BANGKOK, Thailand – Overseas travel by Thai citizens has reached a record high, with 13.06 million trips recorded over the past year, an 11.4% increase, according to research by Bnomics, the research team of Bangkok Bank. Thai travellers spent more than 559 billion baht overseas, with China emerging as the most popular destination by a wide margin.
China welcomed 3.06 million Thai visitors, who spent a combined 120.253 billion baht, or about 39,317 baht per trip. Bnomics attributed China’s appeal partly to its permanent visa-free arrangement for Thai travellers, which reduces travel formalities, along with extensive infrastructure and relatively good value for money.
Malaysia ranked second with 1.72 million Thai visitors and spending of 33.381 billion baht. Its proximity and accessibility by road, rail and air were identified as major advantages.
Laos ranked third, attracting 1.44 million Thai visitors who spent 22.057 billion baht. The Laos-China railway, which began operating in 2021, has significantly reduced travel times between Vientiane, Luang Prabang and southern China while lowering the time cost of travelling overland.
Japan ranked fourth with 1.23 million Thai visitors, but stood out for the amount they spent. Thai travellers spent 63.269 billion baht, averaging 51,558 baht per trip. The figures reflect Japan’s appeal through food, culture, safety and convenient transport, with travellers spending more for what Bnomics describes as a higher-quality travel experience.
The United Kingdom ranked fifth and recorded the fastest growth among the five leading destinations, with Thai arrivals increasing 39.7% to 492,000. Thai visitors spent an average of 131,089 baht per trip, with an average stay of 13.6 days. The research noted that trips included tourism, education and visits to relatives.
South Korea, meanwhile, fell to 13th place, with Thai visitor numbers declining 13.8% to 328,000.
Bnomics linked the decline to tighter immigration screening following concerns over illegal employment by some Thai nationals. Repeated reports of travellers being refused entry have also contributed to uncertainty among some prospective visitors over whether they will be admitted.
The research described this uncertainty as an additional psychological and time cost for travellers, potentially encouraging some to consider destinations where entry procedures are perceived as more straightforward.
The figures point to a broader shift in Thai outbound tourism, where convenience, accessibility, entry requirements and the overall cost of travel can play an important role in determining where people choose to go.
For destinations competing for Thai travellers, the message is increasingly clear: making a journey easy from the moment a traveller plans the trip through arrival at the border can matter almost as much as the attractions waiting at the other end.
