Thailand records THB984.32 billion in revenue from foreign tourists
China was the largest source market, while foreign tourist spending reached THB984.32 billion and cumulative foreign tourist arrivals fell 2.96% year on year.
- Thailand earned THB984.32 billion in revenue from over 20 million foreign tourists between January 1 and August 22, 2026.
- The top five sources of tourists contributing to this revenue were China (with over 3.4 million visitors), Malaysia, India, Russia, and South Korea.
- Despite the high revenue, the cumulative tourist total of 20.32 million represents a 2.96% decrease compared to the same period last year.
- Recent trends show a slowdown, with weekly arrivals dropping by 9.18% in mid-August as summer holidays in key markets like China came to an end.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported in its latest tourism update on Tuesday (August 25, 2026) that Thailand recorded more than 20 million foreign tourist arrivals.
The figures covered the period from January 1 to August 22.
Spending by those visitors generated THB984.32 billion in revenue.
The five largest sources of foreign tourists were:
- China: 3,440,752 visitors
- Malaysia: 2,559,676 visitors
- India: 1,494,003 visitors
- Russia: 1,158,680 visitors
- South Korea: 749,202 visitors
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said a preliminary assessment put the cumulative total over the same period at 20.32 million, down 2.96% from the corresponding period last year.
Overall arrivals showed signs of slowing during the week in both short- and long-haul markets.
Short-haul arrivals totalled 384,778, down 4.70% from the previous week.
As China’s summer school holiday entered its final phase, Chinese arrivals slowed.
Malaysian arrivals increased, supported by a run of holidays at the start of the week following the reporting period, including Melaka Governor’s Birthday in Melaka state and Maulidur Rasul.
Taiwanese arrivals increased for a second consecutive week, supported by a recent rise in flight frequencies.
EVA Air, for example, had up to 32 flights a week on the TPE–BKK route, helping Taiwan move from sixth to fourth place during the reporting week.
Japanese arrivals fell after the previous week’s holiday period for Mountain Day and the Obon festival ended, slipping from fourth place the previous week to fifth.
During the week from Sunday (August 16, 2026) to Saturday (August 22, 2026), foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand totalled 556,400, down by 56,243, or 9.18%, from the previous week.
The daily average was 79,486.
The five largest source markets during the week were:
- China: 110,271 visitors, down 10.65% from the previous week
- Malaysia: 62,845 visitors, up 4.66% from the previous week
- India: 37,307 visitors, down 9.11% from the previous week
- Taiwan: 25,348 visitors, up 7.95% from the previous week
- Japan: 22,291 visitors, down 27.31% from the previous week
For the week following the reporting period, overall foreign arrivals were expected to slow as summer school holidays approached their end in several markets, reducing international travel.
Coverage in Malaysian media of unrest in Thailand’s three southern border provinces could also affect Malaysian tourists’ travel decisions.
