Tourism Tourism Shock: Thailand's Visitor Numbers See Alarming Plunge

[Maxbkkcm]

8 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

And it´s going to fall more, resulting in a deeper decline. I think, happy days are here again. It´s going to be cleaner, nicer and calmer. 

Are you really sure about that? This year so far has been so busy with tourists everywhere and expats. Like very very crowded. Since its only increasing in popularity.

[frank83628]

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

A result that should not be surprising as many foreigners here on this forum already told years ago that Thailand has to take care of the tourists, but they don't invest anything in the tourism industry except double standards, dangerous roads, outdated laws, no infrastructure and with the manipulated high THB an expensive country.. put the grumpy immigration and the greedy tax on it and indeed tourists and other people will look for another less complicated country to visit or live in

The people on this forum are just miserable bitter old men, in the real world 'thaivisa' as it used to be known is a running joke nobody takes anything said here seriously

[rattlesnake]

9 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

And it´s going to fall more, resulting in a deeper decline. I think, happy days are here again. It´s going to be cleaner, nicer and calmer. 

 

Definitely. This is good news.

[ikke1959]

1 hour ago, frank83628 said:

The people on this forum are just miserable bitter old men, in the real world 'thaivisa' as it used to be known is a running joke nobody takes anything said here seriously

indeed bitter old men that have life experience and want that Thailand gets better instead of worse.. If people like you had a bit respect for the elderly and took some advice of them it would surely make your miserable life better

[StayinThailand2much]

10 hours ago, ozz1 said:

The trouble is Thailand has become so yesterday corruption accidents and they think because it's open people will come there are other places to visit now where your money goes further tat are delusional

 

They really believe their own propaganda that 'Thailand is #1 in the world', and 'No country is as great a destination as Thailand'. At the same time, their core visitor targets (mainland Chinese) flock to Japan instead... 😆 

[StayinThailand2much]

2 hours ago, Maxbkkcm said:

Are you really sure about that? This year so far has been so busy with tourists everywhere and expats. Like very very crowded. Since its only increasing in popularity.

 

Lots of backpackers, yes, who don't spend much...

[StayinThailand2much]

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

(...) put the grumpy immigration and the greedy tax on it and indeed tourists and other people will look for another less complicated country to visit or live in

 

Yes, even when I lived in Thailand, I found travelling here troublesome (double pricing, scams, ripp-offs, immigration, etc.), so that I didn't travel and spent as much as I would have liked to. Instead travelled extensively after the pandemic overseas, visiting national parks, and sightseeing there.

[StayinThailand2much]

10 hours ago, ozz1 said:

The trouble is Thailand has become so yesterday corruption accidents and they think because it's open people will come there are other places to visit now where your money goes further tat are delusional

 

Exactly. The big allure of Thailand used to be that it was "cheap". Not anymore, esp. if one wants to consume imported goods, food, or wine. 

[ThreeCardMonte]

35 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

indeed bitter old men that have life experience and want that Thailand gets better instead of worse.. If people like you had a bit respect for the elderly and took some advice of them it would surely make your miserable life better

The problem is the grumpy old men in Thailand are a whole different breed that the elderly I was raised around.  Not for me better the majority of the time.

 

This forum is a perfect example.

 

 

[Gottfrid]

3 hours ago, Maxbkkcm said:

Are you really sure about that? This year so far has been so busy with tourists everywhere and expats. Like very very crowded. Since its only increasing in popularity.

?

[frank83628]

1 hour ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Lots of backpackers, yes, who don't spend much...

Backpackers still spend money to a certain level, a hostel bed can cost up to a 1000b per night, families are spending up to 8000b per night on pool villas... you are slightly out of touch with todays tourism. 20yrs ago, it was fan only bungalows and call home once a month, now its aircon everywhere, flat screen TV's  and WiFi.

[frank83628]

1 hour ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Exactly. The big allure of Thailand used to be that it was "cheap". Not anymore, esp. if one wants to consume imported goods, food, or wine. 

