Thailand Foreign Tourist Numbers Drop 3.19% in First Half of 2025

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasakdi Panjcharoenvarkul disclosed that foreign tourist arrivals from January 1 to August 1, 2025 totaled 18 million, representing a 3.19 percent decline compared to the same period in 2024. The top five source markets are China, Malaysia, India, Russia, and South Korea. Recent weeks have experienced a slowdown from nearby markets due to reports of unrest in southern border provinces and reduced flight capacity on Indian routes. Overall, Thailand is seeing declining international arrivals from both regional and European long-haul markets. The drop in tourists corresponds with hotel booking rates, which the Thai Hotels Association chairman noted stood at 53 percent in July 2025, lower than July 2024. The association attributes the decline to entering the low season combined with Middle East tensions, which have dampened travel demand. Industry operators are calling on the government during the second half of 2025 to implement multiple support measures, particularly domestic tourism stimulus initiatives to boost revenue and increase economic circulation. These include increasing government conferences and events, adding flights, reviewing visa-free policies, reducing energy costs, cutting government fees, and providing tax relief. Industry leaders also support the Tourism Ministry's plans to consult the Finance Ministry about using borrowed funds for domestic tourism promotion projects, particularly the revised "Thai Travel Thai Plus" program combining government and private spending, which they hope to launch in September and run through October before the peak season. Thai tourism serves as a critical economic engine generating foreign income, but currently faces headwinds from multiple internal and external factors. The private sector's proposals merit serious consideration, and stakeholders hope the government will implement stimulus measures and support, especially during this second half of the year.