Overview

• Foreign arrivals fell 14% to 2.6 million in May, marking the fourth consecutive monthly drop, government data show.
• Regional arrivals dropped nearly 11% through May, and Chinese visits plunged 33% after a high-profile kidnapping spurred a 15% fall in summer flight bookings.
• Hotel occupancy is forecast to slip to 52% in May, prompting nearly 140 operators to cut room rates in response to the Chinese tourist slump.
• Arrivals from the US and Europe rose 12% and 18% respectively through May, buoyed by interest generated by HBO’s 'White Lotus' series.
• To pursue its 39–40 million visitor target for 2025, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has extended 60-day visa exemptions and refocused marketing on quality Western and emerging-market travellers.