Photo courtesy of Khaosod

 

Thailand’s tourism industry is witnessing robust growth in late 2025, with foreign visitor numbers reaching nearly 100,000 daily. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports reports a doubling of Chinese tourists, particularly evident during the Golden Week holiday from September 28 to October 6. This surge underscores a revived enthusiasm for Thailand as a leading travel destination, marking a positive economic trend as the year draws to a close.

 

Foreign arrivals have steadily increased since late September, fueled by travelers from China, Malaysia, and India. Permanent Secretary Nattariya Thaweewong highlights the growth in Chinese arrivals, noting a jump from under 10,000 to around 20,000 visitors daily during Golden Week. This reflects enhanced confidence and optimism in Thailand’s tourism sector, bolstered by global events and improved security measures.

 

The uptick in tourism is supported by effective safety protocols that assure international visitors and minimal disruption from regional issues such as border tensions and floods. High-profile events like the Women’s Volleyball World Championship contribute to the recovery, with future attractions, including the 33rd SEA Games in December, Loy Krathong Festival, and New Year festivities, expected to sustain momentum.

 

Flight demand has surged, with travel agents reporting near full capacity on flights from major and secondary Chinese cities. The Secretary-General of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, Adith Chairattananon, notes a 99% passenger load, with return flight fares from Bangkok to Beijing increasing significantly. Airlines such as China Eastern, Hainan Airlines, Air China, and Vietjet have reported full flight bookings during peak travel days.

 

Thailand's tourism resilience is further strengthened by political stability, regional cooperation on cybercrime, and encouraging media coverage from China. The influx of visitors is benefiting key areas including Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and lesser-known cities, where Chinese tourists are expanding their presence. Meanwhile, domestic tourism is promoted through tax incentives aimed at ensuring local communities reap the economic rewards.

 

Looking forward, Thailand aims to maintain this growth trajectory through continued event hosting and strategic marketing efforts. The focus on maintaining a safe, welcoming environment is set to play a crucial role in sustaining tourist interest and supporting broader economic stability into the new year.

 

Key Takeaways

• Foreign arrivals in Thailand are averaging 100,000 per day, driven by increases from China, Malaysia, and India.
• Enhanced safety and global events are key factors in the tourism sector's recovery.
• Flight demand surges with near-capacity bookings and a significant rise in airfares.

 

Related Stories

Thailand Sees Drop in Japanese Tourists as Baht Rises

Tourist Confidence Falls as Foreigners Steer Clear of Thailand

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod 2025-10-07

 

 

 

 

Tourism is collapsing, numbers are dire, wait, we need a bigger airport, we need more hotels, wait, the hotels are desperate only 20% occupancy rates....there aren't enough rooms prices are going to rocket.

THanks to the THB that was weakened for 2 days.... Next week we will read that the numbers are down again as Blackpink cancelled the show

Would it have anything to do with the rainy season coming to an end ?

16 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

THanks to the THB that was weakened for 2 days.... Next week we will read that the numbers are down again as Blackpink cancelled the show

 

Yes, news about booming vs. stagnant tourism coming out at dizzying speed, and very hard to determine which ones are based on facts, and which ones on wishful thinking... 

Numbers grow or decrease, but that's not the issue. 

 

The point is that since 3 years at least, tourist spending is dropping. Even the other foreigners and retirees who live in Thailand now spend less. No doubt that those who live here full time or half time just for winter, are fed up with all the cheating aimed against foreigners who are overcharged. Not to mention all the hassles by immigration rules and red tape that are destroying the economy. 

 

Vietnam, here we come....

Great news for all the scam business operators.

They do seem to flip and flop with their numbers and outlook.

Next week: Thailand the hub of world tourism.

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This surge underscores a revived enthusiasm for Thailand as a leading travel destination, marking a positive economic trend as the year draws to a close.

Up one day, drops the next... like a hoes draws in Pattaya

The Thai media have always been schizophrenic when it comes to reporting about the tourism industry. Well actually, when reporting about most things really.  I think somebody tosses a coin to decide whether it's a good or bad news story for today.

