Tourism Authority of Thailand formally opens its Chicago office

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) formally opened its centralised Chicago office, dedicated to promoting Thailand as a premier travel destination across sixteen states in the American South and Midwest, Alaska, and Canada. 

This marks the country’s third North American hub centered on tourism  after New York and Los Angeles.

TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool remarked: “The TAT Chicago Office will play a pivotal role in boosting the number of travelers from the United States and Canada to Thailand, which was 1.2 million in 2024. This initiative contributes to our national target of welcoming 36 to 39 million international visitors and generating 1.98–2.23 trillion Baht in tourism revenue in 2025.”

TAT’s mission is to promote Thailand’s tourism industry through creative marketing and communication that expands and delivers high-quality tourism experiences to its prospective visitor base in U.S. states from Louisiana to Illinois, Ohio to Alaska. 

This strategic expansion aligns with TAT’s declaration of 2025 as the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year, featuring a series of special to-be-announced events and incentives designed to attract a goal of 1.43 million North American travelers.

Highlights from the event

• New Office Launch: The Chicago office, located at the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chicago, will serve as a hub to engage with travel trade partners, media, and consumers, enhancing Thailand’s visibility and appeal in the region.
• 2025 Campaign: Under the theme “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year,” TAT plans to host grand festivals and traditions (Grand Festivity), offer exclusive privileges such as shopping packages and promotions (Grand Privilege), and invite world-renowned figures to share their Thai experiences (Grand Invitation).
• Easier to Arrive, Stay: To encourage leisure and remote work travel, Thailand has implemented visa exemptions for citizens of 93 countries including the United States, allowing stays of up to 60 days, and has eliminated TM.6 immigration forms at 16 key border crossings, streamlining entry processes. Thailand has also launched the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), a flexible 5-year visa designed for digital nomads, remote workers, and travelers seeking immersive experiences. The DTV allows stays of up to 180 days per entry and supports activities such as Thai cooking classes, boxing training, medical treatments, and cultural festivals, making it an ideal option for workcations and “Thai Soft Power” experiences.

These initiatives align with the global tourism communication strategy of the “5 Must Dos in Thailand,” which includes: Must Taste (Thai Food), Must Try (Muay Thai or Thai kickboxing), Must Buy (Thai Fashion and Local Products), Must Seek (New and Lesser Known Tourist Destinations and Experiences in Thailand), and Must See (Thai Festivals and Traditions).