File photo for reference only

 

Foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand from January 1 to November 2 have decreased by 7.22% compared to the same period last year, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry. The total number of foreign visitors during this period was reported at 26.89 million. Malaysia emerged as the largest source market with 3.88 million visitors, closely followed by China, contributing 3.8 million.

 

This downturn comes as the Ministry of Finance revised its forecast for foreign tourist arrivals this year to 33.5 million, down from the previously estimated 34.5 million. For context, in 2019, Thailand attracted nearly 40 million visitors before the onset of the Covid pandemic. Last week, various organisations, including the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), pushed for increased promotional efforts and suggested "Quick Win" measures to invigorate the tourism sector.

 

Despite the decline in numbers, there are positive diplomatic gestures at play. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul highlighted that Chinese President Xi Jinping appreciated Thailand's firm stance against legalising casinos. We expect the Chinese government to encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Thailand, which could potentially increase future visitation figures, reported Bangkok Post.

 

Looking forward, tourism officials and agencies are likely to focus on strategic promotions and partnerships to counteract the drop in numbers. Efforts to implement tax incentives and other stimuli for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibition (MICE) events may play a significant role in revitalising the sector. Continued cooperation with major source countries like China will be vital for future growth in tourism figures.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Thailand's foreign tourist numbers fell by 7.22% this year.
• Malaysia and China remain top source markets for visitors.
• The government is considering "Quick Win" measures to boost arrivals.

Related Stories:

Thailand Faces Drop in Tourist Arrivals Amidst Regional Rivalry

Tourist Arrivals in Thailand Fall as Asian Markets Weaken

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-11-05

 

 

Disappointing, was hoping for a larger fall in numbers

Down 7.22% by headcount. 

 

I wonder what that is by weight?

25 minutes ago, impulse said:

Down 7.22% by headcount. 

 

I wonder what that is by weight?

I wonder where TAT previously got their numbers and estimates. Most Thai news sent out by TAT was always promising record numbers. The bosses there must be pooping their pants trying to find an excuse for their lies and presumptions that effect the economy so much. 

No wonder.. I am beginning to understand why too.. The Thai Government is treating people like kids.. They control everything, as there is in fact no freedom...check where you stay, when you can drink and when not, what to wear, smoking allowed or vaping or not,  double pricing everywhere, hospitals, national parks, even sometimes in restaurants, and as long term residents, you bare treated like prisoners, with 90 days reports( even released convicts don't need to do that), address notifications( Thai people can live where they want as the blue book is never updated), not allowed to do anything etc ..

 

I understand why people are avoiding Thailand more and more, although the country is lovely, the food is good and in the non touristic areas the people are friendly, anyway there is a lot of work to do to get tourists again

Way too high prices with increasingly worse service, less smiles and 3 main countries that annoy most other people (russians, ukranians, israelis). To then add the cherry on top: the ping pong show of the government with ever changing rules.

Thailand just ain't cheap anymore and very scammy in tourist areas 

7 minutes ago, FruitPudding said:

Thailand just ain't cheap anymore and very scammy in tourist areas 

Always feels surreal when I am in Vietnam or Cambodia, specially Cambodia with the USD as main currency makes you aware of spending more too. Last time I was there at the main tourist area in a modern Japanese restaurant on the riverside I paid under 30 dollars for a bottle of sparkling wine with sushi en beef snacks. 

If going for beers and cheaper food options it is even hard to spend more than 20 dollars in a day while that is gone in hours in Thailand. I would not mind paying the increased price of today if the service and quality was in order but it is actually going backwards too, same for many hotel rooms.

 

I guess that is what happens when too few rich people own most places while not personally being passionated or involved in their businesses. The owners that do are passionated are that exotic, that they charge a 200% premium price in Thailand, where this is the baseline elsewhere.

 

Seen little shtty shops in Chiang Mai asking for 30-40K rent alone while this used to be 10-15K, guess that explains a lot too. It's like buying a job to start a place.

Or like recently on Samui, had a nice place at a marina before getting on a boat later on that day, selling draught small beers and finger food, with a depressed looking burmese to handle all work and then finding out that there was a 10% service charge on top of the already over priced 120 baht for the beer... Then you just lost it as a owner, i'd rather paid 150 baht if it was a hot thai girl that smiled. It should have costed 80 baht at most.

 

What is even more funny is that the same owner is then complaining that almost nobody sits there to have beers. It amazes me the most that they have had tourists here now for many decades and yet struggle with the very basics of hospitality and tourism, while heavily relying on it.

I heard Pai and Koh Phangan have had a lot of cancellations.

Anyone else hope the economy totally crashes?

Visa free for trashy tourists has harmed the image. 

 

 

People are not buying what Thailand is selling anymore.

The military's policy of escalating border conflict with Cambodia hasn't helped.

