You’ve heard of working from home. You’ve heard of working from anywhere. But now Thailand’s going one better—it’s inviting you to work from the heart. With its charmingly cheeky new ‘LOCO(AL) Working Space’ campaign, the Land of Smiles is inviting digital nomads to trade in their dreary grey cubicles and sterile Zoom backdrops for rice paddies, ancient alleyways, and beachside bungalows.
Launched by the ever-innovative Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), this initiative is a breath of fragrant lemongrass-scented air. The goal? To offer digital wanderers not just a Wi-Fi signal, but a whole way of life, rooted in Thai culture, community, and a fair bit of culinary indulgence.
“It’s not just about having a good internet connection anymore,” says a (very real and enthusiastic) TAT spokesperson. “It’s about plugging into the soul of a place. Thailand has that in spades.”
And with that, the LOCO(AL) campaign—yes, the cheeky name’s a play on “local” and “loco”—was born.
Chiang Mai: Mountain Zen and Flat Whites
Let’s begin up north, in Chiang Mai—Thailand’s cultural soul and a long-time haven for creatives and wanderers. The city’s already been dubbed the ‘digital nomad capital of Asia’, but the LOCO(AL) campaign is taking things deeper into the hills and valleys, where serenity meets signal strength.
At Mae Klang Luang, nestled within Doi Inthanon National Park, you’ll find terraced rice fields straight out of a National Geographic spread. It’s where the Karen people live in harmony with nature—and now, where digital nomads can set up shop, laptop balanced beside a fresh coconut.
A short ride away lies Mae Mae, a tranquil pocket of Chiang Mai that feels like a Scandinavian minimalist with a love for waterfalls designed it. Locals serve up coffee grown just over the next hill, and homestays offer eco-lodgings with more character than a Netflix reboot.
And then there’s Mae Sa Noi, where elephants bathe beside you while you upload spreadsheets. This lush hideaway offers forest trails, cool breezes, and that rarest of commodities—genuine peace.
Back in the city, sleek co-working hubs like Alt_ChiangMai and Alt_PingRiver offer communal kitchens, rooftop views, and the occasional kombucha tasting. It’s start-up heaven… with soul.
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- Trok Dilokchan
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- Trok Dilokchan
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- Trok Dilokchan
Bangkok: History in the Fast Lane
Down south in Thailand’s fast-paced capital, Bangkok blends tradition with the buzz of a 24-hour metropolis. But LOCO(AL) has carved out a special corner for nomads who like their deadlines with a dash of heritage.
Meet Trok Dilokchan—a narrow cultural laneway where time seems to wobble. Think century-old teakwood houses, cafes in colonial shophouses, and yes, co-working spaces that look like something out of a Wes Anderson film.
Here, you’ll sip espresso brewed by monks-in-training, take lunch in a family-run noodle joint that’s been dishing out bowls for five generations, then Zoom your Berlin client before the afternoon rains arrive.
Bangkok, it seems, hasn’t just reinvented the wheel—it’s paved it in gold leaf and put a street market on top.
Phuket: Where Emails Meet Ocean Breeze
And what of Phuket? Well, if you’ve ever dreamed of answering emails with your toes in the sand and a mango sticky rice in hand, this is your cue.
The LOCO(AL) campaign has spotlighted two gems in particular:
First, Ko Lon—a sleepy island where coral reefs sparkle, seafood is plucked straight from the sea, and the pace of life is gloriously… unhurried. The Wi-Fi is strong, the hammocks plentiful, and the locals will teach you to fish if you promise not to talk about quarterly earnings.
Then there’s Ko Naka Yai, just 15 minutes by boat from Phuket proper, but a world away in spirit. You’ll know every cove by name by the week’s end, and there’s no traffic to interrupt your flow—unless you count the occasional curious monitor lizard.
Phuket’s Old Town, meanwhile, is a riot of pastel-coloured colonial buildings, tattoo parlours, noodle stalls and art studios. It’s the kind of place where you can finish your client proposal, then buy a hand-painted kimono on your way to lunch. Not too shabby.
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- Ko Naka Yai
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- Ko Naka Yai
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- Mae Klang Luang
Not Just a Campaign – A Lifestyle Shift
At its core, the LOCO(AL) Working Space campaign isn’t just another tourism brochure with fancy fonts and drone shots. It’s part of Thailand’s broader “5 Must Do” initiative—encouraging visitors to:
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Taste authentic regional dishes
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Engage in time-honoured crafts
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Buy locally made goods
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Explore Thailand’s lush natural beauty
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And seek inner peace—something we could all use a little more of
This isn’t travel for Instagram likes. It’s travel that transforms.
“We’re not just offering destinations. We’re offering meaning,” TAT’s spokesperson explains. “Thailand wants to be the backdrop to your best work—and your best self.”
Designed for the Modern Nomad (With an Old Soul)
Whether you’re a coder from Copenhagen, a marketer from Melbourne, or a novelist from New York, Thailand’s message is clear: you’re welcome here. Bring your laptop, your ambition, your appetite—and leave your stress at the airport.
The LOCO(AL) campaign blends the best of both worlds: the freedom of remote work and the richness of local life. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to slow down and soak it all in.
So if the four walls of your home office are closing in, it might be time to trade them for the rice terraces of Mae Klang Luang, the colonial cafés of Bangkok, or the coconut groves of Ko Naka Yai.
After all, as the old Thai saying goes: “Where there is Wi-Fi and papaya salad, there is paradise.”
For more travel inspiration or to start planning your remote work escape, visit the official Tourism Authority of Thailand website or follow them on Instagram @tourismthailand.
By Christine Nguyen
