Thailand

Director of the Foreign Workers Employment Agency urged for faster issuance of labour permits from the Department of Employment amid a “general shortage of immigrant labour locally in all sectors”

Commander of the Second Army Region said his forces were not ready to reopen the border with Cambodia, but stressed that there is no conflict between the Second Army Region and the government over the issue. He said that his forces focus on border security, while the government handles administrative matters. The Acting PM recently said that the plan to disband the Special Operations Centre for Thai-Cambodian Border Situations Management (SOC-TCBSM) will be considered again on 18 Aug. The Second Army Region Commander said that a regional border committee (RBC) meeting between Thai and Cambodian military leaders is scheduled for end-Aug

The July 2025 Hotel Business Confidence Index Survey has shown that: • Thai hotels reported an average occupancy rate of 58% in Jul. The Central region recorded the highest average at 67% in Jul, up from 61% in Jun. The Eastern region recorded 58%, down from 58.7% in Jun. The South region recorded 56%, up form 45%, while the North recorded 41%, up from 29.2%. Nationwide average for Aug is projected at 56% • Labour shortages remained unchanged from Jun, with most affected hotels saying that the shortage impacted service quality rather than their capacity to accommodate guests. In response to the government’s 400-baht daily minimum wage policy, many hotels have reassigned staff to multiple roles, chose casual hires instead of permanent employees, and cut non-labour costs such as energy and disposable supplies • Nearly 30% of operators expect the number of Chinese guests to decrease by over 30% YoY, mainly due to safety concerns. Another 18% expect a decrease of 21%-30%, while 19% of respondents expect an 11%-20% decline • 28% of hoteliers projects an 11%-20% decline for guests from short-haul markets, while 26% expect a decline of no more than 10%, and 19% expect a decline of over 20% • 27% of hoteliers projects a decline of up to 10% for guests from long-haul markets, while 21% expect an 11%-20% decline, and 16% expect a decline of over 20% • 47% of hoteliers believes the government’s “Half-Half Thai Travel” domestic travel scheme would have no effect on revenue in Q3, while 28% projects it would boost revenue by no more than 5% YoY. In the Eastern region, over 25% of hotels expected a 6%-10% revenue increase

The “Climate Change Act” is currently under review by over 30 government agencies before it is presented to the Cabinet for approval. The bill aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance Thailand’s resilience to climate impacts. If the bill is approved, it will create a “Climate Fund” to finance adaptation projects and facilitate transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon practice

Deputy Government Spokesperson reported that there were over 3.16 million domestic trips during the Mother’s Day long weekend from 9-12 Aug, generating 13.75 billion THB. Average hotel occupancy rate reached 66%, with Thais accounting for 41% of travellers. The Central Region saw the highest travel volume with 898,000 trips, followed by the Northeast (609,600) and the East (600,500). Bangkok saw the highest revenue at 3.41 billion THB, followed by the Southern Region (2.79 billion THB) and the Eastern Region (2.62 billion THB). Top visited destinations were Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Chonburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Rayong. Popular secondary cities included Lopburi, Udon Thani, Suphan Buri, Ratchaburi, and Loei. Prachuap Khiri Khan saw the highest hotel occupancy at 88%, with Thais accounting for 80% of guests. It is followed by Samut Songkhram (82%), Surat Thani (77%), Songkhla (77%), and Phetchaburi (76%)

Pattaya recorded 90% hotel occupancy during the Mother’s Day long weekend

Bangkok (Laem Chabang) and Phuket are included in Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2026 Asia itinerary

President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) said that Thailand’s tourism is facing stiff competition from Vietnam and South Korea, which are offering the visa-free scheme to more markets. He added that Thailand’s visa-free policy will become less effective unless the government addresses the issue of Thailand’s unsafe image, as well as promote new tourism products more actively. Atta plans to hold roadshows next month in Taiwan and India in a bid to restore tourism confidence. President of the Eastern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) said that many tour groups, especially from Russia, Europe and India, have shifted destinations from Pattaya to Vietnam due to newer, cheaper properties

A government spokesperson reported that international tourist arrivals to Thailand reached 627,339 in the week of 4-10 Aug, +7.1% WoW, driven by the summer holiday season and an extended public holiday in Japan. Japanese arrivals rose 86% WoW. Long-haul markets also showed growth, especially Israel. The top five markets were China (102,750, +5.5% WoW), Malaysia (85,622, +10.6% WoW), Japan (37,611), India (35,387) and South Korea (32,320)

The Phuket Tourist Association is calling on the government to improve the island’s infrastructure to enhance life quality for residents amid rising tourist numbers and congestion. President of the association said that the number of tourists passing through Phuket Airport immigration in H1 2025 has surpassed 2019 and 2024 levels. Top markets include Russia, China, and India. He said that Chinese visitors have declined, but Indian arrivals have grown. Alipay data shared by the TAT showed that average stays of Chinese tourists have increased from 2.5 nights to nearly 7, with spending increasing 4X. The association raised issues on the island’s infrastructure, such as congestion, waste management, and water treatment system

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation waived entry and vehicle fees for Thai nationals at all protected forest areas, including national parks, forest parks, botanical gardens, arboretums, wildlife sanctuaries, and non-hunting areas, for the National Mother’s Day holiday on 12 Aug. All facilities under the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand also offer free admission for seniors aged 60 and above and for children aged 12 or younger, or under 135cm in height

The Constitutional Court will rule the case seeking the removal of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on 29 Aug. The court would hear testimony from Ms Paetongtarn and the National Security Council on 21 Aug, and closing arguments on 27 Aug

The Tourism Ministry reported that foreign tourism receipts from 1 Jan-10 Aug reached 938 billion THB, unlikely to meet the full-year target of 1.77 trillion THB. International arrivals YTD as of 10 Aug reached 20 million, -6% YoY. President of the Association of the Chonburi Tourism Federation said the baht, which rallied against the USD by 5%-6% this year, was affecting the short-haul markets, such as China

Chief Commercial Officer at Agoda announced that the platform is partnering with ASEAN to launch the “A Destination for Every Dream” campaign, coinciding with ASEAN Day celebrations. The campaign will run until end-2025, and will offer exclusive deals and festival-focused travel guides

Honorary President and Senior Advisor to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) said the assault incident on two Malaysian tourists was “serious” and “deeply disturbing”, and would affect tourists’ perception of Thailand as well as damage Thailand’s safety image in the global community, especially among ASEAN countries

The Tourism Ministry said Thailand is in the process of developing itself as an entertainment hub. General Manager of Alexander Hotel Bangkok said attracting new events and festivals would boost tourism. The hotel, located near Rajamangala Stadium, usually reaches full occupancy during concert nights. Chief Executive of Bangkok Land said concertgoers usually spend more than average tourists, viewing overnight hotel stays as part of their tourism experience. Bangkok Land is planning to build a new over-45,000-seat capacity stadium on the site currently occupied by Thunder Dome and a football field

Phuket City Mayor called for urgent action as the Saphan Hin landfill exceeded its 800,000-tonne capacity. He added that without more funding, some of the waste could end up being returned to he landfill even after partial disposal. The mayor explained that for FY2025, the central government has approved funds to dismantle 100,000 tonnes of old waste, while private sector will assist with another 200,000 tonnes. However, about 500,000 tonnes still remain. The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) has committed 30 million THB, with the Phuket City Municipality allocating 10 million THB more, to remove an additional 100,000 tonnes

The TAT Governor said they are preparing promotional campaigns to leverage the Alien: Earth series filmed in Thailand, which premieres on Disney+ Hotstar on 13 Aug. The series was the largest foreign production investment in Thailand in over 30 years, with a budget of 2.8 billion THB. It was filmed over two years across seven provinces: Bangkok, Phang Nga, Krabi, Nakhon Pathom, Surat Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Samut Prakan. The production employed over 16,000 Thai crew members throughout the filming

