Thailand

The Pattaya Mayor held a discussion with the National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM) for the implementation of the “CPR on The Beach” project, aimed at providing training on emergency reporting, basic first aid, and emergency vigilance to communities and tourism operators in Pattaya

C9 Hotelworks’ Samui Hotel & Tourism Market Review 2025 showed that hotel occupancy levels peaked in Jan 2025, +8% YoY. Overall occupancy in 2024 rose 12% YoY despite some decline in Q1 during the Chinese New Year period. Average Daily Rate (ADR) rose 9% YoY in 2024, and notably, 21% YoY in Apr 2025. Europe remained the top international source region, at 56% of arrivals in 2024, driven by travellers from Germany, the UK, and France. Koh Samui currently has 634 registered accommodation providers with 24,188 keys. New branded properties set to open in the short term include the Nivata Koh Samui (Tapestry Collection by Hilton, opening Q4 2025) and SO/ by Sofitel and Fivelements Samui (both set to open in 2026).Koh Samui welcomed 35 cruise ships carrying 65,792 passengers in Jan-Apr 2025, +6% YoY. The island welcomed 50 cruise liners in 2024, nearly doubling YoY. Samui International Airport recorded 1,127,832 passenger arrivals in Jan-Apr 2025, +9% YoY. Air arrivals reached 2.78 million in 2024, +21% YoY and surpassing pre-pandemic levels

Chief Executive of Galaxy Resorts Thailand suggested the gaming areas within Thailand’s proposed Entertainment Complexes to be limited to only 5% of total floor space to address public concerns. He noted that even the small portion could generate up to 80% of revenue to subsidise hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, and other non-gaming attractions

Chief Brand Officer Thailand for Galaxy Entertainment Group disagreed with People’s Party spokesperson’s opinion that the decline in Chinese arrival was at least in part due to Beijing’s opposition to gambling. He noted that the decline in tourism numbers was more attributed to the recent negative publicity around scam centres on the Thai border and the kidnapping of Chinese actor Wang Xing in Jan around the Thai-Myanmar border. He added that “Thailand tourism needs a reboot with entertainment complexes being one important strategy to fuel incremental growth”

The Tourism Minister reported that Thailand has welcomed 15,016,878 international arrivals from 1 Jan-8 Jun, generating an estimated 699.3 billion THB in tourism revenue, -2.87% YoY. The top source markets are Malaysia (2,041,002), China (2,029,481), India (1,035,864), Russia (981,011), and South Korea (702,267). Arrivals averaged 80,826 per day during the week of 2-8 Jun

Pattaya Mayor announced that the city plans to deploy AI-powered police drones to find criminals and visa overstayers. The drones are linked to a centralised AI database so they can scan faces in crowds and pick out individuals with outstanding arrest warrants or expired visas. They will be used during large-scale local events and in tourist hotspots

President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) warned that the proposed Hotel and Overnight Accommodation Act (Equal Accommodation Bill) that aimed to simplify hotel licensing procedures could open a “dangerous loophole”. He noted that allowing individual condo units or homes within residential buildings to register as accommodations without converting the entire building to hotel status could infringe on residents’ rights

Tatler Asia (Thailand), with support from the TAT, held the Phuket Dining Festival 2025 from 30-31 May, highlighting Green Gastronomy and Responsible Tourism

Thailand has been featured in Lonely Planet’s new The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide, which highlighted 50 global destinations that are safe and inclusive for LGBTQ+ travellers

Commander of the Tourism Police, senior officials from the Transport Inspection Division, and local police units, conducted a coordinated crackdown on taxis operating in key tourist areas like Siam Square and the surrounding area of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The officials arrested 49 taxi drivers within just one day for offenses such as refusing passengers (13 cases), not using meters as legally required (22 cases), improper attire (5 cases), use of unauthorized vehicles (1 case), failure to maintain or renew meter devices (1 case), driving without a license (3 cases), and lack of proper vehicle registration (3 cases)

Chairman of the Board of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) and former TAT Governor believes that Thai tourism is at a “critical turning point”, and is experiencing a “significant structural change”. The main issue is the decline in Chinese visitors, with Thailand projected to see less than 5 million Chinese arrivals in 2025 for the first time in 12 years. He recommended three concepts to transform Thai tourism landscape – Better Target, Better Quality, and Better Future

The Ministry of Culture launched the 2025 Thailand Biennale campaign under the “Eternal Kalpa” theme at the Royal Phuket City Hotel. The campaign will run from Nov 2025 to Apr 2026, featuring works from 65 local and international artists

Thailand promoted regional tourism cooperation at the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2025, held from 4-6 Jun in Chiang Mai. Representatives from the Greater Mekong Subregion and Bhutan promoted cross-border tourism to over 400 buyers from 51 countries and 450 sellers. The products promoted during the event include self-drive caravan travel linking Thailand with Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam; railway tourism from Bangkok to Laos, with a future connection to Kunming, China; and cruise tourism, to connect Laem Chabang Port, Thailand, to Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Singapore

Thailand has reduced the allowed stay for Cambodian visitors entering by land to 7 days from the previous 60 days for passport holders and from 15 days for border pass holders, in response to Cambodia cutting visit limit to 7 days from 14 days for Thai visitors coming by land. Cambodian visitors to Thailand arriving by air can still stay for up to 60 days. Cambodia will extend Thai visitors’ stay by air from 14 to 60 days, as initially planned, from 10 Jun. The Thai Foreign Ministry announced that Thai security officials would propose to the National Security Council of Thailand to suspend electricity and internet services to Cambodian regions hosting casinos and scam centres. There are also alleged plans to control the supply of products that could be misused for technological or transnational crimes in Cambodia

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently introduced 11 low-carbon tourism routes, including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Krabi, and Phuket. Thailand set a target of 30% of all vehicles produced to be electric vehicles by 2030 to achieve full zero-emission vehicle adoption by 2035. Under the Mile Green initiative, Thailand will establish a nationwide EV charging and battery swapping infrastructure. Thailand currently recognises tourism business for its sustainability with the Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Rating (STAR) is a certification system

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched the “Alone But Not Lonely #MeMyselfAnd…” campaign to encourage women to travel solo by offering promotions for airlines, buses, car rentals, cameras, and even accommodations. A survey by Booking.com found 60% of Thai women have experience in travelling alone and more than 40% intend to travel alone in 2025

Phuket will host the Peranakan Festival 2025 from 20-22 Jun as part of the ‘Festival Economy 2025’ campaign under the ‘Arts and Culture Festival for Tourism and Economic Promotions’. The Phuket Provincial Office, the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), and the Peranakan Association of Thailand will host the event. The event will feature a conference and exhibition

Korean K-pop group “Twice” will perform in Bangkok from 13-14 Dec at the Impact Arena as part of their world tour

