BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s tourism sector has welcomed over 15.4 million international guests in the first half of 2026, but faces a slight decline compared to the previous year.
15.4 Millionen Besucher – trotzdem ein Minus
Between January 1 and June 20, 2026, Thailand recorded exactly 15,447,571 international arrivals. These visitors injected over 745.39 billion baht into the economy. Despite this substantial revenue, the number of arrivals was 2.78 percent lower than the same period in 2025. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports acknowledged that the performance of 2025 has not yet been matched.
China thront weiter an der Spitze
China remained the leading source market, contributing 2,538,498 visitors from January to June. Malaysia followed in second place with 1,992,324 arrivals. India contributed 1,188,190 visitors, with Russia at 996,840 and South Korea at 576,404. The ministry noted that the Indian market, in particular, is struggling with limited flight availability.
Drachenbootfest spült Tausende Gäste ins Land
During the week of June 14 to 20, arrivals saw a notable surge. 508,133 foreign visitors arrived within seven days, representing an increase of 4.41 percent compared to the previous week. The ministry attributed this boost directly to public holidays, including the Dragon Boat Festival in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, as well as a public holiday in Malaysia, which attracted a significant number of travelers. On average, 72,590 tourists landed in Thailand daily during this period.
Taiwan wächst am stärksten
China alone sent 83,796 visitors during this specific week. Taiwan experienced the strongest growth with an 18.23 percent increase, moving it to fifth place among the key weekly markets. Short-haul markets collectively grew by 3.37 percent that week, while long-haul markets saw an even more substantial gain of 7.40 percent. However, the ministry cautioned that arrivals are expected to decrease significantly in the following week once the holidays conclude.
Jetzt zählt das zweite Halbjahr
Officials at the Ministry of Tourism are placing their hopes on the remaining six months of 2026. They emphasize the urgent need for more international tourists to support the industry’s recovery and bridge the gap with the previous year. The recent week highlighted how sensitive the sector is to short festive boosts. For Thailand, attracting consistently high visitor flows, even without holiday spikes, will be crucial going forward.
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