Most Popular Cities by International Tourist Arrivals (2025)
1. Bangkok, Thailand: Approximately 30.3 million people
2. Hong Kong, China: Approximately 23.2 million people
3. London, United Kingdom: Approximately 22.7 million people
4. Macau, China: Approximately 20.4 million people
5. Istanbul, Turkey: Approximately 19.7 million people
6. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Approximately 19.5 million people
7. Mecca, Saudi Arabia: Approximately 18.7 million people
8. Antalya, Turkey: Approximately 18.6 million people
9. Paris, France: Approximately 18.3 million people
10. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Approximately 17.3 million people
Key Takeaways
- Asia's Prominence: This list reflects the significant role of cities in Asia, demonstrating the continuous growth of tourism in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Changing Trends: Although Bangkok holds the top spot, the rankings may vary slightly across different reports. In some years, such as 2023, Istanbul was also among the cities with the highest number of tourists.
Countries with the Best Food in the World
Global Travelers Vote! Top 10 Countries with the “Best Food in the World” for 2025 by “Condé Nast Traveler”
Food is not just about taste; it also reflects the culture, creativity, and spirit of the people in each country. Recently, the world-renowned travel magazine “Condé Nast Traveler” announced the results of its “Readers’ Choice Awards 2025,” which ranks the “Countries with the Best Food in the World” based on votes from travelers worldwide.
The results show that “Thailand” proudly claimed the top spot as the nation of food! Second and third places went to “Italy” and “Japan,” respectively. Let's see which countries made it into the other rankings!
1st Place: Thailand (Score 98.33%) Thailand secured the title of the country with the best food in the world for 2025, receiving an overwhelming number of votes. This is due to the diverse and harmonious blend of strong and mellow flavors found in dishes like Tom Yum Goong, Pad Thai, Green Curry, and the world-famous street food found in night markets. Furthermore, Bangkok boasts "7 restaurants" that are ranked among the "World's Best Restaurants 2025."
2nd Place: Italy (Score 96.92%)
3rd Place: Japan (Score 96.77%)
4th Place: Vietnam (Score 96.67%)
5th Place: Spain (Score 95.91%)
6th Place: New Zealand (Score 95.79%)
7th Place: Sri Lanka (Score 95.56%)
8th Place: Greece (Score 95.42%)
9th Place: South Africa (Score 94.76%)
10th Place (Tie): Peru and Maldives (Score 94.55%)
Thailand Tourism Statistics – Q3 2025
Overview
- Total Tourist Arrivals (Jan–Sep 2025): 23.45 million people
- Year-on-year Change: −7.4%
- Tourism Revenue (as of Oct 2025): 1.16 trillion Baht
- Confidence Index (Q3 2025): 66 / 100
- Main Challenge: Significant decrease in tourists from China
Top 5 International Tourist Markets (Jan–Sep 2025)
- Malaysia – 4.2 million people
- China – 3.8 million people
- South Korea – 1.6 million people
- India – 1.5 million people
- Russia – 1.3 million people
Hotel Business Overview
- One-third of hotels reported a greater than 30% decrease in Chinese tourists.
- Occupancy rates remain below 70% in major destinations.
Key Insights
- Thailand's tourism sector experienced weakened demand in Q3 2025 due to a decline in Chinese tourists.
- Per capita spending per trip remained stable, supported by high-quality tourists from ASEAN and Europe.
- The government aims to attract an additional 12 million tourists in Q4 2025, generating an extra 580 billion Baht in revenue.
2025 Outlook
- Full-year Target: 33 million tourists
- Key Strategies: Market diversification, sustainable tourism, and enhancing high-quality tourist experiences.
- Key Message: "From Recovery to Sustainability" — Thailand's tourism continues towards long-term growth.
Thailand Tourism Statistics – Q2 2025
Tourist Arrivals and Revenue Trends
- International Tourist Arrivals (Jan 1 – Jun 29, 2025): Approximately 16.61 million people, a decrease of 4.56% compared to the same period last year.
- First Half Total (H1/2025): Approximately 16.69 million people, a decrease of 4.66% compared to 2024.
