Trends, Growth, and Opportunity Analysis of Tourism in Thailand Tourist Type for 2024 to 2034

Thailand Tourism Industry Snapshot

Demand for tourism in Thailand is valued at USD 61,323.00 million in 2024. As affordable travel costs make Thailand a budget-friendly destination, the industry holds the potential to exceed USD 84,027.30 million by 2034. With high investment in tourism infrastructure, the industry is set to record a CAGR of 3.2% over the forecast period.

Industry Outlook

Key Industry Attributes	Details
Industry Size, 2023	USD 59,536.90 million
Industry Size, 2024	USD 61,323.00 million
Industry Size, 2034	USD 84,027.30 million
Value CAGR (2024 to 2034)	3.2%

Thailand Tourism Industry Outlook

Thailand’s numerous religious destinations, not only of the dominant Buddhist kind but also Hindu and Muslim, are seeing a greater number of spiritual and family tourists abound in the country.

Efforts by tourism providers to provide a comprehensive temple or Wat experience, i.e., a guided tour of the major religious destinations in a location, are attracting tourists. For example, boat tours in Bangkok not only cover the important Wats in the city but also provide a scenic experience to tourists.

From the spiritual to the luxurious, Thailand has a plethora of experiences for tourists with loose purses. Tourism industry stakeholders in Thailand are concentrating on premium experiences to increase earnings.

Private rooms in clubs, fine dining experiences, and other assorted luxuries, such as access to the roof of the King Power Mahanakhon, are seeing a higher grade of tourists make the journey to Thailand’s hotspots.

The enormous volume of tourists visiting Thailand is necessitating tour companies in the country to provide consumers with better facilities and guidance. Bangkok is reputed as the most visited city in the world, while other popular areas like Pattaya and Phuket are also teeming with tourists.

To help tourists navigate the country better, tourist companies are providing facilities like online booking, AI tools for planning trips, virtual experiences, and more. The street food of Thailand is another selling point that is being utilized by stakeholders.

Street tours in Thailand incorporate indulging in various Thai delicacies, while the cheap nature of the street food also enamors tourists. These street food excursions are complemented by shopping stops, where again the relatively cheap nature of the goods comes into play.

Opportunities for Vendors to Capitalize on Thailand Tourism Trends

Thailand’s happening nightlife draws a significant number of tourists to the country who want to take part in the club culture. Whether sports bars, pubs, or racier establishments, tourist companies have the opportunity to go beyond traditional tourist routes and offer a freer and more pleasurable experience to tourists.

Tour companies in Thailand are thus seeing bachelors and trendy couples emerge as a significant part of the consumer base. Chinatown in Bangkok and Walking Street in Pattaya are popular destinations for these kinds of experiences.

The vibrant nature of the nightlife in Thailand is aided by the wide availability of alcohol, in all price ranges, as well as fewer restrictions on cannabis use as compared to other Asian countries.

International tourists in Thailand are also finding navigating the country to be an easy experience due to the proliferation of convenience stores in the country. For example, Thailand boasts the second-highest number of 7-Eleven stores in the world.

The beaches in Thailand are one of the primary selling points for tourism in the country. Tour companies, to save time and give more bang for the buck to tourists, are selling island-hopping packages. These island-hopping packages incorporate a variety of beaches into the tour’s itinerary, with the islands in southern Thailand, near Phuket and Krabi, prominent hubs for these packages.

The availability of different boating experiences, such as kayaking, speed boats, cruises, and more is also making these packages attractive to consumers. Thus, vendors have the opportunity to enhance demand by offering convenient and varied island-hopping packages.

While hotspots like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket see a high concentration of tourists, social media influencers are opening people’s eyes to other untapped corners of the country.

Spots like Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew, a Buddhist temple constructed by monks from leftover beer bottles, are receiving renewed attention due to social media. Thus, tour operators in Thailand have the opportunity to make use of social media to widen the scope of the tourist sector.

Thailand is associated with Muay Thai. As the number of Muay Thai fights increases, the sport is becoming more accessible to tourists. Muay Thai promoters are also offering schemes like free beers and snacks on the purchase of tickets to tempt more consumers. Thus, Muay Thai getting more recognition is a promising avenue of growth for players in the Thai tourist industry.

Overview of Restrictive Factors for Tourism in Thailand

Negative connotations associated with trips to Thailand make consumers hesitant about undertaking trips to the country. These negative connotations arise as a result of the presence of hustlers, frauds, thieves, etc. littering the country.

The language barrier also acts as a restraining factor, with a considerable number of small-scale service providers struggling to communicate with outsiders. Tourist companies are concentrating on providing a safe experience to tourists as well as making available online and offline guides to counter these drawbacks.

