Thailand

The government is considering cutting fuel excise taxes and contributions to the Energy Conservation Promotion Fund as a last resort to ease high fuel prices, after requiring refiners to cut their gross refining margins, the Energy Minister stated. He did not specify the size of the cuts

The Khao San Road Business Association asked the Prime Minister on 22 Oct 2026 to revise entertainment zoning rules so that venues can obtain licences to operate beyond midnight, stating that stricter enforcement of midnight closing is hurting businesses and tourism. The association also called for faster implementation of the proposed Khaosan Sandbox pilot scheme, which is aimed to address outdated regulations and improve oversight of nightlife businesses

Phuket received 10.25 million visitors in Jan-Sep 2026, -1.6% YoY, generating 399.96 billion THB in tourism revenue, about -1% YoY, according to the TAT Phuket Office Director. Foreign arrivals fell -2.4% YoY to 7.6 million, with revenue of 369.49 billion THB (-1.2% YoY), whilst Thai visitors rose +1% YoY to 2.65 million, generating 30.5 billion THB (+1.8% YoY). Russia remained the top overseas market, and Chinese arrivals rose +10.75% YoY to 501,045

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is running the third edition of its ASEAN India+ Shoppers in Thailand campaign until 28 Nov 2026, offering shopping, dining, hotel and lifestyle privileges worth 500-2,000 THB at more than 50 partners for travellers from ASEAN and South Asia, with this year’s edition extending beyond India to target the Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh markets. TAT is targeting at least 10 million campaign exposures, 30,000 participating tourists, and at least 244 million THB in tourism revenue

Phuket will host the InterPride General Meeting and World Conference 2026 on 29 Oct-1 Nov 2026, the first in Asia, with 400-500 participants expected from more than 70 countries. Thailand plans to formally present its bid to host WorldPride 2030 at the event, with Bangkok and Barcelona reportedly the 2 contenders to host the event

Central Pattana is doubling the luxury zone at Central Phuket with 14 rai of new space, with construction over 60% complete and the first phase due to open in Q2 2027. The expansion adds Cartier, a larger Louis Vuitton and Prada stores, and Phuket’s first and only exclusive-concept Bulgari boutique. It also adds the Ultimate Culinary Landmark – a 20,000sq m dining area with more than 150 brands – along with an entertainment and culture arena, and an aquatic attraction

Minor Hotels launched Life Longevity, a wellness brand spanning resort, urban and residential formats that builds on Layan Life at Anantara Layan Phuket Resort. Its first urban location, Bangkok Life at The St Regis Bangkok is due to open in autumn 2026, and further locations are under development outside Thailand

Ticket sales for the 2027 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix, the season opener at Buriram's Chang International Circuit on 5-7 Mar 2027, have been postponed from 3 Nov to 9 Nov 2026. The circuit will also host the official pre-season test on 6-7 Feb 2027

Flooding persisted in parts of Bangkok and 19 provinces, mostly in the Central Plains, across 71 districts and affecting 1.22 million people on 21 Oct 2026, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. In Bangkok, flooding continued in Lat Krabang and Nong Chok districts. The flood death toll since 16 Sep 2026 has reached 82

The Tourism and Sports Minister stated that genuine holidaymakers should be safe in Thailand, responding to the Chinese embassy's travel warning, and pledged closer coordination between the Royal Thai Police, the Tourist Police, the Immigration Bureau and other agencies, as well as talks with Chinese officials. He acknowledged that the warning could damage Thailand's tourism image

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Association of Thai Travel Agents expect the Chinese embassy's renewed travel alert to have limited impact, as it focuses on high-profile individuals who may be vulnerable to high-paying job scams, such as influencers and entertainers, rather than general tourists. TAT forecast 5-5.5 million Chinese arrivals in 2026, with arrivals already reaching 4.14 million as of 17 Oct 2026, +14% YoY. TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Asia and South Pacific) noted that about 2.1 million seats on China-Thailand routes in Q4 2026 could add at least 1 million Chinese visitors. Seat capacity for the market stands at 8.03 million in 2026, against 8.7 million in 2024

