Chinese tourist arrivals to Thailand could fall 20% year-on-year in November and December following a travel safety warning from the Chinese embassy, according to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).
The warning comes after arrivals from China declined 13.57% year-on-year to 308,942 in October, The Nation Thailand reported, citing a source at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
In an advisory issued in October, the Chinese embassy urged its citizens to exercise caution when visiting Thailand, citing risks associated with fraudulent job recruitment schemes.
Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn, president of ATTA, told Krungthep Turakij that the advisory had weakened confidence among Chinese travelers, particularly those planning package tours.
|
Tourists are seen inside the Grand Palace, one of the favourite tourist spots in Bangkok, Thailand, May 20, 2025. Photo by Reuters |
He warned that the downturn could extend into early 2027, with Chinese group-tour arrivals potentially plunging by more than 50% during the Lunar New Year holiday if confidence was not restored.
Thailand welcomed 25.4 million international visitors between January and October this year, down 4.59% from the corresponding period in 2025, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
Despite the decline in October, China remained Thailand’s largest source of international tourists, accounting for 4.2 million arrivals during the first 10 months of 2026.
Thailand is targeting between 5.1-5.5 million Chinese visitors for the full year.