Father's Day in Thailand: travel down and prudent spending

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) anticipates cautious spending for Father's Day on Friday, December 5, 2025.

See: King Rama IX's birthday and Father's Day in Thailand: December 5

Why should tourism spending decrease for Father's Day 2025?

Floods in Songkhla Province in November 2025. Photo: Thai PBS World

The rising cost of living, increased foreign travel, and flooding in the south are expected to curb domestic tourism during Father's Day this week, with 2.52 million trips estimated by the TAT.

TAT Director Thapanee Kiatphaibool stated that concerns about the economic slowdown, income, and high household debt have prompted residents to be cautious with tourism spending.

The TAT's study aligns with the results of a survey conducted by the Economic and Business Forecasting Center of the Thai Chamber of Commerce University.

The latter evaluated the tourism expenditure index at 73.0 in October, indicating that consumers consider this period to be unfavorable for travel-related expenses.

Ms. Thapanee added:

“The severe flooding that hit southern Thailand in late November affected many provinces, particularly the Hat Yai district in Songkhla, resulting in the closure of tourist activities, as attractions still need time to be restored.”

See: Traveling in Thailand: an update on flooding in the south (December 1st)

Foreign travel: a direct competitor to domestic tourism

Tourists on a street in Osaka, Japan. Photo: Nikada

Mrs. Thapanee stated that many Thais who can afford it tend to travel abroad in December, as there are several holidays.

In 2024, 48,400 Thais traveled abroad every day, according to the Immigration Bureau, and this number is expected to increase this year due to the appreciation of the baht.

The main destinations were in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Vietnam, China, Japan, and South Korea, according to the Thailand Tourism Council (TCT).

Expected rebound in activity in regions not affected by flooding

Father's Day in Phuket. Photo: Phuket Rajabhat University / PKRU

However, for other regions of the country, the agency expects that the three days of vacation and cool weather will improve morale, particularly in the mountainous destinations of the north and northeast.

The government's stimulus measures, including the "Tiew Dee Mee Kuen" tax deduction and the "Khon La Khrueng Plus" co-payment program, are also expected to support travel-related expenses, according to the TAT.

The agency forecasts that domestic trips throughout the country will total 2.52 million, generating 10.3 billion baht in revenue and an average occupancy rate of 68%.

It stated that the regions expected to attract the most visitors are the central, northeastern, and eastern regions, with 612,700, 526,800, and 516,500 trips, respectively.

In terms of tourism revenue, the eastern, northern, and central regions are expected to record the highest revenues, with 2.72 billion, 1.96 billion, and 1.6 billion baht, respectively.

The most visited provinces are expected to be Bangkok, Chon Buri (Pattaya), Kanchanaburi, Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima, while the most popular second-tier cities are expected to be Suphan Buri, Udon Thani, Chiang Rai, Loei, and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The TCT survey for the fourth quarter revealed that 56% of Thais plan to travel during the Father's Day holiday, mainly within their own province or neighboring provinces rather than other regions.

See also:

Thailand: the sale of alcohol in the afternoon will be allowed before the holidays

The terrible floods in southern Thailand are hitting tourism

Thailand urged to create an independent tourism authority

Alert: Thailand could lose its status as a top tourist destination

Source: Bangkok Post