The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced that as of December 27, 2024, foreign tourists arrivals surpassed 35 million, exceeding the annual target ahead of schedule. Tourism revenue is projected to exceed 1.8 trillion Thai Baht (approximately USD 52.1 billion).
The top five source countries are China, Malaysia, India, South Korea, and Russia.
By December 8, 2024, over 6.3 million Chinese tourists had visited Thailand, reinstating China as Thailand's largest source market. Despite this, there is room for further growth, as Chinese arrivals in 2019 reached 11 million-accounting for a quarter of Thailand’s total international visitors.
Cuisine is the top attraction for Chinese tourists, cited by 78%, followed by safety (55%), reasonable costs (48%), quality service (45%), diverse attractions (32%), and convenient shopping (20%).
Tourism plays a critical role in Thailand's economy, contributing 18% to GDP before the COVID-19 pandemic.
For 2025, TAT aims to attract 36 to 39 million international tourists, generating 1.98 to 2.23 trillion Thai Baht (USD 57.1 billion to 64.3 billion). Efforts are underway to enhance safety measures for Chinese tourists, with a target of 9 million Chinese arrivals in 2025.
