The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) held a press conference for the “Amazing Thailand·2026 Chinese New Year Celebration” in Bangkok on the 5th, announcing Bangkok and Hat Yai as the two main venues. The event will also link with other regions such as Nakhon Sawan and Suphan Buri to launch a series of festive activities, welcoming the Year of the Horse on the lunar calendar and celebrating the 51st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China.
According to China News Service, the event aims to stimulate tourism consumption nationwide and further consolidate Thailand's appeal as a prominent Chinese New Year travel destination outside mainland China. The conference was attended by Yang Xiaolong, Cultural Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, TAT Governor Thapanee, as well as representatives from local governments and the tourism police.
In Hat Yai, a city in southern Thailand, the celebration will take place from February 17 to 20, featuring lion dances, acrobatics, cultural performances, and nighttime light shows, further strengthening its function as a gathering hub for regional and cross-border tourists. At the same time, traditional parades and festive activities will also be held synchronously in Nakhon Sawan and Suphan Buri, using multi-point coordination to encourage tourist flow to other cities and distribute tourism income more evenly.
According to the introduction, the Bangkok main venue is co-organized by TAT, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and enterprises. Yaowarat Road in Chinatown will implement festive lighting from February 7 to March 1, creating a strong Chinese New Year atmosphere; Siam Paragon will host a New Year blessing ceremony from February 14 to 18, along with cultural performances and experience activities, highlighting achievements in Sino-Thai cultural exchange.
According to TAT’s projections, during the 2026 Chinese New Year holiday, Thailand will receive about 1.25 million international tourists, a year-on-year increase of 10%; domestic trips will reach about 2.3 million, up 3%; and total tourism revenue is expected to reach about 42.2 billion baht, a 13% year-on-year growth.