Thailand welcomes 522,532 foreign visitors in a week as Chinese arrivals jump 42%

Thailand recorded 522,532 foreign arrivals in the week of 27 September to 3 October 2026, up 8.24% on the week before. The figures were given by Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul and reported by Nation Thailand on 5 October. That is 39,781 more visitors than in the previous week and a daily average of 74,647.

China led the table with 133,946 arrivals, a rise of 41.98% on the previous week. Malaysia followed with 59,871 (down 0.64%), then India with 46,942 (up 16.53%), Russia with 22,326 (up 14.23%) and South Korea with 21,219 (up 3.66%). According to the report, extended breaks around Hong Kong's National Day and South Korea's National Foundation Day also encouraged more international travel.

The longer view is more mixed. From 1 January to 3 October, Thailand has received 23,452,895 foreign visitors, 3.88% fewer than in the same period of 2025, and tourism revenue stands at 1.142 trillion baht, down 2.26%. One good week does not close that gap. It does show the direction of travel as the high season gets closer.

The same report lists the year-to-date top five: China with 3,999,854 arrivals, Malaysia with 2,982,095, India with 1,751,485, Russia with 1,281,214 and South Korea with 860,655. Markets that sit on different calendars, with their own holidays and school breaks, mean that Thailand's busy days are spread across the year rather than landing all at once.

For a traveller, a week like this is a reminder that the arrival halls fill up quickly at the turn of the season. Airport transfers, taxis and rental vehicles are the first things to tighten, especially on islands such as Phuket and Samui, and in Chiang Mai. Booking a scooter or a car before landing, rather than at the counter on the day, usually means a wider choice and a calmer first evening.

This is the kind of moment where Balm Rentals tries to be useful. The marketplace puts bikes, scooters and cars from local, verified rental owners in one place, with the price, deposit and rental terms shown before payment. The listings are available in the traveller's own language, from Russian and Chinese to Hindi and French, and can be booked in the iOS and Android apps. It works alongside the local rental shops that Thai visitors already rely on, and aims to make the choice a little easier for people who arrive from very different markets.

Whichever way visitors travel, a few basics apply: carry a valid driving licence, check what insurance a rental includes, and read the terms before handing over a deposit. The weekly figures from the ministry will show in the coming weeks whether the October pace holds.