Southeast Asia's second largest economy records 5.9% rise in foreign tourist arrivals

By Hoang Vu March 6, 2025 | 08:53 pm PT

Tourists stand on Mai Khao Beach as a plane lands at Phuket International Airport in Thailand, 2023. Photo by AFP

Thailand, the second largest economy in Southeast Asia, reported seven million foreign tourists from Jan. 1 to March 2, a 5.9% year-on-year increase, the Tourism and Sports Ministry said.

There were 1.1 million tourists from China during the period despite safety concerns from the high-profile abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing in January, Bangkok Post said.

This year, Thailand targets nine million Chinese arrivals.

News of the kidnapping has triggered safety fears among Chinese tourists, the biggest source of visitors to Thailand last year.

Wang was rescued from a cyber fraud center in Myanmar in January. He said he was lured to Thailand on the promise of an audition, only to be whisked off and smuggled across the border.

Thailand last week said it plans to introduce a 300-baht (US$8.78) tourism tax per visitor during the peak travel season later this year.

It welcomed 35.5 million foreign tourists last year, making it one of Southeast Asia's top travel destinations.