Tourism Authority of Thailand Launches New Travel Experience with State Railway of Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in collaboration with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and Boon Rawd Trading Co., Ltd., announced the launch of the “Instant Happiness with Thai Train Travel: This Journey is Different” campaign. The event was attended by Mr. Sermsak Pongpanit, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr. Surapong Piyachote, Deputy Minister of Transport, and executives from TAT, SRT, and Boon Rawd Trading.

The campaign aims to offer a unique travel experience via train between July and August 2024 across four pilot routes with special travel packages. The routes will connect Bangkok with key and attractive cities in the Central (Ratchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Suphan Buri) and Eastern (Prachin Buri) regions. This initiative supports the government’s IGNITE Thailand’s Tourism policy, aiming to boost domestic tourism during the Green Season. Additionally, two more routes will be introduced in August under the “August with Mom” campaign to sustain tourism momentum throughout the year.

Minister Sermsak Pongpanit emphasized the government’s focus on promoting tourism through enhanced public transportation logistics. TAT, recognizing the importance of this approach, has partnered with relevant agencies to develop infrastructure, facilitating easy access to major tourist attractions. This collaboration aims to create an AMAZING EXPERIENCE by connecting major cities with 55 appealing provinces nationwide, while also highlighting Thai identity through the 5 Must Do in Thailand concept.

The train journey will feature the KIHA 183 service, operating weekly across four routes, offering a two-day, one-night package priced at 3,999 THB per person.

The routes and schedules are as follows:

• Bangkok – Ratchaburi: July 6-7, 2024
• Bangkok – Prachuap Khiri Khan: July 13-14, 2024
• Bangkok – Suphan Buri: July 20-21, 2024
• Bangkok – Prachin Buri: July 27-28, 2024

The “August with Mom” campaign includes two one-day trip routes:

• Historical Steam Train to Chachoengsao: August 12, 2024
• Royal Blossom Train to Kanchanaburi: August 17, 2024

The six routes are designed to reflect sustainable tourism and highlight Thai culture through the 5 Must Do activities:

Must Eat: Enjoy local delicacies.
Must See: Explore cultural wonders.
Must Seek: Discover unseen attractions.
Must Buy: Shop for exquisite handicrafts.
Must Beat: Engage in thrilling sports.

The journeys will be enriched with professional guides and special events. For example, the Ratchaburi route will feature a traditional Thai fabric fashion show on the train, while the Suphan Buri route will include a traditional Thai folk song performance. Other unique activities include a saxophone performance of royal compositions on the Prachuap Khiri Khan route and spiritual tips from a renowned Feng Shui master on the Prachin Buri route.

Additional activities include visiting cultural sites and engaging in sustainable tourism practices, such as the Nang Yai Shadow Play in Ratchaburi and planting coastal trees in Prachuap Khiri Khan. The campaign aims to enhance tourist experiences while contributing to local economies by distributing tourism income throughout the country.

TAT is confident that this collaboration will stimulate domestic travel during the Green Season and beyond, helping to achieve the 2024 target of 103.07 million domestic tourist visits and generating 3.5 trillion THB in tourism revenue. From January to April 2024, over 120 million domestic visits have already been recorded, generating approximately 880.346 billion THB in tourism income.

For those interested in booking travel packages, tickets are available at all railway stations or via the SRT’s D-ticket system. Additional inquiries can be directed to the SRT Customer Service Center at 1690.

Photos from PR SRT