# Thailand's foreign arrivals fell 10.5% in September 2026, with four Asian markets down sharply

> Thailand had 2,000,339 foreign arrivals in September 2026, 10.5% fewer than a year earlier, and Malaysia, India, South Korea and Indonesia together lost more arrivals than the whole fall. China and Russia grew, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Most of the top nationalities in the Real Estate Information Center's foreign condo transfer-value ranking held their arrivals for the year.

Thailand had 2,000,339 foreign arrivals in September 2026, 10.5% fewer than the 2,235,852 of September 2025. From January to September it had 23,199,306 arrivals, 3.8% fewer than the 24,115,325 of the same months of 2025. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) published these preliminary figures on 1 October 2026.

Four Asian markets lost more arrivals in September than the whole net fall: Malaysia, India, South Korea and Indonesia. China and Russia grew. MOTS also raised its June count between its last two releases, so earlier June figures are now out of date.

## September was the weakest month of 2026 so far

September's total is the lowest monthly total of 2026. Its 10.5% fall is the second-largest monthly fall of the year, after January at 11.6%. June, at 9.4%, is the only other month with a fall of more than 9%. February, March and May were above 2025. The other six months were below.

```chart
type: comparison
title: Foreign arrivals by month, 2026 against 2025
hue: sky
highlight: 0
source: MOTS preliminary international-arrivals count, published 1 October 2026
columns: ["2026", "2025"]
rows:
  - metric: January
    values: ["3,277,908", "3,709,102"]
  - metric: February
    values: ["3,263,802", "3,119,445"]
  - metric: March
    values: ["2,775,199", "2,720,457"]
  - metric: April
    values: ["2,368,895", "2,547,116"]
  - metric: May
    values: ["2,346,845", "2,266,574"]
  - metric: June
    values: ["2,105,383", "2,322,772"]
  - metric: July
    values: ["2,545,616", "2,610,369"]
  - metric: August
    values: ["2,515,319", "2,583,638"]
  - metric: September
    values: ["2,000,339", "2,235,852"]
```

The third quarter, July to September, had 7,061,274 arrivals against 7,429,859 in 2025. That is 5.0% fewer.

## Four Asian markets lost more arrivals than the whole September fall

Malaysia fell to 261,325 from 428,712, down 39.0%. India fell to 166,849 from 207,195 (down 19.5%), South Korea to 70,997 from 101,672 (down 30.2%), and Indonesia to 37,355 from 55,300 (down 32.5%). Together these four countries lost 256,353 arrivals, more than the net fall of 235,513. All other markets together were up by 20,840. China rose to 349,182 from 321,309 (up 8.7%), and Russia to 81,744 from 76,907 (up 6.3%).

```chart
type: comparison
title: September arrivals by nationality, 2026 against 2025
hue: amber
highlight: 0
source: MOTS preliminary international-arrivals count, published 1 October 2026
columns: ["September 2026", "September 2025"]
rows:
  - metric: Malaysia
    values: ["261,325", "428,712"]
  - metric: India
    values: ["166,849", "207,195"]
  - metric: South Korea
    values: ["70,997", "101,672"]
  - metric: Indonesia
    values: ["37,355", "55,300"]
  - metric: China
    values: ["349,182", "321,309"]
  - metric: Russia
    values: ["81,744", "76,907"]
```

Over nine months the split is similar. China had 3,935,434 arrivals, up 15.2%. Malaysia had 2,950,327, down 15.2%. South Korea fell 25.4% to 848,647, and Indonesia fell 23.0% to 466,969. India fell 2.5% and Russia 0.1%. MOTS gives no reason for any of these changes.

## Most top condo-buying nationalities held their arrivals

On 11 September 2026 the Real Estate Information Center (REIC) of the Government Housing Bank listed the ten nationalities with the highest foreign condominium transfer value in Thailand in the first half of 2026. China led with ฿6,874 million, then Russia, Myanmar, the United States, Taiwan, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and India. All foreign transfers together were worth ฿28,267 million, down 1.5%, for 6,533 units, down 8.8%.

From January to September, arrivals from five of these ten nationalities rose: China, Myanmar (up 9.1%), the United States (up 1.1%), Taiwan (up 7.9%) and France (up 0.5%). The other five fell by less than 4%: the United Kingdom by 3.6%, Germany and India by 2.5%, Australia by 0.8% and Russia by 0.1%. In September alone, India was the only one of the ten whose arrivals fell by more than 8%. Taiwan rose 19.1% and Germany fell 7.6%. Malaysia, South Korea and Indonesia are not on REIC's list.

These are two separate datasets. Arrivals count visitors of every purpose, not property buyers.

## What it may mean for Phuket property

Rental demand depends on who arrives. The national count shows which source markets were weak in September and which held. It does not show what happened in Phuket. MOTS has not yet published its Phuket figures for September, and its Phuket release has no nationality split.

The latest Phuket data runs to August, from the MOTS release of 14 September 2026. From January to August, occupancy was 66.20% against 67.64%, and foreign visitors fell 2.52% to 6,790,293. Visitor revenue was ฿356,214.76 million, down 0.99%. In August alone, occupancy was 70.01% against 68.90%, while foreign visitors fell 2.25% to 835,622. More detail is in [Phuket occupancy rose in July and August](/news/phuket-occupancy-recovery-aug-2026).

The September count is preliminary, and MOTS may change it again.

## MOTS raised its June count

The 1 September release gave June 2026 at 1,841,551 arrivals and June 2025 at 2,042,752. The 1 October release gives 2,105,383 and 2,322,772. The 1 September file labels its June columns "Jun (-4)" for both 2026 and 2025, and a footnote says the system that collects foreign-arrival data was out of order from 22 to 25 June 2026. MOTS does not say why the October file raised June in both years. In the October file the June totals are about 14% higher than in the September file in both years, and the "(-4)" tag is gone. No other month changed. January to August 2026 now stands at 21,198,967 against 21,879,473, down 3.1%. The earlier release gave 20,935,135 against 21,599,453, also down 3.1%. The percentage did not move, but the levels did. Anyone who compares with the earlier figures should use the new ones.

## Related guides

For rental income, see [[rental-yields-phuket]]. To compare a condo with a villa, read [[condo-vs-villa-investment-phuket]]. For rental pools, see [[rental-pool-programs-explained]].