Travel and visa agencies reported disruption and delays due to the Thai-Cambodian border clash. Some border posts on the are now operating from 8 am-4 pm on the Thai side instead of from 6 am-6 pm, including the popular Aranyprathet-Poipet and Pong Nam Ron (Hot Water Spring) in Chanthaburi province. Foreign tourists are reportedly not being hassled, but there has been long queues due to ID checks carried out on Thai nationals and local Cambodian traders. The land border crossings between Thailand and Laos or Malaysia are unaffected

Cambodia’s Defence Minister said that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to return their troops to initial border positions following the 28 May clash where a Cambodian soldier was killed

Security authorities on the Thai and Cambodian side of the land border checkpoint at Ban Khlong Luek sealed the border at 4pm unexpectedly, stranding thousands of Cambodians and Thaus in either country. Authorities announced that operating hours would be from 8am-4pm daily, vs 6am-10pm usually, due to heightened tensions. The Royal Thai Army also took control of all Thai checkpoints on the Cambodian border, assuring that it would minimise inconvenience and only close borders when a genuine security threat was received. The Thai army’s Burapha Task Force also announced that for the crossings: Thai nationals travelling for gambling and tourism and prohibited from exiting Thailand Cambodian traders can cross with valid passports and border passes, with validity reduced to 7 days from 14 days Humanitarian medical transfers are permitted with approval from the coordination office

The Thai PM has said that the military have been given the task of making on-the-ground decisions with regards to the Cambodia-Thailand border tensions, and that whilst peaceful means would be way to engage, Thailand would be prepared to engage if confrontation is unavoidable

Thailand is preparing to sign a contract for a high-speed rail project connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will oversee the 224 billion THB project. The Secretary General of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee said the signing is expected by Jul. The government and Asia Era One, the private consortium led by Charoen Pokphand Group, renegotiated the terms after they were unable to meet payment deadlines under the original contract

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) announced that Misamis Oriental province will be considered for inclusion in the prestigious ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP). Four other sites also discussed to be included in the AHP network, Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve in the central state of Pahang, Malaysia; Bako National Park in Kuching, Malaysia; Lambir Hills National Park in Miri, Malaysia, and Doi Inthanon National Park in Thailand

Deputy Finance Minister said investors believe that Thailand could become the third largest entertainment complex centre after Las Vegas and Macau in the next 5-10 years and generate 39 billion THB in revenue for Thailand. He presented details to the Senate Select Committee on 5 Jun. He added that an integrated entertainment complex is not a gambling den, but a large-scale investment. The entertainment complex is expected to increase spend by 22,300 THB per person, increasing tourists by 5%-20% annually and increasing the number of tourists by 13% during the low season

SiteMinder’s global webinar series “Risk, Resilience & Revenue – Navigating Hotel Demand in 2025” data found the Malaysian hotel market reached $192.44 USD in average daily rates (ADR), +8.28%. Malaysia is the only country in Southeast Asia to record growth in ADR fo Jun-Aug 2025. Bookings across Southeast Asia dropped by 2.35% YoY, higher than the global decline of 1.17%. This drop is attributed to -3.16% in bookings from the US market to the region. Thailand’s overall ADR dropped to $193.35 USD, -2.32%. Bangkok recorded $105.62 USD, -6.79% YoY vs $113.31 USD. The average length of stay in Southeast Asia is 2.35 days, and Thailand recorded a 3-day average stay, +6.13% YoY. Booking lead times for mid-year travel to Southeast Asia in Apr were 80 days, and Thailand recorded 80.76 days

The Commerce Ministry said Thailand’s annual inflation rate was recorded at negative for the second consecutive month in May. The consumer price index dropped 0.57% YoY in May vs a 0.22% YoY drop in Apr. The ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office Head expects a positive inflation reading in Jun, but the forecast was 0.2%-0.4% below the central bank’s target. He attributed the drop to lower energy prices and more production of agricultural goods. The core CPI excluding food and energy prices increased by 1.09% YoY in May, higher than the 0.94% forecast. The headline inflation from Jan-May was 0.48% and the core rate was at 0.95%

The Department of National Parks ordered a ban on tiger walking activities at the tiger park following an incident where a tiger attacked a tourist. Tiger Park and Tiger Kingdom Phuket denied that the incident happened in their facilities. The incident happened in a tiger zoo in Sri Racha District, Chonburi Province, on May 26. The zoo covered all medical expenses and flight costs for the tourists

SiteMinder’s global webinar series “Risk, Resilience & Revenue – Navigating Hotel Demand in 2025” data found the Malaysian hotel market reached $192.44 USD in average daily rates (ADR), +8.28%. Malaysia is the only country in Southeast Asia to record growth in ADR fo Jun-Aug 2025. Bookings across Southeast Asia dropped by 2.35% YoY, higher than the global decline of 1.17%. This drop is attributed to -3.16% in bookings from the US market to the region. Thailand’s overall ADR dropped to $193.35 USD, -2.32%. Bangkok recorded $105.62 USD, -6.79% YoY vs $113.31 USD. The average length of stay in Southeast Asia is 2.35 days, and Thailand recorded a 3-day average stay, +6.13% YoY. Booking lead times for mid-year travel to Southeast Asia in Apr were 80 days, and Thailand recorded 80.76 days

The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking cut Thailand’s GDP growth forecast for 2025 to 1.5%-2%, a drop from the initial forecast of 2%-2.2%. The economic expansion is expected to drop below 1%. The Thai Bankers’ Association said that the nearly 3% GDP growth in H1 2025 was driven by temporary public investments, and that the economy is losing momentum due to a drop in Chinese tourist arrivals and slow private consumption. THB strength is around 32.5-32.7 THB/USD, appreciating faster than Vietnam and Singapore

The Finance Ministry projects that an entertainment complex with a casino will boost the GDP by 0.8%. The Deputy Finance Minister launched the “Thailand Entertainment Complex” on 4 Jun. The casino-entertainment complex project is worth 100 billion THB, creating 9,000-15,000 jobs, benefiting SMEs and generating 100-200 billion THB per year in tourism revenue. The project is projected to boost GDP by 0.23%. Annual tax revenue from the project would be 12-40 billion THB

International arrivals to Thailand dropped for the 4 consecutive month in May to 2.6 million, -14% MoM, the longest streak of drops since the pandemic. The biggest drop was from other Asian countries. Regional arrivals dropped 11% YoY from Jan-May 2025. Thailand welcomed nearly 1 million fewer Chinese tourists YTD 2025 vs 2024. The Vice President of the Tourism Council of Thailand blamed negative images for the drop in tourists. The 33% YoY drop in Chinese arrivals is attributed to the scam gang’s kidnapping of a Chinese actor in Jan. Tourist arrivals from Malaysia dropped by 17%. Hong Kong, Britain, and Australia issued travel warnings following concerns over earthquakes and safety. China Trading Desk’s flight booking data from Jun-Aug shows that Chinese arrivals recorded -15% YoY. Hotel occupancy is predicted to drop to 52% in May from 63% in Apr, driven by a drop in Chinese tourists, based on a survey of 140 hotel operators in the Thai Hotel Association. Daily room rates are expected to drop in Q2 as hotels reduce prices to compete with others. Tourists from the US have increased to 625,000 from Jan-May, +12% YoY, and visitors from Europe recorded 3 million, +18% YoY. The increases are attributed to the success of The White Lotus Season 3

