Hotel & Tours Group

Thai Airways is offering free domestic flights to passengers coming to Thailand from outside Asia. Hotels on popular Phuket island are offering their guests a fourth night at no charge. Mountain lodges in the north of Thailand are adding free spa visits and rounds of golf.

Thailand's economy is facing a downturn not seen in years, and tourism operators are offering major discounts and freebies to incoming visitors to bolster business that has been hit by the global recession, the swine flu outbreak and political upheaval in the country.

So far this year, foreign arrivals have dropped off by 16 per cent, and hotel occupancy throughout Thailand has fallen to 44 per cent - down from 66 per cent in 2008. Bangkok's luxury hotels are reporting even lower occupancy rates.

In a move to compensate for declining overseas visitor numbers, Thailand is also promoting domestic tourism, with hotels offering rock-bottom discounts to residents of the country.