Monthly seat capacity on routes between the Middle East and Thailand has fallen by 33.7% compared with the period before the Gulf war, prompting the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to diversify its markets to remain resilient.
With 14 airlines operating flights to Thailand, total seat capacity stood at 199,595 in May, down 33.7% from 300,902 prior to the conflict.
For instance, Emirates has reduced the number of seats from Dubai to Bangkok by 20%, while maintaining traffic to Phuket at the same level.
Qatar Airways has reduced its capacity on the Doha–Bangkok and Doha–Phuket routes by 50% and 33%, respectively, while Etihad has cut capacity on the Abu Dhabi–Phuket route by 30% and maintained the same level for Bangkok.
Chiravadee Khunsub, deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas at the TAT, said the US–Iran conflict could escalate again in the short term.
This has prompted most tourists from the region to adopt a wait-and-see approach, delaying bookings until 7–14 days before departure.
She said pent-up demand from the region is substantial, citing 1.21 million tourism-related searches in May, indicating that travellers are still exploring options but postponing final decisions.
According to the Tourism Ministry, Thailand posted 103,053 arrivals from the Middle East in the first four months, decreasing 32% year-on-year.
As some airlines have decided to maintain capacity to Phuket, Mrs Chiravadee said this indicates that the country still attracts strong demand from long-stay tourists and the luxury market.
In comparison, she said Thailand remains competitive with five main rivals, Malaysia, the Maldives, Bali, Turkey and Europe, particularly in beach and island resorts, flight connectivity, family-friendliness, and wellness and spa offerings, scoring 5 out of 5.
The only weakness is halal food and its availability, which scored 3.
Mrs Chiravadee said the period that the agency aims to restore this market falls between June and August, where there are two months of school break.
The TAT's Dubai office is now preparing campaigns with airlines and online travel agents to secure bookings from this region.
At the same time, it would pivot to high potential markets, such as Saudi Arabia, with tourists expected to spend an average of 110,000 baht per trip.
The agency will also hold fami- liarisation trips targeting fast-growing markets in Africa, such as South Africa, Morocco and Mauritius, which recorded growth of 6.6%, 66% and 34.8%, respectively, in 2025.
Uraiwan Thaipakdee, vice-president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said tourists from the Middle East continue to book trips during the school holidays in July and August.
There is strong demand for long-stay accommodation for families, such as three- to four-bedroom serviced apartments in Bangkok, as many wish to stay for up to four weeks.
Ms Uraiwan said some tourists have also enquired about less expensive hotels to offset high airfares.
They have also become more concerned about cancellation policies in case of another unforeseen event, following mass flight cancellations during the early weeks of the war.
