Thailand’s tourism sector continues its robust recovery, with Malaysia emerging as the leading source of international visitors, surpassing China for the first time in recent years.
According to Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong, more than 2 million Malaysian tourists visited Thailand between January 1 and June 8, 2025. The official tally stood at 2,041,002 arrivals from Malaysia, narrowly edging out Chinese visitors, who totaled 2,029,481 during the same period.
India ranked third with 1,035,864 arrivals, followed by Russia (981,011) and South Korea (702,267). Combined, foreign tourists have contributed 699.3 billion baht to Thailand’s economy so far this year.
Officials attribute the surge in international arrivals to a mix of government-led tourism campaigns and streamlined travel procedures. The “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025” initiative, alongside visa facilitation efforts and the scrapping of the TM6 immigration form—replaced by the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) on May 1—have played key roles in boosting tourist numbers.
While long-haul markets such as the Middle East saw continued growth, short-haul travel experienced a slight dip in early June. Between June 2 and June 8, Thailand welcomed 565,778 international tourists—a 1.63% decrease from the previous week. This decline is largely attributed to the end of extended holidays in several countries.
Despite the brief slowdown, Malaysia remained the top contributor during that week with 114,018 visitors, significantly ahead of China’s 62,082, according to figures reported by KhaoSod.
Looking ahead, Minister Sorawong expressed optimism about a rebound in short-haul traffic, citing the conclusion of South Korea’s general elections and upcoming promotional campaigns as positive drivers. The Thai government is also coordinating with airlines to increase flight frequencies, improving accessibility for international travellers.
As Thailand continues to solidify its position as a premier travel destination, Malaysia’s rise to the top of the tourist arrival rankings signals a shift in regional travel patterns—highlighting both the enduring appeal of Thailand and the increasing outbound travel momentum among Malaysians.
