Thailand tourism situation

[caller]

I'm in Bkk at the moment, and I have been surprised at the number of foreign visitors that seem to be around. I went to iconsiam earlier and it wasn't particularly busy or even worth visiting, compared to how it was when it opened, but the food place on the ground floor was heaving and I doubt many were Thais. This is the area that was a pretend floating market, but they seem to have given up on that, and was jam packed with food stalls.

The trains seem particularly busy with tourists.

[Big Boy]

European school holidays?

[Dannie Boy]

Not in the UK, not sure about mainland Europe?


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[STEVE G]

^Next week in the bit of Europe where I work.
Yesterday we went down to Sam Roi Yot and had lunch at one of those seafood restaurants next to where you get the boats to the Phrya Nakhon cave and it was surprisingly busy with Western tourists.
I was expecting locals with the long weekend but not so many foreigners, I was there in May and there were none.
( Incidentally, the restaurant to the right by the crab sculpture is pretty good for a tourist spot and has it's own parking. )

[Dannie Boy]

This article in the BP paints a fairly dismal prospect for tourists this year and next. They seem to be looking for any pro replacement the dwindling number of Chinese tourists, but already realise that for every Chinese tourist they need two from Malaysia to match their spending profile and I’d guess it would be similar for Indians!!

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... to-reverse#


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[buksida]

A lot of the Malays are mostly weekend border runners, but anything to inflate their fake figures.

TAT is now targeting Arabs who, as tourists, make the Chinese look like saints.

[Dannie Boy]

Not to worry, TAT have the answer for sorting the tourism problem out!!

https://www.tatnews.org/2025/07/thailan ... m-in-2026/


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[buksida]

Tourism confidence dives
The tourism confidence index in the second quarter plunged year-on-year, as tourism contracted since the beginning of the year due to safety concerns and cautious tourism spending following the US's decision to implement a reciprocal tariff policy, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT).

The TCT also predicted that Thailand would gain only 33.3 million foreign arrivals this year, which is even fewer visitors than last year, and secure 1.75 trillion baht revenue.

TCT president Chai Arunanondchai said the tourism industry has been facing even greater challenges than last year due to a string of negative factors.

According to the TCT, the tourism confidence index for the second quarter stood at only 70, below a benchmark of 100 recorded prior to the pandemic.

It also plunged from 79 recorded in the corresponding period last year, and 83 recorded in the first quarter.

The council surveyed 740 tourism operators nationwide from May 25 to June 10. The kidnapping of a Chinese actor into a border scam centre in Myanmar and the March 28 earthquake hampered foreign tourist arrivals, causing the Chinese-speaking market to drop by over 50%.

World economic growth is expected to grow at the slowest rate in 16 years, mainly attributed to the US's reciprocal tariff policy, causing tourists to feel insecure about their income, prompting them to opt for trips to closer destinations instead.

The emerging challenges include the ongoing Thailand-Cambodia border spat, which is expected to hamper tourism in the border provinces during this low season, while the high level of household debt among Thais also persists.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... ence-dives

Thailand forever blaming others for their problems. US import tariffs have f-all to do with tourism (but surging prices, taxes, scams, ripoffs, dual pricing, safety concerns, and anti-foreigner sentiment/attitudes certainly do - all things Thailand can control.)

[STEVE G]

The emerging challenges include the ongoing Thailand-Cambodia border spat, which is expected to hamper tourism in the border provinces during this low season,...

Yes, artillery duels are bound to have a detrimental effect.
Perhaps destinations with overtourism problems are taking note!

[Big Boy]

TAT Travel Advisory issued today.

https://www.tatnews.org/2025/07/travel- ... -thailand/?