 

As a sidenote, we're well overdue for the honest taxi driver story of the quarter - any day now, 

This shows you can manipulate the data to support any theory you want.

 

Happens in Finance a lot.  The people who see the big picture and have an understanding of how it impacts the result usually have a better result 

I see a lot of AN posters threatening to leave for Vietnam.

 

Let us know how that works out, what with your 90 day border runs and State surveillance 24/7.

I think the issue here is that the sports and tourism ministry draws long term conclusions from short term data.

 

They seem to be talking about arrival numbers since late September. So a roughly ten day period. From that data they extrapolate opinions about the likely overall future of Thai tourism industry.

 

Using short term data to form long term predictions inevitably leads to flip flopping.

Well confusing I thought a few days ago they said it was really down they’re crying about it now it’s up this is the only country I know that one day is down and literally the next day or two could be all up I think they need a new form of mathematics TIT 

Up a bit, down a bit, up a bit left, down a bit right, down a touch - FIRE, Bernie the Bolt witnesses the surge!

1 minute ago, TheFishman1 said:

Well confusing I thought a few days ago they said it was really down they’re crying about it now it’s up this is the only country I know that one day is down and literally the next day or two could be all up I think they need a new form of mathematics TIT 

I think they count them getting off the plane at arrivals and subtract the leavers from departure, hence the erratic numbers, if a plane is delayed I expect they have a 400 tourist collapse.

ok, just make your minds up, its falling,, its rising  it's falling, it's rising ..  and next week it will be ??

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Photo courtesy of Khaosod

 

Thailand’s tourism industry is witnessing robust growth in late 2025, with foreign visitor numbers reaching nearly 100,000 daily. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports reports a doubling of Chinese tourists, particularly evident during the Golden Week holiday from September 28 to October 6. This surge underscores a revived enthusiasm for Thailand as a leading travel destination, marking a positive economic trend as the year draws to a close.

 

Foreign arrivals have steadily increased since late September, fueled by travelers from China, Malaysia, and India. Permanent Secretary Nattariya Thaweewong highlights the growth in Chinese arrivals, noting a jump from under 10,000 to around 20,000 visitors daily during Golden Week. This reflects enhanced confidence and optimism in Thailand’s tourism sector, bolstered by global events and improved security measures.

 

The uptick in tourism is supported by effective safety protocols that assure international visitors and minimal disruption from regional issues such as border tensions and floods. High-profile events like the Women’s Volleyball World Championship contribute to the recovery, with future attractions, including the 33rd SEA Games in December, Loy Krathong Festival, and New Year festivities, expected to sustain momentum.

 

Flight demand has surged, with travel agents reporting near full capacity on flights from major and secondary Chinese cities. The Secretary-General of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, Adith Chairattananon, notes a 99% passenger load, with return flight fares from Bangkok to Beijing increasing significantly. Airlines such as China Eastern, Hainan Airlines, Air China, and Vietjet have reported full flight bookings during peak travel days.

 

Thailand's tourism resilience is further strengthened by political stability, regional cooperation on cybercrime, and encouraging media coverage from China. The influx of visitors is benefiting key areas including Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and lesser-known cities, where Chinese tourists are expanding their presence. Meanwhile, domestic tourism is promoted through tax incentives aimed at ensuring local communities reap the economic rewards.

 

Looking forward, Thailand aims to maintain this growth trajectory through continued event hosting and strategic marketing efforts. The focus on maintaining a safe, welcoming environment is set to play a crucial role in sustaining tourist interest and supporting broader economic stability into the new year.

 

Key Takeaways

• Foreign arrivals in Thailand are averaging 100,000 per day, driven by increases from China, Malaysia, and India.
• Enhanced safety and global events are key factors in the tourism sector's recovery.
• Flight demand surges with near-capacity bookings and a significant rise in airfares.

 

Related Stories

Thailand Sees Drop in Japanese Tourists as Baht Rises

Tourist Confidence Falls as Foreigners Steer Clear of Thailand

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod 2025-10-07

 

 

But only nine or so days ago you wrote this:

 

Here we go again. 

