Thailand has set an ambitious target of welcoming 40 million international tourists in 2025, building on the strong recovery seen in 2024. The country recorded 35.5 million arrivals last year, a 26% rise from 2023, as eased entry rules and targeted visa policies spurred growth.

Surge in arrivals and spending

Tourists spent approximately 1.67 trillion baht ($66 billion) in 2024, a 34% increase from the previous year, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The final week of 2024 saw more than 900,000 visitors, the highest weekly figure since 2020.

As per Thai government reports, the top five source countries for visitors in 2024 were:

Malaysia: 4.9 million

India: 2.1 million

South Korea: 1.8 million

Russia: 1.7 million

Although the total fell short of the tourism ministry’s target of 36.7 million for 2024, it closely aligned with the Bank of Thailand’s forecast of 36 million.Boost from Indian tourists

Thailand has implemented several policies to encourage travel from Indian tourists, a growing market:

Visa-free entry: Introduced in November 2023, this policy allows Indian visitors to stay for up to 60 days, with an optional 30-day extension. Initially planned to end in 2024, the visa-free scheme has been extended indefinitely.