Agoda’s survey found hotel searches to Thailand saw an increase in Europe, especially from Greece (+67%), the Czech Republic (+26%), and Poland (+16%). Bangkok remains the favourite destination for European tourists, while Koh Samui is recording an increase in popularity due to the TV show The White Lotus, shot in Samui and Phuket. YTD 2025 international arrivals recorded -2.7% YoY, but short-haul tourist arrivals have increased. From 26 May-1 Jun, Thailand recorded +29.3% YoY tourists from Malaysia, South Korea, China, and Singapore, from 26 May to 1 Jun, and long-haul tourists recorded +9.6%

The Deputy Prime Minister said Thailand is committed to resolving the border conflict with Cambodia by peaceful means. Cambodia continues to bring this border dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), while Thailand seeks to negotiate this through the Thai-Cambodia Joint Boundary Committee (JBC). He added that the Royal Thai Army, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are closely working to find a resolution but are prepared to defend Thailand’s sovereignty if needed. He said there are no official orders to close any border crossings and denied rumours of any disagreement between the government and the army over closing the border in response to increasing tensions. He said there are no troop deployments at the checkpoints, but said the preparations are in place

The US Embassy in Bangkok assured student visa interviews are still being conducted and visa applicants may continue to apply, despite an order to stop adding new student visa appointments

Thailand welcomed 14,362,694 foreign tourists from Jan-May 2025, -2.7% YoY. Thailand recorded 672.629 billion THB in tourism revenue, +1.05% YoY. In May 2025, tourist arrivals recorded a -13.93% YoY. The top source markets were: China, 1,958,939 Malaysia, 1,901,464 India, 978,600 Russia, 961,143 South Korea, 673,563 UK, 512,181 US, 469,388 Germany, 462,696 Japan, 444,274 Taiwan, 430,827

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2025 from 4-6 Jun in Chiang Mai with a focus on sustainability, soft power, and digital transformation. TTM Talk will be held under the “The Soul of Thailand: 3F Essentials” promoting Thai soft power such as “Flavours, Fulfilment, and Fabrics”. The event welcomes 406 international buyers from key markets, including 143 first-time buyers, 32.27% of the total attendees. The top countries are China, Thailand, India, the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain, and South Korea. The event features 450 Thai tourism operators, +4.65% YoY including 119 new participants. 134 sellers are certified under TAT’s STAR Program for sustainable tourism, and 51 under the CF Hotels initiative

The Ministry of Tourism expects a stimulus budget of 13.3 billion THB to generate 267 billion THB for the economy. The Tourism Minister said the proposed budget will be reviewed by the Budget Bureau before submitting it to the cabinet for approval on 10 Jun. The Ministry will allocate more than 3 billion THB to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for 3 projects: 1.7 billion THB for the co-payment scheme for domestic tourists, 750 million THB to subsidise chartered and scheduled flights, and 800 million THB for online travel agents. TAT Governor expects the projects to generate 87-90 billion THB for the industry. TAT said that 750 million THB allocated for flights will generate 35.5 billion THB in revenue from 790,000 arrivals from Jul 2025- Jul 2026. 350 million THB is allocated for the Chinese market to welcome an additional 140,000 tourists from 15 secondary cities in China, to counter the drop in Chinese arrivals of 33% YoY to 1.95 million from Jan-May 2025

Deputy Secretary-General to the PM outlined the “Thailand Entertainment Complex” project, which aims to provide year-round attractions, especially during the mid-year low season when Thailand’s natural destinations see less visitors. The development will include exhibition centres, large-scale concert venues, museums, water parks, amusement parks, high-end restaurants, OTOP (One Tambon One Product) centres, and business incubation hubs. Officials stressed that the casino facilities will operate under stringent regulations. The government projects the complex to generate 12.04-39.25 billion THB in annual state revenue, including tax income from five-star hotels and theme parks. The revenues will be allocated to support education, youth development (music, sports, technology), public health, aid for vulnerable groups, and the promotion of CSR and community development in surrounding areas

AirAsia MOVE revealed 2025 travel trends for Thailand: • 79.89% of all bookings were for domestic travel, with Thai travellers increasingly opting for secondary cities such as Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, and Surat Thani • 26.52% of all bookings were made over a month in advance, while 18.04% were made within 4-7 days prior to departure • Staycation bookings in Bangkok have increased by 15.9%, with destinations with small, accessible airports such as Prachuap Khiri Khan, Udon Thani, and Chiang Rai seeing significant growth • International travel accounted for 20.11% of all bookings, with top destinations including Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Japan, and Indonesia, with Tokyo, Osaka, HCMC, and Kuala Lumpur among the most booked cities • Thailand is a top short-haul destination for regional tourists, especially those from Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and China • Japanese and Korean tourists to Thailand, especially, plan 1-2 months ahead and over 60% prefer 4-5 star accommodations • Average domestic airfare stood at 2,523.48 THB, while average international airfare stood at 4,130.58 THB • Average hotel rates stood at 3,864.41 THB domestically and 3,409.66 THB internationally • Four-star hotels are the most booked at 36.7%, followed by 3-star (29.9%) and 5-star (15.4%) hotels

Thailand targets 4.5 billion THB from Pride Month tourism events in 2025. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to position Thailand as a top destination for the LGBTQ+ community

The Prime Minister participated in the Bangkok Pride Festival 2025 on 1 Jun, alongside more than 300,000 attendees at National Stadium, central Bangkok. The event was held under the theme of “Born This Way"

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Grab launched the “Tiew Tua Thai Suk Kan Yai Wai Jai Grab” – “Explore Thailand, Enjoy More, Trust Grab” campaign to promote travel across Thailand. The campaign involves popular Thai celebrities. The campaign was trending on X, attracting 2.3 million engagements and more than 1 million reposts within the first 24 hours. Grab and TAT will offer 100 THB off with the code “AMAZING25” on eligible Grab services, including transport, food, and parcel delivery until 31 Dec

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism denied scam centre reports involving Taiwanese tourists who were trafficked from Thailand to Myanmar. She said the news was old news, and had actually occurred in Jan 2025

Thailand will host various LGBTQIAN+ events in Jun 2025 under the theme of “Pride City Network 2025”, with celebrations in nearly every region. The Bangkok Pride Festival, which concluded on 1 Jun, featured more than 30 local Pride events

Phu Langka National Park in Beung Kan province has increased the daily visitor limit to Naka Cave from 350 to 1,500 people, after seeing a spike in interest. They announced this during the Naka Cave Opening Festival: The Wonders of Phu Langka,” in Bueng Khong Long district

