Southeast Asia's second largest economy welcomes 5.5 million tourists

By Hoang Phong February 26, 2025 | 06:43 pm PT

Chinese tourists dipping lotus bulbs in a water bowl, at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Photo by AFP

Thailand, the second largest economy in Southeast Asia, received 5.5 million foreign tourists between Jan. 1 and Feb. 16, generating over 270 billion baht (US$7.9 billion) in revenue.

The top five sources of visitors during this period were Malaysia, China, Russia, South Korea, and India, Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports said.

Last year, China was the biggest source of visitors to Thailand with 6.7 million arrivals but safety concerns following the high-profile kidnapping of Chinese actor Wang Xing, also known as Xing Xing, in January has darkened Thai tourism industry.

Flight cancelations from Chinese tourists to Thailand spiked by 94% in January, and data from the first two weeks of February indicate that travel bookings remain below 2024 levels, according to Bloomberg Intelligence research.

However, the ministry expects arrivals to increase in the coming weeks, supported by tourism and sports events, streamlined travel measures, and favorable conditions.

Thailand received 35.5 million foreign arrivals last year, becoming one of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia.

It targets 40 million this year including 9 million Chinese.