June 2025
By Dr. Domilyn Villarreiz
For decades, Thailand has been a regional and global leader in public health. Among its most lauded achievements is the implementation of 100% smoke-free airports—an effort that protects both its citizens and the millions of travelers visiting or passing through Thailand each year. This policy exemplifies Thailand’s steadfast commitment to health, safety, and global best practices.
Recent government discussions to reintroduce designated smoking rooms (DSRs) in Thai airports have raised serious concerns among public health professionals and members of the public. Reinstating DSRs would expose millions of passengers, airport staff, and tourism workers to the dangers of secondhand smoke, especially vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and those with asthma or heart conditions, as even short exposures can cause serious harm. DSRs do not conform with international health standards and bringing them back would effectively reverse years of progress and undermine Thailand’s reputation as a global public health champion.
A particularly compelling piece of evidence originates from Thailand itself. A 2013 study published in the Tobacco Control journal measured fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in and around smoking rooms at major Thai airports. The findings were alarming: the average PM2.5 concentration inside smoking rooms reached 532.5 micrograms per cubic meter, while adjacent areas registered 50.1—far above the WHO’s 25 micrograms per cubic meter limit for short-term exposure. These results led to the removal of smoking rooms at the time and cemented Thailand’s position as a pioneer in smoke-free policy (Kungskulniti et al., 2015).
According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)—a global leader in indoor air quality standards— “the only means of avoiding health effects and eliminating indoor environmental tobacco smoke exposure is to ban all smoking activity inside and near buildings.” Similar conclusions have been echoed by the World Health Organization and other global health institutions.
The global momentum is unmistakable. At least 44 of the world’s busiest airports—including Chicago O’Hare, London Heathrow, Beijing Capital, Amsterdam Schiphol, Bogota El Dorado, and Sydney Kingsford Smith—have implemented 100% smoke-free policies. These airports demonstrate that protecting public health and providing a world-class travel experience are not mutually exclusive. Clean air and healthy environments are now important hallmarks of top-tier airports, aligning with Thailand’s image as a safe, family-friendly tourist destination.
Maintaining smoke-free airports is not just a public health measure—it is a prudent economic and environmental decision. It protects workers, reduces cleaning and ventilation costs, helps protect against fire risk, prevents litter from cigarette butts and e-waste, and strengthens Thailand’s international standing as a clean, modern, and welcoming destination. Smoke-free airports also help persons, who smoke, by reducing triggers and supporting quitting efforts without judgment or stigma.
Thailand already meets the global gold standard with its smoke-free airports. Rather than stepping backward by reintroducing smoking rooms, the country should reaffirm its commitment to people-centered, science-based protection of public health.
Thailand is a Party to the global health treaty, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which requires effective protection from exposure to tobacco smoke (Article 8).The FCTC Article 8 implementation guidelines clearly assert that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke and that engineering controls—such as ventilation, air filtration, or designated smoking rooms—are ineffective. Full protection requires 100% smoke-free environments, including in airports, which are workplaces and major public transport hubs. By maintaining its smoke-free airports, Thailand not only protects lives, but also inspires other countries as a beacon of leadership in global health.
About the Author
Dr. Domilyn Villareiz is the Smoke-Free Program Manager of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) and the Secretary General of the Smoke-free Cities Asia-Pacific Network (SCAN) with more than 300 member cities.
About SEATCA
SEATCA is a multi-sectoral non-governmental alliance promoting health and saving lives by assisting ASEAN countries to accelerate and effectively implement the tobacco control measures contained in the WHO FCTC. Acknowledged by governments, academic institutions, and civil society for its advancement of tobacco control in Southeast Asia, the WHO bestowed on SEATCA the World No Tobacco Day Award in 2004 and the WHO Director-General’s Special Recognition Award in 2014. SEATCA is an accredited ASEAN entity and an official Observer to the WHO FCTC Conference of Parties.