In 2026, Thailand’s international tourist arrivals remain high but uneven. After a clear slowdown in spring and a low point in June, arrivals rebounded sharply in July before stabilising in August.
Between 1 January and 31 August 2026, Thailand welcomed 20,935,150 international visitors. August recorded 2,515,320 arrivals, a slight decrease of 1.2% compared with July.
Thailand tourist arrivals 2026: key figures
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative international arrivals | 20,935,150 | January to August 2026 |
| International arrivals | 2,515,320 | August 2026 |
| Monthly change | −1.2% | August compared with July 2026 |
| Accommodation occupancy rate | 68.50% | August 2026 |
| 3-month advance booking rate | 18.63% | August 2026 |
| Average room rate | 1,788.25 baht | August 2026 |
Editorial update: 1 October 2026. Monthly data is based on the Bank of Thailand’s Tourism Indicators, updated on 30 September 2026. Figures are provisional.
Monthly tourist arrivals in Thailand in 2026
| Month | Arrivals | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 3,277,910 | High volume, supported by peak-season demand. |
| February 2026 | 3,263,800 | Still elevated and close to January’s level. |
| March 2026 | 2,775,200 | Lower than January and February. |
| April 2026 | 2,368,900 | Another monthly decline despite a short-term boost from Songkran. |
| May 2026 | 2,346,850 | Almost unchanged from April. |
| June 2026 | 1,841,550 | Lowest monthly level during the first eight months of the year. |
| July 2026 | 2,545,620 | Strong rebound after the low point recorded in June. |
| August 2026 | 2,515,320 | Broadly stable after July’s rebound (−1.2%). |
| September 2026 | Coming soon | Complete monthly data has not yet been published. |
| October 2026 | Coming soon | Monthly update pending. |
| November 2026 | Coming soon | Monthly update pending. |
| December 2026 | Coming soon | Monthly update pending. |
Source: Bank of Thailand – Tourism Indicators, provisional data updated on 30 September 2026.
Thailand tourism from January to August 2026: where does the country stand?
Between 1 January and 31 August 2026, Thailand welcomed 20,935,150 international visitors according to the monthly series published by the Bank of Thailand.
After two very strong months in January and February, arrivals gradually declined during the spring. They fell to 2,775,200 visitors in March, then to 2,368,900 in April and 2,346,850 in May.
The slowdown became more pronounced in June, when Thailand recorded only 1,841,550 international visitors, the lowest monthly level during the first eight months of the year.
The trend reversed sharply in July, with 2,545,620 international visitors, an increase of 38.2% compared with June.
August largely confirmed this recovery without extending the increase. Thailand welcomed 2,515,320 visitors, just 30,300 fewer than in July. The month-on-month decline was limited to around 1.2%.
The accommodation occupancy rate edged down from 70.05% in July to 68.50% in August, a decrease of 1.55 percentage points.
By contrast, the three-month advance booking rate increased slightly from 18.06% to 18.63%. The increase is modest, but advance bookings did not follow the decline seen in the month’s occupancy rate.
Accommodation in August 2026: Central Thailand and the South remain ahead
August data shows a slight decline in occupancy across all of Thailand’s main regions. Central Thailand, including Bangkok, remained the highest at 70.77%, just ahead of the South at 70.30%.
| Region | Occupancy | 3-month advance bookings | Average room rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Thailand | 68.50% | 18.63% | 1,788.25 baht |
| Central, including Bangkok | 70.77% | 24.59% | 2,047.48 baht |
| South | 70.30% | 22.29% | 2,274.67 baht |
| North | 60.25% | 12.68% | 1,316.96 baht |
| Northeast | 64.54% | 8.48% | 695.64 baht |
Compared with July, the national occupancy rate fell by 1.55 percentage points. Central Thailand declined from 72.40% to 70.77%, the South from 71.65% to 70.30%, the North from 60.58% to 60.25%, and the Northeast from 67.74% to 64.54%.
The South nevertheless recorded the highest average room rate, at 2,274.67 baht, ahead of Central Thailand at 2,047.48 baht. The national average stood at 1,788.25 baht.
Three-month advance bookings were highest in Central Thailand at 24.59%, followed by the South at 22.29%. Nationwide, the rate increased slightly from 18.06% in July to 18.63% in August.
Thailand source markets: China remains first as of 22 August 2026
The Bank of Thailand’s August monthly data provides the total number of international visitors but does not include a breakdown by nationality. The ranking below therefore continues to use weekly data from Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports through 22 August 2026.
As of that date, Thailand had welcomed 20,316,055 international visitors, down 2.96% compared with the same period in 2025.
| Rank | Country | Cumulative total as of 22 August 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 3,440,752 |
| 2 | Malaysia | 2,559,676 |
| 3 | India | 1,494,003 |
| 4 | Russia | 1,158,680 |
| 5 | South Korea | 749,202 |
China therefore remains Thailand’s largest source market, ahead of Malaysia. India ranks third, followed by Russia and South Korea.
The 20.94 million total through the end of August in the monthly series is naturally higher than the 20.32 million recorded through 22 August: the first covers the full month, while the second is an interim figure used for the source-market ranking.
Source: Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, data through 22 August 2026, relayed by ThailandPlus.
Songkran 2026: a short-term boost for arrivals
The week from 6 to 12 April 2026 recorded 619,481 international arrivals, an increase of 8.76% compared with the previous week. The rise was supported in particular by short-haul markets during the Songkran celebrations.
