Thailand Tourism Faces Decline As Rivals Advance

(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor) Dhaka: Thailand's tourism sector is losing momentum as regional competitors attract more visitors and domestic challenges weigh on the industry. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) forecasts international arrivals will fall 4.5 percent to 31.5 million in 2026, below its earlier projection of 32–34 million.

The estimate compares with nearly 33 million foreign visitors in 2025. UTCC President Thanavath Phonvichai cited geopolitical tensions, fluctuating oil prices and rising travel costs among the factors affecting demand.

A survey of 368 tourism businesses found that 48.1 percent attributed the recent decline primarily to external pressures. Domestic issues, including limited flights, visa uncertainty, border delays and safety concerns, accounted for 25.3 percent of responses, while competition from other destinations represented 21.7 percent.

Thanavath said the findings highlighted weaknesses in Thailand's competitiveness. Vietnam is gaining attention for its value and new attractions, while China and Japan are also strengthening their tourism sectors.

Thailand recorded 23.2 million international arrivals in the first nine months of 2026, down 3.8 percent year-on-year. September saw a sharper 10.5 percent decline. China was the only one of the five leading source markets to register growth, with arrivals increasing 15.2 percent to 3.94 million. Visitors from Malaysia and South Korea fell 15.2 percent and 25.4 percent, respectively.

Tourism operators identified more direct flights and improvements at border checkpoints as their top priorities for government action.

UTCC expects arrivals to rebound to 34 million in 2027, generating about THB 1.63 trillion in international tourism revenue. However, it warned that high energy prices and regional competition could constrain the recovery.

