Check-in counter closing times for all Thai Airways flights departing at Suvarnabhumi Airport are as follows:
Domestic flightsđčđđ«: Check-in counter closes 40 minutes before departure time.
International flightsđđ«: Check-in counter closes 50 minutes before departure time.
For a smooth journey, We kindly ask all passengers to arrive early at the airport to prevent missing their flights. Especially during festivals and long holidays.
For more information, please contact THAI Contact Center +66-2-356-1111.
✈️ THAI Resumes Flight Operations to 9 Domestic Destinations
In the Winter Flight Schedule from 29 October 2023 – 30 March 2024, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) is operating roundtrip flights to nine destinations utilizing Airbus A320 aircraft. Flight details are as follows:
1. Bangkok - Chiang Mai: 35 flights per week.
2. Bangkok - Phuket: 56 flights per week, starting 1 December 2023.
3. Bangkok - Udon Thani: 21 flights per week, starting 1 December 2023.
4. Bangkok - Chiang Rai: 14 flights per week, starting 1 January 2024.
5. Bangkok - Khon Kaen: 28 flights per week, starting 1 January 2024.
6. Bangkok - Ubon Ratchathani: 14 flights per week, starting 1 January 2024.
7. Bangkok - Krabi: 14 flights per week, starting 1 January 2024.
8. Bangkok - Hat Yai: 21 flights per week, starting 1 January 2024.
9. Bangkok - Narathiwat: 7 flights per week, starting 1 January 2024.
Although retirees here are sometimes seen as beach bums and bar stool sitters, they make a sizeable contribution to the Thai cash economy.
A group of expats based in Pattaya, mainly holding one year extensions of stay for retirement or marriage, have written to Premier Srettha Thavisin to campaign for more humane treatment. Leader John Foulds, a British retiree, said that the government seemed to be interested only in expanding short term tourists by abolishing visas for mass markets, such as China and India, and easing the life of wealthy expat professionals on large salaries. He quoted the recent announcement about 10 year executive or professional work permits in the Eastern Economic Corridor offering specially discounted tax rates on earnings and confirming avoidance of 90 days reporting.
Mr Foulds explained, "By contrast, there never seems to be any good news for the mainstay expats who have retired here on pensions or are supporting Thai wives and families over many years. Now it looks like we may be faced by demands to register with the Thai tax system because of changing revenue rules and face more hurdles in renewing their annual visas." He suggested that expats on one year renewals should be exempt from revenue regulations, at any rate until the system was open and equitable. "The very idea that expats like me living on an already taxed pension need to produce a whole load of annual paperwork to justify why we should not be re-taxed is a very sour notion."
Amongst other visa complaints raised by the group are recent changes to the 90 day reporting system which require (in Chonburi) a new form and accompanying passport copies every three months, an increasing amount of paperwork required from Thai banks about the account holder's cash balance and periodic alarm raised about compulsory medical insurance. "It's as if older retirees in my position are being deliberately squeezed or forced into expensive visa options such as the 10-year Long Term Residence or 5-20 years Elite," added Mr. Foulds. He said many retirees he knew were already planning to leave Thailand or relocate to more friendly visa regimes in Vietnam or Cambodia.
Expat visas in Thailand are now a complex field of options, each with its own set of rules. More recent choices have been aimed at wealthier foreigners or those prepared to pay lavishly upfront for a specific number of years. As regards the traditional one year extensions of stay based on retirement and marriage, there are thought to be at least 300,000 mostly-male visa holders including a sizeable number financially supporting Thai wives and families. Although Thai immigration does not publish comprehensive data, there may be 200,000 more foreigners living here part time on tourist and non-immigrant visas which they use together with spells of time outside the country.
A spokesperson for the Tourist Authority of Thailand said that she was well aware that the recent Thai revenue announcement had caused alarm in some expat quarters, but feedback was still being fed into headquarters. A representative of the Thai immigration hotline pointed out that the regulations for retiree and marriage annual extensions had remained basically the same for the past 15 years, if subject to some minor local variations. Given Thailand's former good reputation as a retirement haven and the high daily spending by many foreigners with annual retiree or family permits, Mr. Foulds' group is advising the Thai premier not to ignore these contributions to the national coffers. A sizeable market is in danger of being lost.
Thai Revenue has now stated that any cash sent to Thailand before January 1 2024 will not be in their remit.
