Popular travel destinations for Thai travellers include Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Great Britain, France, Italy and U.S.
Bangkok, Thailand – Airbnb, the world’s leading people-powered hospitality and travel platform, has released its annual look-back at the year’s travel trends, revealing new insights into travel in Thailand – from up-and-coming neighbourhoods and trending cities, to the most popular outbound destinations for Thais.
With over 1,151,000 Airbnb guest arrivals in Thailand in 2017 – a 67% year-over-year growth from 2016 – Airbnb reveals how Thailand’s popularity with domestic and international travellers has no sign of slowing down, as people from all over the world continue to seek out unique and authentic experiences here, wanting to see the true character of Thailand through the eyes of the locals.
Thailand’s top hotspots
Thai guests have travelled to over 100 different countries and six continents in the past year, including non-traditional destinations like Bolivia and Zimbabwe. According to data from Airbnb, popular travel destinations for Thai travellers include Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Great Britain, France, Italy and U.S.. While most outbound Thai travellers reside major cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Krabi, data shows that locals from Sukhothai and Chiang Rai are increasingly travelling on Airbnb – with 636% and 284% year-on-year growth respectively.
Top City Destinations for Thai Travellers in 2017
- Tokyo
- Osaka
- Seoul
- Kyoto
- Singapore
- London
- Fukuoka
- Paris
- Sapporo
- Rome
- Milan
- Los Angeles
Thais are also increasingly using Airbnb to explore their own country, showing how Airbnb is helping locals gain deeper appreciation of the beauty, culture and unique experiences available right here in Thailand. The top 3 domestic destinations for Thai travellers are Khon Kaen, Chonburi and Hat Yai, which have experiences 139%, 150% and 204% YOY growth respectively.
But it’s not just Thais who are doing all the travelling. People from all over the world have been flocking to Thailand this year, with the largest proportion of inbound international guests in 2017 coming from China, U.S., Singapore, Malaysia and Great Britain.
The rise of domestic travel
Thais aren’t just keen to explore the countries around them; last year, domestic travel also surged in popularity as Thais realised there’s plenty to do right on their doorstep, and took the opportunity to experience the full spectrum of history, culture and heritage their own country has to offer.
The following list shows the top domestic destinations among Thai travellers last year:
- Pattaya
- Bangkok
- Hua Hin
- Chiang Mai
Within Bangkok and Chiang Mai, many neighbourhoods are becoming increasingly popular among traveller visitors. With many of these neighbourhoods, experiencing huge growth shows how Airbnb is bringing lesser-known neighbourhoods into the global consciousness. In this way, Airbnb is driving not just footfall and economic activity to these communities, but a new love and appreciation for areas that have been previously overlooked.
Top Trending Neighbourhoods in Thailand
- Upper Sukhumvit, Bangkok
- Lower Sukhumvit, Bangkok
- Sathorn, Bangkok
- Din Daeng/Huai Khwang, Bangkok
- Klong Toey, Bangkok
- Hillcrest, Chiang Mai
- Thonburi, Chiang Mai
A more unique type of travel
Increasingly, people are shying away from the usual cookie-cutter tours where they see the same things as everyone else. Instead, curious travellers are seeking something authentic, different and unique – handcrafted experiences that they won’t find anywhere else, and that help them really understand the character of a new city.
Airbnb Experiences offers unprecedented access to communities and places that travellers wouldn’t usually come across through traditional tourist travel, meeting fellow travellers and passionate locals in the process. Southeast Asians are catching on to this trend and have been keen to sign up for the latest Experiences this year. Some Experiences have proved particularly appealing, with the following being among the most popular Experiences from travellers in the region.
- Create Your Own Perfume, Seoul, Korea
- Urban Cycling Adventure, Osaka, Japan
- Fortress Night Hike, Seoul, Korea
- One Kind House, Singapore
- Bangkok Biking Oasis, Bangkok, Thailand
- Where Gods are Born, Singapore
- Learn the Art of Wasabi Cultivation, Tokyo, Japan
- Tsukiji Tour, Tokyo, Japan
As part of its 2017 review, Airbnb has also compiled some 2018 travel inspiration for you, with a snapshot of some of the truly spectacular and unique listings right here on your doorstep.
Photo caption: Tamarind Cottage Tree House – Chiang Mai
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
