Bangkok (VNA) – Tourism operators from seven provinces along the Thailand–Cambodia border have met with the Thai House of Representatives’ Committee on Tourism to seek solutions to restore market confidence, as tourism activity in the area remains sluggish despite relatively stable conditions along the border.
Witsuta Ruangrungsidiskul, President of the Tourism Council of Ubon Ratchathani, said tourism in the seven provinces - Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buri Ram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat - has yet to recover. Tourists, particularly domestic visitors from other regions, have been reluctant to travel to these destinations since mid-2025.
She noted that while not all areas were directly affected by border tensions, negative perceptions have dampened travel sentiment, leading to subdued tourism activities and significantly affecting local businesses’ revenues. Even iconic traditional events such as the candle procession festival have attracted far fewer visitors than usual.
During the meeting, tourism executives urged the government to introduce targeted stimulus measures tailored specifically for the affected provinces. One proposal was to provide subsidies to support the organisation of meetings and seminars by individuals, businesses and state agencies in the seven provinces. A co-payment scheme of around 3,000 THB (96 USD) per person was suggested to help attract visitors.
According to Witsuta, while some provinces elsewhere recorded visitor growth of more than 10% in the final two months of 2025, the seven border provinces continued to struggle. If the situation persists, many tourism operators could face mounting financial difficulties in the coming months.
In the longer term, Ubon Ratchathani has called on the Thai government to support the development of new attractions to draw tourists. Existing destinations such as Sam Phan Bok, often dubbed the “Grand Canyon of Thailand,” and Pha Taem National Park have been promoted for years and are no longer generating the same level of interest as newly developed tourism sites./.
