Thai tourism dips overall, but Chinese visitors surge

Thailand recorded 20 million foreign tourists between January and June, a 3.08% decline from the same period last year, according to figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Arrivals from Malaysia fell 11.87%, South Korea 24.78% and the United Kingdom 3.44%, The Nation Thailand reported.

China is a bright spot. The ministry revised its annual target to 5.1 million Chinese visitors, a 14% rise from the 2025 forecast, though still far below the nearly 11 million who came in 2019.

A kidnapping of a Chinese tourist last month has raised safety concerns among Chinese travelers.

From Sept. 15, Thailand will cut visa‑free stays to 30 days for tourists from dozens of countries, a change that will also affect Chinese visitors.

The contrast shows how a single source market can offset broader visitor declines, shaping Thailand’s tourism outlook despite overall drops and policy shifts.

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMERS

4English does not own the rights to this content. All rights belong to the owner. 4English only uses this content to help users learn English via the app's features. Contact to request the removal of your content: contact@4englishapp.com.

Practice Listening