TOURISM

Thailand Welcomes 9.55 Million Foreign Tourists in Q1 2025, with China Remaining the Top Market

Thailand welcomed 9,549,004 foreign tourists in the first quarter of 2025 (1 January - 31 March), reflecting a modest 1.91% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Despite slow growth in arrivals, tourism revenue surged by 10.47% year-on-year, generating 462.75 billion baht for local businesses, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

China remained the top source of visitors, with 1,331,434 arrivals, followed by Malaysia (1,153,496) and Russia (722,202). Other top markets included India, South Korea, Germany, the UK, the US, Japan, and France.

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), stated that TAT will collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to evaluate and adjust market-specific targets in response to current conditions. She acknowledged that external factors, such as negative global events in Q1, have influenced market performance.

While some markets, including China and South Korea, saw declines in arrivals, others, such as Japan, Europe, and the Middle East, showed positive trends. Despite these fluctuations, the government's target for foreign tourist arrivals remains at 39 - 40 million for 2025.

Source : THE NATION