The Budget Bureau has set aside 509.9 million THB from its 2026 revenue to promote the border areas as a medical hub under the government’s plan to position Thailand as a wellness destination. The Prime Minister plans to develop Thailand as a global health centre, offering wellness spas, hot springs, beauty treatments, medical care, dentistry, cosmetic surgery, traditional Thai and alternative medicines, and laboratory services. This segment is expected to generate revenues exceeding 690 billion THB per year through 7 key policies driven by the Public Health Ministry. A Public Health Economic Policy Office will be set up to promote Thai wisdom and herbal medicine and encourage health-related tourism. The funds will be used to upgrade: New hospitals and a cancer screening and treatment centre in Kanchanaburi (75.9 million THB), Sa Kaeo (82.6 million THB) and Tak (4 million THB) Minimally invasive surgery centre in Nong Khai (69 million THB) General medical services in Pattani (7.2 million THB) a heart centre in Sakon Nakhon (26.3 million THB) An advanced tertiary care unit in Mukdahan (82.6 million THB) A lower Mekong medical hub in Ubon Ratchathani (152.5 million THB) An advanced ophthalmology centre planned for Nakhon Si Thammarat (9.6 million THB)

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said an updated city plan will be implemented in 2027. The plan was first drafted in 2013 and was set for enforcement in 2019, but was postponed by the Interior Ministry for further reviews on water and environmental zoning. The revision of the city plan is 70% complete and will be submitted to the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT) in Jun

The Thai Hotels Association (THA) expressed disagreement on key issues in the proposed Hotel and Overnight Accommodation Act. THA President said the biggest concern was the definition of “overnight accommodation”, which refers to property with no more than 29 rooms accommodating no more than 58 people, vs the current limits of 8 rooms for 30 guests. He added that under the law, investors who purchased multiple units in a condo or housing estate could operate them as hotel rooms by securing a majority support at the owners’ annual general meeting (AGM). THA also disagree with defining a “room” as a standalone unit of an overnight accommodation, instead, the registration should apply to whole buildings to prevent community disruption and safety of the guests

Pang Sawan water curtain attracted visitors to Uthai Thai during the long weekend, boosting the local businesses in Ban Rai district

Chiang Mai Zoo will welcome 2 new pandas from China in late 2025. 110 million THB will be spent to construct new facilities

Park and navy divers are assessing corals at Mu Ko Surin National Park, concerned about damage to the coral following the sinking of a cargo ship from Myanmar. The ship carried 7,700 litres of diesel, but it was not leaking into the sea. However, the concern was over possible damage to the coral from the ship

The Prime Minister plans to spend 157 million THB, which was previously allocated for 10,000 THB handouts in 2025, on water management, transport, and tourism promotion. The government made this decision following warnings from the Bank of Thailand, the National Economic and Social Development Council, and the opposition over the impacts of reciprocal tariffs from the US. Under tourism promotion, the funds will be spent on convenient and clean facilities for tourists and CCTV networks

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced the closure of Rama I Road and surrounding areas on 1 Jun from 12pm-6pm for the Bangkok Pride Parade 2025

The Thai PM has said that she plans to inject 157 billion THB to stimulate tourism, with 5 key areas: 1. Public relations 2. Tourists’ safety 3. Facilitating easier travel 4. Tourism infrastructure 5. Organising events for both short and long-term

The Bank of Thailand reported that international arrivals in Apr increased +2.5% MoM, at 2.5 million. It also reported that tourism revenue in Apr increased by 5.4% MoM. However, May YTD arrivals stayed low at 13.9 million, -2.6% YoY. It also noted a decline in hotel and restaurant activity, and that it is monitoring the closure of small restaurants and merchants in tourism destination. Private consumption indicators were also down, due to a decline in spend by Thai tourists domestically and overseas

Thailand has declared 6 national symbols that reflect its cultural identity: National Animal, Thai Elephant (Chang Thai) National Flower, Ratchaphruek (Golden Shower Tree) National Architecture, Sala Thai (Traditional Thai Pavilion) National Aquatic Animal, Thai Betta Fish National Mythical Creature, Naga National Cultural Gesture, Thai Wai

The Tourism Minister announced the F1 World Championship would be on a street circuit rather than a dedicated racetrack. He and the Prime Minister recently visited Monaco to explore the feasibility of an F1 race in Thailand. They signed an MoU with Formula One and met with F1’s CEO. Bangkok would likely bid to host the F1 Race for the 2028 season. He added that Monaco’s street circuit model is similar to Bangkok’s urban layout, which fits F1’s desire to avoid building new tracks. The private sector is showing interest in F1. The government is working closely with design teams to finalise the street circuit course

The Public Relations Office Region 6’s latest data shows 14 Southern Provinces generated high tourism income from Jan-Apr 2025. Phuket recorded 188.9 billion THB in revenue, followed by Surat Thani, 49.1 billion THB, and Krabi, 36.4 billion THB

Bangkok is on alert for potential flooding in low-lying areas along the Chao Phraya River. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Royal Irrigation Department, the Hydrographic Department, the Royal Thai Navy, and other agencies will monitor the situation and will issue a warning if needed

Thailand's Prime Minister proposed 3.78 trillion THB for the 2026 budget. The bill is a +0.7% increase in expenditure and a budget deficit of 860 billion THB, -0.7% YoY. Thailand’s GDP is forecasted at 2.3% to 3.3% with inflation between 0.5% to 1.5% for 2025 and 2026

The Transport Ministry introduced 4 measures to solve tensions between traditional taxi drivers and Grab ride-hailing services at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport: Designated pick-up zones for Grab vehicles alongside public taxis on the first floor of the passenger terminal Airports of Thailand (AOT) will introduce an AI-camera system to link DLT databases to flag and fine unregistered Grab vehicles AOT will deploy staff to manage queues and provide real-time assistance SAWASDEE by AOT app to allow passengers to reserve public taxi queues in advance

World Weather Attribution said Indonesia and Singapore have recorded an additional 99 extreme heat days since May 2024 due to climate change. Extreme heat days are defined as daily temperatures that are above 90% of the historical average for a specific location

The TAT has said that the co-payment domestic subsidy scheme will be reduced to 500,000 room nights instead of the original 1 million room nights, with a budget of 1.78 billion THB, so that the remainder of the budget can be used for other initiatives such as subsidies for chartered flights. Eligibility would be for 5 bookings per person, of which 2 should be at hotels in second-tier cities. The government will subsidise 50% of room prices on weekdays and 40% on weekends, with a maximum subsidy of 3,000 THB per person with cash coupon for stores, restaurants and tourism attractions. The Thai Hotels Association eastern chapter criticised the changes, saying that the number of room nights shouldn’t be reduced and instead funds for OTAs should be cut. They also suggested that the maximum subsidy could be reduced from 3,000 to 2,000 THB, as well as add more public holidays

