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Japan and Thailand report declines in foreign tourist arrivals
Tourism sectors in Japan and Thailand have reported declines in foreign visitor arrivals. In Japan, the number of foreign tourists in August fell 9.6% year-on-year to approximately 3.1 million. This decline was driven largely by a 59% drop in visitors from China, following travel advisories issued by the Chinese government. However, 14 other markets, including the United States, South Korea, and Taiwan, reached record highs for the month of August.
In Thailand, foreign arrivals in September 2026 decreased by 11% year-on-year to roughly 2 million. This downturn is attributed to large-scale flooding in the Bangkok metropolitan area in late September and flight cancellations by Thai Airways. Cumulative data from January 1 to September 26 shows that Thailand has seen 22.66 million foreign tourists, a 3.65% decrease compared to the same period last year. While Chinese arrivals remain the largest group, recent weekly data shows a slight recovery in travelers from China, Taiwan, and South Korea ahead of major holidays.
Entities
China · Japan · Japan National Tourism Organization · Thailand · Thailand Ministry of Tourism and Sports
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Thailand's total foreign tourist arrivals from January 1 to September 26 were 22,666,429, representing a 3.65% year-on-year decrease. x-bomberth.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Chinese visitor arrivals to Japan in August dropped by 59.0% compared to the previous year. www.kankokeizai.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Thailand's foreign arrivals in September 2026 decreased by 11% year-on-year to approximately 2 million. x-bomberth.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Japan's foreign visitor arrivals in August decreased by 9.6% year-on-year to 3,098,900. www.kankokeizai.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Large-scale flooding in the Bangkok metropolitan area in late September contributed to a decline in foreign arrivals to Thailand.