#ThaiEconomy

Thailand’s tourism recovery appears to have lost momentum, with foreign arrivals down more than 7 percent in the year to August 17 and official forecasts trimmed sharply, raising fresh concerns for the country’s economy and communities that depend on visitor spending. New data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sport show about 20.81 million foreign visitors during the period, prompting the National Economic and Social Development Council to reduce its full-year arrival forecast from 37 million to 33 million and signaling a potential shortfall from pre-pandemic highs that supported millions of jobs nationwide.

Thai working mothers face mounting pressure from the culturally pervasive “having it all” ideal — the expectation that women seamlessly combine uninterrupted career advancement, intensive hands-on parenting, flawless household management, and constant emotional availability to family members. Leading international research reveals this perfectionist benchmark as fundamentally misleading and psychologically harmful, creating unrealistic expectations that set individual women up for failure rather than prompting necessary social and institutional changes.

Comprehensive new studies document the devastating impact of invisible household and cognitive labor burdens on maternal mental health, career trajectories, and family wellbeing. Women who attempt to meet “having it all” standards experience significantly elevated rates of chronic stress, occupational burnout, and career stagnation, while policy gaps and inflexible workplace norms provide inadequate support for managing competing demands.

A growing body of research and commentary argues that the cultural ideal of “having it all” — combining an uninterrupted career, hands-on parenting, flawless household management and emotional availability — is a misleading and harmful benchmark for many women. New studies tie the burden of invisible household and cognitive labour to higher rates of stress, burnout and stalled careers for mothers, while policy gaps and workplace norms leave many without realistic supports. For Thai families navigating strong family expectations and evolving labour patterns, the evidence suggests pragmatic policy and workplace changes, not perfectionist ideals, will deliver better outcomes for women, children and the economy (WSJ opinion ; systematic review of mental labour ; cognitive household labour study).

A wave of change is reshaping Asia’s demographics and economies, propelled by an often-overlooked force: women aged 50 and above. Across China, Japan, South Korea, and increasingly in Thailand, these mature female consumers are growing into influential tastemakers, dynamic drivers of the burgeoning “silver economy,” and central participants in new business, cultural, and societal trends. As Asia confronts declining birth rates and aging populations, research shows that the region’s 50+ female demographic is not only expanding rapidly but also transforming what it means to age — and to consume — in modern society (Jing Daily).

Across Asia’s bustling metropolises, a demographic revolution is quietly reshaping entire economies. Women aged 50 and above have emerged as the continent’s most dynamic consumer force, wielding unprecedented purchasing power and redefining traditional concepts of aging across China, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand. This transformation represents far more than changing shopping patterns—it signals a fundamental shift in how Asian societies approach work, health, technology, and lifestyle as populations age rapidly. Research indicates these mature female consumers now control trillions in spending decisions, making them impossible to ignore for businesses and policymakers alike.

Leisure travel is set to become a $15 trillion powerhouse by 2040, according to a landmark study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), signaling an era of unprecedented opportunity—and challenge—for airlines, hotels, and tour operators worldwide. The report forecasts that the sector will triple in value from $5 trillion in 2024, driven by shifting demographics, fresh travel motivations, and groundbreaking use of digital technology in planning and experiences. These profound shifts carry particularly significant ramifications for Thailand, an established tourism hub in Asia primed to benefit—and compete—in this new global travel order.

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence across industries has triggered waves of anxiety and anticipation among workers worldwide, including in Thailand. A recent investigation into global tech sector layoffs and the evolving job landscape makes clear that artificial intelligence is not only changing the future of work—it is accelerating its arrival. With major global players citing AI as both a reason for workforce cuts and a driver of new opportunities, the question for Thai readers is urgent: will AI replace you, or take you to the next level?

A rapidly advancing world of artificial intelligence (AI) has left many wondering: will machines make human jobs obsolete? A new analysis published in The Conversation, led by experts in technology and public policy, argues the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. Instead, the future of AI-driven job disruption depends on four key advantages the technology has over humans: speed, scale, scope, and sophistication—a framework that could guide businesses, workers, and societies in understanding where AI is most likely to replace or reshape human work (The Conversation).

A new wave of social science research suggests that demographic inertia among older consumers, the pitfalls of chasing trendy college majors, and even political gerrymandering are subtly but powerfully influencing business and education landscapes worldwide, with clear implications for Thailand. Recent studies highlighted in a Boston Globe summary raise concerns about Thailand’s entrepreneurial future, university graduates’ career paths, and the role of psychological traits in shaping academic debates.

Thailand, like many developed economies, is fast becoming a “super-aged” society. By 2024, over 20% of Thais were aged 60 or older, a proportion forecast to climb further in the coming decades World Bank. According to a May 2025 National Bureau of Economic Research report by University of Pennsylvania economists, this shift has much more than just social policy implications—it may also chill the prospects for new businesses. Their findings: older consumers are less willing to try new brands and products, leading to fewer startups and less competition in markets with aging customer bases (Bornstein, G., “Entry and Profits in an Aging Economy: The Role of Consumer Inertia,” NBER, May 2025).

Asia has soared to the top of travelers’ wishlists this summer, accounting for more than half of the season’s most popular destinations, according to a recent report highlighted by CNBC. As worldwide travel rebounds in the post-pandemic era, industry data signal a growing preference for Asian hotspots, reflecting shifting tourism trends, evolving traveler demographics, and renewed cultural curiosity.

Heightened demand for Asian destinations is particularly significant for Thai readers, as Thailand’s tourism industry is both a direct participant in and a beneficiary of this global pattern. The rebound underscores the resilience of Asian tourism sectors and brings renewed opportunities and challenges for Thailand as it competes for international arrivals and seeks to rejuvenate its domestic travel economy.

Employee burnout, a phenomenon once considered a personal struggle, is now recognized as a crisis that threatens business productivity and the broader economy, with recent studies estimating that companies are losing millions each year due to lost productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher turnover. The urgency for leaders to act has never been higher as organizations in Thailand and around the world face growing pressure to address this silent epidemic and implement effective solutions (Forbes).