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched the “Sawasdee Nihao” event to celebrate 50 years of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations. The event featured a business matching between 300 Chinese tour operators and 500 Thai tourism businesses. From 30-31 May, a fam trip was organised for Chinese tour operators, media, and KOLs highlighting Bangkok, Pattaya, Rayong, Nakhon Pathom, and Ayutthaya

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched the Amazing Thailand Roadshow to Japan from 26-30 May in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Fukuoka to boost tourism revenue to 55 billion THB. The event is expected to host over 1,000 business meetings. Japanese arrivals to Thailand in 2025 were +12.3% YoY. In 2024, Thailand welcomed 1,050,904 Japanese, +30.68%; and from Jan-Apr 2025, Thailand welcomed 374,000 arrivals, +12.32%

The Department of Business Development reported that from Jan-Apr 2024, 3,921 businesses in Thailand stopped their operations, +8.3% YoY. The top 3 sectors were: General construction, 372 closures, with a capital of 652 million THB Real estate, 184 closures, with 912 million THB in capital Restaurants, 159 closures, with 391 million THB A total of 30,148 new businesses registered from Jan-Apr 2025, -4.4% YoY. The most active sectors are: General construction, 2,394 new businesses, with a capital of 5.1 billion THB Real estate, 2,047 businesses, with 7.83 billion THB in capital Restaurants, 1,237 registrations

The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA) submitted an open letter to the Prime Minister urging immediate steps to prevent 4.6 million workers from losing their jobs. Shanghai Wan Guo International Travel Service said Thai tour package sales dropped by 70% in 2025. He added that if tourism confidence amongst Chinese travellers is restored by 2025, Thailand should be able to attract at least 5 million Chinese tourists. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) revised its Chinese tourist target to 5 million, +2.6% YoY, with 314 million TBH in revenue, -19% YoY. The Association of Thai Travel Agents said flights to Japan from China increased by 53% YoY, while Thailand-bound flights continue to drop. FETTRA called for measures such as inviting high-ranking officials from China during the celebration of 50 years of China-Thailand relations on 1 Jul, reducing the visa period from 60 days to 15 days, and supporting promotions via 10,000 chartered flights to stimulate 10 billion THB in tourism revenue

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2025. Vice Tourism Minister said they are expecting 3 billion THB in tourism revenue. The sale will be held from Jun-Auf to attract international travellers with exclusive privileges and deals

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is partnering with 30 government agencies to launch 11 policies at combating PM2.5 air pollution, including expanding the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) to cover all 50 districts. The zone restricts non-Green list trucks from entering the area

Thailand has been chosen to host the 2026 Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank (AM2026), set to be held on 12-18 Oct 2026 in Bangkok. The event will welcome over 400 finance ministers and central bank governors worldwide, as well as over 12,000 participants

The Expert Committee on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has approved four hotels – the Madeit Hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort, Holiday Inn Express Phuket Nai Yang, and SALA Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort – and three condominium projects, namely Skypark Elara Lakeland Phuket, The Nayabella Condominium, and Adora Rawai Condominium

CBRE Thailand’s 2025 Real Estate Market Outlook report showed that Thailand’s luxury retail market is valued at $4.4 billion USD and is projected to grow around 5% annually through 2028, the highest in Southeast Asia and seventh in APAC

Chief of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) announced that the government is interested to get Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP). Relevant agencies will work with the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) to collect the information needed to nominate the park as an AHP. The nomination must first be approved by the Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity (AWGNCB) and ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN), before it is submitted for approval to the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME). The process is expected to take 2-3 years

K-pop group Blackpink announced that it will hold three performances at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok from 24-26 Oct as part of their Deadline World Tour

Overnight downpours caused flash floods across Chiang Mai, leading to the closure of Mae Sa, Tat Mok, and Mok Fa waterfalls at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park due to dangerous currents

The Thai Government launched the “Amazing Thailand Love Wins Festival (Pride Month)” that will take place throughout Jun. The Bangkok Pride Festival 2025 will be held from 30 May-1 Jun, while Thailand’s Drag Star 2025: The Finale will be held on 30 May at Parc Paragon. Other events include Chiang Mai Pride Parade 2025 (25-30 Jun), Pattaya Pride (27-29 Jun), Samui Pride Nation, Songkhla & Hat Yai Pride (14-15 Jun), Trang Pride (28 Jun), Phuket Pride 2025 (2-8 June), and Krabi Pride 2025 (all month), and Khon Kaen Pride Festival (28 Jun), among others

KKP Research’s analysis shows Chinese tourist arrivals managed to recover 60%-70% vs pre-pandemic levels in 2024. But Chinese arrivals recorded a huge drop after the Chinese New Year in Jan 2025 to less than 300,000 tourists per month, equal to only 30% vs pre-pandemic levels. The research centre attributes this drop to the slowdown in the Chinese economy and China’s effort to promote domestic tourism. Outbound Chinese tourists reached 86.5% vs pre-pandemic levels, but domestic Chinese reached 93.6% vs the pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, group Chinese tourists accounted for 40%, while independent travellers (FITs) made up 60%. In 2024, group tours reached 1.4 million visitors, while independent travellers reached 5.3 million. KKP Research listed two reasons for the drop: the first is that repeat visits by Chinese tourists need some time to recover, and this will improve in H2 2025. The second issue is safety concerns, and Thailand needs more time to restore its image. Dragon Trail International survey shows that over half of the Chinese respondents said Thailand is not safe, an increase from 38% in Sep 2024. KKP Research said safety issues need to be resolved to attract Chinese tourists. In the short term, Thailand should shift its focus to European and South Asian markets, especially to India. From Jan-Apr 2024, tourists from Europe and South Asia recorded 120% of pre-pandemic recovery. European and Indian tourists spend more on accommodation and hotels compared to Chinese tourists

Bantadthong Association reported restaurant revenue on Banthat Thong Road, Bangkok, dropped by 40%-50% due to a drop in Chinese tourist arrivals. Foreign visitors account for 20%-30% of the visitors to the road. The advisor to the association said tourists' spending is growing slowly compared to the restaurants’ expenses, such as the cost of ingredients and rent, which grow by 5% annually. He added that some restaurants reported a 70% drop YoY. 80%-90% of operators on the street lease properties directly from Chulalongkorn University, with an average cost of 350 THB per square metre, which is cheaper than shopping malls and petrol station retail spaces. In 2024, the street welcomed between 10,000-30,000 visitors daily

Phuket, Rayong and Samui recorded a growth in residential transfers in Q1 2025, following a crackdown on nominee ownership by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB). The President of the Government Housing Bank said the crackdown resulted in a drop in nominee ownership and encouraged more legal property transfers. Phuket recorded a +9% YoY increase in residential transfers in Q1 2025, and Surat Thani recorded a 6.2% YoY

