Thailand

Decline in International Arrivals: 15.8%
Decline in International Tourist Receipts: 19%
Annual Foreign Visitors: 14.6 million
World Rank in Number of Visitors: 18

The Tourism Authority of Thailand recently reduced its forecast for foreign arrivals this year to 12 million, some 2.6 million fewer than it received last year. The Thai Hotels Assn. reported that the average hotel occupancy rate in the first five months of 2009 plunged to 50% compared with its usual 70%. The political and civil unrest leading to airport closures in Thailand at the end of 2008 may help explain some of these deteriorating figures.