Thailand 9-month foreign tourist arrivals down 3.8% - UTCC

BANGKOK, Nov 3 (TNA) - Foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand fell 3.8% year-on-year to 23.20 million in the first nine months of 2026, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) said on Monday.

The Center for Economic and Business Forecasting at UTCC reported that arrivals declined by 916,019 visitors compared to the same period last year. In September alone, foreign tourist numbers dropped 10.5% year-on-year, with the ASEAN market contracting 15.4%, led by decreases from Malaysia and Cambodia.

Thanavath Phonvichai, President of UTCC, revised the full-year 2026 tourist arrival target down from 32-34 million to approximately 31.5 million, representing a full-year contraction of around 4%.

The university attributed the slowdown to regional conflicts in the Middle East, elevated oil prices, and increasing competition from neighboring destinations such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Looking ahead to 2027, the UTCC projects foreign tourist arrivals to rebound to 34 million—an increase of 2.5 million visitors—supported by steady demand from the Chinese market.

To support recovery, the university recommended short-term measures including restoring safety confidence, improving border checkpoint efficiency at Sadao, cracking down on illegal scam operations targeting Chinese visitors, establishing clear visa policies for Indian tourists, and increasing flight capacities ahead of the 2027 Lunar New Year.

Total foreign tourism revenue for 2026 is estimated at 1.512 trillion baht ($44.5 billion).

Commenting on international food stockpiling advisories, Thanavath stated the warnings are unlikely to significantly impact Thai tourism, as travelers generally maintain planned itineraries during precautionary drills. -819 (TNA)