Why are fewer Thais travelling to South Korea?
BANGKOK — South Korea is losing ground as a destination for Thai travellers, with the number of Thai visitors falling sharply as stricter immigration screening creates uncertainty over whether travellers will be allowed to enter the country. Research by Bnomics, a research unit by Bangkok Bank, found that 13.06 million Thais travelled overseas in 2025, […] The post Why are fewer Thais travelling…
South Korea is witnessing a decline in popularity among Thai travellers, with the number of Thai visitors falling sharply due to stricter immigration screening procedures. According to research by Bangkok Bank's research unit Bnomics, the number of Thai travellers to South Korea dropped by 13.8% in 2025 compared to the previous year, falling below the 559,000 visitors recorded in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
This decline is attributed to concerns over illegal employment by some Thai nationals, leading to stricter immigration screening at airports, and uncertainty over entry, which adds to the cost and risk for travellers. China has emerged as the top destination for Thai visitors, with nearly one in four Thais choosing to travel there, followed by South Korea, which still remains a significant destination but is facing competition from other destinations with more predictable and accessible travel procedures.
Brief written by urgent.news from Khaosod English's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