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to grow tourism revenue by 5-10% in 2027 through 5 development priorities, the TAT Governor stated: wellness and longevity tourism, festivals and the night-time economy, creative tourism, sustainable and regenerative tourism, and a Trusted Thailand agenda focused on honesty, safety and dependable services. TAT will also pursue new markets, including Africa through Ethiopia

The Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT) Amazing Thailand: Travel Around Thailand with Tours campaign will run with 9 tourism partners from 15 Oct 2026-31 Jan 2027, subsidising interprovincial group tours. Groups of at least 30 travelling by bus will receive 10,000 THB per vehicle per day, capped at 40,000 THB per trip, and groups of at least 6 travelling by van will receive 2,500 THB per vehicle per day, capped at 10,000 THB per trip. Eligible trips must cross provincial boundaries, last at least 2 days and 1 night, include at least 1 night outside the departure province, and feature activities by participating partners. The government expects the campaign to generate at least 208.8 million THB in revenue

French arrivals exceeded 610,000 as of mid-Oct 2026, stable YoY, with average spending of more than 60,000 THB per trip, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Executive Director for Europe. TAT expects more than 800,000 French arrivals for 2026, similar to last year. The French and wider European markets have been affected by the Middle East war, especially the Houthi attacks on Riyadh Airport. Arrivals from the UK and Germany have dipped slightly, but Eastern European markets continue to grow. The Tourism Council of Thailand Vice-President noted that high-season forward bookings from France remain unchanged despite the mass protests there

Phuket is considering an AI and big-data system to identify tourism safety risks, issue early warnings and coordinate responses across government agencies. The system would combine data on tourism, traffic, waste management, public safety, and other provincial operations. The system was proposed by Walailak University researchers, with Phuket as the pilot site. No implementation timetable or budget has been set

The Department of Mineral Resources confirmed that 6 fossilised footprints found at Phu Phra Bat in Udon Thani's Ban Phue district were left by a theropod dinosaur about 120 million years ago, the first such find in the province. The site will be protected and developed for scientific study and tourism

China's embassy in Bangkok issued a fresh travel alert on 16 Oct 2026 after a series of kidnappings of Chinese nationals, urging travellers to plan itineraries, use licensed transport and legal operators, avoid free rides and refuse sudden changes of venue or route. It particularly warned online influencers and entertainers about high-paying job scams used to lure victims to scam compounds on the Thai-Myanmar border

Thailand recorded 24,423,680 foreign arrivals from 1 Jan-17 Oct 2026, -4.12% YoY, generating 1,189.555 billion THB in revenue, according to the Tourism and Sports Minister. China remained the top market with 4,143,403 arrivals, followed by Malaysia (3,101,918), India (1,835,444), Russia (1,334,856) and South Korea (895,659). Arrivals for 11-17 Oct 2026 reached 487,410, +0.83% WoW, with long-haul arrivals +10.55% WoW to 178,479 and short-haul -4.04% WoW to 308,931. China was the top source market for the week with 65,270 arrivals, -16.62% WoW, followed by Malaysia (62,093 arrivals, +7.65%), India (40,721, -5.82%), Russia (27,888, +8.29%), and the US (18,084, +8.18%)

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is developing experiences at more than 55 community destinations and routes around Thailand's 9 UNESCO World Heritage sites under its 2027 marketing plan, aimed at spreading visitors and income to lesser-visited areas. TAT plans to pilot a Signature Destination Branding programme in Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani, Songkhla, Trat and Samut Songkhram

The Tour of Thailand 2027 international cycling race in Chiang Rai has been rescheduled from 24 Mar-2 Apr 2027 to 28 Jun-7 Jul 2027 to avoid seasonal forest fires, haze and PM2.5 pollution in northern Thailand, according to the Cycling Association of Thailand

Phuket's hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus service, operated by Elephant Bus Tours in partnership with City Sightseeing, is due to launch on 20 Oct 2026, connecting 11 destinations with hourly departures from Central Phuket Floresta

Thailand’s foreign arrivals fell -5% YoY in Q3 2026 but rose +3.5% QoQ, according to an Asia Plus Securities analyst. Excluding Malaysia, arrivals were down only -0.9% YoY, with China +12% YoY, the Middle East +13% YoY, and Europe and the Americas +1.5% YoY each. Airports of Thailand’s international passenger traffic fell -1.9% YoY in Jul-Sep 2026, while revenue per available room for Thai hotels is expected to rise 10-13% YoY in Q3 2026, with Q4 hotel bookings continuing to grow YoY

