Thailand Cuts Chinese Tourist Target Amid Safety Concerns

Thailand Lowers Chinese Tourism Target as Safety Fears Weigh on Arrivals

The Association of Thai Travel Agents has reduced its 2026 target for Chinese visitors to Thailand from 9 million to 7 million amid concerns about safety and weaker travel demand. Economic pressure in China, particularly the continuing property downturn, has made travellers more selective about where and when they spend money overseas. Chinese outbound travel is still expected to reach roughly 179 million trips this year with spending of about US$258 billion, although both estimates have been revised slightly downward. Thailand faces additional challenges from reports involving scams, disappearances and ransom cases, along with higher travel costs and negative coverage spreading across Chinese social media. Nearby destinations such as Hong Kong and Macau are capturing a large share of the market, while South Korea is also expected to benefit from changing Chinese travel patterns.