The Ministry of Transport has joined forces with the Department of Airports and the Tourism Authority to launch initiatives at four key airports—Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Krabi, and Phuket—to attract 1.3 million transit and transfer passengers per year to take short trips during their layovers, boosting national revenue.
Mr. Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, presided over the signing ceremony of a memorandum of intent titled"Stimulating Thailand's Tourism and Service Sector Economy."The agreement involves six agencies: the Department of Airports (DOA), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, the Association of Thai Airlines, Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel Company Limited, and the Faculty of Engineering at Kasetsart University.
This signing represents an integrated effort among the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, private sector, and academia to link air transport systems with tourism, aiming to elevate Thailand as a regional aviation hub and tourism center in the future.
Mr. Pipat revealed that emphasis is placed on creating opportunities from transit and transfer passengers by developing benefits and services connecting travel with tourism activities, accommodations, and services within Thailand, turning layover times into economic activities while advancing seamless travel. Each partner will operate within their respective roles and responsibilities.
"The pilot program will begin in 2027, focusing on short tourism packages during layovers at four key airports: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, and Krabi. The Ministry of Tourism will help design routes such as visits to Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram, tasting street food, or enjoying spa services to impress and encourage tourists to revisit Thailand," Mr. Pipat said.Mr. Pipat added.
Additionally, the Ministry of Transport plans to manage flight slots efficiently and develop seamless travel experiences connecting airports with city centers and major tourist destinations.
Deputy Minister of Transport Mr. Phattharaphong Phattharaphisit stated readiness to support connectivity between airports, cities, tourist spots, and local transport systems. The Department of Airports will coordinate with relevant agencies, airlines, and the tourism sector to enhance travel facilitation and information services, supporting links from airports to main and attractive cities, increasing opportunities for passengers to explore various areas and helping to distribute income to regional economies.
"Airports under the Department of Airports are key gateways to regional travel, so it is essential to develop both airport readiness and connectivity with transport systems and local attractions to ensure passengers have convenient onward journeys and that air travel benefits operators and communities concretely," said Mr. Phattharaphong.
Mr. Danai Ruangsorn, Director-General of the Department of Airports, said the department is ready to implement policies by collaborating with partners to improve service and travel connectivity within its jurisdiction. It will also support information exchange, recommendations, and airport management knowledge to link airports, airlines, tourism, academia, and businesses to efficiently facilitate passengers.
. . .The cooperationis carried out under the Amazing Thailand Transfer Passenger Privilege project. The six partner agencies will jointly develop benefits, facilitation, travel connections, publicity, information and knowledge exchange, and related products, services, and innovations to create added value from travel and support sustainable growth in the aviation and tourism industries.
Ms. Nutriya Taweewong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, said that currently, Suvarnabhumi Airport has about 1.3 million transfer and transit passengers annually, aiming to initiate tourism packagesduringlayovers. About 10% of passengers have extended layover times. The packages mainly require no extra fees, and initially, the Tourism Authority will use existing budgets to implement and evaluate the program's response.
"Transit passengers usually have over six hours, so programs and procedures need to be developed bythe Tourism Authority,which will collaborate with partners to offer packages such as tasting local foods, Bangkok street food tours, visits to the Grand Palace, spas, and ancient cities."