Once a bright spot in the economy, Thailand’s tourism sector appears to be losing its shine.
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Even with an expected bump in foreign arrivals during the peak travel season at the end of the year, the country’s main tourism body still expects just 33.4 million visitors for 2025, an almost 6 per cent drop from 35.5 million last year.
That’s the first decline in a decade outside the pandemic, and underscores the country’s challenge in trying to revive tourist arrivals, which remain below pre-Covid levels.
While the country’s white sandy beaches and wild nightlife remain world-famous, Chinese concerns over safety, gains in the baht and the rise of alternative destinations have sapped traveller interest.
“We are monitoring how many Chinese tourists will arrive between November and December after several stimulus measures were implemented to boost this market,” Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool told reporters Wednesday in Bangkok.
Tourist Safety