Thailand arrivals fall as Bangkok floods test China market

Thailand has received 22,666,429 foreign visitors between January 1 and September 26, a 3.65% fall from the same period last year, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said.

The downturn comes as Bangkok flooding disrupts road and public transport networks, while baggage handling problems at Suvarnabhumi Airport have added to concerns just as China's Golden Week holiday begins.

Foreign visitors generated an estimated 1.105 trillion baht in tourism receipts over the period. China remained Thailand's biggest market with 3,822,928 arrivals, followed by Malaysia with 2,891,908, India with 1,680,725, Russia with 1,249,801 and South Korea with 831,716.

Golden Week bookings under scrutiny

The latest weekly data had offered some encouragement before the floods. Thailand welcomed 482,751 foreign visitors from September 20 to 26, up 4% from the preceding week, or an average of 68,964 arrivals a day.

Chinese arrivals rose 42.62% week-on-week to 94,343, placing China first among the weekly source markets. Malaysia supplied 60,254 visitors, India 40,284, Japan 24,853 and Taiwan 24,135. Taiwanese arrivals rose 33.25%, while Indian arrivals increased 17%.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) had expected around 250,000 Chinese visitors between September 25 and October 7, covering the Mid-Autumn Festival and Golden Week. It forecast spending of about 11.5 billion baht, with the projected visitor total 24% higher year-on-year.

Advance signs had been positive: October flight bookings from China were reportedly 16% higher and searches for Thailand flights had risen 24%, particularly from Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Chongqing.

TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said there was no evidence so far of widespread cancellations. However, the agency is watching late bookings and traveller sentiment after images of flooded Bangkok streets spread on Chinese platforms including WeChat, Weibo, Xiaohongshu and Douyin.

Bangkok disruption, but airports remain open

Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports remain operational, Thai airspace has not closed and there have been no widespread flight cancellations. Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai have not been directly affected by the Bangkok flooding.

Flooded roads also prevented replacement ground staff reaching Suvarnabhumi, contributing to luggage backlogs. Some passengers reported waits of up to six hours for bags, while others left Thailand without checked luggage. Thai Airways used office and management staff in ground operations, and military personnel were later deployed to help clear luggage.

High-season target looks increasingly demanding

Thailand needs another 10.33 million arrivals to meet its reduced 33 million target for 2026 - about 108,000 a day over the remaining 96 days. The lower TAT projection of 32.6 million still requires 9.93 million more arrivals.

TAT's Chengdu office said a quick easing of flooding could limit a shortfall in western Chinese markets to 5-10% against previous expectations.

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30 September 2026