Thailand's tourism sector is witnessing a sharp decline in Chinese visitors, with numbers expected to drop by 40% this year. Security concerns and regional tensions have dampened travel confidence, prompting the government to launch new incentives.
From September to November, 200,000 international tourists can claim free domestic flights to explore lesser-known provinces beyond Bangkok and Phuket. In a bid to attract younger travelers, Thailand is also enabling cryptocurrency conversions into Thai Baht for local spending. With tourism employing one in five Thais, officials are urgently seeking ways to reinvigorate the "land of smiles."
This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.