Picture courtesy of TAT Newsroom

 

Thailand achieved a significant tourism milestone this year, with long-haul tourist arrivals breaching the 10 million mark for the first time. The landing of a Thai Airways flight from London to Bangkok on December 17 symbolically marked this milestone. This year, the UK also claimed the title of the first European nation to send over 1 million visitors to Thailand.

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, along with other officials, welcomed travellers to Suvarnabhumi Airport to mark the occasion. Long-haul visitors, including those from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa, now make up about 33% of all international arrivals.

 

Thailand is targeting a total of 32.8 million tourist arrivals by the year’s end, with long-haul visitors being big spenders who enjoy extended stays, aligning with TAT's focus on attracting high-quality tourists.

 

To celebrate this achievement, two passengers were awarded Thai Airways international flight tickets for the London-Bangkok route, alongside luxurious accommodations at Anantara Chiang Mai and Avani+ Khao Lak. PANPURI Wellness and Sala Lakorn provided additional dining and spa experiences.

 

Reports from Khaosod suggest that TAT attributes this success to its strategic focus on airlines, aimed at boosting direct flights and increasing flight frequencies to facilitate long-haul travel. The volume of long-haul flights to Thailand increased by 12.8% this year, noticeably outpacing the global average of 1.6%.

 

New and reintroduced routes include services from United Airlines’ Los Angeles-Bangkok, Air France’s Paris-Phuket, and Norse Atlantic Airways’ expanded routes from London Gatwick, Manchester, Stockholm, and Oslo. Arkia Airlines from Israel has also restarted its Tel Aviv-Bangkok flights.

 

Continuing promotional initiatives in the UK, in collaboration with tour operators and airlines, have significantly contributed to these increased numbers. Looking ahead to early 2026, TAT is planning new campaigns with over 10 UK travel companies to sustain this growth.

 

As the holiday season approaches, travellers can anticipate a surge in flights and potential ticket price increases, though there are still chances to find reasonably priced options, according to The Thaiger.

 

Picture courtesy of TAT Newsroom

 

Key Takeaways

• Thailand surpassed 10 million long-haul tourists for the first time.
• The UK is notable as the first European country to exceed 1 million visitors.
• TAT's airline-focused strategy boosted flight connections significantly.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-12-17

 

 

 

It stands to reason that when the bottom falls out the previously dominant Chinese market to such then the number of long haul tourists as a % of total tourist numbers is bound to rise. I don't think it's evidence of attracting high quality tourists, quite the reverse if you look at the change in the demographic of Brits I witnessed in Pattaya in the last year. Marijuana seems more of an attraction that upmarket spas, high end dining or shopping.

 

In fairness at least it proves that the often spouted nonsense on here that Western tourist numbers from the likes of the UK are declining is absolute garbage.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

the UK also claimed the title of the first European nation to send over 1 million visitors to Thailand.

 

Simply, a sign of us Brits wanting to get out of the hell hole that is the UK. More to follow...

 

5 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

 

Simply, a sign of us Brits wanting to get out of the hell hole that is the UK. More to follow...

 

They have been going abroad on  holidays since the 

1960,s haven't they ?

The modern day version of the Grand Tour of the 1800's.

UK EU Country sent 1m Tourists to Thailand, did they not have a choice .....

What was their crime to deserve that ?

1 hour ago, Jim Blue said:

They have been going abroad on  holidays since the 

1960,s haven't they ?

Err the mid 1800's    😎

Would explain seeing so many English people who appear to live at Eastern European standards today in Thailand. Guess more and more try to escape it but are too late and not able to except for a holiday. If i said 10 years ago it is going downhill hard most disagreed, now they agree.

Tourists or potential immigrants?

Germany is sending a lot of people to thailand next year , i am one of them.

 

 

Is that really something to celebrate?

 

11 hours ago, webfact said:

arrivals breaching the 10 million mark for the first time.

The Indians can do that in 3 months. 

 

What does that Brit have on his head?

8 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

 

Simply, a sign of us Brits wanting to get out of the hell hole that is the UK. More to follow...

 

About hell hole. If that's the reason, then more Americans should actually come...

8 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Simply, a sign of us Brits wanting to get out of the hell hole that is the UK. More to follow..

 

This is the common refrain of losers who have ended up in Thailand attracted by cheap booze and sex, but have burnt their boats in the UK.The UK obviously has its problems but the hardworking and well educated do very well, and have an excellent life.That's why incidentally cultured and well off Thais send their children to English public schools.

 

If you read on this forum of some description of the UK as a hell hole or similar, it variably says more about the poster than it does about the UK.Even those Brits who have been settled here for decades and have no reason to be attached to it, hold the country in affectionate if sometimes disappointed regard.It's only the uneducated trash that hate it.

27 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

What does that Brit have on his head?

he is realy an american spy

I can think of one in particular I'd like to see sent back.

33 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

What does that Brit have on his head?

He's smuggling badgers.

Was there a ceremony for the couple of millian long haul, long stay Russians who came in 2024?

Absolutely awful animal tourists that are arriving in Thailand from the UK. Most of them lured by the drugs. 

 

Turning away families. 

4 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

They have been going abroad on  holidays since the 

1960,s haven't they ?

No

Blackpool, Brighton, skegness, Filey 

Popular in the 1960,s

🤣🤣🎣

1 hour ago, cdemundo said:

What does that Brit have on his head?

It's called hair. Cast your mind back a few decades and you may remember having some.

They should have chosen a ruddy faced, pot bellied Brit in a singlet, with a raging woody from the viagra he took as the flight landed.  Give him something, nay, anything, for free and he'll be on cloud nine.  

The quality Brit tourists have moved on from Spain to sample  the delights of Thailand 

Temples beaches and good entertainment plus good English pub food in Pattaya and Phuket 😋

Plus it's a lot better than being in the UK at the moment weather wise 

2 hours ago, cdemundo said:

What does that Brit have on his head?

A dead poodle, quite obviously.

With his sweat pants that all they can afford. Primark 

38 minutes ago, cowellandrew said:

No

Blackpool, Brighton, skegness, Filey 

Popular in the 1960,s

🤣🤣🎣

No self respecting youngster would be seen dead in those

seaside resorts ( with their parents )...it was a student flight to 

Loret or  Marakesh ....all I remember was a bunch of cranes .

 

Oh and the Sangrila !

12 hours ago, kinyara said:

Marijuana seems more of an attraction that upmarket spas, high end dining or shopping.

well obviously, because it is

2 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Absolutely awful animal tourists that are arriving in Thailand from the UK. Most of them lured by the drugs. 

 

Turning away families. 

who laments the lack of families in pattaya     is that what you go there for? Io see "the families"?  you need your hard drive checking asap

15 hours ago, webfact said:

This year, the UK also claimed the title of the first European nation to send over 1 million visitors to Thailand.

Scouting for a new country to live in ?