BANGKOK, THAILAND – The war in the Middle East put additional pressure on Thailand’s inbound tourism, which had already started the year on a weaker footing, with up to 595,874 missing visitors and a loss of 40.972 billion baht feared if the situation lasted eight weeks.
Crisis meeting in government district
Under the leadership of Tourism and Sports Minister Atthakorn Sirilathayakorn, authorities assessed the impact of the conflict on international arrivals on 10 March at the Government Complex in Bangkok.
Senior officials from the ministry sat together with representatives from aviation companies, immigration and tourism organisations to coordinate immediate travel issues and assistance for affected holidaymakers.
Data showed a slowdown even before the war
Between January and February, more than 6.54 million foreign visitors entered the country according to the ministry, slightly fewer than in the same period a year earlier.
For the period from 1 January to 7 March, 7,155,449 arrivals were registered, a decline of 4.22%, while tourism income fell by 2.72% to 351.964 billion baht.
Flight network over Gulf hubs under strain
Officials pointed out that the conflict mainly shook long-haul connections, as routes and transfers via key Gulf hubs became less secure.
Markets in Europe and the Middle East were particularly affected, even though they had been seen as growth drivers for 2025 and had partly offset losses in some short-haul markets.
620 flights cancelled – Suvarnabhumi hit hardest
Between 28 February and 8 March, a total of 620 flights were cancelled in connection with the situation, including 320 departures from Thailand and 300 arrivals.
On 8 March alone, 70 cancellations were recorded by 4 p.m., most of them at Suvarnabhumi Airport, with further cancellations in Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai and at Don Mueang Airport.
Worst-case forecast – 8 weeks could cost 40.972 billion baht
The ministry presented scenarios based on the duration of the conflict, warning that three weeks could result in 210,973 fewer visitors and 13.167 billion baht less revenue.
For four weeks, 334,084 missing guests and a decline of 21.531 billion baht were calculated, while eight weeks were expected to lead to up to 595,874 fewer travellers and 40.972 billion baht in lost income.
Germany slides in weekly figures
Among source markets, China remained in first place with 1,173,081 visitors from January to early March, followed by Malaysia and Russia, while Germany, with 261,067 arrivals in this period, was among the most important European markets.
In the early March week from 1 to 7 March, however, a decline already became visible: arrivals from Germany dropped by 7,361, from Russia by 5,639, from the United Kingdom by 4,304, from France by 4,174 and from Israel by 3,490.
Airport support, visa solutions and pressure on hotels
At the major airports, Tourist Assistance Centres worked with airlines to help with rebooking, travel information and changed routes, while authorities closely monitored passenger flows.
Immigration allowed temporary extensions for travellers who could prove they had missed their departures, and hotels in key destinations were asked to consider adjusted room rates for stranded guests.
Energy costs, visa debate and politics as added challenges
The ministry warned that rising oil prices and currency fluctuations could further burden flight costs and dampen booking sentiment, while reports from provinces such as Roi Et showed temporarily closed independent petrol stations due to supply bottlenecks.
At the same time, a planned change in entry policy caused political friction: the visa-free stay for citizens of 93 countries was set to be reduced from 60 to 30 days, and there was also debate over a possible reorganisation of ministries related to tourism, culture and sport.