Thailand offers 3,000-baht travel support under first-come Thai Travel Thai Plus
Thai Travel Thai Plus would offer 500,000 entitlements, with 50% hotel support capped at 3,000 baht per right and a proposed October 1 start
- The program offers a 50% co-payment on accommodation costs, with the government's contribution capped at 3,000 baht per entitlement, not a direct cash payment.
- A total of 500,000 entitlements will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with each person eligible for a maximum of five.
- In addition to the accommodation subsidy, each entitlement includes a digital coupon worth up to 500 baht for other tourism spending like restaurants and attractions.
- The scheme is proposed to launch on October 1 through the Paotang application, pending final budget approval from the Cabinet.
Thailand is preparing a 1.75-billion-baht domestic tourism co-payment programme offering 500,000 travel entitlements, with the government covering half of accommodation costs up to 3,000 baht per entitlement.
The proposed “Thai Travel Thai Plus 2026” programme would apply across all 77 provinces without separate subsidy rates for major and secondary destinations.
Each participant could receive up to five entitlements.
Participants would also receive digital tourism coupons worth up to 500 baht per entitlement for eligible spending on restaurants, attractions and other tourism services.
The scheme is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for budget approval during August, with October 1 proposed as the start date for benefits through the Paotang application.
THB1.75bn scheme targets THB32bn in economic activity
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul chaired the second 2026 meeting of the ministry’s public-private committee on tourism on August 10, where details of the programme were considered following discussions with the Finance Ministry.
The proposed 1.75-billion-baht budget would be committed across fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
The programme is projected to generate 32.046 billion baht in economic circulation and more than 1.6 billion baht in tax revenue.
The programme's structure has been under discussion between the Tourism and Sports and Finance ministries as the government works through funding and detailed conditions.
Three principles underpin the latest proposal:
- a 50:50 co-payment between the government and travellers,
- a uniform subsidy rate across all 77 provinces,
- and a focus on directing spending towards smaller tourism businesses and local communities.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry has said support should reach smaller operators rather than being concentrated among large tourism businesses.
Official ministry information released following the August 10 discussions also confirmed that the programme remained subject to further consideration of funding and detailed conditions.
Hotel support capped at 3,000 baht
Under the proposed conditions, 500,000 entitlements would be available, with each person able to receive a maximum of five.
The government would pay 50% of eligible hotel or accommodation costs, capped at 3,000 baht for each entitlement.
The benefit is therefore an accommodation subsidy rather than a direct 3,000-baht cash payment.
Each entitlement would also include a digital tourism coupon worth up to 500 baht.
Eligible spending would cover:
- Hotels and other accommodation
- Restaurants
- Tourist attractions
- OTOP and community-product shops
- Spas and health-massage businesses
- One-day tour packages
- Rental cars
- Public transport
- Chartered boats
The same support rate would apply nationwide, removing the previous distinction between major and secondary destinations for subsidy purposes.
Paotang app planned for access
The programme is expected to use Krungthai Bank’s Paotang application, building on an existing digital payment platform already used for government schemes.
The proposed allocation would be limited to 500,000 entitlements and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Travellers intending to participate have been advised to ensure that their Paotang application is updated and that identity verification and their G-Wallet connection are completed before registration opens.
The October 1 launch remains part of the proposed timetable, while the scheme must still complete the government approval process before the final conditions and registration arrangements are formally confirmed.
