(Bangkok, 28th) – Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), stated on Wednesday that authorities are closely monitoring cases of Nipah virus (NiV) infections detected in West Bengal, India, as well as India’s response and preventive measures.
She pointed out that, so far, no Nipah virus infections have been found in Thailand. However, the related outbreak has been widely spread in international media and on social platforms, which may affect some travelers’ psychology and cause short-term anxiety.
To mitigate risk, Thailand has increased health screening measures at several major international airports, including Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, and Phuket International Airport, with a focus on inbound travelers from high-risk regions.
The Tourism Authority’s assessment is that Nipah virus has not had a significant impact on overall inbound tourism to Thailand at present, but there may be some markets that adopt a more cautious wait-and-see approach due to health concerns.
According to statistics from the Thailand Immigration Bureau’s system (TATIC) as of January 26, this year from January 1 to 25, the number of foreign travelers totaled approximately 2.62 million, a year-on-year decrease of about 10%. The TAT emphasized that this decline was not caused by the Nipah virus, but rather related to several other external factors.
She explained that the main factors affecting inbound numbers include the tense situation at the Thai-Cambodian border, as well as floods in the Hat Yai area of Songkhla Province at the end of 2025, which directly impacted the Malaysia market, which mainly enters via land. Currently, some tourist areas in Hat Yai are still in the recovery phase and have not fully returned to normal operations.
Meanwhile, the Indian market continues to perform strongly. Data shows that from January 1 to 25 this year, arrivals from India exceeded 189,000, a year-on-year increase of 20%. During the period of highest attention to the outbreak news, January 20 to 26, the number of Indian travelers still saw around a 35% year-on-year increase.
Aviation indicators are also continuing to improve. TAT noted that the three main airports for Indian visitors have all recorded growth: Phuket International Airport increased 51%, Suvarnabhumi Airport rose 33%, and Don Mueang Airport saw a 15% increase. It is estimated that in January 2026, the total number of Indian visitors could reach about 200,000, up about 8% year-on-year.
For other markets, the TAT said it would continue to observe changes in traveler confidence. She pointed out that for markets more sensitive to risks—such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan—in the coming one or two weeks, some travelers may postpone their travel decisions to observe the outbreak’s development.
To mitigate risk, Thailand has increased health screening measures at several major international airports, including Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, and Phuket International Airport, with a focus on inbound travelers from high-risk regions.
The Tourism Authority’s assessment is that Nipah virus has not had a significant impact on overall inbound tourism to Thailand at present, but there may be some markets that adopt a more cautious wait-and-see approach due to health concerns.
According to statistics from the Thailand Immigration Bureau’s system (TATIC) as of January 26, this year from January 1 to 25, the number of foreign travelers totaled approximately 2.62 million, a year-on-year decrease of about 10%. The TAT emphasized that this decline was not caused by the Nipah virus, but rather related to several other external factors.
She explained that the main factors affecting inbound numbers include the tense situation at the Thai-Cambodian border, as well as floods in the Hat Yai area of Songkhla Province at the end of 2025, which directly impacted the Malaysia market, which mainly enters via land. Currently, some tourist areas in Hat Yai are still in the recovery phase and have not fully returned to normal operations.
Meanwhile, the Indian market continues to perform strongly. Data shows that from January 1 to 25 this year, arrivals from India exceeded 189,000, a year-on-year increase of 20%. During the period of highest attention to the outbreak news, January 20 to 26, the number of Indian travelers still saw around a 35% year-on-year increase.
Aviation indicators are also continuing to improve. TAT noted that the three main airports for Indian visitors have all recorded growth: Phuket International Airport increased 51%, Suvarnabhumi Airport rose 33%, and Don Mueang Airport saw a 15% increase. It is estimated that in January 2026, the total number of Indian visitors could reach about 200,000, up about 8% year-on-year.
For other markets, the TAT said it would continue to observe changes in traveler confidence. She pointed out that for markets more sensitive to risks—such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan—in the coming one or two weeks, some travelers may postpone their travel decisions to observe the outbreak’s development.