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In Thailand, economic growth and the number of tourists are expected to decrease this year, according to the Ministry of Finance. This is due to the war in the Middle East which is impacting global energy prices.
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The country’s GDP growth is forecasted to decline by 1.6% in 2026, compared to 2.4% in 2025.
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The government previously predicted a growth range of 1.5 to 2.5% for 2026.
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Thailand’s tourism sector is crucial, but visitor arrivals have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
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The country expects to welcome around 33.5 million foreign tourists this year, a reduction of about two million from previous estimates.
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Decreases in European and Middle Eastern tourists have been observed due to the conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran, which began in late February and led to fuel price increases.
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In March, Middle Eastern visitors declined by a third compared to the same month last year, European arrivals dropped by around 4%, while arrivals from other Asian countries increased by 6%, as reported by the Thai Ministry of Tourism.
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Thailand received over 33 million foreign visitors in total last year.
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The country’s underlying inflation rate is projected to reach 3% this year, contrasting with a previous estimate of 0.3%.
