Thailand’s foreign tourism arrivals have fallen by a total of almost 4.6% through the first six months of this year, continuing a worrying trend at a time when a casino bill aimed at boosting international visitation appears to be on life support.
According to information from the Tourism and Sports Ministry, foreign visitors from 1 January to 29 June – not quite encapsulating the full six-month period – totalled 16.61 million, down 4.56% year-on-year, largely on the back of a decline in Chinese visitation.
China has long been Thailand’s top visitor source market but currently ranks behind Malaysia with just 2.25 million arrivals in 1H25 amid safety concerns following the high-profile kidnapping of Chinese actor Wang Xing in January and recent negative publicity around scam centers on the Thai border.
As reported by The Bangkok Post, the Bank of Thailand last week cut its forecast for foreign tourist arrivals in 2025 from 37.5 million to 35 million. This compares to almost 40 million in 2019.
Kevin Clayton, Galaxy Entertainment Group’s Chief Brand Officer, Thailand, noted during last month’s Thailand Entertainment Complex Roundtable that the decline in Chinese visitation – down around 30% since pre-COVID – highlighted the need for a rethink.
“Affordability and accessibility will always be key considerations for many travelers before making a decision on a vacation, but safety will always rank above all else,” Clayton explained.
“It’s therefore much easier to understand why Chinese are deciding against Thailand and preferring other more favorable destinations like Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
“Thailand Tourism needs a reboot with Entertainment complexes being one important strategy to fuel incremental growth. This [would take the form of] billions of [US] dollars of international investment in luxury entertainment attractions that will headline live performances, the very best international dining, the finest hospitality, unique retail concepts and plenty of fun – all presented with Thailand’s warm, welcoming culture.”
Despite this, a planned review of Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill by the House has been postponed by at least a month while a special Senate Committee that is studying the bill’s contents has called for the government’s casino policy to be dumped altogether.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who has personally backed the bill, was earlier this week suspended from duties by the Constitutional Court pending the completion of an investigation into her leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen over an ongoing border dispute.
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