Krungsri Securities expects the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) “Fly Across Thailand, Heal Every Trip” and “Amazing Thailand, Travel Across Thailand with Tours” campaigns to help boost domestic travel during the year-end period. TAT plans to subsidise 16,000 seats per airline, totalling 112,000 seats across 7 airlines for the first scheme. The second campaign partners with 9 tourism organisations to promote interprovincial tourism, with TAT subsidising non-scheduled transport costs for buses and vans. TAT expects the campaign to generate at least 209 million THB in tourism revenue

Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai is drawing an average of 3,000 visitors a day as cooler weather sets in, according to the park head. Bua Tong Waterfall and Seven-Coloured Spring Forest Park has received 700,000 visitors so far this year, against 600,000 in the previous fiscal year, and expects to be upgraded to national park status in early 2027. Around 20% of current visitors are European, while the remaining 80% are from Asia and the Middle East. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Chiang Mai Office Director noted that visitor numbers to the province are +5% YoY, supported by direct flights from the Middle East, China and Taiwan. Chiang Mai received more than 7.8 million visitors in Jan-Aug 2026, 2.2 million international and 5.6 million domestic, generating 73.99 billion THB in tourism revenue, with occupancy at 65.22%. The office expects more than 1 million visitors a month in Nov-Dec 2026 for the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivals, and more than 10 million for the full year

The Thai Embassy in Kathmandu attributed visa delays and refusals for Nepali applicants mainly to incomplete, invalid or fraudulent documents and last-minute applications, responding to the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents' threat to halt Thailand tour sales unless visa process became more accessible, transparent, and timely. Visas take 7-10 working days to process when documents are complete, but the embassy urged applicants to submit their applications at least a month before departure. Tourist and transit visa applicants must still provide confirmed round-trip air tickets and hotel bookings in their own names

Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s Singapore properties recorded double-digit growth in Q3 2026, supported by the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix and business conferences. Occupancy and average room rates across its Asian properties also rebounded in Q3 2026 after a sharp fall in Q2 2026, with the CEO stating that the group could probably meet its 2026 budget. The group plans 10 new-build and major renovation projects across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, and the Philippines in 2027, including new luxury hotels in Bangkok and Phnom Penh. The CEO added that the Middle East conflict had affected travel from the region to the group’s properties in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Bangkok, but the group had picked up demand from leisure and corporate travellers. He also noted that affluent travellers are taking more short-haul trips within Asia, alongside an increase in free independent travellers from China and India. Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore are seeing strong demand, with growth in Vietnam extending beyond HCMC and Hanoi. The group’s properties in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, and Melaka are also recording strong occupancy and average room rates

Khao Yai topped Traveloka’s Q3 2026 SEA Index list of Thailand’s fastest-rising domestic destinations, followed by Pattaya, Si Racha, Nakhon Ratchasima and Sakon Nakhon. Searches for Koh Chang from the Thailand market rose by more than 40% YoY, and accommodation searches for Nakhon Phanom rose by around 50% YoY in Q3 2026, with Ayutthaya and Nakhon Si Thammarat also growing

Health Ministry figures cited at the 6 Oct 2026 consultation on the proposed 450-THB tourist fee showed 1.12 million foreign patient cases with 16.957 billion THB in medical charges, of which public hospitals collected 9.935 billion THB, leaving about 7.021 billion THB unpaid. Industry representatives argued that the figures include migrant workers and medical travellers rather than tourists alone, and the Thai Hotels Association President proposed selling voluntary supplementary insurance at immigration checkpoints instead of funding insurance for all foreign tourists from the fee

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to keep foreign arrivals at around 33 million in 2026, or at least match the 32.97 million recorded in 2025, the TAT Governor stated, supported by Q4 2026 events including the Royal Barge Procession, Loy Krathong, Vijit Chao Phraya, New Year countdowns, Tomorrowland Thailand in Chon Buri and Electric Daisy Carnival Thailand in Phuket. TAT will also promote Diwali festivals in Bangkok and other cities to attract Indian visitors. Chinese arrivals rose by about 15% in Jan-Sep 2026, and the cumulative fall in Middle East arrivals has narrowed to -6.5%, with TAT expecting the market to return to growth by the end of 2026. The Governor noted that the stronger baht is making short-haul markets challenging in the Q4 high season

