Thailand tourism revenue surge 2026

In the first half of 2026 Thailand’s foreign film industry contributed a record 4.0 billion baht, underscoring the growing economic impact of international production crews. By early August the Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported 18.5 million foreign visitors between January and July, generating about 896 billion baht (≈$27 billion) in revenue. Overall arrivals fell 3.2 % year‑on‑year, with short‑haul traffic declining because of instability in the southern border provinces and a 28.6 % drop in India‑Thailand flight capacity, while long‑haul markets, especially Western Europe, continued to recover aided by new direct routes such as Dubai‑Bangkok (Don Mueang) and Amsterdam‑Bangkok. South Korean arrivals rose sharply, moving the country to the fourth‑largest weekly source market.

In the week of 26 July‑1 August, 567,312 visitors arrived—a 2.92 % weekly decline, averaging 81,045 arrivals per day. Short‑haul arrivals fell 4.34 % inter‑weekly, long‑haul slipped 0.31 %, and South Korean visitor numbers increased 19.85 % to 25,778. The ministry expects international arrivals to rebound later in the year.