Thailand logs 23.94 million foreign arrivals, below 36.7 million target
International visitor numbers fell 4.04 per cent year on year, while domestic trips and tourism revenue increased.
Foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand totalled 23.94 million between January 1 and October 10, according to the Economics Tourism and Sports Division. That leaves 12.76 million arrivals needed to meet the country’s 2026 target of 36.7 million.
The division’s week 41 report, covering October 4–10, put the year-on-year decline in foreign arrivals at 4.04 per cent. Revenue from international tourism dropped 2.47 per cent to ฿1.165 trillion.
Domestic tourism grew over the same period. Thais took 157.80 million trips within Thailand, a rise of 2.38 per cent from a year earlier. Those trips generated ฿925.782 billion, with revenue increasing 3.09 per cent.
China was the leading overseas visitor market, accounting for 4,078,133 arrivals. Malaysia followed with 3,039,825, ahead of India at 1,794,723. Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool had forecast the 36.7 million foreign visitor figure in February.
Separately, the Association of Thai Travel Agents has urged the Finance Ministry to postpone a proposed ฿1,000 departure tax for international air passengers. The association warned that the extra expense could deter travel and hurt the broader tourism economy.
