As we’re already halfway into 2025, it’s undeniable that the economy seems a bit worrying. It’s under pressure from multiple factors, including high cost of living and household debt, which led consumers to be more careful when spending. We’re also facing impacts from Trump’s tariff, fierce competition from imported goods, and unpredictable weather that’s affecting the agricultural sector. Furthermore, Thailand’s aging society is growing. The country is projected to become a Super-aged Society by 2028, with over 20% of the population being elderly. However, 34% of these seniors have an income of less than 30,000 baht per year, highlighting their limited spending power.

These trends coincide with the outlook from the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), which describes the Thai economy from 2025 to 2027 as gradually expanding. SET forecasts an average growth of about 2.8% per year. Although a recovery is continuing from 2024, it is not as fast as the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period.

But in this gloomy situation, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. While many businesses are struggling, others are emerging as bright stars, opening new opportunities for entrepreneurs, business owners, and investors. Many of these businesses might already be on the radar, but some might start to emerge into the limelight.

So, let’s explore the 10 hot business trends in Thailand for 2025 (and likely for the years to come). Those who are ready to adapt and seize these new opportunities will have a clear early advantage.

The list is compiled from various sources, including the Department of Business Development (DBD) of the Ministry of Commerce—which considers registration statistics, performance, economic factors, and trends—as well as the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Krungthai Bank, and the Kasikorn Research Center. These top business trends for 2025 can be grouped into three main categories.

Group 1: Lifestyle Businesses: This group focuses on well-being, addressing both physical and mental health. It includes businesses related to leisure, health and wellness, entertainment, tourism, and pets. As people face increasing stress, the risk of depression and anxiety has risen. Data from the Department of Mental Health shows that the number of people seeking mental health services grew from 1.3 million in 2015 to 2.9 million in 2023. Additionally, another 10 million people are having higher risk of physical and mental health issues. This trend is a major driver for the growth of lifestyle businesses.

Group 2: Innovation and Technology Businesses: This group represents a global business trend as we enter a fully digital era. These businesses are crucial for overcoming limitations and meeting the demands of modern lifestyle and business operations.

Group 3: Business Management and Consulting: This group includes modern businesses that require specialized expertise to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and tackle various challenges. Examples include a variety of consulting services.

After an overview of the booming business groups, it becomes clearer what kind of businesses make the “hot list.”

1. Health & Wellness: This is a never-ending market! People today aren’t just focused on just treating their illnesses but extending their attention toward preventative care. This is a direct result of cumulative stress and the emerging aging society, which fueled explosive growth in this sector. This trend is apparent from the increasing number of hospitals, specialized clinics, physical therapy centers, health care services, and elderly care. A positive factor is the government’s policy of promoting Thailand as a “Medical Hub” to attract more international clients for health and beauty services, making this market vibrant for both the locals and people abroad.

2. Tourism & Self-Healing Activities: After the COVID-19 pandemic, people became more eager to travel to heal their minds and recharge their spirits. The tourism industry is once again a major player. The government is actively pushing to stimulate tourism, which benefits not only hotels and restaurants but also the related businesses that offer unique experiences such as nature activities, wellness retreats, and family-focused attractions.

3. Pet Businesses: The “Pet Humanization” trend—treating pets like family—is growing tremendously. Many people, particularly the younger generations who opt not to have children, are willing to spend generously on their beloved animals. As a result, this market continues to grow strongly. This business encompasses everything from premium food and toys to clothing, grooming services, and even high-standard pet healthcare and hospitals. This is no longer a niche market; it’s a massive industry with significant growth potential. In 2023, the pet businesses generated a net profit of 5,310.31 million baht, highlighting the substantial opportunities ahead.

4. Moo-telu Businesses (Superstition and Belief): It’s no exaggeration to say that beliefs and superstitions are generating significant revenues. As people are facing more uncertainty, stress, and pressure, seeking spiritual solace is a usual response. This led to continuous growth in businesses related to belief, faith, and astrology. What’s interesting is how modern “Moo-telu” businesses have become more accessible and stylish. This includes lucky charm wallpapers for mobile phones, trendy amulet designs, and even online fortune-telling. The government is also promoting this trend as a Soft Power to attract tourists, which is a major boost. This trend is confirmed by the continuous increase in new business registrations in this category over the past five years.

5. Soft Power, Film, Series, and Content Businesses: The global success of Thai films and series has led to significant growth in the production of films, TV programs, and various content. With strong support from government policies, Thai content now has the opportunity to be featured on multiple platforms and become a major export. This is evident from the staggering 92.86% increase in registered capital for new businesses in this sector in 2024, a number that is truly worth watching. This growth also benefits related businesses like influencers and content creators, who are now playing a crucial role in driving the market.

6. Tech & Innovation Businesses: The world now fully embraces the digital age, every business must adapt. The technology-related businesses become crucial. Services such as data centers, cloud, software development, and e-commerce continue to grow. The rise of AI and Big Data is also driving up demand from businesses looking to boost efficiency, presenting a golden opportunity for tech companies.

E-commerce, particularly marketplace platforms, standout strongly for 2025. Despite fierce competition, there’s still plenty of room for growth, as online shopping has become the new norm. This sector has seen continuous growth over the past five years. In 2024, 2,219 new e-commerce businesses were established, a significant increase of 318 from 2023. The future for this industry looks very promising as evident in total revenue exceeding 200 billion baht in 2023.

7. Logistics, Warehousing, and Delivery: This sector is being fueled by the growth of e-commerce. Improvements in transportation infrastructure connecting key economic zones and more open trade borders have expanded the reach of delivery services. Furthermore, warehouse providers are evolving beyond a typical storage to meet the growing needs from the e-commerce boom.

8. Sustainability and Environmental Businesses: Environmental issues are no longer a distant concern; they directly impact daily life, for example, higher electricity bills from extreme heat, and an increasing temperature. This created a huge demand for sustainability-related businesses. The businesses include environmental consulting to help companies comply with new regulations, as well as businesses related to electric vehicles (EVs), the carbon credit market, and corporate image-building.

9. Business Management Services (Outsourcing): For SMEs looking to boost efficiency and reduce costs, outsourcing is the solution. Consulting services for accounting, legal matters, and human resources have become essential for small and medium-sized businesses. They help companies reduce the burden of non-core tasks, freeing up time to fully focus on developing their main products and services.

10. Event, Concert, and Exhibition Businesses: This sector is receiving a major boost from government initiatives. The “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism Year 2025” campaign is a key driver, promoting a variety of trade shows, festivals, and tourist attractions across the country. Additionally, both public and private sectors are actively supporting a wide range of events and festivals, providing a robust environment for growth.This is a broad overview of business trends that have potential to grow in this challenging economy. However, the modern market is complex and the economy is highly uncertain. It is important that Entrepreneurs, business owners, and investors must continuously develop their products and services. But most importantly, it’s essential to have a clear strategy and be ready to adapt to the consistently changing economic landscape.