Thailand struggles to boost tourism as Chinese numbers plummet

More Westerners arrive but not enough to cover 33% drop from No. 1 market

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Tourists take selfies at a popular spot in Ayutthaya, Thailand, in April. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)

APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT

BANGKOK -- Thailand's government is scrambling to make it easier to travel to the country and reverse a trend in which the number of arrivals from its biggest market, China, is plunging.

According to data released last week by Thailand's Tourism and Sports Ministry, January-May Chinese arrivals dropped 33% from the same five months of 2024 to 1.95 million, leading to a 3% decline in the total number of foreign arrivals to 14.36 million. Last month alone, the number of Chinese tourists dropped 45% from a year earlier.

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