WHILE Thais continue to greatly enjoy travelling abroad the pace may be less robust in 2026 due to economic slowdown and rising travel costs with Kasikorn Research Centre projecting that approximately 13.45 million Thais will holiday overseas in 2026, a 3% growth year-on-year, PPTVHD36 said today (Nov. 7).
However this 3% jump is in fact slower than the 12% expansion last year. Note that these figures represent the total number of trips; an individual may travel multiple times or visit several countries.
Key factors affecting overseas trips include a cooling economy and rising travel costs—such as higher airfares, fees imposed by both home and destination countries, and the overall cost of living and expenses while traveling.
Consequently, some groups are reducing the frequency of their trips, particularly middle-income earners and those participating in corporate incentive travel programmes, both of which are highly sensitive to economic conditions and increased costs.
China emerges as the top destination
Majority of Thais still prefer travelling within Asian region and excluding cross-border trips to neighbouring countries, such as Malaysia and Laos, China is now the most popular short-haul destinations for Thai travellers.
Following the implementation of a visa-free policy for Thai citizens by the Chinese government on March 1, 2024, travel to China has surged dramatically. In 2025, the number of Thai travellers visiting China reached 3.06 million, a 1,220% increase compared to the 232,000 recorded in 2023, with the trend expected to continue in 2026.
Other key destinations frequently visited by Thai travellers include Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea.
What taxes and fees are involved in an overseas trip?
Beyond primary expenses such as airfare, accommodation, food, and souvenirs, travellers must also pay various taxes and fees associated with international travel. Kasikorn Research Centre estimates that, on average, these costs represent approximately 3.5%–9.5% of a traveller’s total expenditure per trip.
Importantly, these charges are not limited to the destination country; they may also be levied by the country of origin. Each nation employs different structures and rates, which can be categorised into three main types as follows:
(1) Fees included in the airfare, such as the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) and departure taxes—levied by certain countries, including Japan and Hong Kong.
As for Thailand an outbound travel tax of 1,000 baht has been postponed.
(2) Fees paid in advance via electronic systems, such as tourism entry fees or electronic travel authorisations, as well as environmental conservation fees, like those charged tourists visiting Bali, Indonesia.
(3) Fees paid at the destination, such as city taxes or occupancy taxes, which are collected directly from guests by their accommodation providers. Examples include taxes levied in Japan (in areas like Tokyo and Kyoto) and in Malaysia.
Economic and geopolitical factors exerting pressure on travel costs
Looking ahead, the outbound travel market for Thais faces several challenges. While the postponement of the outbound travel tax spares Thais from this specific additional expense, overall travel costs remain under pressure.
In particular, economic uncertainty and geopolitical conflicts could drive up travel costs, requiring Thais to carefully consider their expenses when planning future trips abroad.
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Top and Front Page: A Thai couple holidaying overseas. Photo – PPTVHD36
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