The Revenue Department this week has reassured Thais and expats living here that the new rules on taxation apply only from January 2024 and not earlier. There had been speculation that the Revenue might start probing cash transactions to Thailand in earlier years as, in theory, they have the power to do.
This is the first statement by the Revenue about the taxation changes since September 2023 when it announced its intention to tax income from overseas by tax residents – anyone who lives here for at least six months in a year – no matter when the cash was or will be transferred. The statement at least shows that the Revenue is aware of the complexity of the whole issue.
Expats in Thailand, mostly ignored until now by the tax authority unless legally working here, are concerned that they might be taxed in future on income already taxed in their country of nationality. Typically, state or private pensions, social security payments and some inheritances fall into this category. Many countries have double-taxation agreements with Thailand, although the precise relevance varies from treaty to treaty.
Most Thai legal experts say that the Revenue is primarily interested in Thais or expats with offshore banks accounts, a history of currency speculation or profit-making business enterprises overseas. However, the only way of distinguishing them from typically retired "tax residents" would be for all to register with the Revenue for a tax identification number. That procedure, if required in future, does not necessarily mean that tax would be due.
It is unlikely that the many ambiguities in this saga will be resolved by January 1 next year. This is not a law passed by Parliament but a reinterpretation of traditional Revenue policy which could even be challenged in court. Hence, Revenue clarifications (assuming there are any) are likely to be announced throughout 2024. Any tax due would be payable in 2025.
The best advice to worried expats, notably those retired or living here on family or Elite visas, is to wait for instructions from a government or Revenue authority. For many reasons, that wait may be a long one. It is even possible that, for the first year or two, registration with the Revenue might be "voluntary", that is only those who believe they are eligible to pay tax should come forward. Overseas cash transactions can be monitored by Thai tax authorities in any case.
Freedom from needing a visa to come to Thailand isn't the whole answer.
The prime minister's hope that temporarily suspending visa requirements will automatically result in a quick-fix foreign tourist expansion has proved optimistic. Nationals of China, India, Russia, Taiwan and Kazakhstan all have had visa rules suspended with tourists allowed 30 days on arrival (Russians 90 days). However, the discretion has failed to move the needle on Chinese entries in particular, with flights still only 60 percent of the volume pre-Covid. Many Chinese currently prefer to vacation domestically in a stalled economy and with negative reports about Thailand appearing in Chinese media.
Also on the stocks is a half-promise (but not formally announced) that some European countries, such as the UK and Germany, might see an improvement on the 30 days visa exempt they currently receive to 90 days or three months. The idea is that they would stay longer to enjoy themselves if only the visa rules were softer. Actually, there are around 60 countries potentially able to benefit including the UK, the EU, the United States, Australia and some other traditional sources of tourism in the Middle East.
Again, the potential impact on tourist growth should not be exaggerated. European tourists, for example, currently stay an average of 18 days and most of them presumably have commitments at home which preclude a longer vacation. Moreover, longer-stay tourists do not currently have to leave Thailand after the first 30 days but can extend for a further month at local Thai immigration on payment of 1,900 baht (US$57). Even after that, they can take a day trip to the border, usually Cambodian, and repeat the procedure of 30 days plus a repeat 30 days. So a total of four months or around 120 days is available visa-free under current rules, admittedly with some inconvenience and expense. But the government seems wary of including all 60 countries in an extended visa free discretion.
Thailand's competitors such as Vietnam, are dismantling visa regulations for some tourists as a direct response to Thailand's moves. Moreover, there are some concerns of Thai police that the withdrawal of tourist visas, all technically pilot schemes, might be admitting less desirable types. They cite unsubstantiated rumors of Chinese beggars on the streets of Thai cities and a rise in the number of Indian tourists working illegally in restaurants. Yet what is abundantly clear is that changes in visa exemptions are just one determinant of how many tourists enter Thailand. Quick fixes often have a slow fuse.
Plan to boost long-haul tourist numbers from Europe as Thailand needs to woo back its former tourism market in Western countries, lost during the pandemic shutdown, with more flights, convenience and nightlife as the country targets 30 million visitors in 2023 and higher spenders.
The Thai government is ready to extend the 90-day visa regime to travellers from Europe, in a move to be announced in the coming days, according to a key aide to the PM. The latest development comes as Thailand struggles to regain over 66% of its foreign tourism income since 2019, after permanent damage was inflicted, including a loss of confidence and goodwill, because of pandemic-era shutdowns and restrictions.