TAT launched the “Thailand Special Deal” campaign in Mexico in partnership with department store El Palacio de Hierro, attracting over 60 top-spending customers. The campaign coincided with the Thai Festival Mexico 2025, which was held at the National Center of Arts (CENART) in Mexico City on 9-10 Aug, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Thai-Mexican diplomatic relations. TAT also hosted a training for 30 travel agents from Viajes Palacio and hosted a networking event with 15 tourism partners at Galanga House on 6 Aug. TAT projects the campaign and festival to help attract 51,600 Mexican tourists in 2025, +20% YoY. Thailand has welcomed 26,960 visitors from Mexico from 1 Jan-3 Aug

Minor Hotels reported a core profit of 2.26 billion THB for H1 2025, +34% YoY, driven by strong demand in Europe and Maldives. Group revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose 4% YoY, with occupancy at 67%, +1pp, and average daily rate (ADR) rising by 2% YoY. The group recorded a 6% decrease in RevPAR in Thailand. Core profit reached 2.7 billion THB in Q2 2025, +9% YoY. Group RevPAR rose 2% in Q2, driven by a 2% rise in ADR

Laem Sok Pier in Trat saw over 600 tourists boarding ferries to Koh Kut and Koh Mak. Three ferry companies ran a total of 10 daily trips, with over 3,000 passengers expected to travel to the islands over the Mother’s Day holiday from 9-12 Aug. A worker at Koh Kood Express Ferry said visitor numbers were down 20%-30% YoY, attributed to concerns over Thai-Cambodian border tensions

TAT projects 2,990 tourists to visit Koh Kood during the Mother’s Day holiday period, +21.89% YoY, generating 24.16 million THB in revenue. TAT Trat Office projects over 26,190 people to visit the province during the holiday, generating around 190.84 million THB

Phuket Town Mayor chaired a meeting to finalise preparations for the annual Por Tor (Hungry Ghost) Festival, which will be held from 4-21 Sep. The festival will be held at shrines, markets, and communities across Phuket Town

The inaugural Awakening Song Wat Festival will be held from 8-17 Aug, aiming to boost night-time activity in Song Wat district, Bangkok. The event will feature 14 installations by Thai and international artists at 12 locations along Song Wat Road. The festival is supported by the TAT and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, along with MINI Thailand, GrabTaxi (Thailand) Co., ThaiBev Marketing Co., Boon Rawd Trading Co., and private-sector partners along Song Wat Road

Three sleeper carriages of the special express train No. 38/46 from Su-ngai Kolok and Padang Besar to Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue) derailed near Kui Buri station, injuring 10 people

During a Thai tourism promotion roadshow in Australia, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation shared to the Phuket Governor that the province must tackle the three main issues that are deterring tourists: cannabis odour, inappropriate motorcycle rentals and the lack of direct flights between Australia and Phuket. He also discussed concerns over Phuket’s image in China

President of the Thai Hotels Association believes the reclassification of cannabis as a narcotic will have a positive impact on the tourism sector, as many tourists who do not use cannabis often feel unsafe in environments where its smell is pervasive. He said cannabis tourism, while it may appeal to a small niche, should be confined to designated areas. He said that family travellers are a key market segment, outweighing the small cannabis tourism market. Secretary-general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) believes the move would benefit both society and tourism, adding that major source markets to Thailand – such as China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia – do not favour cannabis use

Thailand is promoting the electric vehicle (EV) industry, with the goal of establishing the country as a fully integrated production hub for EVs and key components in ASEAN. It also promotes the national targets of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2065 through the 30@30 policy, which aims for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) to account for at least 30% of total passenger car and pickup truck production, equivalent to around 725,000 units, by 2030, as well as about 675,000 electric motorcycles

A 30-year-old former boxer, in a state of distress, allegedly doused two Malaysian tourists with thinner and set them on fire outside a prominent shopping mall in the Ratchaprasong area on 7 Aug. The Thai Tourism Minister expressed deep regret and concern over the assault and has instructed relevant agencies, including the Tourist Police, to provide urgent assistance and protection to the victims. The ministry will assist the tourists in applying for compensation under the aid scheme for injured and deceased foreign visitors. The ministry has also instructed the Tourist Assistance Centre (TAC) to monitor their medical treatment and facilitate documentation, foreign language communication, and coordination with relevant agencies such as the Malaysian Embassy, hospitals, insurers, Tourist Police, local police, and other agencies

Bangkok ranked first in Agoda’s 2025 Repeat Visitor Ranking, which listed the top Asian city destinations that travellers revisit, based on booking data from H1 2025

TAT has launched the “Amazing Grand Privilege in Amazing Summer Family Month” campaign, offering benefits for international family and multigenerational visitors to Thailand during Aug-Sep. The campaign includes discounts and e-VAT refund services at The Mall Group and ONESIAM malls; travel perks via Grab Thailand Travel Pass; exclusive family deals at Hyatt hotels in Bangkok and Hua Hin; and free anti-slip socks at HarborLand with family ticket purchases, among others. TAT is also collaborating with AXN Asia for the “Your Dream of Thailand Academy” online contest aimed at Gen Zs in Europe. Youth aged 18-25 across 25 countries can submit a post about their dream experience in Thailand via AXN Asia’s social media platforms until 12 Aug. Eight winners will be announced on 15 Aug, with the prize being a 10-day cultural journey in Thailand from 18-28 Aug. The campaign is expected to reach over 10 million impressions

Hotels, restaurants, and service businesses in Pattaya are reportedly struggling to fill positions amid a labour shortage due to over 610,000 Cambodian workers returning home amid concerns of land confiscation and citizenship loss. The Labour Ministry has acknowledged the problem – especially in Chonburi, Samut Sakhon, and Nakhon Ratchasima – and is now working with security agencies to assess labour demand and speed up recruitment efforts. Pattaya’s tourism operators are calling on the government to issue fast-track permits for replacement workers from neighbouring countries to address the labour shortage

Former Chairman of Trat Tourism Industry Council believes that political uncertainty on both Thai and Cambodia sides left the private sector lacking confidence, despite the recently declared ceasefire. He added that there are almost no Cambodian workers remaining on Koh Chang, which affected the service and construction sectors

Former Chair of the Trat Tourism Industry Council and hotel operator on Koh Chang said that the ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia has not restored confidence among the private sector. He added that border tensions have also caused a labour shortage in the absence of Cambodian workers. He said that local businesses have turned to Thai workers and student interns to fill positions in hotels and restaurants. Manager of Chai Chet Resort in Koh Chang said that many guests have delayed or cancelled their bookings, especially seminar groups. Bookings at her resort have fallen by nearly 90%

Oxford Economics study, commissioned by Airbnb, showed that Airbnb activities contributed 72 billion THB to Thailand’s economy in 2024, or around 3% of the country’s tourism GDP, as well as helped support around 109,900 jobs and contributed 16 billion THB in wage income. Over 90% of Airbnb stays in 2024 were booked by foreign guests, dominated by APAC travellers at 46%, and Europe at 29%. Airbnb guest spending in Thailand reached 73 billion THB in 2024, including both accommodation and non-accommodation expenses. Guests stayed an average of five nights in Thailand and spend an average of 4,400 THB/day on non-accommodation essentials like dining, shopping, entertainment, groceries, and transport. Of every 10,000 THB spent, 2,800 THB went to restaurants; 2,400 THB to shopping; 2,200 THB to arts and entertainment; and 1,300 THB each to groceries and transport

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) reported that consumer confidence index dropped for the sixth straight month to 51.7 in Jul, from 52.7 in Jun. The decline is attributed to the sluggish economy and the trade war, along with high living costs. UTCC President said the “confidence index shows no signs of recovery, with consumer purchasing power still subdued”