The International Monetary Fund projected Thailand’s economy to grow by 2.1% in 2026, up from the 1.5% it forecast for 2026 in Apr 2026, but among the slowest in Southeast Asia, ahead of only Myanmar (2%) and Brunei (1.9%). The economy is also expected to grow by 2.1% in 2027

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau designated Chiang Rai and Khao Yai as new MICE destinations under its MaxiMICE Thailand brand, with curated post-event tour routes for incentive travel and corporate retreats, including a Chiang Rai tea and coffee route organised by the Association of Thai Tour Operators

Thailand recorded 23.94 million foreign arrivals from 1 Jan-10 Oct 2026, -4.04% YoY, generating 1.165 trillion THB in international tourism revenue, -2.47% YoY, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Thais made 157.8 million domestic trips over the same period, +2.38% YoY, generating 925.782 billion THB, +3.09% YoY. China remained the top foreign market with 4,078,133 arrivals, followed by Malaysia (3,039,825), India (1,794,723), Russia (1,306,968), South Korea (878,549), Taiwan (823,886), Japan (792,487), the US (778,853), the UK (750,488) and Germany (659,049)

Flooding continued across 20 provinces and Bangkok as of 14 Oct 2026, affecting 2,449,019 people in 99 districts, 807 subdistricts and 6,071 villages, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), though water levels were receding in affected areas. DDPM has submitted another 86,303 households to receive a combined 644.995 million THB in assistance, across Bangkok, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Saraburi, Chachoengsao, Chaiyaphum and Suphan Buri

The Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents threatened to place Thailand on a restricted or blacklisted destination list, directing its members to stop selling new Thailand packages and suspend group and incentive tour bookings, unless Thailand eases its visa process for Nepali travellers. The association objected to requirements to pay for flights and hotels before a visa is approved, and to provide hotel-issued confirmation letters even for bookings made through international platforms. It has asked Nepal's foreign affairs and tourism ministries to take the issue up with the Thai government, seeking a clear deadline for visa decisions

The 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group, held at Bangkok's Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre on 12-18 Oct 2026, are expected to generate 1.05-2.25 billion THB in economic activity, according to Finance Ministry estimates. Participants are expected to stay an average of 7-10 days and spend 10,000-15,000 THB per person a day. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor noted that 20-30 4- and 5-star hotels in central Bangkok are expected to benefit from the event. TAT has worked with tour operators and tourism associations on 2-4-day luxury itineraries to Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Samui

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is running the “Grandes Viajes 2027: Descubre Tailandia” nationwide sales campaign in Spain with Viajes El Corte Inglés, from 26 Sep through Oct 2026, with savings of up to 400 EUR on selected Thailand packages. The event attracted over 5,000 visitors. TAT expects the campaign to generate at least 20 million consumer exposures and around 3,000 package sales for the winter season. Thailand received 137,228 Spanish visitors from 1 Jan-30 Sep 2026, generating about 8.5 billion THB in tourism revenue, and TAT expects around 200,000 Spanish arrivals for 2026. The Madrid activation is part of the wider Amazing Thailand Food Festival (World Tour)

2 foreign tourists were seriously injured on 10 Oct 2026 when they fell onto a rock ledge near the bottom of a 150m cliff whilst abseiling at Tat Mok Waterfall in Nam Nao Canyon, Phetchabun. The environmental volunteer network in Nam Nao and Khao Kho petitioned the Phetchabun Governor to set up a fact-finding panel and review safety equipment, operator qualifications, permits and emergency response plans for high-risk tourism activities

Thai corporate groups are increasingly holding meetings and incentives in secondary Thai destinations to cut costs, the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association President stated, though many secondary destinations cannot yet handle groups of more than 100 because of limited flight connectivity and hospitality infrastructure

