Last year, the Hong Kong tourist board announced plans to give away half a million free plane tickets to encourage tourism in 2023 ? and now it's finally, officially happening. Details of the giveaway were unveiled on February 2 by Hong Kong's leader John Lee Ka-chiu, as part of the 'Hello Hong Kong' campaign.

In early 2026, Japan has made headlines with a major tourism initiative where its primary carriers, Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), are offering "free" domestic flight tickets to international visitors. This campaign, designed to combat "overtourism" in popular hubs like Tokyo and Kyoto, allows travelers to add domestic segments (such as flights to Hokkaido, Kyushu, or Okinawa) to their international booking at zero base fare. Additionally, Vietnam's Vietjet frequently runs "0 VND" ticket campaigns as part of its "Free Summer" promotions, where passengers only pay taxes and fees. Thailand also proposed a "Buy International, Free Thailand Domestic Flights" scheme to encourage exploration of its lesser-known "hidden gem" provinces. These programs are not entirely "cost-free"—as taxes, airport charges, and sometimes a small booking fee still apply—but they effectively subsidize the cost of regional exploration, making it significantly cheaper for 2026 tourists to see more of these countries beyond the typical "tourist traps."