The Thailand Tourism Authority (TAT) plans to offer expatriates in Thailand a 500 baht discount to fly around the country to promote domestic tourism, beginning this month.

On Sunday 30 August, Kulpramote Wannalert, Director of the ASEAN TAT, South Asia, and South Pacific Business Division, announced that the recently proposed tourism agreement would allow the expatriate community of Thailand to fly in the country and promote domestic tourism during the closure of international borders.

The director said: "Since the international borders are still closed, one of Thai tourism's possible target groups is foreigners who work or study in Thailand, known as expats, with a population of over 180,000."

"The community of expatriates may also act as a voice for the long-term development of tourism in Thailand within their nationalities and around the world. Therefore, we need to support our tourism, health, protection, and trust through the eyes of foreigners.”

The 500-baht discount scheme is intended to help lower costs for expatriates, who often pay a higher cost than local people to enter natural and cultural sights, and to attract them to travel with a special discount for a cheaper rate.

TAT will fund 500 baht per person per trip for both nationalities with a budget of 2 million baht with a provision to fly around the country and remain for at least 1 night. The contract is reserved only for foreigners and their family.

TAT is also under consultation with the local authority on the question of eliminating the entry fees for expatriates for natural and cultural attractions. According to director Kulpramote, the outcome is supposed to be declared alongside the incident.