The Tourism Minister confirmed that the Tomorrowland music festival will be held at Wisdom Valley in Pattaya. The event expects to generate 21 billion THB over the 5-year contract

The Bangkok 2025 Global Biohealth AI Innovation and Traditional Medicine Fusion Cooperation Summit will be held from 9-11 Nov at the QSNCC and the Conrad Bangkok. The event is expected to attract over 10,000 international delegates from over 30 countries

TAT projected the four-day Mother’s Day holiday to generate 13 billion THB from 3.16 million domestic trip, with average occupancy reaching 66%. The central region is expected to attract the most visitors at around 898,000 trips, followed by the northeastern region at 609,000. Bangkok is expected to see the highest revenue at 3.4 billion THB. The South is expected to earn 2.7 billion THB, and the East 2.6 billion THB. The North is expected to see only 338,700 domestic trips, generating 1.4 billion THB, due to forecast of rain during the upcoming holiday. Recent Tourism Council of Thailand survey found that only 31% of locals planned domestic trips, attributed to cautious spending on travel due to the sluggish economy, high living costs, and high household debt. Only 6% of respondents planned to stay overnight, while 9% planned cross-regional trips. The TAT Governor said that Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Kanchanaburi and Rayong were the most popular destinations in the government’s hotel subsidy scheme, while Chanthaburi, Trat, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Nakhon Nayok received the most bookings from the scheme among secondary provinces

A representative from the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association reported no significant drop in the hospitality and tourism workforce, noting that the sector in Pattaya “relies on both Thai workers and long-term foreign residents who are still here and working”. The Department of Employment recently reported that around 19,000 Cambodian workers have returned to their country, out of over 500,000 legally employed in Thailand. This mainly impacts construction and factory work in provinces like Nakhon Ratchasima and Samut Sakhon

Tourism business operators in Pattaya are urging the government to take immediate measures to restore travellers’ confidence amid recent border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, as well as concerns over the strong Thai baht and the upcoming 19% US import tax. President of the Chonburi Tourism Federation said that the border clashes have raised concerns about safety, with many hotels receiving numerous inquiries about whether Pattaya and Chonburi remain safe for visitors. Operators are concerned about the high season from late Nov, which if situation persists, may prompt tourists to seek alternative destinations in neighbouring countries

TAT reported that data from ForwardKeys showed that forward bookings for flights in Aug dropped 2.7% YoY from 675,551 in 2024 due to the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict. Before the border clashes, bookings for Aug showed a 0.4% growth to 564,281 as of 21 Jul. The TAT Governor said that 406,326 of the 500,000 total privileges under the government’s co-payment scheme have been booked, with 93,570 privileges for second-tier provinces remaining. President of the Chanthaburi Tourism Association reported that European tourists planning to visit the province from Sep-Dec have cancelled their plans. Best-case scenario sees average occupancy in Chanthaburi reaching 40% in Aug, especially for beachside hotels, while most hotels are expected to record only 20%-30% occupancy. Bookings for the upcoming Mother’s Day holiday is expected to pick up, but may significantly fall after that

The Commerce Ministry reported that the consumer price index (CPI) fell 0.7% YoY in Jul, the fifth consecutive month that the inflation rate was below the Bank of Thailand’s target of 1.0%-3.0%. Core inflation rose 0.84% YoY in Jul. Annual headline inflation averaged 0.21% in Jan-Jul, while core inflation averaged 0.95%

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) projected Thai exports to decline by 275 billion THB in value in 2026, or 1.48% of GDP, as a result of the 19% US tariff. The US tariff is expected to impact Thai exports by 115 billion THB over the next five months, possibly causing a GDP contraction of 0.62 percentage points. UTCC said Thailand could gain 18.9 billion THB from trade diversion. It maintained its GDP growth prediction at 1.5%-2%

The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking upgraded its GDP forecast to 1.8%-2.2% from its initial projection of 1.5%-2% following the US’ decision to reduce tariffs for Thailand from 36% to 19%

The Provincial Police Region 2 – which oversees 8 eastern provinces including Chon Buri, Rayong, Trat, and Chanthaburi – issued a warning that more people are being scammed by online fraud booking services offering discount rates for hotel rooms. The Royal Thai Police received reports for 34,570 cybercrime cases in Jul, with 17,823 (51.5%) of them involving fraudulent pages offering booking services. Chief of Police Region 2 reported that total damage to victims was estimated at around 162 million THB

Accor is partnering with Boutique Corporation Public Company Limited (BC) to debut its Handwritten Collection in Bangkok, its first Mercure hotel in Phuket, and open a new Mövenpick resort on Kamala Beach. The three hotels are set to open between 2025-2027, at a total of 585 keys. Mercure Phuket Patong Journeyhub will have 198 rooms and is expected to open in late 2025. Mövenpick Resort Kamala Beach Phuket will have 197 rooms and is expected to open in late 2026. JonoX Sukhumvit 5 – Handwritten Collection, Bangkok will have 190 rooms and is expected to open in 2027

Grab reported a 50% rise in GrabFood and Grab Mart delivery orders from expatriates and digital nomads in Thailand over the past 12 months, with an average order value of 300-500 THB. The top five nationalities using the services are American, British, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, mostly residing in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Hua Hin. The top five food categories are fast food, cook-to-order Thai dishes, healthy meals, rice bowls or speciality dishes, and takeaway drinks. Two-thirds of expats prefer to commute by GrabCar via JustGrab, while the remaining one-third opts for GrabBike, which recorded a 30% YoY growth in usage. To better serve the segment, Grab introduced the AI-powered “One Click Translation” feature, which offers menu translations in up to nine languages, as well as the Expat Pass, which offers discounts of up to 2,000 THB across all Grab services

The Tourism Minister reported that the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict is costing Thailand’s tourism sector nearly 3 billion THB monthly, with over 5,000 rooms cancelled nationwide and key tourist attractions closed. • Ubon Ratchathani – some hotels were temporarily closed until 4 Aug. Group travel bookings have been completely cancelled, with 70% of remaining hotel occupancy coming from aid workers and media • Sisaket – all group tour bookings were cancelled, with 50% of hotel guests being aid workers and journalists • Surin – border hotels have closed or restricted operations, with 80% of group bookings cancelled. The Enduro Race motorbike competition has been postponed. Thai visitors are travelling to Ta Muen Thom and Ta Kwai temples to show national unity and support for soldiers • Buriram – some border hotels have suspended operations, while others offer special rates for evacuees. Major attractions such as Phanom Rung Historical Park and Muang Tam Sanctuary remain closed, and all Chang International Circuit events have been postponed • Sa Kaeo – hotel occupancy continues to fall, with 100% cancellations in Aranyaprathet district and 80% in Muang district. Thai authorities have banned gamblers, tourists, and entertainment workers from crossing into Cambodia • Chanthaburi – tourism bookings fell 80%, with cross-border trade slowing due to new checkpoint operating hours • Trat – island tourism suffered significant cancellations: Koh Chang (10%-30%), Koh Mak (20%-30%), and Koh Kood (50%-60%)

The Tourism Ministry reported that Thailand welcomed 19.57 million international arrivals from 1 Jan-3 Aug, -6.56% YoY. China was the top source market with 2.73 million

TAT collaborated with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment on a global press event for “Jurassic World: Rebirth”, which was filmed in Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Trang. The event welcomed 30 international media representatives, along with the film’s director and cast members, to Thailand from 30 Jul-3 Aug. A Welcome Dinner was held at the Trisara resort in Phuket, followed by immersive visits to key filming locations. The film’s production in Thailand brought over 400 million THB and generated over 2,200 jobs across the three provinces. The Thailand Film Office reported that Thailand hosted 279 international productions in H1 2025, generating over 2.8 billion THB in economic value. The US had the largest production spend at 1.23 billion THB, followed by South Korea (251 million), France (211 million), Singapore (200 million), and Germany (142 million). India had the largest production volume with 30 projects, followed by South Korea (29), Japan and China (22 each), the US (20), and France (19). Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Chon Buri, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan were the five most filmed provinces

