Thailand records 25.46 million arrivals in 10 months, down 4.59%

Thailand received 25.46 million international tourists between January and October 2026, down 4.59% from the same period last year, according to preliminary figures announced by Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul on 2 November.

Foreign visitor spending reached 1.241 trillion baht over the ten months, according to data reported by The Nation Thailand.

China remained the largest source market with 4,244,376 arrivals, followed by Malaysia, India, Russia and South Korea.

In the final week of October, arrivals rose 7.31% week on week to 538,661, an increase of 36,696 from the previous week and an average of 76,952 arrivals a day. Long-haul arrivals rose 13.60% for a fifth consecutive week to 227,153, while short-haul arrivals increased 3.14% to 311,508. The minister attributed long-haul growth to the approach of the winter holiday season, pointing to stronger travel from Russia and the United States. French arrivals fell 18.68% because of protests in France, dropping France to 16th place in the weekly source-market ranking from 11th. The minister warned that continued protests in Europe and cuts to flights on some routes, particularly from Russia, could affect arrivals in the coming period.

What do these terms mean?

International arrivals: The number of foreign visitors entering a country during a specific period, used as a key indicator of tourism activity.

Long-haul markets: Countries far from a tourist destination, such as Russia, the United States and Europe, whose visitors tend to stay longer.

Tourist spending: The total amount foreign visitors spend inside a country on accommodation, food, transport and activities.