Thailand's tourism shrinks: Chinese stay away, Israel blooms!
Thailand's tourism shrinks: Chinese stay away, Israel blooms!
Thailand - in Thailand there are significant changes in the tourism sector in 2025. The overall situation of the number of visitors has experienced a slight decline, while the Chinese tourists lose weight. According to Pattaya Mail, the number of Chinese tourists fell by over 41 %. From January 1 to May 11, 2025, a total of 12.95 million international tourists traveled to Thailand, which corresponds to a decline of 1.04 % compared to the previous year. These changes are worrying, especially in view of uncertainties regarding security and the latest earthquakes that affect the travel decisions of many people.
The preferred travel destinations of the Chinese tourists have shifted. They are increasingly tending towards countries like Vietnam, Japan and Singapore. This development could also be favored by the lack of new tourist highlights in Thailand. According to Thailand Tip, the country has a severe decline in Chinese tourism, with daily arrivals that could drop to a record low by 2025. On April 16, 2023, for example, only 5,833 Chinese tourists came to Thailand, compared to the usual 15,000 to 20,000. Experts warn of an impending crisis and draw parallels to the Phuket boat disaster in 2018.
economic challenges and security concerns
The decline in Chinese tourism is not only the result of changed travel preferences, but also of economic challenges. Customs of the United States and the promotion of domestic tourism in China affect the arrivals. In addition, an incident, such as the kidnapping of the actor Wang Xing, has significantly damaged the trust of the Chinese travelers in Thailand.
The Thai tourism authority reacts to the developments and looks for paths to improve the situation. This includes the invitation of 600 Chinese travel agencies and opinion leaders to develop new strategies. Yuthaak Supasorn, the former governor of the deed, emphasizes the need for improved reputation management and safe communication strategies to restore trust.
emerging market for Israeli tourists
The Israeli travelers come up with a new interest in Thailand and spend an average of 83,000 baht per person and trip, with an average stay of 18.5 days. In comparison, the arrivals from Israel rose by an impressive 125 % to almost 70,000 visitors in the first two months of 2025, which marks a new record.
Although Thailand is not yet one of the top 5 destinations for Israeli tourists, there is a strong growth potential. It remains to be seen how the Thai tourism industry reacts to the challenges of the declining Chinese market and at the same time uses the emerging interest from Israel to promote the country's economic goals.
For more information, read the reports from Pattaya Mail and Thailand tip
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