Hannah Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, died along with David Miller, 24, from Jersey, in an attack on Koh Tao island in 2014.
Burmese migrants Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were convicted of the murders and sentenced to death in December.
Norfolk coroner Jacqueline Lake ruled Ms Witheridge's death was caused by "severe head injuries".
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In October 2014, about 200 people gathered inside St Mary's Church in Hemsby for the speech and language therapy student's funeral.
In a statement read to the inquest, Ms Witheridge's mother Susan told how her daughter was thinking of going on holiday to mainland Europe or Australia but made a late decision to go to Thailand.
"None of the family was happy with her going there, but she had made her mind up," said Mrs Witheridge.
She said the death "changed our lives forever".
She added that on being told the news Ms Witheridge's father, Tony, had burst into the kitchen and "collapsed crying and sobbing".
Amnesty International has called for an independent inquiry over allegations Thai police tortured both defendants during the inquiry.
On their conviction in December, Michael Miller, David Miller's brother, urged those who had doubted the accused's guilt to respect the court's decision.

Stephen Probert, 56 and his partner Joanne Winder, 40, both died following a crash on the A470 near Llanrwst., Conwy county, on Easter Sunday 2015.
Lawrence Lougher, 29, of Addlestone, Surrey, was found guilty of causing the deaths of the Colwyn Bay couple by careless driving.
He was jailed for 12 months at Caernarfon Crown Court.
The court heard Lougher failed to check for the overtaking motorcycle when turning his BMW across the road.
Mr Probert died at the scene and Ms Winder died at Ysbyty Gwynedd two days later.
The court previously heard that Lougher was originally told he would not face prosecution, but there had been a review.
As well as the custodial sentence, he was banned from driving for two and a half years.
A 23-year-old British woman who died in Thailand was unlawfully killed, an inquest has found.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A man has been jailed for causing the deaths of a motorcyclist and his passenger.