21 hotels have been designated to accommodate delegates to the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group in Bangkok, and the meetings have lifted occupancy at participating hotels by 20 percentage points, according to The Landmark Bangkok's Area Director of Sales and Marketing

Mu Koh Similan National Park in Phang Nga will reopen to visitors on 15 Oct 2026 for the 2026-27 tourist season, and will close again on 15 May 2027 for its annual recovery period

The President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) has called for the government to exclude travel insurance coverage from the 450 THB tourism fee, noting that this should be the responsibility of the visitor, and that visitors by all modes of transport should be required to have travel insurance before entry. The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) noted that tourism operators are unclear about the budget allocation for insurance and tourism development from the fee, and that the top markets for unpaid bills were largely foreigners working in Thailand, not tourists. The ATTA are calling for 20% of the fund to provide assistance to tourists impacted by unexpected events such as natural disasters, whilst the 80% should be dedicated to tourism development, training and digital transformation

The Commerce Minister backed the proposed 450-THB tourism fee for foreign visitors and instructed agencies to draw up detailed rules on its collection, disbursement and use, including for tourist safety and developing underfunded attractions. The minister’s senior adviser has been assigned to examine the legal feasibility of using part of the revenue to fund cash rebates for foreign film productions when their number exceeds the regular budget. The proposal will go to public consultation before being submitted to the Cabinet

Ferry operators expected 3,000-4,000 visitors, mostly Thais, to travel to Koh Kut and Koh Mak in Trat over the 11-13 Oct 2026 long weekend, the first major holiday of the province's high season. Boonsiri High Speed Ferries added an extra sailing to meet demand. Some island businesses that suspended operations during the green season have reopened. Koh Chang reportedly remained relatively quiet, with the Trat Tourism Business Association Vice-President noting that recent flooding in eastern Thailand may have deterred some travellers, though Russian visitors continued to arrive in substantial numbers

The Thai Hotels Association President expects tourism in Q4 2026 to be broadly flat YoY, with long-haul markets outperforming short-haul. ASEAN visitors, who are more sensitive to travel costs, are down about 20%. Advance bookings for 4- and 5-star hotels have been relatively encouraging, but lower-rated properties, which make up much of the country's hotel supply, have yet to see a strong recovery. Flooding in several areas has undermined travel confidence, although conditions in key tourist destinations have improved. Domestic travel has slowed as households set aside money for flood repairs

Marriott International signed an agreement with FICO Corporation to develop 7 hotels with 1,262 rooms in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket, introducing the citizenM, Four Points Flex by Sheraton and Series by Marriott brands to Thailand. The pipeline comprises the 288-room JW Marriott Bangkok Sathorn, the 147-room citizenM Bangkok Sukhumvit 11, 3 Four Points Flex by Sheraton hotels in Bangkok with 493 rooms in total, the 192-room Easy Planet North Pattaya and the 142-room Easy Planet Phuket Patong

An average of 1,744 Chinese travellers a day passed through Chiang Mai Airport during Golden Week on 1-7 Oct 2026, +37% from the Sep 2026 daily average of 1,271, according to the airport's Acting Managing Director, who attributed the increase to direct air links between Chiang Mai and Chinese cities. Arrivals from South Korea and Taiwan also rose

Flooding cut foreign arrivals by 14.8% from 25 Sep-5 Oct 2026, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), mainly from short-haul markets like South Korea (-69.5%), Taiwan (-52.7%) and Malaysia (-23.6%). Chinese arrivals over Golden Week reached 196,700, +7% YoY, below the +24% projected before the floods. TAT expects tourism revenue in Bangkok and surrounding areas to contract 2-3% in Oct 2026, with arrivals 1-2% lower, whilst long-haul forward bookings for the high season remain strong: UK +14.8%, France +17.1%, Israel +20.4% and Saudi Arabia +22.4%. Riverside attractions, floating markets and canal-side markets in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Kanchanaburi remain closed due to the flood

Bangkok will host the Eurovision Asia Grand Final on 14 Nov 2026, the first pan-Asian edition of the Eurovision franchise, with finalists from 11 countries. Agoda reported that accommodation searches for Bangkok from across Asia rose by +14% YoY, with travel searches from Vietnam up 105%, India +43% and Malaysia +4%, whilst domestic travel interest in Thailand was +30% YoY