 

Other countries (especially long-haul) are feeling the pinch financially, and of course that which made Thailand so attractive is now covered in concrete.

 

Who do we believe.

Tourist numbers up.

Tourist numbers down.

Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down

It's more than drawers on Soi 6.

 

FYI XE.COM, January 1, 2025 Exchange rate was 34.4848 THB to $$$. Now November 2, 2025 exchange rate is 32.2581. This could be part of the mix on the downward trend.

A lower number of tourists  make the experience a better one for everyone involved, except perhaps the hotels and the people connected to the industry. As far as the tourists are concerned huge numbers are never very pleasant. Just look at Italy and Spain as an example. 

22 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

No wonder.. I am beginning to understand why too.. The Thai Government is treating people like kids.. They control everything, as there is in fact no freedom...check where you stay, when you can drink and when not, what to wear, smoking allowed or vaping or not,  double pricing everywhere, hospitals, national parks, even sometimes in restaurants, and as long term residents, you bare treated like prisoners, with 90 days reports( even released convicts don't need to do that), address notifications( Thai people can live where they want as the blue book is never updated), not allowed to do anything etc ..

 

I understand why people are avoiding Thailand more and more, although the country is lovely, the food is good and in the non touristic areas the people are friendly, anyway there is a lot of work to do to get tourists again

The problem is that most Thais seem to like that situation or even need this sort of government. It allows them to carry on in their usual "Not My Responsibility" way. They thrive with a benevolent dictatorship.

It's still busy. 

 

But more competition especially from Vietnam.

 

Bat crazy visa open border rules means safety has been lost with criminals entering with aplom. 

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

A lower number of tourists  make the experience a better one for everyone involved, except perhaps the hotels and the people connected to the industry. As far as the tourists are concerned huge numbers are never very pleasant. Just look at Italy and Spain as an example. 

Quite, but there is no pleasing some, they whinge about too many Asian tourists and then whinge about the government if the numbers start falling.

Some European countries are now suffering from the cost of long haul. Brits can get a week's holiday, fully inclusive, in Europe for less than a ticket to Thailand.

In June I went from the UK to Morocco, fully inclusive on BA with all our luggage to a very nice resort for just over £600 per person. Last month I was £650 on Emirates just to get to Gatwick, is it any wonder the numbers are down.

23 hours ago, FruitPudding said:

Thailand just ain't cheap anymore and very scammy in tourist areas 

I find Thailand exceptionally cheap, but I'm not a tourist in Pattaya/Phuket.

Normal day to day living in a nice house is for a minimal cost.

 

For tourists it's the expensive flight costs putting everyone off.

Flight from Heathrow to Spain/Portugal/Bulgaria $50

Flight from Heathrow to Bangkok $500.

On 11/5/2025 at 1:29 PM, impulse said:

Down 7.22% by headcount. 

 

I wonder what that is by weight?

It would have to take into account the number of Americans

Don’t worry TAT will have some amazing news on more tourists coming soon. We all know it’s BS. 

Mention Thailand to people in the Western world and most respond about the sex trade,  scammers in Thailand etc. Etc.  Image of Thailand is tarnished. Regularly in the world media there are negative reports of kidnapping, robberies, tourist being scammed by the police etc etc 

Thailand does not project a good image for tourist, especially families

Well deserved I must say, tourists just don't get the kind of treatment on par with cost and expectations any longer. 

The "modern holiday" is a week if not less. 

Practically flights are limited to twelve hours which counts out most European travellers and certainly those from USA.

Thailand has to market itself as a regional destination. It happens to be within 3-4 hours flying time of 3 billion people.

That's the future market.

The debate is about when and how you transition to that market

Thailand let scumbags from all over the world coming and even they make problems nothing happens

On 11/5/2025 at 9:56 AM, thesetat said:

I wonder where TAT previously got their numbers and estimates. Most Thai news sent out by TAT was always promising record numbers. The bosses there must be pooping their pants trying to find an excuse for their lies and presumptions that effect the economy so much. 

       With TAT's beginning of the year projection, it likely used the previous year's figures and then plugged in other factors to come up with their projection--which is just that, a projection, not a 'promise'.  As the year progresses, and more data comes in, the projection can be adjusted, up or down, which TAT has done.  Very normal.

       There's nothing mysterious or sinister here and it's no different than what other businesses do.  For example, I have a Schwab stock account and, right now, I can click on 'Investment Income' on my account and Schwab will tell me what my projected dividend income will be in 2026.  Will it actually be that income figure?  Likely not.  Likely the dividends for some of my stocks will be adjusted, which will change the final figure of dividend income received in 2026.   Likely I will also buy or sell dividend stocks in 2026, which will also change the projection.  Very normal, too.

13 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Visa free for trashy tourists has harmed the image. 

 

 

No-one has ever shown how visa free brings in more undesirables...compared to a cheap tourist visa