Bangkok:Foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand have experienced a 3.8% decrease year-on-year, reaching 23.20 million in the first nine months of 2026, as reported by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) on Monday.

According to Thai News Agency, the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting at UTCC noted a decline of 916,019 visitors compared to the same period last year. In particular, September witnessed a 10.5% year-on-year drop in foreign tourist numbers, with a significant 15.4% contraction in the ASEAN market, predominantly driven by decreases from Malaysia and Cambodia.

Thanavath Phonvichai, President of UTCC, has revised the full-year 2026 tourist arrival target from 32-34 million to approximately 31.5 million, indicating an expected full-year contraction of around 4%.

The university has attributed the downturn to several factors, including regional conflicts in the Middle East, heightened oil prices, and increased competition from neighboring destinations such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Looking forward, the UTCC projects a rebound in foreign tourist arrivals to 34 million in 2027, an increase of 2.5 million visitors, primarily supported by steady demand from the Chinese market.

To facilitate recovery, the university recommends implementing short-term measures such as restoring safety confidence, enhancing border checkpoint efficiency at Sadao, cracking down on illegal scams targeting Chinese tourists, establishing clear visa policies for Indian travelers, and boosting flight capacities in anticipation of the 2027 Lunar New Year.

The total foreign tourism revenue for 2026 is projected to be 1.512 trillion baht ($44.5 billion).

Thanavath also commented on the international food stockpiling advisories, stating that these warnings are not expected to significantly impact Thai tourism, as travelers generally adhere to their planned itineraries during precautionary drills.