The Minister of Tourism and Sports traveled to Belgium to meet with Tomorrowland executives to check readiness for the major event planned for late 2026, confident it will generate 6.132 billion baht and boost hotel bookings in Chonburi and Rayong.
On 26 July 2026, Mr. Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, accompanied by Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaiboon, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and TAT executives, met with Mr. Bruno Vanwelsenaers, CEO of WEAREONE.world (Tomorrowland Inc.), in Boom, Belgium. They discussed preparations and progress for the global music festival Tomorrowland Thailand, planned as Asia's first edition from 11-13 December 2026 in Chonburi province.
The Tomorrowland Thailand event at the end of 2026 is expected to attract at least 150,000 attendees (an average of 50,000 per day), with approximately 22,500 Thai tourists (15%) and 127,500 international tourists (85%).
Tourists will come from diverse regions worldwide, including nearby ASEAN countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia), East and South Asia (China, South Korea, India), Australia, as well as long-distance festival fans from Europe (Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom) and America. These visitors are considered high-quality travelers with strong purchasing power and a tendency to extend their stays in Thailand.
Economic Impact of 6.132 Billion Baht
According to the event organizer's assessment, Tomorrowland Thailand is expected to generate a total economic impact of 6.132 billion baht (about 159 million euros) for Thailand. Detailed figures illustrate clear benefits to the Thai economy as follows:
- Direct economic impact from the event (Direct Boost): valued at 1.092 billion baht (about 28 million euros).
This amount is directly linked to the event and distributed among local Thai operators and suppliers, including hiring production teams and domestic service providers, paying staff salaries, purchasing raw materials and food and beverages (F&B), event operations and management, hospitality services, and venue rental and management.
- Indirect economic impact from the tourism sector (Indirect Boost): valued at 5.309 billion baht (about 131 million euros). This comes from expenditures by tourists attending the event and extending their stay in Thailand, covering shopping, transportation, tourism services, and dining. This spending is a crucial driver stimulating the overall tourism industry.
Tax Revenue Estimated at 732 Million Baht
The diverse economic activities generated by the event are expected to return about 732 million baht (approximately 19 million euros) in tax revenues to the government, with key components as follows:
Direct Tax Revenue: approximately 590 million baht (81%).
- Value-added tax (VAT) from tourist spending during extended stays: 329.7 million baht (56%).
- Taxes related to the event organization (ticket sales, F&B, corporate income tax): 167.4 million baht (28%).
- VAT from personal consumption and social security contributions: 74.6 million baht (13%).
- Withholding tax (WHT) from artists: 18.1 million baht (3%).
Indirect Tax Revenue: approximately 142 million baht (19%).
- Corporate income tax from local companies benefiting from tourists’ extended stays: 72.5 million baht (51%).
- Taxes from suppliers and service providers: 44.2 million baht (31%).
- Personal income tax (PIT) from employees and related workers: 25.6 million baht (18%).
Hotel Bookings Surge in Chonburi and Rayong
Beyond the significant revenue and economic turnover, the Tomorrowland Thailand event in mid-December 2026 will directly benefit the hospitality and accommodation industries.
Currently, demand for hotel and accommodation bookings around the event venue and across Chonburi province—including Pattaya, Jomtien, Sriracha, and Bang Saen—as well as Rayong’s beach areas, is rapidly growing and attracting strong interest from both Thai and international tourists.
This trend benefits tourism operators, hotels, resorts, restaurants, transport businesses, and local entrepreneurs to their full potential, injecting substantial funds into the service sector. It also reaffirms Thailand’s readiness to establish itself as a sustainable global festival destination.
