Thai tourist arrivals in China surge 1,220% following visa-free travel

The number of Thai tourists visiting China surged by 1,220% between 2023 and 2025 following the introduction of visa-free travel, making China the most popular short-haul overseas destination for Thai travellers, excluding neighbouring Malaysia and Laos, according to Kasikorn Research Centre.

Thai visits to China jumped from just 232,000 in 2023 to 3.06 million in 2025 after China introduced visa-free entry for Thai nationals on 1 March 2024. The research centre expects the upward trend to continue in 2026.

Other popular Asian destinations among Thai travellers include Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.

Meanwhile, Kasikorn Research Centre forecasts that Thais will make approximately 13.45 million overseas trips in 2026, an increase of 3% from the previous year.

However, the growth rate is expected to slow significantly from the 12% recorded in 2025, reflecting weaker economic conditions and rising travel costs.

The figures represent overseas trips rather than individual travellers, as one person may travel multiple times or visit several countries.

The research centre attributed the slowdown to higher airfares, tourism-related taxes and fees imposed by both departure and destination countries, and rising expenses abroad.

These factors are expected to reduce travel frequency among certain groups, particularly middle-income travellers and participants in corporate incentive travel programmes, who are more sensitive to economic conditions and rising costs.

Travel taxes and fees add to holiday expenses

Kasikorn Research Centre estimates that Thai travellers pay an additional 3.5% to 9.5% of their per-trip expenditure in tourism-related taxes and fees, on top of transport, accommodation, food and shopping expenses.

These charges vary by destination and generally fall into three categories.

The first comprises fees included in airline tickets, such as passenger service charges and departure taxes imposed by destinations including Japan and Hong Kong.

Thailand’s proposed 1,000-baht international departure tax has been postponed.

The second category covers electronic payments made before departure, including tourism entry fees, electronic travel authorisations and environmental conservation charges, such as those imposed on visitors to Bali, Indonesia.

The third includes taxes collected at destinations, particularly accommodation or city taxes charged by hotels in places such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Malaysia.

Looking ahead, Kasikorn Research Centre said Thailand’s outbound tourism market would continue to face challenges from economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, which could push travel costs higher.

Although the postponement of Thailand’s departure tax has spared travellers an additional expense for now, rising costs and weaker purchasing power are expected to remain key factors affecting overseas travel demand.