Thailand welcomed 6.5 million international tourists in Jan–Feb 2026. China leads arrivals, but Middle East conflict may reduce long-haul travelers

Thailand’s travel sector posted uneven results in early 2026, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

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Total international arrivals for January and February reached 6,541,710, down 4.2% compared with the same period in 2025.

However, February showed recovery with 3,263,802 visitors, a 4.63% increase from February 2025, largely due to Lunar New Year holiday travel.

China remained the leading source, contributing 1,078,089 tourists across February and March. Peaks above 30,000 visitors on certain days were recorded in popular destinations like Phuket, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai.

Malaysia, Russia, India, and South Korea followed closely, showing the strength of regional travel ties.

European and Western countries also contributed notable numbers, with arrivals from the UK, Germany, France, and the U.S. exceeding 200,000 in the two-month period. France ranked eighth among source countries.

Tourism revenue during this period reached just under 322.6 billion baht, a 0.6% decline from early 2025.

Artthikorn Sirilattayakon highlighted that ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have disrupted key air corridors, affecting Europe-bound travelers.

Rising fuel costs have increased airfare, potentially reducing long-distance tourism.

TAT’s preliminary forecasts suggest:

•  Conflict beyond three months could reduce arrivals by 25%, totaling 27–29 million for 2026.
•  Easing before 90 days could lead to an 18% drop, totaling 30–31 million tourists.
•  Quick resolution within 2–4 weeks may limit impacts to just 2%.

The Thai Tourism and Sports Ministry is focusing on short-haul markets and regional visitors to offset long-haul losses.

Mid-tier tourist segments are being prioritized to maintain stable revenues.

April’s holidays, including Easter and Songkran, are expected to influence overall performance.

Effective management of peak visitor flows will be crucial to hitting the target of roughly 30 million arrivals in 2026.

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Despite regional uncertainties, early 2026 data shows strong interest from China, India, Japan, and Australia, suggesting steady confidence in Thailand as a travel destination.