 250b a pint and 500b for a Burger in the UK, thailand is still cheaper for touriats than home.

[Maxbkkcm]

37 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

?

Man seriously its packed everywhere. Unusual crowd in bts , malls, in bkk, pattaya and pukhet. Its full more than 5 years ago. 

[StayinThailand2much]

30 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

 250b a pint and 500b for a Burger in the UK, thailand is still cheaper for touriats than home.

 

Haven't been to the UK since 1992, but, yes, all over Asia (incl. HK), imported goods from Britain are by far the most expensive.

[StayinThailand2much]

37 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

you are slightly out of touch with todays tourism.

 

Thanks, but I actually live in Asia, on and off in Thailand, also staying at different kinds of hotels...

[frank83628]

3 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Thanks, but I actually live in Asia, on and off in Thailand, also staying at different kinds of hotels...

I live in Thailand, have done for last 15+yrs  and extended visa runs for 10yrs before that.

[Patong2021]

11 hours ago, McTavish said:

Not only low season but also China is almost in recession with a fast collapsing economy.  Nationals not only find it difficult to afford travel but have to jump through hoops to be allowed out.

 

Vietnam gained a few tour groups as it's far cheaper to visit but even that market will decline.

 

The Chinese economy is not collapsing. Chinese outbound tourism has been experiencing double increases.

There is a good article that details the Chinese tourist market trends. Read the section Thailand 's Lost Charm

 https://skift.com/2025/03/31/chinas-outbound-travel-is-having-a-comeback-and-first-timers-are-driving-it/

It makes some  very good points with observations such as;

 

- One notable trend: A rise in first-time outbound travelers. Nearly 38% of Chinese travelers will be traveling abroad for the first time. These travelers are younger — almost 64% are below 30 years, and 60% of them are female.

 

The under 35 years of age Chinese traveler today is more health focused, international in mindset, and better educated than its western equivalent.  The younger demographic wants fun at the beach, hiking, visiting interesting sites, and comfortable, cosy eating venues.  They want  self care experiences like a good facial cleanse or  therapeutic massage. They want to eat  healthy. The  Thai tourism model of promoting the  tacky bars and tourist venues found in Pattaya, Patong, Koh Samui  started to die out 20 years ago. it is not a healthy lifestyle. Healthy and fit people avoid these activities, nor are they interested in  going on a holiday to cavort with cheap hookers. 

 

- Singapore (17%) remains the most preferred destination, followed by Japan (16%) and South Korea (13%).

Know what those 3  destinations have in common? Clean, safe and  ordered. There is little risk of a  taxi ripoff, or a negative experience  with a jet ski rental in these countries. No one ends up  sick from food poisoning as Thailand visitors often do. No one is allowed to burn garbage  near a tourist site. There are no police shakedowns of tourists.

 

Despite economic uncertainties, there’s a notable "value-for-experience" mindset among travelers. Cost sensitivities are balanced by a desire for rich, culturally immersive experiences.

Bingo. I have been saying this for eons.  The value proposition of Thailand is gone.

 

[Patong2021]

45 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

 250b a pint and 500b for a Burger in the UK, thailand is still cheaper for touriats than home.

 

There is a chance that the beer is recycled, and that the burger is not necessarily beef.   The low cost base price of Thailand becomes much more expensive when one wishes to have  western comforts such as a proper bathroom, or  HVAC. My shopping bill for a bag of basic western groceries at Villa was 2500 baht. Try and find affordable bell peppers. 30-35 baht a small pepper. A good mattress is difficult to find. A western quality pillow top mattress is on sale for 160,000 baht at Mattress City. A semi decent mattress goes for 15,000-35,000 baht. And so on and so forth. 

[vangrop]

There are so many issues to handle. But the most important and most visible problems are the much too strong bath and the immigration circus. This is so logic but of course not for a Thai, because that word doesn't exist in their brain.

[ikke1959]

3 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Lots of backpackers, yes, who don't spend much...

