Thailand Targets 1.5 Million U.S. Tourists in 2026, But Gap Remains Large

Thailand is targeting 1.5 million U.S. visitors in 2026 to draw higher-spending long-haul travelers and drive tourism revenue. U.S. arrivals reached 1.08 million last year; from January 1 to September 15 this year only 716,983 were recorded, per the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), meaning more than 780,000 additional American visitors are needed in the remaining three and a half months. TAT said its New York, Chicago and Los Angeles offices will coordinate around a "Value over Volume" strategy set at a September 17 meeting in New York. Bangkok-based tour operator EXO Travel reports softer forward U.S. demand.