The Government Spokesperson announced that Thailand plans to bid to host a Formula One street race in Bangkok in 2028. He added that PM Paetongtarn will propose a “Sustainable F1” for the Bangkok race. The bid proposal and feasibility study results will be submitted to cabinet on 4 Jun before proceeding

The “AI for Next Gen – Transforming New Era Tourism with AI” event was held at BTC Space in Chalong on 24-25 May, attracting over 200 attendees from the government, academic institutions, the private sector, and the tourism industry. The event was hosted by Prince of Songkla University in partnership with the AI Engineering Institute (AIEI) and supported by the National Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Management Agency (NCMA)

TAT held the “Tout à fait Thaï 2025” festival in Paris from 24-25 May, attracting 10,000 visitors. The festival promoted the “5 Must Do in Thailand” theme through interactive zones. Thailand has welcomed 409,125 French visitors from 1 Jan-20 May, +19.87% YoY. Of those, 56.48% were first-time visitors, while 43.52% were returning visitors. French tourists stayed an average of 17.88 nights and made 4.44 trips on average, with Bangkok, Krabi, Surat Thani, Phuket, and Chiang Mai among the top destinations. TAT targets 870,000 French arrivals in 2025

A new wellness conference event called “Being Thailand 2025” was launched in Phuket to bring stakeholders together to evaluate the market and align business models

The Tourist Police Bureau’s AI-powered surveillance cameras at hot spots nationwide has led to the capture of 80 suspects in popular destinations such as Pattaya (102 arrests), Chiang Mai (54), Nakhon Ratchasima (21), and Suvarnabhumi Airport (3), since its launch in Jul 2024. The cameras also monitor around 600 individuals flagged for suspicious activity, including pickpocket gangs and illegal currency exchange groups

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism outlined a comprehensive plan to ensure the safety of tourists in Thailand. The Ministry will partner with the military, police, and civil authorities to implement safety protocols to protect tourists: At the airport, a support system will be introduced to assist travellers with lost property and handle incidents related to official errors. Airport Authority and airlines will handle the incidents The Tourism Ministry will provide guidance on public transport with clearly displayed fares Police officers, Ministry officials, and trained tourism volunteers will be present in tourism hotspots to offer assistance The Tourist Safety Operations Centre and Tourist Assistance Hotline (1155), and the Thailand Tourist Police mobile application will be available to offer real-time emergency support She clarified that the social media rumours about tourist abductions did not involve tourists or the tourism sector. She said there is no evidence of any tourist abduction cases in Thailand. She said the Ministry has taken steps to ensure quality and fairness in the tourism sector over concerns about unfair pricing and service charges. The Ministry, together with the Airline Association and the Transport Ministry, will improve service accessibility and affordability. The measures will include increasing special domestic flights and pushing for a policy to reduce excise tax on aviation fuel, to lower ticket prices for travellers

The Tourism Ministry launched a crackdown on ‘nominee tours’ and unlicensed tour guides led by an integrated task force called the Joint Operations Centre for Combating Nominee Tourism Businesses (JOCN), comprising agencies such as the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports, Department of Business Development, Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Tourist Police Bureau, and Immigration Bureau. The task force will inspect tourism-related activities and enforce the law across Thailand, especially targeting foreign-controlled businesses

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) reported that the number of domestic travellers reached 12.6 million in H1 of its fiscal year 2025 starting in Oct 2024, generating over 42 billion THB. TCEB launched the "Yok Team Prachum, Rum Rak Mueang Thai Season 2" campaign to promote the domestic MICE segment during the low season, offering prizes worth 1 million THB for companies organising meetings or outings

Visa Thailand reported that foreign tourist spending in Thailand using Visa cards rose 10% YoY, lower than the 15% growth recorded in Q1 and 20% in 2024. Country Manager for Visa Thailand said spending per capita continued to increase, with US tourists recording the highest in 2024 among international travellers, followed by those from the UAE and Singapore. A Visa survey showed that 70% prefers cash for in-person payment method, followed by QR code payments (60%), and mobile wallets (58%)

A report by the Mastercard Economics Institute showed that Bangkok is among the cities with a higher travel-related fraud rate

Over 50 taxis from the “United Thai Taxi Drivers Group” blocked traffic in front of Government House on Ratchadamnoen Nok Road in protest, demanding the government to repeal the Transport Ministry’s 2017 and 2022 regulations, which favour app-based ride-hailing services, which they believe have led to market inequality and unfair competition, especially at Suvarnabhumi Airport

TAT has partnered with Advanced Info Service (AIS) to launch the Sukjai Travel Thailand – Aunjai Everywhere campaign in a bid to boost domestic tourism. The first event was held on Banthat Thong Road in Bangkok. AIS Chief Executive said the initiative aims to position Thailand as a regional tourism hub whilst ensuring sustainable income distribution to local communities through AIS's digitally connected network

The Thai baht opened at 32.69 to the USD on 22 May morning, slightly stronger than 21 May’s close of 32.73

Daol Securities believes that the recently approved Tour Tiew Thai" domestic stimulus scheme is unlikely to have a significant impact during the low season due to its limited budget, but may provide a short-term boost to domestic tourism

The Public Health Minister announced that cannabis users in Thailand will be required to have medical certificates, in order to ensure the plant is used for medical purposes only. He aims for the regulation to be issued by the Public Health Ministry within 40 days

Manothama Raksa group is building a 10 billion THB “property empire” under the Sea Heaven Phuket brand in Nai Thon Beach, Phuket. Sea Heaven will feature a new phase of low-rise condos, a 15-rai villa project near Nai Yang Beach, and by 2026, a mixed-use “wellness city” with condos, shops, and future ties to Bumrungrad Hospital

Central Pattana Plc (CPN) launched the Thailand’s Pride Celebration 2025: Pride For All campaign, which will run throughout Jun at 39 Central branches

JLL projects that Thailand’s hotel transaction market in 2025 is undergoing a “normalisation” phase, with activity returning to sustainable levels. Thailand saw a record 22 billion THB in hotel transactions in 2024, with this year’s total expected to reach around 13 billion THB. Bangkok remains at the top for hotel investment, accounting for 60% of total nationwide transaction values. Average deal size stands at 1.8 billion THB, around 80% above the 10-year average

Chinese Consul General paid a courtesy visit to Phuket Governor to reaffirm their commitment to strengthen the Thai-Chinese relationship, with a focus on tourism, infrastructure, and sustainable urban development. Both parties discussed promoting Phuket as a low carbon city, with measures suggested such as promoting electric motorcycle use and implementing eco-friendly urban planning to reduce carbon emissions

C9 Hotelworks’ Thailand Wellness Economy Report 2025 dhowed that the Thailand wellness economy market reached a value of 1.4 trillion THB in 2023. Total trip expenditures in the wellness tourism sector reached 419 billion THB in 2023, more than doubling from 2022’s 194 billion THB. The share of wellness-related trips by international travellers rose from 23 % to 40%. Tourism (30%) was a ket market segment of wellness in Thailand, followed by nutrition and weight management (22%), aesthetics and beauty (17%), traditional and complementary medicine (9%), and fitness (8%)