The online public consultation on the proposed 450-THB foreign tourist fee, held from 24 Aug-28 Sep 2026 showed that 80.5% of the 5,954 respondents supported the draft measure, and 78.3% supported the 450-THB rate. Collection through air tickets was the most popular option, chosen by 36.26% of respondents. The fee would initially apply to eligible foreign visitors arriving by air, with collection at land and sea borders delayed by 1 year, and a single payment would cover multiple entries within 30 days while the traveller remains covered by the accompanying insurance. Officials estimate the fee would leave at least 8 billion THB a year for the Tourism Promotion Fund after collection and insurance costs. Private-sector representatives asked the ministry to consider exemptions for border traders and frequent cross-border travellers. The proposal will go to the National Tourism Policy Committee and then the Cabinet for consideration

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports still aims to start collecting the 450-THB tourist fee from air travellers in Q1 2027, despite private-sector calls to delay it due to ongoing flooding. The Tourism and Sports Minister noted that part of the fee will fund tourist insurance, which is expected to save the government 7 billion THB a year in foreign tourists' medical costs. More than 30 public and private organisations joined a meeting on 6 Oct hosted by the ministry to discuss the planned fee

The Thai Meteorological Department warned of thunderstorms, strong winds, hail and heavy to very heavy rain across Thailand from 9-13 Oct 2026, including Bangkok and surrounding provinces. Waves could exceed 2m in thunderstorm areas of the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand

Thailand rose 10 places to 38th in the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, with a score of 4.35, +5.6% from 2024. It ranked 13th for natural resources, 16th for cultural resources and 19th for air transport infrastructure, but 95th for safety and security and 68th for tourist services and infrastructure

Malaysia's inflation was 1.9% in Aug 2026, below Thailand (2.5%), Indonesia (3.2%), Vietnam (4.9%) and the Philippines (6.1%), according to the World Bank. It expects headline inflation of 2% in 2026, but warned that producer price inflation of almost 11% in Aug 2026 could become a risk later in the year

The Board of Investment reported that it has approved Long-Term Resident (LTR) visas for 12,010 foreigners since Sep 2022, generating 43 billion THB in economic value. LTR holders comprise 4,561 wealthy pensioners, 1,779 highly skilled professionals, 1,043 work-from-Thailand professionals, 737 wealthy global citizens and 3,891 dependents. The US accounted for the most holders (more than 2,400), followed by Japan (more than 1,300) and the UK (more than 1,000)

The Transport Ministry signed an MOU with 6 partners, including the Department of Airports, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thai Airways, the Airlines Association of Thailand, Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel and Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Engineering, to offer free short tours to international transit passengers with layovers of 6-8 hours. The pilot is expected to start in early 2027 at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, Phuket and Krabi airports, with packages covering culture, street food, and health and wellness. The TAT Governor noted that Suvarnabhumi handles about 1.3 million transit passengers a year, and that TAT aims to attract about 10% of them to the programme

Thais made 153.96 million domestic trips from 1 Jan-3 Oct 2026, +2.42% YoY, generating 902.95 billion THB, +3.19% YoY, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports

Siam Piwat, the developer of Bangkok's Siam Paragon and Iconsiam, announced a 10-billion-THB ($300 million USD) retail, attraction and entertainment project, Iconphuket, scheduled to open in 2029 in Thalang district, between Phuket International Airport and Phuket Town. The developer stated that it expects 80,000-100,000 visitors a day once the project is fully operational, with one-third of the site given to at least 12 attractions and entertainment, while over 40% will be allocated to green and open space. Iconphuket will anchor CV Group's 50-billion-THB Synthesis Ark Phuket mixed-use development. Its first district, The Nexus, will include a 70-room hotel and is scheduled to open in 2028. Phase one of Synthesis Ark Phuket is set to be completed in 2032

5 partners, including the Phuket Boutique Accommodation Association, the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (Southern Chapter), the Tourism Council of Thailand, Eastern University of Management and Technology, and the “Baan Bamrung Mueang” group launched the Phuket Licence Lab on 5 Oct 2026 to help small accommodation operators obtain hotel licences. The project will send volunteer architects to inspect properties and advise on compliance. Cases that need government action will feed into proposals for regulatory reform

