Exploring the tourism trends in Thailand for 2025, secondary cities are starting to gain a larger share! Comparing the number of foreign visitors in 2025 to the previous year, we can see some interesting changes: <\/span>
Rank 1, the major player, Bangkok, still holds the top spot with over 24,891,178 tourists, although this represents a decrease of about 8.13% from the previous year. Following closely is Rank 2, the world-renowned resort city of Phuket, with 10,470,216 visitors <\/span>-5.38% <\/span>(YoY%)<\/span> <\/span>and Rank 3, Chonburi, with 10,340,343 visitors. Notably, all three major provinces have shown "negative" figures, indicating a decline from 2024, particularly Chonburi, which saw a drop of 11.54%, reflecting tourists' behavior as they begin to seek new destinations.<\/span>
Rank 4, Surat Thani, stands out with the charm of its islands in the Gulf of Thailand, attracting a total of 4,276,635 visitors, with a decrease of <\/span>-2.13% <\/span>(YoY%)<\/span>

Rank 5, Songkhla, the gateway to the southern region, attracted 3,814,411 foreign tourists.<\/span><\/p>

Rank 6, Krabi, another coastal province in the Andaman, is worth noting with 3,632,234 visitors and is one of the few provinces showing positive growth at +0.72% <\/span>(YoY%)<\/span>

Rank 7, Chiang Mai, had a total of 3,383,712 visitors <\/span>-6.59% (YoY%) <\/span>

Rank 8, Phang Nga, followed with 2,609,617 visitors, showing relatively stable numbers compared to the previous year.<\/span>

It stands at -0.21% (YoY%) <\/span>
Rank 9, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage site, continues to attract interest with a total of <\/span>1,896,100 <\/span>visitors <\/span>-4.67% (YoY%)<\/span>

Rank 10, Rayong, rounds out the top ten with 953,364 tourists <\/span>-7.15% (YoY%)<\/span>

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An interesting case is Nakhon Ratchasima, ranked 14th, but showing a high growth rate of 20.69%, reflecting significant success in attracting foreign visitors. Additionally, three rising stars include the two western coastal provinces that continue to be popular: <\/span>

Phetchaburi +1.76%, Prachuap Khiri Khan +0.73% <\/span>

Although Krabi's growth is modest at +0.72%, it demonstrates its strength as a beloved maritime destination worldwide.<\/span>
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Conversely, Chiang Rai is the province that needs the most support, as it experienced a decline of -15.13%, possibly due to seasonal factors or environmental conditions.<\/span>
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In summary, the overall picture for 2025 shows signs of a distribution of tourists from "major cities" to "secondary cities". Provinces that were once overlooked are becoming new destinations of interest for foreigners, presenting a great opportunity to promote Soft Power and cultural tourism in new areas for sustainable growth.<\/span><\/p>

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