Thailand welcomed about 16.3 million international visitors in the first half of 2026, a 14.8% increase from the same period a year earlier, according to the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
The growth helped Thailand maintain its strong position among Asia’s most visited destinations. China was the biggest source market, sending 2.53 million visitors in the January to June period, followed by Malaysia with 1.99 million, India with 1.18 million, Russia with 996,000 and South Korea with 576,000.
Officials said wider international flight networks, visa easing for key markets including China, India and Russia, and greater market diversification supported the increase. They said the country’s ability to attract visitors from different regions was also helping build a more resilient tourism sector.
Tourism demand remained concentrated in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Krabi.
Bangkok drew visitors for business, shopping and health tourism. Phuket remained popular in the luxury holiday segment, Pattaya in entertainment tourism and Krabi for nature-focused and sustainable travel.
Although arrivals from Europe and North America were lower than those from Asia, Germany, the UK and the US stood out as important markets because of higher-spending travellers, which contributed significantly to tourism revenue.
The figures underline Thailand’s continued dependence on mass tourism and on a broad mix of source markets. They also show how the country is balancing high-volume regional travel with longer-haul, higher-value visitors from Western markets.
Thailand has long been one of the region’s most important travel destinations, and the latest numbers suggest that momentum continued into 2026. The government’s focus on connectivity and market spread appears to have supported the rebound across key leisure and business hubs.