Thailand recorded 522,532 foreign arrivals in the week of 27 Sep-3 Oct 2026, +8.24% WoW, with China's Golden Week and holidays in Hong Kong and South Korea boosting short-haul travel. China was the top market with 133,946 arrivals, +41.98% WoW, followed by Malaysia (59,871, -0.64% WoW), India (46,942, +16.53% WoW), Russia (22,326, +14.23% WoW) and South Korea (21,219, +3.66% WoW). Cumulative arrivals from 1 Jan-3 Oct 2026 reached 23,452,895, -3.88% YoY, with foreign tourist revenue of 1.142485 trillion THB, -2.26% YoY. China remained the top source market YTD with 3,999,854 arrivals, followed by Malaysia (2,982,095), India (1,751,485), Russia (1,281,214) and South Korea (860,655)

The flood death toll since mid-Sep 2026 rose to 31 across 8 provinces, including 4 in Bangkok, with more than 3.5 million people affected nationwide as of 5 Oct 2026, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. The government approved more than 4.1 billion THB (about $122 million USD) in emergency funds for flood recovery

Siam Amazing Park said it is keen to resume operations and has no plans to lay off staff after being fully inundated. It estimated asset damage of at least 100 million THB and a further 100-200 million THB in losses from its closure, with its flood insurance cover capped at 5 million THB. Its operator urged the government to arrange a 3-6-month debt holiday with commercial banks and faster overdraft loan approvals for flood-hit operators

Laos and Thailand set a bilateral trade target of $11 billion USD by 2027 and a tourism target of 3 million visits per year. Bilateral trade reached $4.39 billion USD in the first 8 months of 2026, and Thailand was Laos' largest source of foreign visitors in H1 2026 with 833,738 trips, according to the Laos Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The 2 countries also proposed a sixth Friendship Bridge between Salavan and Ubon Ratchathani and agreed to cooperate on improved border crossing regulations, roads and bridges

Laos and Thailand have completed the environmental and social impact assessment and detailed design for the 820m Xiengman-Luang Prabang Mekong Bridge, which will connect Chomphet District with Luang Prabang Town. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and take 4 years, with the bridge due to open in 2031. The 2 sides have negotiated a concessional loan, and Laos is preparing to sign the loan agreement. The bridge is expected to cut the journey between Thailand's Nan Province and Luang Prabang by 30-45 minutes from about 9 hours

The Finance Ministry Spokesman stated that flooding will not disrupt the 2026 Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group in Bangkok on 12-18 Oct 2026, and that evacuation plans are ready if water levels rise. More than 15,000 participants from 191 countries have registered for the meetings, and a command and control centre at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center will operate around the clock. The spokesman said simulated emergency tests of the agencies' business continuity plans showed a high level of readiness

About 5,000 US Navy personnel from the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush and the guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D Black arrived in Phuket on 4 Oct 2026 for a 6-day visit. They are allowed to travel freely around the island, but are barred from renting vehicles or riding pillion on motorcycles

Foreign film productions generated a record 7.51 billion THB in Thailand from Jan-Sep 2026, with 423 productions applying to shoot in the country, the Deputy Government Spokesperson reported. The US generated the most (38 productions, 2.379 billion THB), followed by the UK (27, 1.679 billion THB), Finland (1, 448 million THB), Hong Kong (18, 382 million THB), Germany (15, 379 million THB), India (44, 341 million THB), Spain (3, 336 million THB), China (52, 253.23 million THB), Singapore (24, 253.20 million THB) and France (17, 185 million THB). The Department of Tourism expects full-year revenue from foreign productions of 8-10 billion THB

PTT Oil and Retail Business and Centara Hotels & Resorts formed a joint venture, Pit Stop Hotel Co, to develop budget hotels at PTT service stations and other locations, starting with 6 pilot hotels in Bangkok's Don Mueang, Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Kanchanaburi, Hat Yai and Phuket at an estimated investment of 700 million-1 billion THB. The partners plan to open the first hotels in 2027-28 and are targeting 50 properties by 2031. Each hotel will have 79 rooms and 10 capsule rooms, with average rates of 800-1,300 THB a night and targeted occupancy rate of 75-80%. PTT OR aims to raise daily traffic at over 2,000 PTT service stations nationwide from about 3.9 million visits to 5 million through the expansion of business range and services

