding. This nationwide program is aimed at reducing domestic travel costs and stimulating growth across the hospitality and tourism sectors through direct financial support for local travelers.
The newly sanctioned initiative is set to go live for registration beginning June 24, with travel eligibility commencing on July 1. The scheme is designed to energize domestic tourism demand while supporting local businesses through targeted financial incentives and direct consumer benefits.
A Timely Economic Intervention for Domestic Travel
The Co-Pay Thai Travel program offers Thai citizens financial support covering up to fifty percent of their tourism-related expenses, including hotels, meals, souvenirs, and local attractions. The goal is to make travel more accessible to residents, encourage trips beyond the most frequently visited destinations, and distribute tourism income more evenly across the country.
Participants in the program are eligible to receive a subsidy of up to 3,000 baht per night for hotel stays, for a maximum of five nights per person. Additionally, travelers will be issued digital coupons that can be redeemed at participating local restaurants, tourism attractions, and OTOP (One Tambon One Product) outlets — a vital pillar of Thailand’s local economic fabric.
Targeted Support for Cities and Travel Days
What makes this travel stimulus unique is its differential approach to city types and travel days. The program categorizes cities into major and secondary destinations, offering different levels of support to channel traffic more strategically:
- Major Cities: Travelers visiting these destinations will receive a forty percent subsidy.
- Secondary Cities: Destinations under this classification will benefit from a higher fifty percent subsidy, designed to redirect tourism traffic and boost under-visited regions.
Furthermore, the program strategically incentivizes weekday travel (Monday through Friday) by offering a fifty percent subsidy for travel-related expenses during these days. Weekend and public holiday travel will be supported at a forty percent rate, thereby alleviating peak congestion and promoting more balanced tourism flow throughout the week.
Simple Digital Access and User Registration
To participate, travelers must register through official digital platforms operated by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). These include:
- The TAT official website, where full details and registration forms will be available.
- A dedicated TAT mobile application, which will provide real-time access to coupons, partner listings, and travel verification tools.
More detailed instructions regarding how to navigate and use these digital tools will be published closer to the launch of the application process.
Strengthening Regional Economies Through Tourism
By prioritizing both major and emerging destinations, the Co-Pay Thai Travel initiative aims to spread the economic impact of tourism beyond the traditional hubs. Popular cities such as Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai are poised to benefit, but the highest subsidies will go to places that have traditionally seen less tourist traffic, such as Nan, Loei, Lampang, and Trang.
This strategy supports community-level businesses, including independent hotels, local eateries, handicraft sellers, and small tour operators who often struggle to compete with corporate tourism enterprises in more saturated markets.
By directing financial support toward secondary cities, the program also enhances tourism resilience by diversifying the destinations promoted to travelers. This shift is particularly relevant in a post-pandemic landscape where travelers seek less crowded, culturally rich, and more personalized travel experiences.
Weekday Travel: A Strategic Move for Sustainable Tourism
A core element of the program is the weekday travel promotion, which offers travelers a fifty percent subsidy to encourage mid-week journeys. This measure addresses several longstanding issues in Thailand’s tourism ecosystem:
- Reducing Overtourism in Peak Periods: By de-emphasizing weekends, the program reduces pressure on infrastructure and preserves the quality of the visitor experience.
- Economic Distribution: Weekday traffic helps businesses that typically see dips in customer volume outside of holidays and weekends.
- Work-Life Balance Encouragement: The program subtly nudges employers and workers to explore flexible travel opportunities, promoting wellness and domestic exploration.
Digital Coupons and Seamless Redemption
Another key benefit of the scheme is the issuance of digital coupons. Once registered and verified, travelers will receive coupons through the TAT app or website. These can be used at approved vendors across the country, which include:
- Local restaurants offering regional cuisine and street food experiences.
- OTOP outlets, selling certified Thai-made handicrafts, textiles, herbs, and snacks.
- Cultural and natural attractions, including museums, heritage sites, eco-tours, and national parks.
This digitized process not only ensures smooth transactions and traceability but also supports Thailand’s broader goal of digital transformation in the tourism sector.
Strategic Impact on Thailand’s Tourism Outlook
The nearly two billion baht investment arrives at a crucial moment, as domestic tourism is expected to play a key role in offsetting the decline in international visitor numbers and sustaining momentum within the travel sector. While inbound travel continues to recover, the Co-Pay Thai Travel program is expected to boost travel volume during the quieter months, contributing significantly to GDP from local tourism.
Based on prior travel stimulus results, experts anticipate that the new scheme could generate billions in economic activity while supporting tens of thousands of jobs in the tourism, hospitality, and service sectors.
The initiative also aligns with the country’s long-term tourism strategy — one that emphasizes quality over quantity, sustainability, and inclusive growth. By incentivizing travel to lesser-known locations and promoting weekday trips, the program encourages more mindful, community-centered tourism behaviors.
Broader Implications for Regional Southeast Asian Tourism
Thailand’s Co-Pay Thai Travel scheme may also influence tourism strategies across Southeast Asia, especially as neighboring countries monitor innovative ways to balance domestic travel with environmental sustainability and local development.
The integration of digital tools, tiered subsidies based on destination type, and demand-shaping through weekday incentives could serve as a regional model for post-pandemic tourism resilience and equitable recovery.
Thailand’s Bold Push Toward Inclusive, Balanced Travel Recovery
With this ambitious Baht 1.75 billion allocation, Thailand is once again showing its ability to lead the region in smart, inclusive tourism policy. The Co-Pay Thai Travel program goes beyond simple subsidies — it’s a strategic framework designed to revive local tourism, support regional economies, and re-shape the country’s travel patterns in a sustainable way.
Through careful planning, digital integration, and thoughtful economic incentives, the program is expected to rekindle enthusiasm for domestic travel and help Thai citizens reconnect with the country’s rich landscapes, diverse cultures, and regional economies — all while fostering a healthier, more balanced tourism ecosystem.
Thailand launched the nearly two billion baht Co-Pay Travel Scheme to boost internal travel through cheaper trips and local economic gains. The plan offers attractive subsidies on hotels, restaurants, and entrance charges for tourist attractions to encourage travel on weekdays and off-season spots.
As registration opens and the first wave of travel begins in July, the country’s tourism sector enters a new phase — driven by national pride, local discovery, and inclusive economic revival.
Tags: Co-Pay Thai Travel program, Travel Recovery, Thailand, TAT mobile application, Sustainable Tourism
