Thailand, which has the second largest economy in Southeast Asia, might fail to reach its aim of attracting 39 million international visitors this year because of security issues and increasing rivalry from neighboring countries, as stated by the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).

The ATTA President, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, stated that the highest anticipated number of international visitors for 2025 is around 37 million. The Nation reported.

Last year, Thailand welcomed more than 35 million international tourists, cementing its position as one of Southeast Asia's top travel hotspots.

A significant factor undermining this year’s prospects is the security worries among Chinese travelers in the wake of the widely reported abduction case. Chinese actor Wang Xing , also known as Xing Xing, in January.

According to ATTA, Chinese visitors dropped to 371,542 in February, marking the lowest figure in 15 months with a 44.9% decrease compared to the previous year.

ATTA pointed out growing rivalry from countries like Japan and Vietnam, which are attracting an increasing number of Chinese travelers.

China became the biggest contributor of tourists to Vietnam in the first two months of this year, while Japan surpassed Thailand in Chinese arrivals last year.

The organization currently predicts just seven million tourists from China for the year, which is below the earlier projection of nine million.

Sisdivachr advised the Thai government to focus on reinstating trust regarding the nation's safety and security.

He stressed that effective and constant implementation of laws is essential for providing a seamless journey for every traveler across borders.

To boost security efforts, Thailand intends to cut the visa-exempt stay period for qualifying visitors from 60 days down to 30 days. This move aims to prevent abuse of the system by those engaged in unlawful behavior. Bangkok Post reported.