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Up one day, drops the next... like a hoes draws in Pattaya

But way quicker

Tourism is down on every end, nothing has improved or changed to then state randomly a few weeks the exact opposite. Like seriously, this is just becoming mental.

21 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Tourism is collapsing, numbers are dire, wait, we need a bigger airport, we need more hotels, wait, the hotels are desperate only 20% occupancy rates....there aren't enough rooms prices are going to rocket.

And yet charge often near double of what it used to cost for a now older and poor maintained room, with service and smiles going down 5% yearly.. As well to just allow illegal foreign owned properties and businesses to even grow further in the southern islands. As well to then even build more hotels and the like... 

 

Meanwhile in Vietnam the list of countries getting 45 days on arrival without any visa has increased in august this year again, making it even more attractive to go there hassle free instead. This where Malaysia and Thailand started with a nonsense TDAC card that you can fill in minutes before flying, while providing the exact same information the airlines would already got.

 

Sometimes you think this has to be a bad trip on acid to believe it is even real. It's not even about intelligence anymore but just insanity. Oh yeah don't worry farangs, we just also add another few hundred baht to your flight tickets and soon 300 baht more on arrival, let's just add a 50 baht taxi fare charge for foreigners too and increase parks with 100 baht more. That will do.

 

The most ironic part is that the Vietnamese used to lack the smile, while this now increases, and decreases in Thailand.

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand's tourism resilience is further strengthened by political stability ... 

I wonder which dreambook the AI dug that out of ...

21 hours ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

The point is that since 3 years at least, tourist spending is dropping. Even the other foreigners and retirees who live in Thailand now spend less.

Well because prices went up insane but also specifically the entire lack of service and quality, just seems to make 7/11 and tops earn more while having long-term stayers sitting in their rooms or bungalows all day long.

 

On islands you can see most long-term units being full yet you barely see a soul inside bars or restaurants compared to the amount of people staying in the same areas. Many first time tourists nowadays often did Vietnam before they came here to then be shocked and go into savings mode.

 

Or like this latest genius level idea of the TAT to start 'Thai food festivals' after having removed all street food in recent years. Apparently one now needs to fly to udon thani to taste proper larb moo with sticky rice.

6 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

I wonder which dreambook the AI dug that out of ...

Even AI could not make this stuff up if you told it to make fictional claims.

5 hours ago, Woke to Sounds said:

I see a lot of AN posters threatening to leave for Vietnam.

 

Let us know how that works out, what with your 90 day border runs and State surveillance 24/7.

Works perfectly well for most people who live there since many years, and who never had any issue doing that. It's a stupid thing to say as most people do exactly the same here, with even more hoops to jump trough as well the need to extend for 2k baht and lose half a day.

 

Also Vietnam will soon introduce other types of visa's that will resolve this. They already work on digital nomad and retiree visa's.

5 hours ago, J Branche said:

This shows you can manipulate the data to support any theory you want.

 

Happens in Finance a lot.  The people who see the big picture and have an understanding of how it impacts the result usually have a better result 

Hockey stick chart on global warming is the same.

22 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This reflects enhanced confidence and optimism in Thailand’s tourism sector, bolstered by global events and improved security measures.

 

What a difference a day makes... 😆 

Here we go - TAT is already polishing the t*rd as the inevitable high season starts.  Recently there has been Chinese holidays, and a major Indian religious festival as well.  But we all know the truth - the visa free entry has attracted the short stay charlie cheapies - the 'high value' 'western' tourists (includes Japan, Korea) are just not coming as much as they did. The High Baht and Poor Safety and The Scams and Poor Infrastructure have all combined to make Thailand a less desirable place to visit. When you add all the bureaucratic BS like 90 days and the threat of income taxes, with SFA in the way of benefits like Residency, Thailand is also not the desirable location for 'western' Retirees anymore either.  From USA it is not even in the Top 10 anymore.  

 

 

 

21 hours ago, brian69 said:

Would it have anything to do with the rainy season coming to an end ?

Probably... they are allowed to drink again 😆