Thailand’s tourism sector recorded a slowdown in the first four months of 2026, with foreign arrivals declining 3.45% year-on-year amid airline disruptions and unrest in the Middle East, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
As of May 3, international arrivals totalled nearly 12 million visitors, while tourism revenue reached 584 billion baht, down 3.28% compared with the same period last year.
In April alone, arrivals fell 7% year-on-year to 2.37 million as airlines adjusted flight schedules due to regional instability. Despite the decline in visitor numbers, tourism revenue still increased 2.94% to 117 billion baht.
The Chinese market remained Thailand’s largest source of visitors and recorded the strongest growth in April, rising 31.9% year-on-year to 418,291 arrivals. The strong rebound has encouraged the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to place greater focus on China to help revive the short-haul market this year.
Malaysia ranked second with 309,942 visitors, though arrivals declined 14.5%, while India posted a slight increase of 0.17% to 206,641 tourists.
The Russia market generated strong spending despite lower volumes, while arrivals from the United Kingdom dropped sharply by 22.8% as rising jet fuel costs pushed airfares higher.
TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said the tourism industry may continue to feel the effects of the Gulf conflict, particularly as elevated airfares and limited seat capacity affect travel demand in the short term.
However, she noted that tourism revenue still improved in April, reflecting a shift toward higher-spending segments such as health and wellness travellers and family groups.
The Chinese market also showed signs of renewed confidence in Thailand as safety perceptions improved, helping strengthen momentum for the remainder of the year.
TAT continues to target at least 5.5 million Chinese visitors in 2026, up from 4.47 million in 2025, while aiming for tourism revenue growth of at least 20% from the market.
To support the industry, the Thai government recently approved a 400-billion-baht loan decree, with TAT preparing new stimulus measures under the “Thai Teaw Thai Plus” scheme. The initiative is expected to focus more on attracting high-value tourists and supporting tourism operators, rather than prioritising large visitor volumes alone.