Spread the word More from TourismView All Latest NewsSee All WTTC adds 50 members as tourism sector expandsTourism23 minutes ago Qatar Tourism joins PATA to expand Asia Pacific linksTourism27 minutes ago Saudi tourism businesses expand across key sectorsTourism30 minutes ago Nepal tourist arrivals rise 3.4pc in OctoberTourism34 minutes ago Proposed 15-year restriction on building airports within 100 km of Dhaka raises concerns over long-term aviation capacityAirports and Infrastructure42 minutes ago St Martin's power tariff hike raises tourism concernsTourismabout 1 hour ago Spain tourism sector set to reach USD 300bTourismabout 1 hour ago Thailand tourism faces decline as rivals advanceTourismabout 1 hour ago Air India plans larger widebody fleet under new CEOFleet and Aircraftabout 2 hours ago Lufthansa signs deal for 44.9pc stake in TAP Air PortugalAviation Business about 2 hours ago Villa Vie cruise ship leaves Cambodia without passengersCruise and Railabout 2 hours ago Suspected bomb threats trigger checks on seven European flightsAviationabout 2 hours ago China Southern to end Darwin–Guangzhou routeAviationabout 2 hours ago Korean Air tops service quality index for fifth yearAviationabout 2 hours ago Amadeus data breach affects 46,000 Singapore Airlines bookingsAviationabout 2 hours ago Oman Air welcomes Bangladesh U-17 team for Muscat tournamentAviationabout 3 hours ago Elevated Expressway to waive toll for 6 hours on November 7Visa and Travel Updatesabout 3 hours ago Italy offers free training, quota-free entry for Bangladeshi workersNRB Connectabout 3 hours ago Emirates launches AI Tech to transport AI infrastructureAviationabout 4 hours ago Bangladesh offers to provide more skilled workers to BruneiNRB Connectabout 4 hours ago Bangladesh, Malaysia discuss joint monitoring of worker recruitmentNRB Connectabout 5 hours ago Biman's Dammam flights to resume November 7, Riyadh remains suspendedAirlines and Routesabout 20 hours ago Maldivian adds King Air 360 for luxury, corporate travel in MaldivesFleet and Aircraftabout 21 hours ago China's big three airlines heading for full-year losses as fuel costs surgeAviation Business about 22 hours ago Cabinet approves 29 public holidays for 2027Life & Styleabout 22 hours ago IndiGo to continue expansion, introduce A350s despite record jet fuel pricesAirlines and Routesabout 22 hours ago Aarong campaign supports planting of 100,000 treesLife & Styleabout 24 hours ago 30th US Trade Show set for Dhaka on November 5Events & Forumsabout 24 hours ago Step Footwear targets global buyers through AlibabaLife & StyleNov 3, 2026 Bangladesh showcases higher-value apparel in Hong KongEvents & ForumsNov 3, 2026 Emirates explores First Class for A350-1000AviationNov 3, 2026 Parliamentary committee seeks explanation over PM's aircraft glitches, Biman's purchasesAirlines and RoutesNov 3, 2026 PIA names Adrian Hamilton-Manns as new CEOAirlines and RoutesNov 3, 2026 Bangladeshi scholars join Maldives conference, fostering regional knowledge exchangeConferencesNov 3, 2026 Dhaka Forum examines human role in AI-driven marketingEvents & ForumsNov 3, 2026 Bangladesh, UK agree to strengthen cooperation on safe, orderly migrationNRB ConnectNov 3, 2026 MTB Foundation supports alternative livelihoods for Chandpur's fishing familiesLife & StyleNov 3, 2026 Sweden Embassy stops processing Schengen visasVisa and Travel UpdatesNov 3, 2026 Prime Bank partners with Jagannath UniversityBanking and FinanceNov 3, 2026 Turkish Technic signs multiple deals at MRO Europe 2026MRO and EngineeringNov 2, 2026 PIA receives first wet-leased Boeing 787-9 DreamlinerFleet and AircraftNov 2, 2026 Malaysia Airlines says customer data may be hit in Amadeus breachAirlines and RoutesNov 2, 2026 Two foreigners die in suspected electrocution at five-star hotel poolHotelsNov 2, 2026 Algeria seeks stronger energy, textile, shipbuilding ties with BangladeshNRB ConnectNov 2, 2026 Private jet crashes in Florida, killing all occupants on boardAviationNov 2, 2026 SalamAir launches nonstop Chattogram-Salalah serviceAirlines and RoutesNov 1, 2026 Transparency in aircraft purchases, projects must be ensured: MillatAviationNov 1, 2026 Diplomats from 17 countries take to runway for school mealsArt and CultureNov 1, 2026 ICAO team arrives in Chattogram for airport security auditAirports and InfrastructureNov 1, 2026 Five-month passenger decline streak ends for Asia Pacific airlines in SeptemberAviationNov 1, 2026 Most PopularSee All ICAO team arrives in Chattogram for airport security auditAirports and InfrastructureNov 1, 2026 Riyadh Air resumes flights to Dhaka with alternative arrangementAirlines and RoutesOct 27, 2026 Thirteen EBL employees receive the Chairman AwardAwardsOct 28, 2026 CAAB rejects reports of security risks at Dhaka airportAviationOct 30, 2026 Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair 2026 opens in DhakaMart/SummitOct 29, 2026 Air travel in Bangladesh to get costlierAviationNov 1, 2026 Tourism Malaysia targets Bangladesh's Muslim travel marketTourismOct 28, 2026 IndiGo launches world's longest A321XLR flightFleet and AircraftOct 31, 2026 SalamAir raises Sylhet–Muscat flights to five per weekAirlines and RoutesOct 28, 2026 ICAO-backed CBTA course review training concludes at Civil Aviation AcademyInstitute/TrainingOct 28, 2026 SriLankan Airlines flight to London aborts takeoff at ColomboAirlines and RoutesOct 28, 2026 Karnaphuli Garden City closes as older Dhaka malls struggleRetail and CommerceOct 28, 2026 Singapore Airlines leads 2026 Business Traveller AwardsAwardsNov 1, 2026 ICAO moves to update legal framework for changing aviation sectorAviationOct 31, 2026 Japan Airlines data breach affects 92,000 customersAviationOct 31, 2026 PIA receives first wet-leased Boeing 787-9 DreamlinerFleet and AircraftNov 2, 2026 Pakistan closes airspace to Taiwanese airlinesAirlines and RoutesOct 29, 2026 Amadeus data breach exposes 53,000 Cathay Pacific bookingsAviationOct 31, 2026 Malaysia Airlines says customer data may be hit in Amadeus breachAirlines and RoutesNov 2, 2026 New analysis finds Thailand's hotel sector in deeper troubleHotelsNov 1, 2026 Technical glitch delays PM's flight from Japan to DhakaAirlines and RoutesOct 29, 2026 Emirates to deploy latest-generation A350 to Mauritius from November 1AviationOct 28, 2026 Diplomats from 17 countries take to runway for school mealsArt and CultureNov 1, 2026 Bangladesh eyes expanded air traffic services over Bay of BengalAirports and InfrastructureNov 1, 2026 SalamAir launches nonstop Chattogram-Salalah serviceAirlines and RoutesNov 1, 2026 Cabinet approves 29 public holidays for 2027Life & Styleabout 22 hours ago Air India breaks ground on MRO hangar at Delhi airportMRO and EngineeringOct 28, 2026 Cricket legend Sangakkara alleges discrimination by Ryanair staff in DublinAirlines and RoutesOct 31, 2026 Ethiopian announces GDS fare discount for travel agentsAirlines and RoutesOct 29, 2026 Can HSIA Third Terminal transform Bangladesh into regional cargo hub?Airports and InfrastructureNov 1, 2026 Saint Martin's tourist ship services delayed until November 5TourismOct 31, 2026 Cathay marks 40 years of Hong Kong-Netherlands flightsAirlines and RoutesOct 31, 2026 Air Astra ramps up daily flights as peak travel season nearsAirlines and RoutesOct 29, 2026 Air China's new route, codeshare to boost China-Iceland connectivityAirlines and RoutesOct 29, 2026 Private jet crashes in Florida, killing all occupants on boardAviationNov 2, 2026 Transparency in aircraft purchases, projects must be ensured: MillatAviationNov 1, 2026 Emirates to operate four daily A350 flights to Vietnam from December 1AviationOct 29, 2026 Tour operators' registration fees to be reduced: MillatTourismNov 1, 2026 Brazil welcomes 7m foreign tourists in nine monthsTourismOct 31, 2026 Two foreigners die in suspected electrocution at five-star hotel poolHotelsNov 2, 2026 EBL organizes AML and CFT training workshop in Cox's BazarBanking and FinanceOct 31, 2026 Aarong campaign supports planting of 100,000 treesLife & Styleabout 24 hours ago Five-month passenger decline streak ends for Asia Pacific airlines in SeptemberAviationNov 1, 2026 Biman reopens ticket sales counter at Ashkona Hajj CampAirlines and RoutesOct 28, 2026 Turkish Technic signs multiple deals at MRO Europe 2026MRO and EngineeringNov 2, 2026 Turkish Airlines to lease two 777-300ERSF freighters from AerCapCargo and LogisticsNov 1, 2026 Bangladesh's inclusive banking training expands to IndonesiaCorporate PulseNov 1, 2026 Air India unveils India-inspired new amenity kitsAirlines and RoutesNov 1, 2026 Don Mueang to replace handheld metal checks with pat-downsVisa and Travel UpdatesOct 31, 2026 Bangladeshi teen sets periodic table recitation recordAwardsOct 31, 2026

MENAFN04112026000163011034ID1111913595