A top aide to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, this week, told Bloomberg News that the government is preparing to introduce a 90-day visa scheme for certain European countries in the coming days to boost the country's tourism High Season with projected tourism income said to only reach 66.4% of the figure achieved in 2019.
The Kingdom's foreign tourism industry has not yet recovered, even after nearly four years since the disastrous overnight shutdown order by the government of Thailand's air space by officials ordered under Sections 27 and 28 of the Air Navigation Act and Emergency Decree in response to an overnight disruption at Suvarnabhumi Airport on the night of April 3rd and the early morning of April 4th 2020.
Closure of Thai airspace on 4th April 2020 saw the complete closure of foreign tourism in Thailand which only reopened to free market access in 2023
The country's airspace was closed at that point when Thai passengers arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport staged a disruption and refused to follow official orders linked to the pandemic outbreak.
It was the start of a prolonged shutdown and closure of the country's tourist industry with it only being fully liberated again at the beginning of 2023.
Mr Prommin Lertsuridej is one of Prime Minister Srettha's most senior advisors and at the outset of the new government, in September, the growth of foreign tourism was marked as a key economic objective.
90 day visa scheme introduced for Russian tourists in October and will run until the end of April 2024
In October, the government announced a similar 90-day visa scheme for Russian arrivals in the kingdom from November 1st which is to run until the 30th of April 2024.
The mooted proposal is a similar arrangement and is designed to attract more holidaymakers while also encouraging longer stays in the Kingdom, thus increasing expenditure per visit.
Thailand's tourism fortunes have been tamped down this year with a disappointing take-up from the Chinese market despite a visa waiver being introduced with much fanfare in September.
Another key factor has been depressed expenditure caused by a movement in the Kingdom's tourism profile to predominantly Asian visitors on short-haul flights with the country's top source of origin this year so far being Malaysia, followed by China, India, South Korea and Taiwan.
Foreign tourism industry has been attracting less long haul and Western tourists who are being captured by other destinations for price and service
Thailand appears to be attracting fewer Western visitors, which has been attributed to higher airfares on long-distance hauls, as well as stiffer competition from countries in the Caribbean, the Maldives, Vietnam and even European tourist industries now targeting Thailand's former foreign tourism market in the Americas, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
It is also important to note that Thailand, unlike other tourism economies, has not yet managed to recover from the pandemic shutdown in 2020, which inflicted permanent damage on the country's credibility in the international industry.
The damage inflicted by the pandemic-era restrictions by the previous government is similar to the loss of goodwill suffered by China's economy because of its overreaction to the emergency from which other countries have long recovered.
The, at times, shambolic and chaotic nature of intrusive and unpredictable government interventions including convoluted and demanding access schemes and conditions from 2020 to 2022 are known to have undermined confidence in the Kingdom among international travel agents and most particularly the airline industry.
New government is making the right moves in cutting prices, red tape and easing visa regulations to make foreign tourists more welcome and cut fares
The present government appears determined to address this and, this week moved to counter the trend by announcing discounts on airport fees to airlines aiming to increase connectivity between Thailand and all parts of the world, particularly aimed at encouraging more long-haul flights with consequently lower fares and more arrivals.
A significant outcome of the lack of flight connectivity to Thailand has been increased demand for the country's national carrier Thai Airways, which has returned to robust profitability flying a range of popular flights from European and Scandinavian points of origin which are set to benefit from the government's proposed new visa waiver.
Not clear which countries are included yet but extended nightlife and drinking hours are sure to be an addition to the country's festive attractions
Mr Prommin did not give further clarity on what European countries would be included in the new visa waiver scheme or its exact details, but it did specify that it would be in conjunction with a range of entertainment events and festivities linked to the Christmas and winter celebrations towards the end of the year, including the popular Thai festival of Loy Krathong and New Year's celebrations.
Last week, while in San Francisco, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin welcomed Bangkok being named as the fourth most searched-for destination in the world by foreign travellers after London, New York and Paris.
As a matter of fact, Bangkok has long been seen as one of the world's top cities for travellers and is poised to benefit from extended opening hours due to come into force in December which will allow entertainment night spots in selected zones in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai to open until 4 am.
At the same time, the country's Ministry of Public Health signalled that, with conditions, it had approved the serving of alcohol in most venues simultaneously with the extended opening hours.
Strong and ongoing opposition to extending nightlife and drinking hours makes the move controversial and shows how foreign tourism has been politicised
Previously, the Thai government had set out to enhance the country's nightlife, which has proved itself since the pandemic to be a key factor in the country's attraction to Western visitors.