Thailand's tourism revenue reached 235.166 billion THB in Jul 2026, +1.2% YoY. The North grew fastest (17.985 billion THB, +14.8% YoY), followed by the Northeast (10.44 billion THB, +5.2% YoY) and the Central region (51.483 billion THB, +0.7% YoY), whilst Bangkok and surrounding provinces (73.438 billion THB, -0.1% YoY) and the South (81.82 billion THB, -0.4% YoY) declined

Stronger Malaysian ringgit and Singapore dollar exchange rates are boosting arrivals in Hat Yai and Dan Nok in Songkhla, according to the founder of the Songkhla Professional Tour Guide Association. The ringgit has strengthened to more than 8.20 THB from about 7 THB, and the Singapore dollar to 26.10 THB from 25 THB. Chinese visitors based in Malaysia are among the highest spenders, though some have reported vehicle departures going unrecorded at the border, leading to 10,000-THB fines on later visits. Chinese and Malaysian tourists could spend 2,000-10,000 THB a day on meals and entertainment

The Prime Minister ordered authorities in all 76 provinces to accelerate water drainage from reservoirs and waterways ahead of fresh heavy rain forecast for 4-7 Oct 2026 in the Upper North, North-east, Central Region, South and Greater Bangkok. Coastal high tides expected on 5-10 Oct 2026 could also slow river discharge into the Gulf of Thailand and worsen existing flooding in the Chao Phraya river basin

Siam Amazing Park management estimated flood damage at the Bangkok amusement and water park at more than 500 million THB. The park's chairman and founder stated it was prepared to sell the business for about 10 billion THB if an interested party came forward, and management is also considering selling tickets in advance to fund the restoration

A Noctiluca plankton bloom, triggered by heavy rain and flood runoff, turned parts of the sea off Koh Larn in the northern Gulf of Thailand green in early Oct 2026, keeping some swimmers out of the water, though other stretches of the shoreline were unaffected. Researchers at Burapha University’s Institute of Marine Science noted that such blooms typically last 2-3 days. Beach food vendors reported fewer customers, with some visitors moving to unaffected parts of the island

The Thai Hotels Association reported 5,433 room nights cancelled or postponed nationwide from 27 Sep-4 Oct 2026 because of flooding in Bangkok and the central and eastern regions, including 1,389 in Bangkok and 875 in Chon Buri for 27-29 Sep. The THA Eastern Chapter President said hotels in Chon Buri, Rayong and Chanthaburi had seen about 50% of rooms cancelled, with many in Rayong and Chanthaburi unable to reopen because main roads remained flooded. He expected a 5-10% YoY drop in average occupancy in Oct. The THA President called on the government to postpone collection of the 450-THB foreign tourist fee and consider tax relief for hotel operators

Operators on Koh Kut in Trat expect tourism to recover from late 2026 into 2027, with the Koh Kut Tambon Administrative Organisation Chairman expecting bookings of 70-80% from Oct through the New Year holiday, though advance bookings remained relatively low. Manager of Boon Siri Speed Boat Co Ltd said domestic visitors dominate the market, especially on long weekends and public holidays, while overall arrivals remained relatively the same YoY with some foreign markets falling. The island has about 1,600 hotel rooms, which may fall short at peak times from Nov-Feb, and operators pointed to limited roads, electricity, water and toilet facilities

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) connected 40 travel trade representatives from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia with 80 Thai tourism businesses through B2B meetings at the Amazing Journeys Through Thailand Trade Connect 2026 in Bangkok on 1 Oct 2026, following a fam tour of Pattaya, Hua Hin and Bangkok from 27 Sep 2026, organised with Air Arabia and the Association of Thai Travel Agents. TAT is running the programme to maintain trade engagement after deciding not to take part in Arabian Travel Market amid regional instability. Middle East arrivals reached 531,743 from 1 Jan-20 Sep 2026, -11.53% YoY, but the number totalled 321,304 from 1 Jul-20 Sep 2026, +11.82% YoY, showing growth during the Green Season