Thailand will host 300 Chinese travel agents and 200 media members on the “Sawasdee Nihao” fam trip from 29-31 May. TAT will monitor the impact of the fam trip for one month to see if the market shows signs of avoiding the worst-case scenario of only 5 million Chinese arrivals in 2025, -25% YoY. There will also be a trade meeting where 500 Thai tourism sellers will be able to discuss business deals directly with Chinese agents

Chair of the National Soft Power Development Committee and Chair of the Thai Trade Representative and head of the subcommittee promoting the Indian tourist market held a high-level meeting with the Indian Ambassador to Thailand and over 10 major Indian private sector companies to discuss plans for the Diwali 2025 Festival. The event aims to position Thailand as the region’s leading Festival Destination whilst attracting over 500,000 Indian visitors

The Lao-Thai Friendship bridge connecting Borikhamxay province in Laos and Bueng Kan province in Thailand across the Mekong River is now 98% completed and is set to open at year-end

The Tourist Police Bureau arrested three suspects that allegedly ran a fake operations that used fraudulent Facebook pages to pose as Pattaya hotels. The trio allegedly scammed tourists by over 700,000 THB

China’s Commerce Ministry announced that China and ASEAN have completed negotiations to upgrade their free trade area to include the digital and green economy, alongside other new industries. Formal signing of the trade agreement is expected to take place by year-end

Chief Executive of ONE Championship said that martial arts promotion is now key driver for Thailand’s tourism economy. A report commissioned by Nielsen showed that ONE Championship generates around $470 million USD annually in economic value for Thailand through its stagings of combat sports event. The report also found that 82% international fans travelled specifically to attend a ONE event in Thailand, with 65% extending their trips beyond Bangkok to explore other parts of the country. Key markets include Australia, the US, France, the UK, and Canada. The retail and leisure sector benefited around $105 million USD from ONE-related activity, followed by accommodation ($54 million USD) and food and beverage ($38 million USD)

The Public Health Ministry is monitoring the XEC variant of COVID-19, which is said to be spreading 7X faster than the regular flu. Around 108,891 XEC cases has been recorded since 1 Jan, with 27 deaths, mainly among vulnerable groups

The Labour Ministry to hold Job Expo Thailand 2025 from 6-8 Jun at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok, offering 500,000 domestic and 100,000 overseas job opportunities. The event is expected to attract over 80,000 visitors. Over 170 recruitment agencies will participate in the expo

The Tourism Ministry said that the cable car project at Phu Kradueng National Park is expected to be ready by 2027. The cable car will have a maximum capacity of 5,000 people per day, the limit set by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to ensure environment conservation. The Tourism Minister said that a budget of 28 million THB has been approved to study and design the project, but the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Dasta) is expected to spend only 25.4 million for the first phase. The cable car design and environmental impact assessment report is set to be completed by Mar 2026, then submitted to the National Environmental Board and the Cabinet for approval. Construction is expected to start in Aug 2026, with the cost estimated at 1 billion THB, and completed in 2027

MGM Resorts is reportedly interested in investing in a $3-5 billion USD casino in Bangkok. President of Global Development at MGM Resorts said that new countries embracing integrated resort investments need to be competitive with other countries in the region, particularly in terms of casino tax rates. He also noted how it is important to allow locals to visit casinos, instead of only focusing on foreign tourists, and that the entry rules for Thais should be reasonable. He said having a legal casino could help maintain or reduce gambling problems and that the government can fund education and support programmes from casino taxes. He added that MGM Resorts prefers to invest in large casino resorts, and it will focus on Bangkok in Thailand

The Bank of Thailand downgraded its projection for Chinese tourist arrivals by 2 million, or nearly 30%, bringing its projection for overall international arrivals from 39.5 million down to 37.5 million. The bank believes that the decline in Chinese arrivals in Q1 may not only due to safety concerns about Thailand, but also due to changes in tourist behaviour and increased efforts by the Chinese government to promote domestic tourism. Kiatnakin Phatra Research Center (KKP Research) forecasts 36.2 million international arrivals in 2025, up 600,000 from 35.6 million in 2024. Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research) estimates foreign arrivals to drop by 2.8% YoY to 34.5 million in 2025, whilst revenue from foreign tourists is expected to fall by 3% YoY to 1.62 trillion THB

The Commerce Minister reported that the Committee for Managing Foreign Business and Product Violations have prosecuted over 39,186 cases involving substandard and illegal products, with damages totalling over 2.074 billion THB. Legal action has been taken against 857 entities suspected of being nominee business across seven high-risk business sectors, including tourism. Total business damage from these cases totalled 15.288 billion THB

The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) has signed an MoU with the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) to jointly develop an international sports complex in Banglamung District, Chonburi. The project is expected to support Thailand’s bids to host major international sporting events. It will feature world-class stadiums and training facilities, as well as multi-purpose venues suitable for large-scale festivals, concerts, and public events

PM Paetongtarn announced that phase 3 of the digital wallet programme, which was intended to cover the general population, will be postponed to allow for investment in national infrastructure. She noted that following discussions with the Bank of Thailand and the National Economic and Social Development Council, the government decided that it would be more appropriate to spend the budget on strengthening Thailand’s long-term economic foundations rather than offering short-term cash handouts. The Cabinet has approved a resolution to redirect the 157 billion THB budget originally intended for the scheme toward four major economic stimulus projects: water infrastructure, transportation, tourism, and exports. All of the budget must be spent by 30 Sep in accordance with fiscal year constraints

The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and Chulalongkorn University’s Asia Research Cluster for Social Solidarity and Inclusive Economy launched two platforms – “Nong Khoei Ma Thao Rai?” (“Have You Been Here Before?”) and “Tamsang-Tamsong” (“Order and Deliver”) – which aim to support small-scale street food vendors and motorcycle taxi drivers. The app charges just 5-6 THB per transaction, compared to the 35% commission rates by mainstream platforms. The platforms are already launched in 19 locations, including Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Yala, and is set to expand to 10 more areas by year-end

Robinhood announced a strategic redirection agreement with Foodpanda Thailand, which will allow Foodpanda customers, restaurant partners, and delivery riders to transition to Robinhood ahead of Foodpanda’s closure on 23 May after 13 years of operation in Thailand. Foodpanda, owned by Berlin-based Delivery Hero, has been struggling for years, with a 5% market share and losses of 13.8 billion THB between 2014-2023. Grab currently dominates the market with a 46% share, followed by LINEMAN Wongnai at 40%, whilst Robinhood occupies only 2%

