Thailand Foreign Tourist Arrivals Drop 7.14% Jan-Aug 2025

Thailand's tourism sector is facing significant challenges in 2025, with foreign tourist arrivals dropping by 7.14% from January to August compared to the previous year, totaling about 21.37 million visitors. China remains the largest source market with 3.03 million arrivals, but the overall decline has led the state planning agency to revise its annual forecast down from 37 million to 33 million tourists, reflecting ongoing difficulties in full recovery post-pandemic. The slowdown is compounded by global economic uncertainty, changing travel preferences, and stronger competition from rival destinations, impacting sectors like accommodation and food services, which saw growth decelerate sharply. Domestic tourism has provided some support through government stimulus, but growth has also slowed. Industry players, such as hospitality groups, have adjusted revenue and growth expectations downward, pursuing diversification strategies including international expansion to mitigate market volatility. Despite these setbacks, Thai tourism authorities maintain cautious optimism about rebuilding international visitor numbers.