Thailand Opens Direct Dubai-Bangkok Flight to Boost Tourism
Thailand launched a direct Dubai-Bangkok flight with flydubai on July 1st to tap into high-spending Middle Eastern tourists, who average over 100,000 baht per trip and show strong repeat visitation rates.
The Thai government, through the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), is expanding its Middle Eastern tourism market by partnering with flydubai to launch the inaugural Dubai-Bangkok direct flight service, which began operations on July 1st. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ms. Ploytale Laksameesangchan announced that the government is hosting the "Amazing Thailand Takes Off with flydubai Roadshow 2026" promotional campaign on July 7-8 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to expand market opportunities, strengthen tourism partnerships, and attract high-value tourists to Thailand as a premier Middle Eastern destination.
Ms. Ploytale noted that the Middle Eastern market, particularly the UAE, represents a strategically important long-haul tourism segment with high spending capacity. From January 1 to June 21, 2025, approximately 188,447 tourists from the region entered Thailand, spending an average of over 100,000 baht per person per trip. These tourists typically travel as large families, staying 10-12 nights in five-star hotels and luxury resorts, with a notably high repeat visitation rate of 65 percent, reflecting confidence in Thai tourism quality and services.
Ms. Ploytale stated that the new airline service will initially operate one daily flight, with plans to increase to two daily flights starting September 15, 2025. This expansion will add approximately 10,292 new airline seats during the summer season (July-August), strengthening Thailand's capacity to accommodate growing Middle Eastern tourist demand and reinforcing its position as a leading destination for visitors from that region.