The Thai baht opened at 32.45 THB to the USD on 4 Aug, appreciating from on the 32.87 THB close on 1 Aug. The currency is currently trading between 32.35 and 32.65 THB to the USD

The Tourism Minister said that Thailand welcomed around 618,000 international tourists from 21-27 Jul, +1% WoW. The figure dropped to 372,000 for the 24-27 Jul period when the clashes took place. He added that there was no significant cancellations, except among Cambodian tourists, whose arrivals fell by 53% since the clashes began. Japan, Australia, the Netherlands, and the US have upgraded their travel advisories for Thailand, but none issued actual warnings against visiting the country. A total of 21 countries issued general advisories, warning travellers to exercise caution or avoid unnecessary travel near the border. He reported that the social listening survey on the TAT’s Amazing Thailand online platform found the clashes have affected the country’s image, with negative posts about Thailand rising from 6.8% to 11.3%, while positive posts declining from 33.3% to 21.3%. He said short-haul markets require more attention as they are more sensitive to security issues, particularly families and MICE groups. The markets to monitor include China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia. President of the Lower Northeastern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association said travellers are still avoiding Surin, Ubon Ratchathani and Buri Ram. He said the tourism recovery rate in the lower northeastern region is at only half of the normal volume, with hotels reporting occupancy rates of only 10%-15%

TAT said the 1 million arrivals target for the Middle East and African markets in 2025 remains challenging due to geopolitical conflicts, but Thailand still has opportunities from new flight openings in winter. Marketing Manager for the Middle East and Africa at TAT's Dubai office said growth in the Middle East market has been slow, particularly among family groups and first-time visitors, as they are hesitant to travel overseas due to geopolitical uncertainty in the region, and the Israel-Iran conflict in Jun. TAT Dubai expects travel momentum to recover in the high season in Aug. Arrivals from the Middle East market had strongly increased since the beginning of the year before the Israel-Iran conflict, but growth has since slowed, with only around 2% YoY increase. Markets under TAT Dubai Office, which include 13 Middle East and nine African markets totalled 497,697 as of 27 Jul, +2.22% YoY. The markets need to see an 11% YoY growth in 2025 to achieve the 1 million goal. Saudi Arabia is expected to generate 243,000 arrivals in 2025, followed by the UAE (181,000), and Oman (118,030). Strong flight recovery of over 95% vs pre-pandemic levels could be a key factor to revovery. Currently, there are 11 airlines operating direct flights between Thailand and the region, serving around 231 flights weekly and 288,380 seats monthly.There are three new flights scheduled for this winter: Etihad’s Abu Dhabi-Krabi and Abu Dhabi-Chiang Mai, and Air Arabia’s Sharjah-Krabi. TAT will host the Middle East Trade Meet in Bangkok and Koh Samui in Sep, and a luxury roadshow to Kuwait and Bahrain in Nov. One of TAT’s flagship projects in 2026 will be the Wellness Escapes in Amazing Thailand, focusing on the Saudi Arabia and Oman markets

TAT expects a 10% growth for the Indian market until 2026 following a 14.4% growth to 1.3 million arrivals as of 20 Jul. However, Director of TAT’s New Delhi office said that they need “a period after the new US tariff rates for India start on 1 Aug to gauge the impact on the Indian economy and tourism demand”

Phuket Town is requesting a 30 million THB subsidy for Phase 2 of the landfill rehabilitation project at the Phuket Central Waste Disposal Centre in Saphan Hin. The funding request was formally submitted on 29 Jul and will be tabled for a vote at the next Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) Council meeting

Pattaya has launched a new eco-tourism initiative to raise awareness about the breeding and care of marine life, as part of the Nature Restoration for Eco-Tourism Promotion programme for 2025. The event was organised by the Natural Resources Division, under the Environmental Quality Promotion Department of Pattaya City. Local government officials and local students participated in the ceremonial release of juvenile marine species into the Na Kluea salt flat area. The event also featured training sessions from the Lan Pho local fishing community in sustainable fishing practices

The Phuket Governor advocated for the island to adopt a special administrative status similar to Bangkok, which will allow for greater control over its tax revenue. He said that the “mismatch” between population numbers and the province’s annual development budget “creates serious consequences” such as shortages in water supply, wastewater treatment, waste disposal, and transport infrastructure. Under the special administrative status proposal, “taxes collected from Phuket would remain in Phuket, with up to 90% of tourism-related revenue reinvested locally”. The province will set up a committee to review and submit the “Phuket Metropolis” draft plan to the national government

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) expects Chinese tourist arrivals to reach 9 million in 2026, driven by large groups, momentum from chartered flights, and global business events that improves Thailand’s image as a safe destination. Atta President believes that the chartered flight subsidy scheme should attract 150,000 Chinese tourists, while MICE subsidies could attract another 75,000 travellers. The Amway 2026 incentive meeting will be held in Mar-Apr 2026, with 13,000 delegates participating. Thailand is also set to host the World Bank Governors’ Meeting on 12-18 Oct, which could help boost confidence in Thailand’s safety. Honorary Secretary-General of Atta believes the momentum from the chartered flights subsidy would continue and increase traffic to Thailand by 5X, generating a total of 1 million tourists of the 9 million target in 2026. Owner of Lanzhou tour operator Gansu Junhe Cultural Tourism said that there is strong interest in the chartered flights and MICE subsidies, with real impact expected to show from Nov-Dec. He believes that Chinese arrivals to Thailand could recover to 70%-80% of pre-pandemic levels by late 2026

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that floods and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Wipha has killed six people and affected over 230,000 people nationwide

The Tourism Minister visited Soi Bangla in Patong to promote the Phuket Model of Safe Tourism and inspect the area’s safety standards and readiness to welcome international tourists. The Minister also chaired a meeting with the Phuket Governor, TAT representatives, the Tourist Police, and Phuket Provincial Police to review safety measures and discuss future policy directions. Vice President of International Marketing at the Phuket Tourist Association reported a 103% increase in tourist arrivals from 1 Jan-31 Jul. Israeli arrivals increased by 162%, but visitors from China and Hong Kong fell significantly. There were also an 11.9% decline in flights, partly attributed to cancellations due to unrest in Bangkok. Tourist surveys showed that top concerns include overcrowding during high season, traffic congestion, and marijuana use in public areas. Tourists lauded Phuket’s fast immigration process, scenic beaches and islands, local food, and the variety of accommodation

The Bank of Thailand is promoting the Tourist Wallet, a digital payment system for foreign tourists that facilitates cross-border QR payment, connecting 8 countries

The US has set a 19% tariff on imports from Thailand, lower than the initially announced 36%

PrideHealth, APAC’s first LGBTQ+ centric digital health platform, has been launched in Thailand. The app aims to bridge the gap in healthcare access for LGBTQ+ and marginalised individuals. The platform offers services such as telehealth, e-commerce offerings, and care across key areas including sexual health, mental wellness, HIV treatment and prevention, and gender-affirming services

The Thai Hotels Association President revealed that 24 member hotels across nine provinces have lost a combined 5,266 bookings since 23 Jul, attributed to the Thailand-Cambodia conflict. Chiang Mai saw the most cancellations, with 2,089 bookings, while Bangkok saw 1,863 booking cancellations and Chon Buri 668 cancellations. Cancellations were mainly done by Asian tourists (47%), followed by Thais (35%), Europeans (nearly 12%), and Middle Eastern tourists (just under 6%)

Two Cambodian soldiers stranded in Thai territory following recent border clashes have been returned to Cambodia after receiving help from the Second Region Army

