Thailand plays down ‘too expensive’ concerns from South Korean visitors

Thailand has sought to counter perceptions of rising holiday budgets, maintaining that the country is not “too expensive” for South Korean tourists looking for cost-effective indulgence and comprehensive wellness.According to officials from the Thailand" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="29993" data-entity-type="organization">Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the perceived squeeze on the wallet cited by some South Korean visitors is a result of exchange rate volatility rather than the kingdom’s inflation.“Our inflation rate is not that high. In fact, Thailand’s internal prices haven’t surged,” said Sirigesanong Trirattanasongpol, the agency’s executive director of the East Asia market.“The cost of living in Thailand remains stable. The only real problem for travellers might be the exchange rate,” she said, as reported by the Korea JoongAng Daily.Thailand’s headline inflation was negative for ‌a 10th straight month in January, driven by lower energy prices, data from the commerce ministry showed.The country’s sandy beaches drew 32.9 million foreign visitors in 2025, including 1.55 million South Koreans, and the government expects to attract about 36 million travellers by the end of this year.A tourist does the traditional Thai greeting during a visit to the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) in Bangkok in January. Thailand drew 32.9 million foreign visitors in 2025. Photo: EPA