This move by the government is seen as a politically controversial one, with strong opposition from activist groups in addition to traditional and conservative forces within the establishment who abhor the country's nightlife sector and the reputation it generates abroad.
A recent National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) survey on the issue showed 4.35% of Thais wanted to see the industry permanently shuttered with an even larger cohort committed to opposing alcohol consumption.
This shows how foreign tourism, especially since the challenge of the pandemic and the spectre of a public health threat politicised the country's foreign tourism industry. This remains the case with strong tensions and undercurrents.
'Longer stays.. and more fun on the nightlife scene' is the new plan to boost arrivals and spending
Nevertheless, Mr Prommin was gung-ho this week when he gave the heads-up on the new initiative for European travellers.
'We will design more attractions and promotions to incentivise tourists to stay longer,' he told the New York news agency Bloomberg.
The Secretary-General to the Premier at Government House went further: 'Longer stays, more events to attract them and more fun on the nightlife scene. This is how we're planning for tourists to spend more.'
Figures released by the government show that the foreign tourism industry generated ฿981.7 billion up to November 12th on 23.2 million arrivals. This would see it on target to generate ฿1.269 trillion based on 30 million visitors by the end of this year or 66.4% of the ฿1.91 trillion it generated in 2019 when it saw 39.8 million visitors.
This represents a 33.5% fall from 2019, a 12.5% fall in spending per capita and a 25% fall in numbers from four years ago. Sobering numbers indeed.
Sweden has bolstered its diplomatic ties with Thailand by inaugurating an Honorary Consulate in Phuket province. This initiative is a response to the increasing influx of Swedish tourists, numbering 110,000 this year, and aims to strengthen relations in trade, investment, and tourism.
The opening, attended by Phuket Deputy Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan and Swedish Ambassador to Thailand Anna Hammargren, signifies a commitment to fostering closer ties. The event drew representatives from local authorities and tourism agencies, highlighting the strategic importance of the southern province, a popular destination for tourists worldwide and over 400 Swedes residing there long-term.
The establishment of the consulate is regarded as a significant step in improving support for the Swedish community in Phuket and strengthening the bilateral relations between the two nations, underscored by the monthly meetings between the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation and honorary consuls.
At 5:00 PM (San Francisco local time), on November 17th, 2023, Mr. Srettha Thavisin, the Thai Prime Minister, held a meeting with the Thai community in the USA. The issue had been raised on a Thai Airways crisis on always making no profit and that there are no direct flights from Thailand to the USA.
"The Thai government always supports tourism such as visa exemptions in some countries as one of the fascinating destinations many tourists seek to visit. However, the Thai Airways crisis has long been an issue, especially, due to the Covid pandemic, as the airline invested a massive amount of money to survive," Srettha reportedly said.
Srettha further stated it is impossible for the state enterprise system to process and work as quickly as the public may wish as he used to work in a similar enterprise. Srettha voiced his concern and awkwardness over the state of Thai Airways as a big issue and had always been discussing the issue with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport.
Mr. Chai Eamsiri, the Director of Thai Airways International, publicly mentioned the statement from the Thai Prime Minister as the reason that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has red-flagged Thailand, for over a decade after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded Thailand's aviation standards from Category 1 to Category 2.
"Currently, this presents an issue where Thai commercial airlines cannot fly into the United States. However, on behalf of the government, flights can be operated from Thailand to the United States," said Chai.
"To lift the red flag, the Thai government needed to rectify regulations according to ICAO benchmarks. Furthermore, Thai Airways International needs to calculate initial budgets and demands as a flight to the USA has a high cost," Chai concluded.
Immigration officers work at Suvarnabhumi airport in February. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)
Thailand may waive visa requirements for travellers from more European countries and is lining up hundreds of cultural and sporting events as it works to induce holidaymakers to stay longer and spend more, the government has said.
The government is discussing a plan to let tourists of some European nationalities stay as long as 90 days, Prommin Lertsuridej, a top aide to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, said in an interview Thursday. There will also be about 3,000 events like music concerts, marathons and other cultural festivities organised through to next year to draw tourists, he said.
Mr Srettha, who became prime minister in August, has identified tourism as a "quick win" to accelerate Thailand's economic growth. His administration has temporarily waived visa requirements for travellers from Russia, China, Kazakhstan, India and Taiwan, and ordered airlines to add more routes while streamlining airport operations to cut waiting time for visitors. It also plans to allow nightlife entertainment venues in some areas of Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Chonburi to operate until 4am starting next month.