HSBC believes that the wedding tourism market is a significant opportunity to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) from India into Thailand

TAT Governor believes that Chinese tourist arrivals have already passed their lowest point when it fell to 5,600 per day earlier this year. She added that Chinese travel agents are showing renewed confidence in Thailand despite safety concerns driven by border conflicts and recent market shooting. Chinese arrivals now average 13,000-15,000 per day and steadily improving, although still below the pre-pandemic level of 30,000. The Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) and TAT are holding a roadshow in Chongqing, Lanzhou, and Hangzhou, featuring over 50 Thai tourism operators, who will participate in business matching and promotional sessions with around 1,000 Chinese tour operators. Deputy General Manager of Chongqing Ruitu International Travel Agency reported an increased interest in chartered flights to Samui and Trang. He noted that “TAT subsidies are helpful, even if Vietnam's short-term incentives are more generous”

Director of the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok and Ironman 70.3 Bangsaen races highlighted the economic ripple effect of festivals, noting that “spending increases tenfold on accommodation, food, and more”. Festival Director of Awakening Bangkok said that Thailand face competition from destinations like Singapore and Japan, which makes it important to define “what makes Thailand’s festivals truly worth the trip”. He noted that importing international acts like Taylor Swift or Tomorrowland may boost arrivals, but delivers limited cultural value in the long term

The Bank of Thailand reported that the Thai economy slowed MoM in Jun. Exports grew 16.1% YoY, whilst imports rose 13.8%, resulting in a trade account surpolus of $3.3 billion. Private investment rose 0.7% MoM in Jun, whilst private consumption dropped 0.3% MoM

The Marine Department held a high-level seminar at the Jomtien Palm Beach Hotel and Resort to share information and gather community feedback regarding Phase 2 of the Jomtien Beach Sand Replenishment Project, which aims to combat coastal erosion and attract visitors to the beach. Phase 1 of the project restored 3,575 metres of beach across Na Jomtien and South Jomtien, while Phase 2 will add another 2,840 metres of new beachfront from the Chaiyapreuk Intersection to near the Dongtan Beach Police Box

The Phuket Provincial Governance Committee has launched a series of field inspections aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and public benefit from major infrastructure and development projects planned for 2025, including: • Two flood-prevention schemes worth 25 million THB each, involving the construction of retaining walls on both sides of the Bang Yai Canal • A 15 million THB Water Management Infrastructure Development Project under the Phuket Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office • The Laem Phromthep Skywalk Project in Rawai, in which the budget was recently increased from 250 million THB to over 301 million THB • A 230 million THB Water Quality Improvement Project, involving a wastewater interceptor and pumping station in Phuket City Municipality • A 60 million THB renovation of Surakul Stadium, managed by the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO)

The Finance Ministry expects the Thai economy to grow 2.2% in 2025, a slight upgrade from the previous projection of 2.1%. Foreign tourist arrivals are expected to reach 34.5 million in 2025, down from 36.5 million in the May forecast

Country Head of Indian Subcontinent and Indonesia at Booking.com said that ASEAN can expect a surge of Indian tourists once airlift improves. He noted that “Tier II and III cities are where the next wave will come from”, adding that destinations should consider micro-targeting secondary destinations. Vice President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) said that they are focusing their roadshows on South India, such as Hyderabad and Chennai, with a roadshow to Cochin and Andhra Pradesh planned for Sep

President of the Chanthaburi Tourism Association reported a 30%-40% cancellation rate for bookings during the recent long weekend due to concerns about border dispute. Hotels and tourist attractions remained open under martial law. He said that domestic tourists opted for alternative destinations with similar attractions, such as Pattaya and Chon Buri. He expects bookings for the Mother’s Day national holiday in two weeks may decline by 20% YoY. Tourism revenue in Chanthaburi in Jan-May has dropped by 500 million THB YoY due to the weak economy, and is expected to continue falling for the rest of 2025. President of the Lower Northeastern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association said Nakhon Ratchasima also recorded cancellations despite it not being a border province. Several meetings and parties were cancelled because they were expecting guests from the Northeast, including border provinces affected by the conflict. He added that popular leisure destinations like Khao Yai saw average occupancy dropping to 50%, compared to the usual 70%-90% during long holidays

Director-General of the Revenue Department said that the department is considering tax measures to stimulate tourism during the low season, with the potential incentive allowing individuals to deduct up to 15,000 THB in travel expenses from their taxable income, similar to a scheme offered in 2024. He added that the department is discussing with the Tourism Ministry to determine which provinces the tax measure should cover. The Revenue Department also recently signed an MoU with the National Science and Technology Development Agency and Krungthai Bank to support the development and transfer of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to the Revenue Department, aiming to improve tax collection efficiency and provide better services to taxpayers. The department plans to develop AI capabilities between 2025-2027, with the aim of becoming an AI-driven agency by 2027. The department’s four AI development initiatives include developing a voice-enabled AI chatbot; using AI to analyse tax collection data; utilising AI to scan and digitise paper-based information for faster processing and tax auditing; and creating a “One Portal, One Profile” system for taxpayers

The Global Coffee and Tea Association Forum 2025: Shaping the Future Together was held from 17-20 Jul at the Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort. The event attracted 211 delegates, comprising 165 Thais and 46 international participants from 11 territories. The event featured knowledge exchange, networking, and business development, as well as direct site visits to local plantations and processing facilities. The forum is organised by the Tea and Coffee Institute of Mae Fah Luang University, Singha Park Chiang Rai Co., and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). The Chiang Rai Brewtopia Green Season exhibition was held from 18-20 Jul at Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, featuring around 40 coffee and tea entrepreneurs

TAT launched the Thailand Green Tourism Collections initiative under the Thailand Green Tourism for Sustainability programme. The initiative features 20 sustainable travel routes across 10 designated Green Cities – Chiang Mai, Nan, Sukhothai, Loei, Nakhon Ratchasima, Bangkok, Trat, Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Surat Thani. The cities were chosen based on input from 26 travel platforms and tour companies, including EU-based, regional, and global partners renowned for their sustainability expertise and market insight. The Collections are built on seven categories of Sustainable Experiences – Green Accommodations, Attractions, Activities, Restaurants, Goods, Logistics, and Tour Operators

TAT hosted an ASEAN-Indian Forum on 23 Jul, with one of the topics including the Indian weddings market in Thailand. Country Head for India and Indonesia at Booking.com said that he heard that people “find it cheaper to host a 300-500 guest wedding in Thailand or Malaysia than in India”. Commercial Director at Destination Hospitality Management group also noted that flights from Delhi to Bangkok is often less expensive than to Goa, with hotels in Thailand also more affordable. He reported that his firm has seen a 225% increase in top-line revenue from Indian guests, and that they now have a dedicated vertical for Indian weddings and MICE. He noted that India is the only market outperforming, while China and Russia remain slow. President of the Thai Indian Wedding Association lauded Thailand’s visa-free policy for “giving wings” to the Indian wedding industry in Thailand

The Cabinet has approved an agreement for Thailand to host the Tomorrowland music festival annually for 5 years, from 2026-2030. TAT will be the lead agency responsible for coordinating the event with Tomorrowland International (TLI) or its local joint venture, We Are One.World (Thailand) Company Limited. The Cabinet expects the festival to inject 12.053 billion THB into the Thai economy over the five years, and is expected to attract a total of 922,500 attendees, including 369,000 Thais and foreigners residing in Thailand and 553,500 international tourists. Revenue streams are expected to comprise ticket sales (forecasted at 5.2 billion THB), sponsorships (3.5 billion THB), and F&B sales (1.9 billion THB). Organisers expect attendees to grow from 50,000 in the first year to 75,000 by the final year