In former days backpackers did some jobs and spend their money in the weekends and holidays for a few months. But with the visarules and outdated labour laws, it is almost impossible to for a backpacker to get a job here now and they come to visit the country, and go to a better destination... Thailand does not change anything for foreigners for the best, but make things more complicated for them, with the result they are losing them... Now the  expats with the new tax law are being targeted.... How can you promote your country as foreign friendly??

[ericdk]

It's pretty simple, Thailand used to be exceptional value for money, now it's only good value for money.

 

It also seemed as if they lost some of their world class service during covid. The awful face masks changed something.

[Maestro]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

...Former TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn stresses urgent reform is needed to revive the industry and proposes the creation of new destinations to attract higher-quality visitors...

 

What does Thailand not yet have to attract more "higher-quality visitors"?

 

Mmh, aah, yes, entertainment complexes with casinos.

[Maestro]

15 hours ago, Artisi said:

Typical TAT...

 

Hold it, right there!

 

This time it is not the TAT, but a former TAT governor. Seemingly, he is chiding the incumbent TAT governor for not doing his job. I wonder what he is getting out of this.

 

[DonniePeverley]

A 1% DROP ==== OH MY GOD CALL THE NONSENSE POLICE. 

 

More scare mongering articles coming up to advance casinos. 

[morrobay]

13 hours ago, frank83628 said:

The people on this forum are just miserable bitter old men, in the real world 'thaivisa' as it used to be known is a running joke nobody takes anything said here seriously

14 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

A result that should not be surprising as many foreigners here on this forum already told years ago that Thailand has to take care of the tourists, but they don't invest anything in the tourism industry except double standards, dangerous roads, outdated laws, no infrastructure and with the manipulated high THB an expensive country.. put the grumpy immigration and the greedy tax on it and indeed tourists and other people will look for another less complicated country to visit or live in

@ikke1959 Makes obvious points to anyone trying to cross streets and walk around Pattaya. That I would include motorbikes on Bangkok sidewalks. Pattaya city hall builds white elephant kicked back parking garages instead of pedestrian overpasses. Then @frank83628 seems oblivious to someone calling spades spades with irrelevant reply. And was complaining about the price of bell peppers here,??!!. Right Chief , the tourist plunge and counting is about the bell peppers 

[henryford1958]

China's economy is in freefall so no surprise they can't afford foreign travel. Will get worse when the Chinese realise the flat they bought for 5 million yuan is worthless.

[JimHuaHin]

Just yesterday I was reading the minutes and the press conference slides from the last Thai central bank meeting on interest rates.

 

On one of the slides, there was a graph on the number of Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan (for memory).  Since the beginning of this year, Chinese tourist arrivals are sharply down in Thailand, but up in the other three countries.

 

Clearly, Chinese tourists are still going overseas, but Thailand has lost its attraction.

[retsdon]

The other day I saw a picture of Ao Nang beach. Back one day in November 1989, myself and an American sat on that beach wondering if it would be possible to visit the islands we could see offshore (it wasn't). We were the only two people there. Behind us were coconut groves and a few grass huts. If you dove into the water, which was a beautiful azure blue, shoals of tiny baitfish would leap out and scatter. There must have been millions of them because it happened every time. The place was a picture postcard tropical paradise.

 

Given the increase in cheap flights, commercial pressure, etc, it was always going to be impossible for Ao Nang to remain pristine. But what they've done to it is borderline criminal. Who would go there now, and for what? 

 

All across Thailand you can repeat the story of Ao Nang in greater or lesser degrees. The golden goose is dead. They've killed it.

[nausea]

Interesting, has Teflon Thailand finally lost its allure. Not that I care - been there, done that, got the T-shirt.  Did my thing now I'm comfortably ensconced.

[BMW Overlander]

On 5/16/2025 at 9:10 AM, KhunBENQ said:

The Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya is a wooden self-made construction and helmets are mandatory.

No helmet no entry (guess you rent it at the entrance).

Nothing to do with Chinese.

Even the girls on social media do their selfies with helmet.

 

Correct. It has been under construction since 1981. Made this video years ago: