The Tourism Authority of Thailand announced that foreign tourist arrivals surpassed 35 million by December 27, 2024, exceeding the annual target, with tourism revenue expected to reach over 1.8 trillion Thai Baht ($52.1 billion). China, Malaysia, India, South Korea, and Russia were the top five source countries, with over 6.3 million Chinese tourists visiting, reinstating China as the largest market for Thailand. Tourism, which previously contributed 18% to Thailand's GDP before the pandemic, remains vital to the economy. The country targets 9 million Chinese arrivals this year.