TAT is collaborating with the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) to launch the “Amazing Dark Sky in Thailand Season 4”. The initiative promotes astronomical tourism by designating 16 new dark sky conservation areas nationwide, in addition to the 48 locations that have been designated over the programme’s past three years. The programme also aims to raise awareness about light pollution, energy conservation, and responsible lighting practices

The Royal Thai Army claimed that Cambodia opened fire at Thai locations in Chong An Ma, Chong Bok, Prasat Ta Kwai, Phu Makhuea and Sam Tae areas. The Thai Army Spokesperson condemned the act, saying that it “shows an intention to violate the (ceasefire) agreement and ruin a mutual trust system”

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the Spokesperson for the Cambodian Defence Minister’s allegation that Thai forces used chemical weapons in their attack. The ministry said the allegations are “groundless and reflects a pattern of disinformation, aimed at distorting the facts on the ground and deliberately undermining Thailand’s credibility and standing in the international community”

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the Spokesperson for the Cambodian Defence Minister’s allegation that Thai forces used chemical weapons in their attack. The ministry said the allegations are “groundless and reflects a pattern of disinformation, aimed at distorting the facts on the ground and deliberately undermining Thailand’s credibility and standing in the international community”

The Thai Finance Minister estimated the initial costs of evacuation and damaged property after a five-day border conflict with Cambodia at over 10 billion THB. The ministry expects the eventual economic impact to be even higher. The Thai government is preparing an initial budget of 25 billion THB to mitigate the impact, as well as various relief measures to aid people and businesses affected by the conflict. State-owned banks are offering measures such as loan repayment deferrals, low-interest loans, refinancing options, and fee exemptions to support recovery efforts. The government has also extended tax filing and payment deadlines, and implemented tax deductions for repair costs. The government allocated 100 million THB to each affected province to meet local needs

The Tourism Ministry reported that Thailand has welcomed 18.98 million international arrivals from 1 Jan-27 Jul, -6.18% YoY. China was the top source market with 2.64 million visitors

True's Data Playground project studied mobility data from over 500 million traveller trips from 2023-2024 and identified 21 potential routes that can be developed into cluster tourism, such as Chiang Mai-Lampang-Lamphun, Nakhon Pathom-Ratchaburi-Kanchanaburi, Phetchaburi-Prachuap Khiri Khan-Samut Sakhon-Samut Songkhram, Khon Kaen-Chaiyaphum, among others

Mass shooting at the Or Tor Kor Market on Kamphaeng Phet Road in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district left six people dead, including the gunman

Artillery attacks are said to be continuing by both Thailand and Cambodia despite both leaders agreeing to work on a ceasefire. Thailand noted that it was grateful to Trump, but could not start talks if Cambodia is targeting Thai civilians, something that Cambodia has denied. More than 200,000 have been evacuated from border areas in the 2 countries

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects that the number of Chinese arrivals in 2025 will fall to below 5 million, down from 6.7 million in 2024. The TAT believes that their 750 million THB campaign should help to drive the arrivals, and that plans have started to be received from agents who plan to operate chartered flights from Aug onwards. The Shanghai TAT office noted that they are using more UGC content, rather than social media influencers, and are driving user submissions by offering gifts from tour operators. The TAT put the decrease in Chinese arrivals down to competition from Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam. As of 20 Jul, Thailand has welcomed 2.53 million Chinese tourists in 2025, and sees a best-case scenario in 2026 for 6.9 million. The average daily arrivals from Thailand is 15,000 and average spend 52,000 THB per trip. Tour groups remain a major segment for the Shanghainese market, where 90% of arrivals from Anhui are groups, as well as from Hainan, Jiangxi, Liaoning and Shanxi. In Kunming, the TAT are looking at niche markets and promoting to university students, with new chartered flights expected from Kunming-Udon Thani

Bank Indonesia’s Riau Islands Provincial Office reported that from Jan-May 2025, Malaysian visitors made 5,920 QRIS cross-border transactions, Singaporeans made 1,252 transactions, and Thai tourists made 62 transactions. Bank Indonesia’s data shows that in 2025, Gen Z comprises 27.94% of total users in QRIS transactions

The Department of Fine Arts announced that Phanom Rung Historical Park and Muang Tam Sanctuary in Buri Ram province have been closed until further notice due to escalating tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border

Thailand presented a letter to the United Nations to inform of “the grave situation affecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Thailand as a result of Cambodia's act of military aggression”

Tourism operators in the North called on the government to allocate tourism stimulus measures for provinces impacted by the floods, such as Nan and Chiang Rai

The Tourism Council of Thailand reported that the tourism confidence index stood at 70 in Q2, below a benchmark of 100 recorded pre-pandemic and down from 83 in Q1 2025 and 79 in Q2 2024. Confidence index for entertainment businesses fell to the lowest level of 60, down from 73 in 2024. Tourism operators reported a 45% recovery in revenue in Q2 compared to 2019 levels. Hotels recorded an average occupancy rate of 48%, down from 55% in 2024. In Q2, 94% of businesses operated as usual, down from 97% in Q1. TCT forecasts confidence index to fall further to 65 in Q3. TCT is calling on TAT to launch a subsidy for bus operators to operate trips nationwide

President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) said that the instability of the government’s “Half-Half Travel Thailand” domestic tourism co-payment scheme have made many hotels wary of participating, with a number of hotels also temporarily suspending their participation in the programme. Issues include unclear rules, glitches in booking, payment issues, and frequent changes by the TAT. THA also criticised the limited 300-400 million THB monthly budget, saying it’s “insufficient to drive meaningful growth in occupancy or stimulate real domestic travel demand”. Hotels in popular destinations like Pattaya, Rayong, Koh Samui, and Khao Yai are reportedly preparing alternative “Thai Price” promotions aimed at Thai tourists. They also reported that most bookings now come from third-party apps like Agoda and Booking.com rather than government-sponsored schemes. The tourism sector is also preparing to launch high-season promotions at the 75th Thai Tiew Thai travel expo, which will be held on 21-24 Aug at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok. As of 19 Jul, the “Half-Half Travel Thailand” scheme has seen 1.86 million registrations and the participation of over 3,500 hotels, 2,400 restaurants, and 90 attractions. A total of 193,797 travel entitlements are already used, while 306,203 remained unclaimed. Top destinations used under the scheme include Chonburi (Pattaya), Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Kanchanaburi, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat

Anantara Siam Bangkok to undergo a $50 million USD upgrade, focused on cultural storytelling, sensory rituals, and guest immersion. The renovation will occur in two phases – phase one until Nov, and phase two from May-Sep 2026. New features will include a redesigned lobby, Kasara Lounge, Jim Thompson Suite showcasing Thai silk, six Garden Suites with private plunge pools, a landscaped pool area, and a wellness centre with advanced equipment. Daily programming will offer activities like alms-giving, cultural storytelling, and Thai botanical cocktail hours, spiritual ceremonies, mask-making workshops, and cooking classes

Phuket Governor reassured tourists and locals that the island remains “safe, calm, and completely unaffected” amid ongoing military conflict at Thai-Cambodian borders, emphasising that Phuket is nearly 1,500 km away from the conflict zone

The Interior Ministry announced that over 100,000 civilians have been evacuated from Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, and Buri Ram amid escalating border clashes with Cambodia. The ministry said that evacuees are now sheltered at 295 designated sites away from the conflict zones

Thailand’s military has officially declared martial law in several districts of Chanthaburi and Trat provinces, claiming the move was necessary to “protect Thai sovereignty, territorial integrity, and public safety in light of the escalating conflict”. Martial law is now in effect in the following districts: Mueang Chanthaburi, Tha Mai, Makham, Laem Sing, Kaeng Hang Maeo, Na Yai Am, and Khao Khitchakut in Chanthaburi Province, and Khao Saming District in Trat Province. The order grants expanded powers to military authorities to ensure security and enforce law and order, including the authority to restrict movement, control communications, and mobilise resources for national defence. The Thai military claims the move is a defensive response to Cambodian military actions, but Cambodian officials have denied initiating aggression and maintain that Cambodia is acting in self-defence

