News

Thailand Offers New Tax Breaks to Boost Domestic Travel

Thailand, a country historically reliant on international tourism, is turning its focus towards domestic travelers in an effort to stimulate the local economy. The Thai government has introduced a series of tax breaks and policies designed to encourage domestic travel, promote visits to lesser-known provinces, and support sustainable tourism. These measures come in response to a recent slump in international arrivals, with an emphasis on diversifying tourism to reduce the heavy reliance on popular destinations like Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. Announced on October 21, 2025, the new tax incentives allow Thai citizens to claim up to 20,000 baht in tax deductions on international travel expenditures. This initiative, which runs until mid-December 2025, is aimed at boosting outbound travel among Thai citizens and helping to regenerate the domestic tourism sector. While the focus is on international travel, the overarching goal is to spur growth in local tourism by incentivizing travel to more rural and underexplored regions of Thailand.

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Vietnamese Tea Takes Center Stage, Showcasing Eco-Tourism and Heritage

Vietnamese tea is one of the key draws of the Autumn Fair 2025, a national exhibition held from October 25 to November 4 at the Vietnam Exposition Centre in Hanoi. The fair is not only presenting the bountiful agricultural offerings of Vietnam but is also making a case for Vietnam’s tourism potential by marketing its tea culture as an unusual part of Vietnam’s cultural heritage and eco-tourism attractions. This year, Vietnamese tea is being marketed as part of Vietnam’s tourism plan, highlighting its expansion within the international marketplace while incorporating it into a larger tourism experience that honors the cultural heritage of tea. A Platform for Promoting Vietnam’s Tea Culture and Tourism The Autumn Fair serves as a vibrant platform for introducing Vietnam’s tea industry to international markets while also promoting the country’s tourism sector. The participation of hundreds of tea producers, cooperatives, and brands from across the nation is a clear indication that Vietnamese tea is not just a local agricultural product but a tourism draw that tells the story of Vietnam’s diverse landscapes, rich culture, and sustainable practices.

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Belém Leads COP30 Talks on Low-Carbon, Climate-Resilient Tourism

The impending twenty-ninth session of the Conference of the Parties, known universally as COP30, is set to be profoundly marked by the inclusion of dedicated focus days for the global travel sector. In a momentous stride for international climate policy, the Tourism Thematic Days have been formally announced, scheduled to unfold in the northern Brazilian city of Belém, Brazil, on 19–20 November 2025. This crucial programming development represents an elevation of the industry’s standing within the climate agenda. The overarching objective, formally titled “Tourism Climate Action: For a Low-Carbon, Climate-Resilient Future,” is intended to demonstrate a significant, collective commitment to transforming one of the world’s most expansive economic engines. This focused recognition of the travel sector’s dual role—identified both as a key stakeholder highly vulnerable to environmental shifts and as a powerful, necessary engine for comprehensive climate solutions—is to be highlighted across the entire two-day proceeding.

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Indonesia’s Game Seed Empowers Local Developers to Promote Sustainable Tourism

In a bold step to encourage innovation in Indonesia’s gaming sector and at the same time spur the tourism industry of the country, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) unveiled the Indonesia Game Seed 2025 program. The program looks to enable Indonesian game developers by giving them the resources and assistance that they require to produce innovative and competitive games globally. This initiative is a significant move towards Indonesia’s push to integrate technology and tourism and place the country on the global map as a model for both digital innovation and tourism growth.

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Indonesia Launches “OnlyIndonesia” Holiday Campaign with Exclusive Savings

In a bold move to boost local tourism over the Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 holidays, the Indonesian government has launched an extensive package of travel incentives in a bid to boost local travel throughout the nation. With the rollout of the “Time for a Vacation in #OnlyIndonesia” campaign, this program brings together financial incentives and promotional activities to facilitate tourism development and assist in fulfilling the domestic travel goals of the country. Boosting Domestic Travel with Significant Discounts and Incentives As part of its holiday travel promotion, Indonesia’s Tourism Ministry is offering substantial discounts across various transportation sectors. The aim is to make domestic travel more affordable and accessible for Indonesian citizens, especially during the holiday season. This includes a 30% discount on rail fares for 1.5 million passengers from December 22, 2025, to January 10, 2026, as well as 20% off on maritime transport for 400,000 passengers. Ferry services will also benefit from reduced port fees, making it easier for tourists to visit islands and coastal areas within the archipelago.

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Kerala’s Bold 2031 Vision: AI, Health, and Cruise Tourism to Drive Global Growth

By 2031, Kerala will be at the forefront when it comes to global tourism leadership. Kerala has made remarkable proposals to include new technology, sustainable solutions, and an assortment and variation in tourism Kerala’s vision 2031 also aims to use artificial intelligence and augmented reality to revolutionize the traveler experience. They will grow their already established health tourism market. Add to that the growth of their pilgrimage-based tourism infrastructure and targeting global travelers through cruise tourism. Kerala aims to become a world-class destination with 5 star and premium pricing customers. Kerala, known for its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, is set to embark on an ambitious journey to reshape its tourism landscape through the “Lokom Kothikkum Keralam” Vision 2031 initiative. With a clear focus on health, spiritual, and cruise tourism, Kerala aims to position itself as a premier global destination that caters to diverse traveler needs. The state government has unveiled plans to not only increase the tourism budget but also introduce innovative strategies for sustainable development.

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