Bangkok: Restaurant sales experienced a 20% growth during the high season, with cafes maintaining their position as the top destination for both tourists and locals. Mr. Sorathep Steve, President of the Restaurant Business Association and Honorary Advisor to the Hostel Association of Thailand, highlighted the significant growth in the restaurant sector, particularly during December, which is considered the high season. This increase was observed both in Bangkok and other major tourist centers.

According to Thai News Agency, the surge in restaurant sales can be attributed to the influx of over 100,000 foreign tourists visiting Thailand daily. Additionally, many Thai citizens opted for domestic travel during the New Year festival, especially to the northern regions, with their expenditures averaging between 5,000-8,000 baht per person per trip. Over 30% of these expenses were allocated to food, underscoring the importance of the culinary sector in the tourism economy.

Cafes emerged as the most popular destinations, followed closely by well-known restaurants and local souvenir shops. Despite the robust figures in tourism spending, challenges such as the rising costs of travel, including fuel and domestic airfares, remain. These costs are nearing those of international travel, which could restrict domestic tourism spending.

As a response, there have been calls for the new government to implement measures to reduce travel costs and stimulate domestic tourism. The expectation is that the growth in foreign tourist numbers might decelerate in 2026 compared to 2025 due to global economic conditions and international conflicts. Therefore, enhancing domestic tourism is crucial to sustaining the hotel and restaurant industries.