However, the full-month April data adds an important nuance. Despite the Thai New Year peak, April remained below March, with 2,368,900 international arrivals. Songkran therefore supported visitor flows over a short period without immediately reversing the broader spring slowdown.
May remained almost stable, with 2,346,850 international arrivals, before arrivals fell further to 1,841,550 in June. July then saw a strong rebound to 2,545,620 visitors, followed by broad stability in August at 2,515,320 visitors.
Source: Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, report for 6–12 April 2026, relayed by ThailandPlus.
2025 vs 2026: Thailand tourist arrivals remain slightly lower
The year 2025 ended with 32.97 million international visitors. In 2026, the first quarter reached 9,316,910 international arrivals, compared with 9,549,010 over the same period in 2025.
The first-quarter decline was therefore limited to 2.4%. It was mainly driven by a weaker January than in 2025, partly offset by stronger results in February and March.
| Period | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3,709,100 | 3,277,910 | −11.6% |
| February | 3,119,450 | 3,263,800 | +4.6% |
| March | 2,720,460 | 2,775,200 | +2.0% |
| Total January to March | 9,549,010 | 9,316,910 | −2.4% |
Data available during the summer still pointed to arrivals running slightly below 2025. As of 22 August 2026, cumulative arrivals were 2.96% lower than at the same point a year earlier.
The latest monthly series now shows that Thailand welcomed 20,935,150 visitors between January and August 2026. July’s rebound and August’s stability therefore brought monthly volumes back above 2.5 million visitors.
Thailand tourism forecast and targets for 2026
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) initially announced a forecast of 30 to 34 million international arrivals in April. In an updated outlook presented in June 2026, the organisation projected around 33 million international visitors for the full year.
This forecast forms part of a strategy focused more on tourism value than on visitor numbers alone. TAT is placing greater emphasis on higher-spending travellers, wellness, gastronomy, events, sustainability and a broader distribution of tourism benefits.
With 20,935,150 arrivals recorded between January and August 2026, Thailand would need approximately 12.06 million additional visitors between September and December to reach 33 million for the year.
That represents an average of around 3.02 million arrivals per month over the final four months of the year. The year-end high season will therefore be important in determining whether this projection is reached.
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand – Thailand Tourism Update, June 2026.
What Thailand tourism trends mean for travellers in 2026
- International visitor numbers remain high, with almost 20.94 million arrivals during the first eight months of 2026.
- January and February remain the busiest months of the year so far, with more than 3.2 million visitors each.
- June’s low point was followed by a strong rebound in July, then broad stability in August at 2.52 million visitors.
- Thailand’s national occupancy rate was 68.50% in August, down from 70.05% in July.
- Central Thailand, including Bangkok, retained the highest regional occupancy rate at 70.77%, just ahead of the South at 70.30%.
- The South recorded the highest average room rate, at 2,274.67 baht in August.
- Three-month advance bookings increased slightly nationwide, from 18.06% to 18.63%.
- China remains Thailand’s largest international source market in the latest nationality ranking available, through 22 August.
Methodology and sources
This page combines several types of data to track Thailand’s tourism performance in 2026 as closely as possible:
- monthly series published by the Bank of Thailand, currently available through August 2026;
- weekly data from Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, used in particular to track source markets between monthly releases;
- official communications from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) covering tourism forecasts and strategy for 2026.
Some figures in this article cover different reporting periods. The 20,935,150 visitors figure covers the eight complete months from January through August in the monthly series, while 20,316,055 visitors is an interim cumulative total through 22 August used, in particular, for the source-market ranking.
The two figures are therefore not contradictory: they simply cover different periods.
The Bank of Thailand also notes that the data is provisional and is updated to remain consistent with information from Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
For monthly data from January through August 2026, the source used is the Bank of Thailand – Tourism Indicators, updated on 30 September 2026.
FAQ: Thailand tourism 2026
How many tourists have visited Thailand in 2026?
Between 1 January and 31 August 2026, Thailand welcomed 20,935,150 international visitors according to the monthly series published by the Bank of Thailand.
How many tourists visited Thailand in August 2026?
The Bank of Thailand reports 2,515,320 international arrivals in August 2026, a slight decrease of around 1.2% compared with July.
What was Thailand’s accommodation occupancy rate in August 2026?
Thailand’s average accommodation occupancy rate reached 68.50% in August 2026. Central Thailand, including Bangkok, recorded the highest regional rate at 70.77%, just ahead of the South at 70.30%.
What was the average room rate in Thailand in August 2026?
According to the survey used by the Bank of Thailand, the reported national average room rate was 1,788.25 baht per room. The South recorded the highest regional average at 2,274.67 baht.
Which country is Thailand’s largest tourism source market in 2026?
In the latest nationality ranking used in this article, through 22 August 2026, China remained Thailand’s largest source market with 3,440,752 visitors, ahead of Malaysia with 2,559,676 visitors.
What is Thailand’s tourism forecast for 2026?
In its June 2026 update, the Tourism Authority of Thailand projected approximately 33 million international arrivals for the full year.
Is tourism in Thailand increasing or decreasing in 2026?
The trend remains mixed. Arrivals declined between March and June before rebounding sharply in July. August remained close to July’s level, with 2.52 million visitors and a slight month-on-month decline of around 1.2%.
To compare with the previous year, you can also read our full review of Thailand tourism in 2025.
🔄 Last updated on October 1, 2026