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) has reported that Chinese travel agents are questioning Thai tour operators over safety after clashes on the border, noting that it could impact arrivals following media reports. During a roadshow they have scheduled for Chongqing, Lanzhou and Hangzhou in the coming week, they will clear up any misinformation. As of 24 Jul, Cambodian arrivals dropped 27% YoY to 229,240, and Thai AirAsia reported that its flights to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap were seeing load factors of 80% and 90% in H1 2025, with a higher number of Thai passengers from 21-25 Jul

The Thai Hotels Association northeastern lower chapter has noted that hotels in the area were closely watching the developments of clashes near to the border and expected that domestic tourists may cancel their trips. They noted around 90% of their hotel guests are domestic ones, and called for the government to resolve the issue in 3-7 days to avoid greater impact. The average hotel occupancy before the conflict was around 40%, and they have seen the average room rate drop by 5% YoY down to weak government spending on MICE. The area was already struggling, even with the new co-payment scheme, which saw just 50% of its hotels enrolling and the rest facing technical issues. The THA noted that if the tourism market continues to decrease due to conflict and tropical storms, then hotels may need to lay off employees or close down as these hotels are mainly independent ones and reliant on bank loans

TAT hosted the ASEAN-India Forum from 22-25 Jul in Bangkok, as part of the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism 2025. The event brought together senior policymakers and tourism leaders for a full day of discussions, with topics such as the rising influence of Indian Millennials and Gen Z, and the booming Indian wedding and honeymoon market. The event also hosted a workshop on “Partnership Marketing Promotion”, where ASEAN and Indian stakeholders addressed shared challenges and explored strategies to improve visas, connectivity, packaging, and niche offerings. The delegates joined a technical tour to Pattaya following the event

Ennismore, a lifestyle and leisure hospitality firm under Accor, signed with Thailand’s Platinum Group to launch the Mama Shelter Bangkok Platinum. Mama Shelter will be located in Platinum Square, a new mixed-use development set to open in 2029, featuring 578 rooms across 47 floors. Platinum Square will also feature a 4-storey shopping centre

TAT hosted a technical fam trip from 22-24 Jul for 39 representatives from TAT’s Europe and the Americas offices, offering a first look at the upcoming Blue Jasmine Luxury Rail Journey. The premium rail experience is designed to support high-value tourism and foster deeper engagement with local operators. The trial route, titled “The Blue Jasmine: A Timeless Rail Journey Through Thailand”, highlighted three historic World Heritage cities – Ayutthaya, Uthai Thani, and Si Satchanalai in Sukhothai. The trip begins from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station. A 9-day itinerary developed by DTH Travel will run from 16-24 Nov, featuring five destinations – Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Uthai Thani, Sukhothai, and Chiang Mai. Additional departures are planned throughout 2026

TAT launched the Coral College Project, a bilingual e-learning platform that introduces visitors to marine safety, environmental awareness, and responsible tourism practices through short, interactive lessons. The platform is being piloted in Phuket, with plans to expand nationwide, including other coastal provinces like Krabi, Trang, Satun, Chumphon, and Surat Thani. The project expects to engage at least 3,000 tourists in Phuket

The Thai baht fell 0.3% to 32.29 to the USD, after touching 32.11 earlier, the strongest since Feb 2022. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index fell about 1%. The baht’s decline is attributed to the escalating conflict with Cambodia

The Tourism Ministry warned tourists to steer clear of volatile areas along the Thai-Cambodian borders and instructed local tourism offices to provide accurate, real-time information to affected tourists. Permanent Secretary for the Tourism Ministry reported a decline in tourist numbers and widespread booking cancellations in Sa Kaeo province’s border districts of Aranyaprathet, Ta Phraya, and Khlong Hat

King Power has closed three of its downtown duty-free shops in Bangkok and Pattaya – King Power Mahanakhon, King Power Srivaree and King Power Pattaya. The company has also launched a voluntary redundancy programme for employees, in attempt to downsize the business to allow for better operations in the long-term. Chief Executive of King Power Corporation said the closed downtown branches were designed to attract tour groups, but their revenue has fallen as tourism habits change and more people are travelling independently. Employees at the three closed branches will be offered an opportunity to be relocated to other locations, if they wish to continue working with the company. Employees who resign voluntarily under the redundancy programme would be compensated based on existing labour laws and the years they had spent working for the company. The firm has not announced a headcount reduction target

TAT expects Russian arrivals to surpass the 1.74 million visitors recorded in 2024, despite economic and geopolitical challenges. Director of TAT’s Moscow Office said Thailand is facing stronger competition from Vietnam, where Russian travel agents shifter chartered flights to for the summer, causing a 10% YoY decline in seat capacity. She added that based on discussions with Russian agents, the number of chartered flights to Thailand should increase in Q4, mainly to Phuket and U-Tapao airports. Thailand has welcomed 1.08 million Russian tourists YTD as of 20 Jul, the top long-haul market and fourth overall

Tropical depression Wipha caused heavy rains and flooding, affecting 20 districts across three northern provinces – Nan (10 districts), Phayao (7), and Chiang Rai (3). Flash flood and landslide warnings remained for 40 provinces

SCB Economic Intelligence Centre (EIC) reported that Thailand’s overall hotel occupancy rate is expected to reach around 75% in 2025, driven by the domestic travel co-payment scheme and the rebound of international arrivals towards pre-pandemic levels. Average room rates nationwide are expected to increase about 5% YoY, attributed to upgraded services and renovations. Total hotel supply nationwide is estimated at 80,000 rooms in 2025, +7% YoY. JLL projects Thailand’s hotel transaction volume to surpass 13 billion THB in 2025, with Bangkok remaining popular for investors

The Mega Halal 2025 Bangkok trade show was held at BITEC Bangna

The Thai Hotels Association (THA) called on the government to take action to protect tourist safety following a 4.66% YoY decline in tourism numbers in H1 2025 to 16.68 million. The Chinese market saw a 41.94% decline in Jun alone, with a 34.13% decline for the whole of H1. Other key markets like Malaysia, South Korea, Laos, Indonesia, and Taiwan also recorded declines. Some longer-haul markets showed growth, such as Oceania (+11.92%), Europe (+16.64%), and the Americas (+10.37%)

Advito, a corporate travel consulting group, released the Q3 Travel Price Index for business travel across the Asia Pacific. Airfares from Asia to Europe recorded a moderate increase for both business (+2% YoY) and economy (+1% YoY), but fares to North America recorded a slight drop. This was attributed to the global economic slowdown, which is affecting outbound travel from Asia. Airfares from India are decreasing. In Asia, domestic and regional economy class airfares are recording a downward trend, due to a softening of demand in India, and strong capacity growth in China and Japan. Meanwhile, business class airfares are recording a +1% YoY. Hotel rates in Asia recorded +1% YoY. The countries that recorded strong growth in average daily rates (ADR) are Japan (+5% YoY), Thailand (+10% YoY), Taiwan (+4% YoY), Hong Kong (+8% YoY), and Malaysia (+16% YoY). A few markets recorded a drop in ADR, such as China (-1% YoY), India (-2% YoY), Vietnam (-4% YoY), and South Korea (-5% YoY). Occupancy levels recorded a YoY increase in all regions except Asia

International trade organiser Messe Düsseldorf Asia said that Thailand can take advantage of medical and wellness tourism, medical manufacturing, and elderly care solutions to boost the economy. The three areas are expected to drive an average annual market expansion of 5.5%-7% domestically, with exports expected to grow by 6.5%-7.5% annually. Messe Düsseldorf Asia’s Portfolio Director for Medicare Asia said that Thailand’s medical tourism market was valued at over $433 million USD in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate expected to stand at 15%, bringing total market value to $1.3 billion USD by 2035

