Top News

Visitors walk around the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 20, 2026. Photo by AFP

East Asia accounted for 3.73 million arrivals, while visitors from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), South Asia and the South Pacific totaled 4.5 million, Xinhua News Agency reported citing a source from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Mainland China recorded the strongest growth in the region, with 2.1 million arrivals, up 18.79% year-on-year, driven by expanded flight capacity and increased seat availability, said Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, TAT deputy governor for international marketing in Asia and the South Pacific as quoted by The Nation newspaper.

Thai tourism officials attributed the growth to targeted campaigns focused on high-quality and special-interest travelers.

Looking ahead to the third quarter, the TAT expects short-haul travel demand to remain stable or rise slightly, supported by school holidays across ASEAN from May to August and the summer vacation season.

However, rising airfares are expected to encourage travelers to choose shorter regional trips, intensifying competition among Asian destinations, Pattaraanong said.

Thailand expects about 33.5 million foreign tourists this year, up from nearly 33 million visitors last year.

The goal looks uncertain now after Thai cabinet last week approved the end of its 60-day visa-free stays for tourists from 93 countries in an effort to prevent rising crime and protect its tourism reputation.

The new visa-free duration would be decided on a country-by-country basis, with most foreign nationals granted stays of up to 30 days, while some could receive only 15 days.