Thailand is in deep mourning. People across the country are paying tribute and remembering. Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, who was known as the “Mother of the Nation”, passed away on 24 October, 2025 at the age of 93.
A month-long national mourning has been declared across the country following her death. However, Thailand remains open and welcoming to tourists, the government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have said.
Life and tourism will continue as normal.
According to government orders, the national flag will be flown at half-mast at all government buildings in the country from 25 October to 30 days.
Government officials and civil servants will wear mourning clothes for a year, and ordinary citizens have been encouraged to wear black or light-colored clothes for 90 days.
However, daily life, shops, restaurants, hotels, and transport will continue as usual, except for official or religious ceremonies.
Most tourist attractions will remain open, with the exception of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, which will be closed from 26 October to 8 November for royal ceremonies.
Tourist tips: How to show respect
There is no specific mourning dress code for tourists visiting Thailand. So, you can take your normal clothes with you when you travel until January 2026.
However, if you want to show respect to the Thai people, you can wear a simple black ribbon on your arm. As it is widely used as a symbol of mourning.
It is expected that these black ribbons will be available free of charge at airports and other places for travelers arriving in Thailand in the next few weeks.
However, there is no need to wear mourning colors when going to the beach or participating in a night out.
But, wearing a black ribbon on the left sleeve (a few inches below the shoulder) when at the airport, on public transportation, or popular tourist attractions is considered a subtle sign of politeness and respect for the Thai people.
White is also used as a symbol of mourning in Thailand. So if you don’t want to wear black, wearing a white polo shirt or top can be a polite and practical way to show respect.
Events and festivals will continue with minor changes.
Festivals and events nationwide have not been canceled. However, there may be some formal changes, such as a minute of silence or the playing of the national anthem at the beginning.
For example, the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival (November 28–29) will go ahead as planned, but the colors and music will reflect the mood of mourning.
The Loy Krathong festival (November 5) will also be celebrated nationwide, although some cities will have a more subdued celebration.
The format of the concerts may change slightly, but this will depend on the nature of each event. Major events organized for foreign audiences are unlikely to see significant changes.
For example, Blackpink’s concert in Bangkok on October 24-26 went ahead as planned. Although the organizers requested that the audience wear black or white, the event was generally held in a casual atmosphere.
Watch the video here.
@thaipbsworld Thailand has just entered months of national mourning, following the passing of the Queen Mother. If you’re coming to Thailand during this period, here’s what to expect, at least until the end of 2025. ThaiPBSWorld #ThailandNews #QueenSirikit #พระพันปีหลวง #ThaiTourism
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