While Thailand has rolled back most pandemic-era curbs on visitors, average spending per traveller has lagged pre-Covid levels and missed official estimates.
In 2019, the country saw record foreign arrivals — almost 40 million — which generated 1.91 trillion baht in revenue. That year, each tourist spent an average of 47,895 baht per trip which lasted nine days on average, according to official data. As of Nov 12 this year, Thailand has welcomed 23.2 million foreign tourists and received 981.7 billion baht in foreign tourist receipts. That means it is currently tracking about 12% below the 2019 per-trip spending benchmark.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has set a goal to raise foreign tourism revenue back to pre-Covid levels, targeting at least 2 trillion baht ($57 billion) in 2024.
Mr Srettha last week announced the "Winter Festival" celebrations that will include the Loi Krathong festival, Bangkok Marathon and New Year. The event is designed to showcase Thailand's unique culture and attract tourists during the high season between November and January.
"We will design more attractions and promotions to incentivize tourists to stay longer," Mr Prommin, who is secretary-general to the premier, said. "Longer stay, more events to attract them, more fun on the nightlife scene. This is how we're planning for tourists to spend more."
Smoking pot for pleasure is about to become off-limits again, but some critics say the genie is already out of the bottle.
The public health ministry has completed the first draft of a new cannabis act, but without automatically reclassifying the "controlled herb" as a narcotic. That's according to health minister Cholnan Srikaew. However, any extract containing more than 0.2 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) will be so listed and potentially subject buyers and sellers to prosecution. The draft makes clear that the use of the weed for medical purposes will continue and expand, but not for recreational reasons which will become specifically off the agenda.
In the short term at least, most marijuana shops in the kingdom will remain open although they will need a detailed license to operate, and will be required to ban on-site smoking as well as the sale of cannabis buds. The new law will also list the places which cannot allow cannabis on their premises. Likely candidates for banning are cafes, retail outlets, pubs and clubs. Smoking cannabis at home or in a hotel room remains a grey area, though puffing in your own abode should technically be only for medical reasons and not to enjoy a high.
Everyone agrees that the current legal situation in Thailand, since decriminalization of the plant last year, is a free-for-all as various businesses entered the sector with little regulatory guidance or oversight. The 6,000 marijuana shops which have sprung up, mainly in tourist areas, do not invariably have proper licences, ban teenagers or restrict their sales to low-level THC products. Supporters of stricter rules say a new law will help avoid oversupply in a saturated market and end the misconception that smoking pot for fun is fine and dandy.
Critics are far from sure the new law will work. Owner of several cannabis shops in Pattaya and beyond Jo Jintana said, "There is likely to be an early crackdown on unlicensed outlets, but the distinction between health and pleasure is inevitably blurred. If a guy is found smoking pot, he may say he's depressed or is in pain, but also enjoys a puff." He added that vice crackdowns by police in the past have tended to be one-offs more designed to attract favorable publicity. "All prostitution has been illegal in Thailand since the 1960s, but you'd never know it would you?"
Voted by Swedish travellers for the Travel Great RES Prize Destination 2024 awards organised by RES and Travel News.
Bangkok, 16 November 2023 – Thailand was voted as the 'Best Affordable Long-haul Destination' in the Travel Great RES Prize Destination 2024 awards organised by RES and Travel News, a Swedish leading travel industry magazine.
The Travel Great RES Prize Destination 2024 awards ceremony was held at the Travel News Market in Stockholm, Sweden, on 9 November 2023.
Based on a survey conducted by the research company Nordic Bench and Travel News, the 'Best Affordable Long-haul Destination' award is voted by Swedish travellers who are looking for the dream destination that offers the best value and quality.
This makes the third consecutive year that Thailand was honoured with the recognition, which was previously called the 'Best Value for Money' award.
Ms. Krittika Rojanasap, Deputy Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Stockholm Office, said "Such an honour to receive this award once again and what an amazing feeling to know that Thailand is still Swedes favourite destination throughout the years. We will continue our work to ensure that Thailand continues to be the preferred long-haul destination for many years to come."
The TAT Stockholm Office is promoting Thailand's direction towards responsible and sustainable tourism, while highlighting the kingdom's rich history and culture, abundant nature, and warm Thai hospitality.
Sweden is Thailand's top source market from Scandinavia. From 1 January – 12 November 2023, 130,563 Swedes had visited Thailand.
