Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Thailand

Thailand: Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments was 1.05 million guests in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
1.05 million guests
Change on year
down 91.0%
World rank
68th
of 139 countries
All-time high
61.25 million guests
in 2019
All-time low
1.00 million guests
in 2001
Years of data
22
1996–2021

Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Thailand, 1996–2021

020.0M40.0M60.0M1996200820211996: 7.1M guests1997: 7.1M guests1998: 7.7M guests1999: 8.5M guests2000: 9.4M guests2001: 1.0M guests2004: 11.3M guests2006: 25.6M guests2007: 25.5M guests2009: 20.0M guests2010: 25.5M guests2011: 34.1M guests2012: 37.4M guests2013: 45.7M guests2014: 45.3M guests2015: 50.5M guests2016: 52.5M guests2017: 56.6M guests2018: 59.2M guests2019: 61.2M guests2020: 11.6M guests2021: 1.1M guests

Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in guests.

Analysis

In 2021, foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Thailand stood at 1.05 million guests.

That represents a change of down 91.0% on the previous year and down 96.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Thailand peaked at 61.25 million guests in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.00 million guests, in 2001.

Thailand ranks 68th of 139 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Thailand, year by year

Annual values for Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Thailand, 1996 to 2021.
Year guests Change
1996 7.10 million guests —
1997 7.14 million guests +0.5%
1998 7.70 million guests +7.9%
1999 8.53 million guests +10.7%
2000 9.44 million guests +10.7%
2001 1.00 million guests -89.4%
2004 11.34 million guests +1029.3%
2006 25.56 million guests +125.5%
2007 25.54 million guests -0.1%
2009 20.00 million guests -21.7%
2010 25.55 million guests +27.8%
2011 34.13 million guests +33.6%
2012 37.38 million guests +9.5%
2013 45.66 million guests +22.1%
2014 45.30 million guests -0.8%
2015 50.50 million guests +11.5%
2016 52.50 million guests +4.0%
2017 56.56 million guests +7.7%
2018 59.22 million guests +4.7%
2019 61.25 million guests +3.4%
2020 11.64 million guests -81.0%
2021 1.05 million guests -91.0%

Thailand compared with similar countries

  • Thailand's 1.05 million guests is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.11 million guests, 94% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
  • Thailand's 1.05 million guests is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 670,000 guests, 1.6× the median. (17 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Thailand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2004 +1029.3% 1.00 million guests 11.34 million guests
2006 +125.5% 11.34 million guests 25.56 million guests
2021 -91.0% 11.64 million guests 1.05 million guests
2001 -89.4% 9.44 million guests 1.00 million guests
2020 -81.0% 61.25 million guests 11.64 million guests

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 7.62 million guests 7.10 million guests 8.53 million guests 4
2000s 15.48 million guests 1.00 million guests 25.56 million guests 6
2010s 46.81 million guests 25.55 million guests 61.25 million guests 10
2020s 6.35 million guests 1.05 million guests 11.64 million guests 2

Countries ranked near Thailand

  1. 65 Kazakhstan 1.26 million guests
  2. 66 Belarus 1.19 million guests compare
  3. 67 El Salvador 1.18 million guests compare
  4. 69 Senegal 955,000 guests compare
  5. 70 Ecuador 945,000 guests compare
  6. 71 Azerbaijan 908,000 guests compare

See the full ranking of 139 places →

More reference data data for Thailand

All data for Thailand →

Frequently asked questions

What is foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Thailand?
Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Thailand was 1.05 million guests in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in Thailand?
The highest recorded value was 61.25 million guests in 2019.
What is the lowest foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in Thailand?
The lowest recorded value was 1.00 million guests in 2001.
How does Thailand rank for foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments?
Thailand ranks 68th out of 139 countries with data for 2021.
Is foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments rising or falling in Thailand?
Over the last ten years it is down 96.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Thailand data come from?
The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Thailand. Statizoid, drawing on UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/foreign-guests-in-hotels-and-similar-establishments/thailand/

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About this data

Indicator
Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments
Unit
guests
Source
UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
139 places, 3,097 data points, 1995–2024
Last refreshed

Number of international visitors who check in to hotels and similar accommodation establishments.