- Jan–May 2025: Total international tourist arrivals were 14.36 million people, a decrease of 2.7% from the previous year.
- Sharp decline in Chinese tourists: Decreased by 32.7–34% compared to the same period last year.
Changes in Key Markets
- China: Only 2.25 million tourists during Jan–Jun, replaced by Malaysia as the primary market.
- Malaysia: Rose to the 1st position with 2.30 million people.
- India: More than 1 million tourists visited Thailand by mid-June.
- Europe and the Middle East: Showed notable growth, such as:
- Germany +71%
- Italy +28%
- Saudi Arabia +61%
- United Arab Emirates +51%
Key Challenges
- Significant decline in Chinese tourists due to:
- Safety concerns (e.g., kidnapping incidents near the Thai–Myanmar border)
- Large earthquake in Myanmar, affecting tourist confidence.
- Key Asian markets such as China, South Korea, and Vietnam contracted by 17–30%.
- The Thai economy slowed in Q2, particularly in May, with a significant decrease in tourist arrivals and tourism revenue.
Trends and Strategies
- The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) adjusted its target for international tourist arrivals in 2025 from 37.5 million to approximately 35 million people.
- New strategies focus on high-quality markets such as Europe, the USA, and the Middle East to reduce reliance on the Chinese market.
- Launched the “Sawasdee Nihao” campaign specifically targeting the Chinese market, increasing charter flights, and organizing roadshows in several Chinese cities to restore confidence.
- The government supports the “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism & Sports Year 2025” campaign to promote Thailand’s tourism image globally.
Thailand Tourism Statistics – Q1 2025
Overview
- International Tourist Arrivals: 9,549,004 people (up 1.91% year-on-year)
- Tourism Revenue: 462.75 billion Baht (up 10.47% year-on-year)
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Top Origin Countries:
- China – 1,331,434 people
- Malaysia – 1,153,496 people
- Russia – 722,202 people
- India – 543,770 people
- South Korea – 497,930 people
- Germany – 341,242 people
- United Kingdom – 335,116 people
- United States – 320,631 people
- Japan – 316,744 people
- 1France – 315,116 people
Challenges
- Tourist arrivals from key Asian markets (e.g., China, South Korea, Vietnam) decreased by an average of 17% due to safety concerns and a reduction in flights.
- Negative factors affecting tourist confidence include:
- An 8.2 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar.
- Kidnappings of Chinese citizens near the Thai-Myanmar border.
- US tax policy increases affecting global trade.
Outlook
- The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is preparing to adjust specific market targets to align with the current situation, while maintaining the overall target of 39–40 million international tourists in 2025.
Thailand Tourist Statistics in 2024
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Total International Tourist Arrivals:
From January 1 to December 27, 2024, Thailand welcomed 35,047,501 international tourists, exceeding the government's target. -
·Tourism Revenue:
These tourists generated a total revenue of over 1.8 trillion Baht (approximately 52.8 billion USD) for the country. -
Main Tourist Origin Countries:
- China: 6.67 million people
- Malaysia: 4.90 million people
- India: 2.10 million people
- South Korea: 1.85 million people
- Russia: 1.75 million people
Factors Promoting Tourism
- More relaxed visa policies: Thailand offers visa exemptions to citizens from 93 countries and allows stays of up to 60 days. The cancellation of TM.6 forms at 16 major border checkpoints has made entry into the country easier.
- Increase in flights and airline seats: International airlines have resumed old routes and added new ones, totaling 47 million available seats for flights to Thailand in 2024, a 26% increase compared to 2024.
- Global events and festivals: Major events such as “Amazing Thailand Countdown 2024” and “Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024” attracted tourists from all over the world.
Economic Impact
- Tourism accounted for almost 20% of Thailand's GDP in 2024.
- The tourism industry plays a crucial role in restoring consumer confidence and stimulating economic activity.
2025 Outlook
- Thailand has designated 2025 as the “Amazing Thailand Tourism and Sports Year.”
- Aiming to attract between 36 – 39 million international tourists.
- Targeting tourism revenue of 2.23 trillion Baht.
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