Over 50 taxi drivers protested at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, threatening a blockade, demanding the government to revoke Grab’s permission to pick up passengers at the airport. Head of the Association of Professional Drivers of Public Taxi Vehicles said the protesters were against government’s support for foreign ride-hailing apps like Grab, which he claimed to cause Thai taxi drivers to suffer

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) launched its Meet in Thailand: Your Success, Your Moment campaign at IMEX Frankfurt. The campaign comprises three M elements: • MaxiMICE, which inivites clinets to explore and maximise the new products and services available throughout Thailand • Meaningful, which covers Environmental, Social and Governance and sustainability frameworks, offering clients the opportunity to hold events that have measurable impacts. This includes TCEB’s development of low-carbon MICE routes • Memorable, which aims to deliver a Return on Experience, by helping clients design events that have cultural immersion, encouraging bleisure travel, and the promise of human touch to create lasting memories for guests

TAT reported that Thailand has earned a total tourism revenue of over 1 trillion THB from 1 Jan-14 May, of which over 600 billion THB came from 13.12 million international tourists. Domestic tourism generated over 413 billion THB from 76.95 million trips. TAT reported that long-haul arrivals reached 5.02 million, +17% YoY, generating 319 billion THB, +20% YoY

Traveloka reported that Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam were the three most-searched destinations by APAC travellers during it EPIC Sale 2025 from 11 Apr-5 May. The campaign was launched in seven APAC markets – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and Australia

Phuket Hotels Association announced the return of its Absolutely Fabulous Travel Sale, an annual online auction that donates all proceeds to the association’s education programme, such as hospitality scholarships and internships for youths

Phu Chi Fa National Park in Chiang Rai reopened to visitors on 19 May, after being closed since 5 May following a warning from Wiang Kaen district office that stray bullets were landing inside Thailand during armed clashes between two groups in Bokeo province, Laos

The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reported that GDP rose 3.1% YoY in Q1. NESDC has lowered its 2025 growth forecast to a range of 1.3%-2.3% from 2.3%-3.3%

Phuket City Municipality to host the Phuket City Pride 2025 celebrations on 28 Jun. Over 500 participants are expected to join the Pride Parade

Plans for a high-speed rail station in Ayutthaya has raised concern that it would threaten the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) said an assessment was conducted recently by experts from the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), who are advisory bodies to the World Heritage Committee. The assessment concluded that rerouting the line around Ayutthaya is not an option, and recommended the track height and station design to be adjusted to ensure that the structure remains hidden from within the park

TAT New York Office celebrates its 60th anniversary

TAT Governor reported that Thailand has welcomed 3.5 million European visitors from Jan-Apr, +18.91% YoY, with growth driven by visitors from Britain, France, Germany, and Russia. Arrivals from Israel rose by 91.07% YoY in Jan-Apr, while those from Uzbekistan rose by 62.57%, from Poland by 38.94% and from Romania by 32.54%, from Britain by 20.83%, from France by 21.41%, and from Germany by 13.03%. The increases are attributed to resumed and new direct flights to Thailand from Brussels, Copenhagen, London, Madrid, Oslo, Paris, Rome and Stockholm. Forward bookings for the Jul-Sep period rose by 21% and were expected to increase by 17% in the Oct-Dec high season

TAT is partnering with the private sector to launch the “Year of Celebration: Muang Na Tiew” (travel-worthy towns) initiative from Jun-Sep, to stimulate domestic travel during the Apr-Oct Green Season. The project targets 55 provinces and has 12 themed campaigns designed to attract diverse segments, including solo female travellers, adventure seekers, foodies, pet lovers, and the LGBTQ+ community. The initiative aims to generate about 1.17 trillion THB in tourism revenue, with over 205 million domestic trips expected

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has updated the summaries on visa issuance by its embassies and consulates abroad. Single-entry 60 days tourist visas now require bond proof of a foreign bank statement or a letter of guarantee of at least 20,000 THB

Phuket Peranakan Festival 2025 will be held from 20-22 Jun, and is expected to generate over 400 million THB for the island’s economy. Phuket Deputy Governor said that the festival has been elevated for this year, partly to celebrate the awards received by Phuket recently, including the Creative City Award (Cultural Asset category) from the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), the Asia Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) Asia, and the Gold Pinnacle Award at the IFEA Annual Convention & Expo in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Over 2,000 performers from Peranakan communities across Thailand and the Malayan Peninsula, alongside 15,000 tourists, are expected to take part in around 20 processions during the event

Phuket Officials removed buildings, belongings, and items from illegal intruders that occupied public areas at Surin Beach, Village No. 3, Cherng Talay subdistrict, reclaiming the beach for public use

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) hosted the launch of the Stegostoma tigrinum Augmentation and Recovery (StAR) project, aimed at preserving and improving the declining population of the Indo-Pacific leopard shark

Pattaya City to upgrade Bali Hai Pier as part of a larger initiative to promote “marine tourism for all”, focusing on ensuring accessibility for elderly travellers, persons with disabilities, and wheelchair users. The upgrades will include the installation of six new floating pontoons, of which two have been specially designed with ramps for wheelchair users, elderly passengers, and travellers carrying heavy luggage

A Senate special committee examining the proposed casino-entertainment complex bill has called for a referendum, warning that the draft bill may contravene the constitution if passed into law. A committee adviser raised concerns over transparency regarding the draft law vaguely limiting state revenue generated from casino concessions to no more than 5 billion THB, rather than setting a clear minimum. He also questioned why concessions would be granted without a bidding process, with no public hearing or environmental impact assessment on the project

Former TAT Governor and current Chairman of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand noted the -1% YoY drop in foreign arrivals as of 11 May, with a particular concern over the decline in Chinese (-31% YoY), Hong Kong (-20.8%), and South Korean (-14.9%) markets. The Southeast Asian market also declined by -2.2% YoY, with the Vietnamese market falling by -15%, while Myanmar was the only market in the region that recorded growth (+13.5%). The MICE segment also showed a decline in Q1, with the international market dropping -15% and revenue -21% YoY. He called on the government to improve Thailand’s safety and security, as well as boost the high-spending tourist segment. He noted the need to shift from a demand-driven to a supply-driven model through developing high-value products and services

Permanent Secretary of the Tourism Ministry said the government aims to develop Thailand’s hot-springs into European-style “Spa Towns” or Japanese-style “Onsen Towns”. A 2023 survey showed that there are 118 hot springs across Thailand. San Kamphaeng Hot Springs in Chiang Mai province has been chosen as the prototype model for development. The Tourism Department is undergoing a contract-signing process to hire consultants to study and design the project. Chiang Mai province, which owns the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs area, is in the procurement process, with contract signing set for 24 Jun. The development will involve three phases: • Phase 1 (2025-2027) focuses on infrastructure and facilities development with a 197 million THB budget • Phase 2 (2027) will develop health tourism facilities with a 253 million THB budget, pending Phase 1 results • Phase 3 will focus on improving local quality of life with sustainable development mechanisms