Bangkok Tops Lunar New Year Travel Destinations

Agoda’s booking data highlights Malaysia, China, South Korea, Singapore, and Japan as top inbound markets to Thailand respectively, marking China's return as a top-five source market for the first time since 2019. The five most popular destinations visited within Thailand are international favourite Bangkok, followed by Phuket, Hat Yai, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai.

Although officially celebrated on Saturday 10 February 2024, the Lunar New Year holiday is extended to a long weekend in many markets across Asia and week-long celebrations for China, Japan (Spring Holiday) and Vietnam (Tet). The holiday also referred to as Chinese New Year, is traditionally one of the peak travel moments for tourists from mainland China. For the first time since 2019, China is back in contention, ranking third source market overall and securing a spot in the top-five inbound lists for Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Thai travellers themselves are also exploring diverse destinations abroad, with Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Vietnam being the top choices. The preferred international cities for Thai travellers include Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, Osaka, and Hong Kong.

Enric Casals, Associate Vice President of Southeast Asia at Agoda, commented, “The Lunar New Year period is a significant time for travel, and this year is no different. Since 2019, hotels and destinations have diversified the appeal of their markets with visa-free travel and other incentives. That has made them less reliant on one market and more appealing to new travellers. But the travel industry will no doubt be looking forward to welcoming back more travellers from China this year.”

Regionally, the trends echo a similar sentiment. Most outbound travellers hail from markets like South Korea, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, and Japan. The most visited markets by these international tourists include Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, showcasing a wide array of cultural and leisure options. Cities like Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, and Osaka remain appealing, underscoring the region's rich urban and cultural diversity.

Agodas platform, offering over 3.9 million holiday properties, flights, and activities, is ideally positioned to cater to these evolving travel preferences, providing seamless experiences for those celebrating the Lunar New Year, whether within Thailand or across the region.