Category-wise Insights

Domestic Travelers Make Up the Overwhelming Number of Tourists in Thailand

Domestic tourists are anticipated to account for 56.0% of the industry share in 2024. With upgrades in lifestyles observed across the country, more percentage of the Thai population is putting aside time for leisure, which is positively impacting traveling activities in the country. The spiritual bent of a considerable portion of the Thai population also increases tourist activities related to temples.

Foreign tourists represent a significant avenue for growth for industry players. Thailand’s climbing reputation as a party hotspot ensures foreign tourists keep streaming into the country.

Attributes	Details
Top Tourist Type	Domestic
Industry Share (2024)	56.0%

Online Booking Books the Top Spot in the Booking Channel Segment

In 2024, online booking is expected to account for 51.0% of the industry share by booking channel. To get ahead of the pack and ensure a seamless tour, consumers are booking online tours.

The determination of tour operators to preview a captivating experience to travelers is also enticing tourists to come to Thailand in increasing measure. Online booking is also helping domestic tourists on brief trips to have a more convenient experience.

Attributes	Details
Top Booking Channel	Online Booking
Industry Share (2024)	51.0%

Competitive Landscape

Tourist companies in Thailand are undertaking regulatory formalities for foreign tourists to offer a more attractive package to consumers. With individuals from more than 60 nations allowed in Thailand without visas, tour operators are targeting tourists from these countries.

Bangkok Travel Agency is concentrating on providing attractive temple tours, with tours involving the Bangkok nightlife also sprinkled in. Another significant industry player, NS Travels & Tours, has honed in on specific cultural experiences like Thai cuisine cooking classes and history-focused tours.

Recent Developments

• In January 2024, it was announced by the Department of Tourism that foreign film productions in Thailand would receive a 20% rebate, provided they spend over USD 4 million. The move was intended to boost tourism, with the full 20% rebate requiring the promotion of Thailand tourism.
• In November 2023, it was announced that Indian citizens would be granted visa-free entry to Thailand, for a period till May 2024.

Key Coverage in Thailand Tourism Industry Report

• Tourism in Thailand Industry Analysis
• Northern Thailand Tourism Growth Assessment
• Thailand Tourism Packages Demand Report
• Thailand Travel Industry Report
• Tourism Industry in Thailand Coverage
• Thailand Sustainable Tourism Industry Analysis

Scope of the Report

Attribute	Details
Forecast Period	2024 to 2034
Historical Data Available for	2019 to 2023
Industry Analysis	USD million for Value
Key Segments Covered	Booking Channel, Consumer Orientation, Tour Type, Tourist Type, and Age Group
Key Companies Profiled	Bangkok Travel Agency Thailand; NS Travels & Tours; Elite Holiday & Agency; Sun Leisure World; Holiday Tours and Travel; Bike Tours Thailand; Thailand Holiday Group; Thai Travel Plus Co. Ltd.; TIC Holidays Company Limited; Thrilling Thai Tours Ltd.; Discover Thailand Co. Ltd.; Exodus Travels; Thailand Elite Travel Agency
Report Coverage	Growth Forecast, Competition Intelligence, DROT Analysis, Industry Dynamics and Challenges, Strategic Growth Initiatives
Customization & Pricing	Available upon Request

Thailand Tourism Industry by Category

By Booking Channel:

• Phone Booking
• Online Booking
• In Person Booking

By Tour Type:

• Independent Traveler
• Tour Group
• Package Traveler

By Tourist Type:

• Domestic
• International

By Age Group:

• 15-25 Years
• 26-35 Years
• 36-45 Years
• 46-55 Years
• 66-75 Years

By Consumer Orientation:

• Men
• Women
• Children

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 2024 Tourism Industry Value for Thailand?

Thailand’s tourism industry value is estimated at USD 61,323.00 million for 2024.

What is the Demand Forecast for Tourism through 2034 in Thailand?

Tourism demand is expected to reach USD 84,027.30 million by 2034 in Thailand.

What is Thailand’s Future Outlook for Tourism?

Thailand’s tourism industry is expected to record a CAGR of 3.2% over the forecast period.

What are the Opportunities for Tourism in Thailand?

Thailand’s infamous nightlife and island-hopping packages are two of the significant opportunities for tourism industry expansion.

What are the Prominent Companies for Tourism in Thailand?

Bangkok Travel Agency Thailand, NS Travels & Tours, Elite Holiday & Agency, and Sun Leisure World are some of the prominent tourism companies operating in Thailand.