The Thai cabinet has approved additional public holidays for 2025 and early 2026, aiming to boost tourism and stimulate economic activity. This move introduces extra long weekends, a measure intended to encourage both domestic and international travel to support the country’s vital tourism sector.
Deputy Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that new holidays in 2025 include Monday, June 2, and Monday, August 11. These dates coincide with Queen Suthida’s birthday on June 3 and Mother’s Day on August 12, creating two four-day weekends. Additionally, January 2, 2026, will be a public holiday, extending the New Year’s holiday to a five-day break from December 31 to January 4. With these additions, Thailand will observe 21 public holidays in 2025.
Tourism has remained a crucial driver for Thailand’s economy, particularly in the post-pandemic recovery period. The industry represents around 12% of the country’s GDP and supports nearly 20% of employment. Over recent years, Thailand has used long weekends to encourage travel, an approach that helped the tourism sector rebound from the economic impacts of COVID-19.
This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s directive to brand 2025 as the “Year of Tourism and Sports,” as noted by Deputy Government Spokeswoman Sasikan Wattanachan. Thailand is on track to reach its 2024 tourism target of 36.7 million visitors, with approximately 30 million arrivals reported so far. By comparison, the country hosted a record 40 million tourists in 2019, generating roughly $60 billion in revenue, until the pandemic disrupted the sector.
Thailand’s attractions, including its renowned nightlife, beaches, and national parks, continue to draw tourists worldwide. According to the travel platform Agoda, the country is expected to surpass pre-pandemic tourism records in 2025, benefiting from growing global travel demand.
