Thailand’s Tourism Faces Headwinds as Corruption Concerns Escalate

Thailand’s tourism sector, a vital component of the nation’s economy, is facing increasing scrutiny as concerns over corruption rise. A recent decline in the country’s score on the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has highlighted issues of bribery and inconsistent law enforcement, particularly in popular tourist destinations like Phuket. This deterioration in perceived integrity threatens to undermine Thailand’s reputation and potentially impact visitor numbers.

Corruption Index Shows Decline

Thailand’s score in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index fell to 33 out of 100, a one-point decrease from the previous year, resulting in a drop of nine places to 116th globally . The CPI, published by Transparency International, measures perceptions of public-sector corruption, with higher scores indicating greater transparency. The country’s ranking has been on a downward trend since 2022, when it scored 36/100 .

Impact on Tourism Hotspots

Business operators and tourism officials are voicing concerns that corruption is directly impacting the visitor experience. Chinnawat Udomniyom, president of the Phuket Boutique Accommodation Consortium, stated that the low corruption score reflects issues tourists encounter in Phuket, including bribery and lax law enforcement .

Common issues include entertainment venues operating outside of permitted hours, foreigners working without proper permits – as tour guides, drivers, or in the sex industry – and businesses operating illegally through the use of nominees . These situations create opportunities for corrupt officials to solicit bribes in exchange for overlooking violations, allowing illicit operations to continue.

Sanga Ruangwattanakul, President of the Khao San Road Business Association, echoed these concerns, noting that bribery is prevalent in Thai tourist areas due to inefficiencies in law enforcement structures .

Calls for Reform

Industry leaders are urging the government to implement comprehensive reforms to address these issues. Chinnawat Udomniyom called for the establishment of a dedicated working committee to tackle the problem, suggesting new incentives and increased penalties to encourage compliance and reduce opportunities for bribery .

Ruangwattanakul suggested streamlining the business licensing process, advocating for more one-stop service centers to encourage legal registration and reduce illegal operations . He as well emphasized the need to address restrictions that drive bribery, either by legalizing them or rigorously prosecuting illegal activities.

Tourist Arrivals Show Slight Dip

Recent tourism statistics indicate a slight downturn in foreign arrivals. Thailand welcomed 5.07 million foreign visitors between January 1st and February 15th, a decrease of 7.59% compared to the same period last year .

Regional Context

In the 2025 CPI rankings, Thailand’s perceived corruption score is lower than that of Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Laos, but higher than the Philippines, Cambodia, and Myanmar . Both Thailand and Mongolia continue to have very poor perceived corruption scores, showing a downward trend since 2012 .

Addressing corruption is crucial not only for maintaining Thailand’s international reputation but also for ensuring sustainable growth in its vital tourism sector.