Thailand Records Fall in Tourist Arrivals in Q1

Thailand recorded a slight decline in international tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2026, with figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports showing a 2.29% year-on-year drop. Between January 1 and March 29, the country welcomed 9,174,586 foreign visitors. The slowdown reflects softer demand during late March, particularly across key travel markets.

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The five largest source markets during the period were China with 1,468,333 visitors, followed by Malaysia with 947,123, Russia with 714,424, India with 614,016 and South Korea with 409,331. Despite the overall decline, these markets continued to dominate inbound tourism. Weekly data showed further weakness toward the end of the quarter.

From March 23 to 29, Thailand recorded 630,102 foreign arrivals, a drop of 45,305 visitors or 6.71% compared with the previous week. This equated to an average of 90,014 arrivals per day. The leading visitor markets for that week were Malaysia, China, India, Russia and the United Kingdom.

Natreeya Taweewong, permanent secretary of the ministry, said travel demand softened during this period as short haul markets concluded the Eid al Fitr holiday. At the same time, long haul travel entered the end of its peak season, contributing to the dip in arrivals. These seasonal factors played a key role in the overall decline.

However, she noted that demand from long haul markets has begun to show signs of improvement. This has been partly driven by travellers shifting to more direct flight routes from Europe to Thailand. The change in travel patterns may help stabilise arrivals in the coming months.

VNexpress reported that authorities expect visitor numbers to remain stable. Support measures include efforts to attract Chinese tourists and improve the country’s safety image through the “Trusted Thailand” programme. The government is also encouraging airlines to increase flight capacity to Thailand. These combined measures are aimed at supporting recovery and maintaining steady tourism flows. Officials will continue to monitor trends closely as the sector moves beyond the traditional high season.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now VNexpress 4 Apr 2026