China surpasses Malaysia as Thailand's largest source of tourists following visa waiver

As of Dec. 1, Thailand recorded 32 million foreign visitors, generating approximately 1.5 trillion baht (US$44.5 billion) in tourism revenue, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Malaysia was the second largest source of foreign visitors, with 4.5 million arrivals.

India followed with 1.9 million visitors, while South Korea and Russia rounded out the top five with 1.68 million and 1.5 million arrivals, respectively.

Thailand's decision to make permanent visa exemptions for Chinese tourists in March contributed significantly to the resurgence of Chinese travelers, the ministry said.

Since June, the country has expanded visa-free entry to travelers from 93 countries, allowing stays of up to 60 days, compared to the previous 57 countries.

Tourism remains a cornerstone of Thailand’s economy.

In 2019, the country set a record with 39.9 million foreign arrivals, generating 1.91 trillion baht (US$51.9 billion) in revenue.