Thai tourism looks to US$1 billion future as Tomorrowland picks up beat

Thailand is eyeing a billion-dollar tourist bounce over the next five years from hosting Tomorrowland, which makes its Asia debut in December 2026. Some 150,000 young ravers are expected to flood the resort city of Pattaya for the world’s largest electronic music festival.Long a touchstone of global tourism, the country has seen its popularity wane in recent years as a strong baht deters some travellers while regional rivals Vietnam and Malaysia eat into its market share.To reverse the trend, Thai tourism authorities are seeking fresh new revenue streams with attractions designed to capture the Gen Z dollar and boost the country’s image as a wellness and lifestyle hub.
The three-day Tomorrowland festival, to be held between December 11 and 13 at the 225-hectare (560-acre) Wisdom Valley, is the centrepiece of these efforts.
Ravers dance at a Tomorrowland concert. Photo: Facebook/Tomorrowland
“Tomorrowland is an important step to develop our tourism sector,” Nat Kruthasoot, deputy governor for tourism products and business at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, told reporters.




