Tourists visit Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn on the eve of Lunar New Year in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 28, 2025. Photo by Reuters
Thailand reclaimed its status as Southeast Asia’s leading destination for Chinese tourists in the first quarter of 2026 with 1.49 million visitors, a 12% increase from a year earlier.
The market recovery in Thailand has been driven by strong direct flight connectivity and tourism promotion campaigns.
The rebound follows two years of declining Chinese visitor numbers and has helped offset a drop in travelers from the Middle East caused by regional conflict, rising airfares and reduced flight availability, Bangkok Post reported.
Thai authorities have stepped up efforts to reassure Chinese tourists that the country remains a safe travel destination following security concerns and reports linked to illegal employment scam networks.
Malaysia ranked second in Southeast Asia with 1.41 million Chinese tourist arrivals in the first quarter, marking a 25% year-on-year increase, fueled by its visa-free entry policy.
Vietnam ranked third with 1.4 million Chinese arrivals, followed by Singapore with 913,000.
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