TAT is targeting 2.8 trillion THB in revenue for 2026, aiming to be among the top 10 global countries with the largest amount of tourism revenue. The target is expected to be reached through the “value over volume” principle. The target comprises an 8% increase of foreign arrivals revenue to 1.63 trillion THB and a 3% increase of domestic revenue to 1.17 trillion THB from 214 million domestic trips, +5% YoY

Khao Nang Phanthurat Forest Park has received national certification under the Thailand Tourism Standard for FY2025. The award, given out by the Department of Tourism, celebrates parks that excel in safety, service quality, and site management for camping and eco-tourism

Deputy Government Spokesperson announced that the Ban Na Ton Chan Homestay Community Enterprise has received Thailand’s first ever PATA Grand Award from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). Other Thai initiatives received the PATA Gold Awards, including a carbon-neutral tourism model, the Community-based Tourism for All programme, an initiative in Chiang Rai focused on women’s leadership in tourism, and a youth savings group in Loei that focused on building financial literacy and encouraging young people to engage in local economic planning. A project revitalising Songkhla old town into a creative arts and cultural hub received the Destination Resilience Award

The Phuket Consular Office of the Consulate General of The People’s Republic of China in Songkhla reported that due to impacts of tropical storm Wipha, one Chinese tourist drowned in Krabi on 20 Jul, while another was killed by a falling tree brought down by the wind at a beach in Phuket

Citi Research noted that Thailand’s banks are struggling with weak lending amid high household debt, which slowed tourism and consumer spending

The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) programme has seen over 35,000 applications since its launch on 15 Jul 2024

The Tourism Minister led an on-site inspection of Pattaya’s Walking Street to assess public safety conditions and meet with business operators, while reaffirming government support for the region’s tourism recovery

TAT has introduced its 2026 strategy under the theme “Value is the New Volume”, outlining a vision for The New Thailand and a shift to redefine Thai tourism through quality, balance, and sustainability. The government has approved a 4.5 billion THB budget to fund 22 strategic initiatives built around a framework of five new paradigms: New Customer, New Product, New Partnerships, New Marketing Strategy, and New Key Performance Indicators. The new strategy stands on four pillars: • “Value over Volume” through precision marketing and a deeper understanding of traveller segments. TAT will focus on high-potential traveller segments such as Millennials, Gen Zs, luxury tourists, and health-conscious travellers. TAT has also introduced three strategic market tiers: o Priority markets, which include mature destinations like China and Hong Kong, where efforts will focus on rebuilding safety perceptions and expanding into secondary cities. Short-haul markets like Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore will be developed for new segments while nurturing existing audiences. Long-haul destinations will be developed under the “New Million Market” strategy to attract high-value travellers. o Mid-sized and emerging markets, which include Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, will be expanded through new target segments and geographic areas. Markets like Australia, Scandinavia, Italy, and Spain will be positioned under Thailand’s “Green Destination” and “Long Stay Paradise” concepts o High-value markets, which include the Middle East, will receive tailored offerings in premium wellness and leisure, while maintaining continued momentum in markets like Israel • “Balancing Tourism” across regions and seasons by spotlighting local identity and decentralising flow. Regional campaigns will spotlight each region’s strengths: music festivals and luxury in Central Thailand; soft adventure and gastronomy in the East; seasonal storytelling and community culture in the North; rich traditions in the Northeast; and nature-based wellness in the South • “Advancing Creative and Thematic Tourism” with curated, niche experiences that engage diverse audiences, including nature-based escapes, wellness and meditation retreats, spiritual and belief-based tourism (Mu-Telu), LGBTQ+ travel, solo journeys, cinematic trails, arts and craft fashion, sports and adventure, vibrant nightlife, and the “5 Must-Do” Thai soft power experiences • “Sustainability” as a measurable, sector-wide standard. Krabi will continue as a prototype of sustainable tourism under the “Blue Zones” concept, and will lead with ten certified routes. This will be reinforced by the Trusted Thailand (Safe Travel Stamp) launching in Aug

TAT signed a Letter of Intent with 20 public and private sector partners to expedite progress toward the Sustainable Tourism Goals (STGs) by 2030. The signatories include eight government entities: TAT, Department of Tourism (DOT), Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE), Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO), Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), and the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO). The 13 private sector and civil society signatories were: Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), Thai Hotels Association (THA), Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA), Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation, Central Group, Asset World Corporation (AWC), Minor International, The Mall Group, Siam Piwat, One Bangkok, and Dusit Thani

Airbnb data showed a nearly 405 YoY increase in nights booked in Thailand by long-haul travellers from top origin countries of Airbnb in 2024. The top 10 long-haul markets travelling to Thailand were the US, the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Russia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, and Sweden. Among the top 10, France recorded the highest YoY growth at nearly 70%. In 2024, high-value travellers from long-haul source markets recorded over 25% YoY increase in long-term stays (28 nights or more) in Thailand

Thai immigration authorities have expanded the fast lanes to accommodate not only Chinese students and their families, but also other international students on their school holidays. Commander of Immigration Division 2 said the service was extended as more foreign families visit Thailand during the summer break, especially from the US, the UK, and Canada

The Tourism Minister and his delegation visited Pattaya to monitor tourist safety measures and discuss strategies to enhance the city’s tourism sector

Deputy Government Spokesperson said that the government expects 10 billion THB in revenue from foreign film productions in 2025, surpassing the initial 7.5 billion THB target and about 50% higher YoY. The Department of Tourism’s Thailand Film Office (TFO) reported that 279 foreign film projects was shot in Thailand from 1 Jan-30 Jun, generating 2.8 billion THB in production revenue. The top countries filming in Thailand includes India, South Korea, Japan and China, with top locations including Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Chon Buri

TAT is promoting the Phuket OneMap, a new web platform to track the real-time status of six government and privately operated bus lines. The platform was developed by Phuket City Development Co Ltd (PKCD) in collaboration with smart city authorities

Authorities executed a crackdown on illegal immigration near the Thai-Cambodian border in Sa Kaeo province on 17 Jul, resulting in the arrest of 38 individuals

Chiang Mai irrigation chief announced that the flood warning for the city has been lifted after water level of the Ping River continued to drop. The municipality and Meteorological Department urged residents to monitor the impact of Wipha Storm that could cause heavy rainfall to some regions of Thailand

Chief of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park announced that a facial recognition system will be adopted at the entrance of Maya Bay from 15 Oct. The system would link with the existing e-ticket platform under the e-National Park scheme and allow real-time verification of tourists. Maya Bay is one of the 11 pilot locations in six marine parks nationwide to introduce the facial recognition system. Maya Bay, Loh Samah Bay and Lo Go Bay in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi park will be closed from 1 Aug-30 Sep to allow for environmental restoration and ensure safety during the monsoon season

Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra suggested the creation of a golden visa scheme for foreign investors, which could potentially attract 600,000 people and generate $500 billion USD for the economy. He also called on Airports of Thailand (AOT) to hike passenger service fees by as much as 300 THB per pax to generate 40 billion THB in additional profit annually, +40% from the current level

The Phuket Tourist Association expects Phuket’s tourism revenue to grow by around 10%, or by over 40 billion THB, in 2025. President of the association said that tourists from the UK, Germany, and France have shown growing interest in visiting the island during the green season, which was traditionally the low season. The increasing number of direct flights from Europe, especially from France, is attributed to the rising tourist arrivals. Chinese arrivals to Phuket have fallen by around 50% during the last green season, while Indian arrivals rose by about 50%

Expedia’s 2025 Island Hot List showed a 200% growth in travel searches for Phuket by UAE travellers