Phuket is preparing for a successful high season, despite a decrease in the number of foreign tourists, especially from China.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 26.7 million foreign tourists arrived in Thailand from January to October 2025, which is 7.23% less than in the previous year.The decrease in the number of tourists from key countries such as China (-33.9%) was especially noticeable in Phuket.
The high season on the island usually starts in November, but this year it is expected to start a little later than usual.The restaurant business has noticed that the demand for basic ingredients such as seafood has not yet increased, which indicates that the high season has not yet arrived. Despite this, local entrepreneurs remain optimistic and hope that the situation will change as more tourists arrive, especially after the increase in the number of international flights.
The restaurateurs hope that the season will last longer than usual and possibly end in April or May, which will provide more business opportunities.
In Southeast and Northeast Asia, there is a decrease in tourists from China.However, the number of tourists from Europe, America, the Middle East and Africa has increased, indicating a change in the geography of inbound tourism.
Source: Travel and Tour World
