On the 8th, Chai Arunanan Chai, Chairman of the Thai Tourism Council, stated that due to the situation in the Middle East, international airfares have surged significantly, putting pressure on Thailand's inbound tourism market with a potential decline in tourist numbers.
Chai pointed out that the Middle East situation has had a clear impact on the aviation industry. Flights from Europe usually transit through Middle Eastern cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, but after some countries closed their airspace, some flights have been forced to cancel or adjust their routes. As a result, operating costs for long-haul flights have increased, ticket prices have risen sharply, with some routes seeing price increases of nearly 100%.
He predicts that if the situation persists for a month, in March alone, the number of foreign tourists to Thailand may decrease by at least 300,000, with tourism revenue losses potentially reaching nearly 30 billion baht.
The Thai Tourism Council forecasts that in 2026, Thailand will receive about 33 million foreign tourists, about the same as in 2025, but below the target of 36.7 million set by the National Tourism Organization.
Chai indicated that in the context of ongoing turmoil, some wealthier foreign tourists, especially those from Israel and the Middle East, have chosen to stay in Thailand for the long term to avoid the conflict, and have increased their investments in the local real estate market, bringing new opportunities to Thailand.
He said that tourism industry practitioners hope the government will introduce support measures, including tax reductions and stabilizing energy prices to lower business operating costs. He also hopes commercial banks will moderately relax interest rates and provide low-interest loans to help businesses ease operational pressures. He emphasized that this impact is mainly caused by external factors, and is beyond the control of the tourism industry itself.
He predicts that if the situation persists for a month, in March alone, the number of foreign tourists to Thailand may decrease by at least 300,000, with tourism revenue losses potentially reaching nearly 30 billion baht.
The Thai Tourism Council forecasts that in 2026, Thailand will receive about 33 million foreign tourists, about the same as in 2025, but below the target of 36.7 million set by the National Tourism Organization.
Chai indicated that in the context of ongoing turmoil, some wealthier foreign tourists, especially those from Israel and the Middle East, have chosen to stay in Thailand for the long term to avoid the conflict, and have increased their investments in the local real estate market, bringing new opportunities to Thailand.
He said that tourism industry practitioners hope the government will introduce support measures, including tax reductions and stabilizing energy prices to lower business operating costs. He also hopes commercial banks will moderately relax interest rates and provide low-interest loans to help businesses ease operational pressures. He emphasized that this impact is mainly caused by external factors, and is beyond the control of the tourism industry itself.