Apichart JinakulThe tourism confidence index in the fourth quarter of 2025 dropped year-on-year, marking a sluggish recovery due to southern flooding, the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict and the strong baht, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT). The council's survey of 740 operators between Nov 10 and Dec 10 tallied a tourism confidence index of 72, down from 75 year-on-year, though improving from 66 in the third quarter. All regions across Thailand, except the central and western regions, recorded a year-on-year dip in tourism confidence in the fourth quarter. Tourism operators' revenue recovered by only 50% of the pre-pandemic level. For the first quarter of 2026, the TCT forecast the tourism confidence index improving to 80, with arrivals reaching 9.3 million, mainly driven by European tourists and the Chinese New Year holiday.
